Putting Buxton's heritage in the frame

Published on 24 July 2020

Photographers will be out and about in Buxton town centre in the coming weeks capturing images of the main shopping area's historic - and more modern - buildings before a scheme to improve their appearance gets underway.

High Peak Borough Council has been granted £926,700 by Historic England towards the £1.5m Buxton Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) four-year scheme to:

·         repair and restore historic buildings

·         improve shopfronts of more modern buildings

·         celebrate the high street with new cultural experiences

Work is set to start later this year but, ahead of that, the Council will be collating a photographic record of the buildings along Spring Gardens and Hardwick Street as they look now.

Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Deputy Council Leader and Executive Councillor for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure, said: "We know Spring Gardens, as the town's primary shopping zone, isn't the best it can be and is out of keeping with Buxton's magnificent Georgian heritage.

"This scheme is aimed at addressing some of the those issues by investing in physical improvements to the buildings and in a programme of cultural activities which celebrate the history and heritage of this area and what makes it unique.

"The photographs we take now will stand testament to the difference the HAZ scheme is set to make - it's a really exciting project and residents and visitors alike, like us here at the Council can't wait, for it to get started!"

The Council has committed £101,300 to the HAZ scheme which, with the Historic England grant and private sector match funding of £391,666, makes up the funding pot.

The Council has also submitted its bid to the Future High Streets Fund which, if successful, will see further transformation of this area and the creation of a town centre which is fit for the future.

Council Leader, Councillor Anthony Mckeown, said: "These two schemes are entirely complementary and have the same, common goal - creating a town centre that respects and retains important aspects of our history and heritage whilst delivering modern, fit for purpose amenities and public spaces.

"We want our high streets to thrive and schemes such as these will help deliver the business, residential and leisure activities we know people want to see in the town centre as well as adding significantly to Buxton's appeal to visitors."