Have your say on Accrington Town Centre

Residents and visitors to the Accrington over Christmas will have the chance to have their say about the town centre’s future, as a consultation about its exciting Townscape Heritage Initiative takes place over the festive season.

The Townscape Heritage Initiative is set to transform the historic retail and commercial gateway into the town centre, along Blackburn Road, culminating in a public realm scheme outside Accrington Town Hall and Market Hall to commemorate the Accrington Pals and provide an opportunity chance for local people to learn more about historical buildings.

The Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) is a grant-giving scheme run by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to help repair and regenerate historic towns across the UK. In October 2012 the Council submitted a first round application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for partnership funding for the Accrington Town Centre and PALS Centenary Townscape Heritage Initiative. The first round submission was accepted and passed, with funding of £1.5 million provisionally awarded to the initiative, subject to a second round HLF application.

The project is being managed by Hyndburn Council who are working closely with the heritage team at PlaceFirst Ltd, an experienced consultancy based in Manchester.

The THI will offer grants to building owners in the THI boundary to help fund, the reinstatement of lost architectural and historic features (like period shop fronts and windows) and structural and external repairs.
Cllr Miles Parkinson, Council Leader, urged people to have their say saying; “These are exciting times for the town centre and residents and visitors will have lots of chances over the Christmas festivities to fill out a questionnaire and air their views on any improvements to the area, with the PlaceFirst team attending some of the events, so please make sure you make your views known to shape the future of this area.”

People can also visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/accringtonTHI to fill out a copy of the survey and hard copies are also available at Scaitcliffe House reception.

Plans to consult with local businesses and stakeholders are also underway and more details will be posted on the Councils website.

Contact Victoria Turner (PlaceFirst) on victoria.turner@placefirst.co.uk with any comments, or Helen McCue Melling (Regeneration & Property Manager) on 01254 388111 or Helen.McCue-Melling@hyndburnbc.gov.uk