Coupar Angus Townscape Heritage Initiative
What is a Townscape Heritage Initiative?
Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) is a programme of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), which distributes a share of the money raised by the National Lottery to projects involving the heritage of the United Kingdom.
The THI programme offers grants to help communities regenerate the historic parts of their towns and cities. It is designed to address problems in areas of particular social and economic need. It encourages partnerships to carry out repairs and other works to historic properties within those areas, and improve the quality of life for all those who live, work or visit there.
The HLF contributes up to 75% to a Common Fund set up by a local partnership, which usually consists of a combination of the local authority, local charitable or building preservation trusts and local or national regeneration agencies.
The partnership appoints an Executive Committee, which assesses applications for and disburses individual grants to specific projects identified through an Action Plan. Where the HLF contribution is over £1 million, the THI scheme must also provide for education and training in traditional and craft skills.
How does it affect Coupar Angus?
The THI Action Plan identifies projects affecting key historic buildings throughout the Coupar Angus Conservation Area in the town centre. These projects are eligible for grant assistance towards repairs, reinstatement of architectural detail and re-use of vacant floorspace. Some money has also been allocated to public realm works.
The purpose of the scheme is to regenerate by encouraging the repair of the town’s historic buildings by
1. Offering grants to repair 18 specific buildings in the historic centre
2. Encouraging good maintenance and repair
3. Education and training, including guided walks and lectures; site visits for schools and colleges; training courses to learn conservation and traditional craft skills
The grants for historic building conservation come from a Common Fund of £1,841,325 (approx €2.6m):-
Heritage Lottery Fund (£854,047) Perth and Kinross Council (596,489)
Historic Scotland (£192,000) Communities Scotland (£121,289)
Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (£42,500) Coupar Angus Regeneration Trust (£35,000)
Additional non-heritage funding comes from:
Communities Scotland (£1,168,692) PKC developer’s contribution fund ((£179,344)
Owners’ contributions (Approx £1,775,000)
Buildings within the scheme include three Priority Projects
The former Co-operative Store at 1-7 George Street has been empty for about 5 years. It is being converted into 12 affordable housing units by Perthshire Housing Association Ltd. The building is not listed, but is a prominent building within the Conservation Area.
Image Awaited
Cumberland Barracks is a Category B listed building dating from the 18th century. Repair work to the outside includes new lime harling, rebuilding the chimneys and roof repairs. The building is owned by Perth and Kinross Council.
The Royal Hotel and Assembly Rooms are also Category B listed and have been empty for several years. Ancaster Developments are proposing to convert the building into 12 flats for sale on the open market.
The THI runs from 2007-2010
The Coupar Angus Townscape Heritage Initiative is taking place alongside other socio-economic initiatives to regenerate the area.
How will I benefit from the THI?
If you own or lease one of the buildings identified in the THI Action Plan you may be able to access grant to help you improve your building and help regenerate the town centre. Public realm improvements will be carried out which will help raise the quality of the environment for everybody.
Grants are also available for 15 other buildings identified around The Cross, High Street and George Square for the Restoration of Architectural Detail
• Grants of up to 90% are available for external conservation work
• Eligible work includes masonry repair using lime mortar; repair or reinstatement of sash and case windows and traditional doors; repair of ornamental ironwork and cast iron rainwater goods; traditional shop fronts etc.
Even if your project does not qualify for financial assistance, advice is available from the Council on repairs and alterations to help you achieve your aims while helping to enhance the character of Coupar Angus. You may also be able to participate in or benefit from the education and training programme being implemented as part of the THI.
Public Realm Works
Small scale improvements to public spaces in The Cross, George Square and by Cumberland Barracks are included to enhance the setting of buildings within the scheme
How do I get further advice?
For information on the running of the grant scheme, advice on whether you may be able to access THI grant assistance and the education and training programme, please contact the THI Project Officer, Sara Carruthers, at:
The THI Project Officer
c/o Coupar Angus Regeneration Trust, Ground Floor Office A, Royal Bank Buildings, Union Street, Coupar Angus, PH13 9AE.
Direct Dial (01738) 475373 or 07753 324956, E-mail: SCarruthers@pkc.gov.uk
The Cross in about 1900
The Cross in 2005
