More property restoration grants for Tewkesbury businesses
Two more properties in Tewkesbury town have received restoration work thanks to grant funding from Tewkesbury’s High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ).
The HSHAZ is a partnership between Tewkesbury Borough Council and Historic England to invest £1m in the regeneration of the historic town centre.
CGT Lettings, at no. 3 Church Street, has had its historic character restored thanks to its new facelift. Six windows have been replaced with traditional wooden sash windows, and the exterior has been redecorated – with traditional signage to complete the look.
Becky Horton, who manages the property, said, “This has been a lengthy project as we had to obtain planning permission for the work, but we are delighted with the improvement these changes have made, not just to the building, but to the character of the area around the Cross. We’d advise any town centre business with a property that needs refreshing to apply for a grant under the HSHAZ scheme. We wouldn’t have been able to justify these changes without the help of the grant.”
Further along Church Street at no. 93, womenswear boutique Pretty Special received a grant to make repairs to the woodwork of its traditional shopfront before they redecorating it. Owner Amanda Orton said, “Trading is still tough and it’s important to make sure your shop looks attractive to customers. The more enticing the shopfronts, the more likely people are to stop off in Tewkesbury rather than just drive past. This grant has helped us at Pretty Special to do just that and we’d recommend other business owners do the same.”
Historic England regional director, Rebecca Barrett, said, “Historic premises come alive when they are well cared for. Replacing inappropriate modern elements with traditionally crafted materials not only helps preserve the buildings, but also supports well-skilled jobs in the local market, creating a virtuous circle of employment and spending.”
Leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council and Lead Member for Economic Development and Promotion Councillor Richard Stanley, added, “It’s great to see the offer of property improvement grants being taken up by business owners in Tewkesbury. We hope to see lots more work completed over the coming months. So don’t delay – if you are interested in a grant, submit your application as soon as possible to make sure you have time to complete the work before the HSHAZ project ends in February 2024.”
If you own or rent a building in Tewkesbury’s traditional retail area and you think it would benefit from a grant, contact Georgia Smith, the HSHAZ Programme Manager on georgia.smith@tewkesbury.gov.uk for more information.
Photo caption: (Left to right) Councillor Richard Stanley, Leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council and Lead Member for Economic Development and Promotion; Amanda Orton, owner of Pretty Special; and Georgia Smith, HSHAZ Programme Manager.
