Prescot High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) grant scheme
The Prescot High Street Heritage Action Zone is a four-year heritage led regeneration scheme to repair, restore and reuse historic buildings and spaces in Prescot town centre. It is one of 67 HSHAZ schemes across the country, and one of only 14 across the North West. The scheme will run until the end of March 2024, and is designed to secure lasting improvements to our historic ‘High Streets’, through physical interventions, that are delivered alongside a cultural programme with a focus on community engagement.
Prescot is one of the oldest settlements in Merseyside, and the scheme will draw its diverse heritage to help shape the town's future, and to help to breathe new life into the historic heart of Prescot town centre. Prescot's High Street Heritage Action Zone focuses on Market Place, for centuries the commercial heart of the town, and home to its most important civic functions: the town hall, court leet and market hall.
The HSHAZ will aid the repair, restoration and conversion of a number of historic buildings and spaces within the town centre, including the restoration of historic shopfronts and architectural features.
The scheme includes the restoration of Prescot's first cinema (8-14 Kemble Street), the former Prescot Museum building (34 Church Street) being repaired and put back into use, and initial master planning and feasibility studies for vacant land in Sewell Street.
Further information, including which properties are eligible to apply for the funding and the type of work which may attract a grant, can be found on the dedicated Prescot HSHAZ website (currently under construction), or by contacting Heritage Action Zone Project Officer, Daniel Longman by email [email protected] or phone 07973 949 470.
The scheme is funded by Historic England, Knowsley Council and other local partners. In total approx. £4million will be invested in bringing Prescot’s heritage back to life. A supplementary HSHAZ local Cultural Programme will be delivered with a £90,000 grant from Historic England, and match funding from Knowsley Council and other local partners. Prescot has also been selected as one of just six HSHAZs nationally to host a national commission for a socially engaged photography project titled ‘Picturing England’s High Streets'.
Previous Grant Schemes
Prescot Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) grant scheme
Prescot Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) was a project run over a five-year period that supported the repair, restoration and re-use of historic buildings and spaces in Prescot town centre. Prescot is one of the oldest settlements in Merseyside and the project drew on its diverse heritage to help shape the town's future.
The THI supported the restoration of shopfronts, historic architectural features, repairs to historic buildings and improvements to open spaces, including the medieval Market Place. Its aim was to strengthen Prescot town centres cultural offer and promote a more attractive and vibrant area, by working collaboratively with existing businesses, whilst attracting new businesses and creating new homes.
The initiative was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Knowsley Council and other local partners. A total of around £4 million has been invested in bringing Prescot's heritage back to life. Photographs of the THI project buildings are here.
There are at present no other sources of grant funding available for historic buildings in Knowsley.
Other Grants
The following websites provide information about alternative sources of funding: