Huge cash injection into Padiham town centre

Burnley Council has received initial support for the Padiham Townscape Heritage Initiative bid which would see a substantial area of the Padiham town centre conservation area transformed.

The council submitted a bid into the HLF Townscape Heritage fund last year as part of Padiham’s “Crafting the Future” project. The proposal focuses on an area of Victorian buildings, which includes 40 properties along Burnley Road at the heart of Padiham and are predominantly in retail use.

The council has been awarded a first round pass offering a development grant of up to £48,200 towards the development of the scheme. The pass means that money has been set aside by the HLF for the scheme and gives the green light to progress plans to apply for the full grant.

The full grant involves a five-year programme bid for £1.45m. which will look at five separate areas. These inlcude physical works to buildings, a public realm scheme, an education and engagement programme, a heritage/conservation skills programme and project management and evaluation.

Burnley Council deputy Leader John Harbour said: “The great news from the HLF that we have been awarded a first round pass for Padiham’s Crafting the Future project couldn’t have come at a better time, after the recent floods which caused significant disruption in Padiham Town Centre.

“The town has bounced back from the floods with great passion and resilience and it will be a great injection of confidence for the future for them that we have reached this positive stage towards securing substantial funding for the transformation and conservation works to the historic town centre buildings.”