£10m investment in town centre regeneration launched

A programme of investment worth £10m over the next five years has been launched in Burnley's Civic Quarter.

The scheme, dubbed High 5 for Heritage, will help restore historic buildings and support the wider regeneration of the town centre.

The funding includes £4.8m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund with match funding from Burnley Council and other sources. It will cover key parts of Hargreaves Street, Hammerton Street and lower St James’s Street.

Plans include repair and restoration work to Burnley Mechanics, environmental enhancements and grant support for repairs to privately owned historic buildings.

Alongside the physical investment, High 5 for Heritage will deliver a programme of cultural, creative and community activity, giving more people opportunities to discover and engage with Burnley’s heritage.

Councillor Afrasiab Anwar, leader of Burnley Council, said: “As a council, we have spent years working with partners to invest in Burnley’s heritage, drawing on funding from a range of sources.

"You can see what has been achieved at Towneley Hall, the National Trust’s Great Barn at Gawthorpe, and Victoria and Newtown Mill.

“High 5 for Heritage brings that investment into the Civic Quarter. It gives us the opportunity to restore our heritage buildings, bring more of them back into use and make this part of the town centre a better place to live, learn, work and invest.”

Councillor Lubna Khan, executive member for economy and development, said: “What makes this programme particularly exciting is that it brings together investment in our historic buildings with culture, community activity and wider regeneration.

“With Burnley 2027 Year of Culture ahead of us, there is also a real opportunity to connect our heritage with the town’s cultural ambitions and showcase what makes Burnley distinctive to residents, businesses and visitors.”

Sarah McLeod, committee member for England North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It was wonderful to be in Burnley and hear more about this exciting scheme that will see the town’s Civic Quarter rejuvenated and several important historic buildings and spaces restored for the benefit of its communities.

“It is fantastic to think that this investment, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, will play a significant role in contributing towards the regeneration and wider townscape of Burnley as well as providing communities with plenty of opportunities to celebrate and discover more about their local heritage.”

Further details about individual projects, grants and opportunities to get involved will be announced as the programme progresses.