Wisbech High Street HLF bid

Client: Fenland District Council
Location: Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Date: 2013-14

We were appointed by Fenland District Council to work with the authority and local stakeholders to develop a funding bid to the Heritage Lottery’s Townscape Heritage programme in August 2014.

Wisbech is known as the Capital of the Fens and is arguably the finest Georgian market town and port in the East of England. A large proportion of the town centre is listed and areas of particular importance and interest include the Crescent and the North and South Brink.

Unfortunately, due to a combination of factors many of the historic buildings in Wisbech have suffered, particularly on the High Street. Many may be ‘at risk’ or ‘vulnerable’ and indeed some buildings have already suffered fatal collapse. The High Street requires a complex and considered solution to bring them back into active use and to secure their long-term future and the submission of the funding application is part of this process.

If the bid is successful, funding from the Townscape Heritage programme will be used to undertake structural and external repairs to buildings, bring vacant units back in to use and repairing architectural detail. Alongside the physical work the funding will also be used to engage the community in the project. As part of the bid, we developed an initial Activity Plan that will include a range of opportunities for local people and local businesses to get involved in heritage through education, training and leisure activities.


Specific services and outputs:

  • Preparation and submission of a round one application to the HLF’s Townscape Heritage programme
  • Designing a series of projects and programmes for inclusion with the draft Activities Plan alongside local groups and schools
  • Creation of a draft Activities Plan
  • Undertaking site visits with conservation professionals to better understand key issues and develop a strategy for the High Street
  • Working alongside Purcell and the Morton Partnership to develop outline proposals
  • Liaison with owners and occupiers
  • Development of financial forecasts
  • Preparation of a detailed project programme
  • Development of consultant briefs and job descriptions
  • Creation of a communications strategy
  • Project management and coordination
  • Liaison with local groups, local government and potential end users to secure expressions of interest, funding and support.

 

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Key documents:

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