The Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) is a grant giving programme funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Its objective is to support schemes that aim to regenerate historic environments in urban areas across the United Kingdom. Through THI schemes, grant is offered to help communities regenerate these areas by encouraging partnerships to carry out repairs and other works to historic properties to improve the quality of life for all those who live, work and visit there.
During a process which began in May 2005, Dudley MBC lodged a two stage bid for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This was successful and £1.95 million was confirmed. Match funding of £2.15 million has also been secured from the regional development agency, Advantage West Midlands. With further funding from the Council, a common fund of over £4 million is available for grant-aiding projects within the town centre. The funding will be available for allocation until April 2011 with all projects needing to be completed by April 2013.
The THI programme funds various works which will have a positive impact on the conservation and regeneration of historic areas including:
· Structural and external repair of historic buildings
· Authentic restoration of architectural features to historic buildings
· Works of repair and conversion to bring back into use vacant or underused historic floorspace
· Also part of the eligible THI projects are activities designed to widen knowledge, understanding and
awareness of the heritage
The overarching objective is to increase the economic activity in the town’s commercial core by using the historic environment as a positive resource to safeguard and create employment opportunities while improving the quality of life for the local community and visitors.
The THI scheme covers the whole of the Dudley Town Centre Conservation Area. A principal aim of the THI is to target significant resources into areas that are complementary to the Opportunity Sites identified in the Dudley Area Development Framework that was adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance in December 2005. The THI will therefore operate as part of an integrated approach to the regeneration activities taking place in the town centre.
An assessment of properties located within the Dudley Conservation Area which might be eligible for grant monies has been undertaken, and consultation is being carried out with relevant property owners and occupiers.
If you would like to find out more about the scheme, an introductory leaflet and guidance notes can be downloaded below. For further information, please contact us as below. 
