In May 2019 the High Streets Heritage Action Zones was launched. It is a £95m government funded project, being delivered by Historic England which aims to help with the recovery of local high streets, from regenerating historic buildings to helping to engage local communities through art and cultural projects.
In September 2019 it was confirmed that Dudley Council’s application for the Brierley Hill High Street Conservation was successful and that it was to be one of 60 High Streets across England to receive a £1.8m share of the funding. In September 2021 the overall grant award was increased by an additional £242,171 in order that extra funding could be provided for Brierley Hill War Memorial.
The project will run from 2020 to 2024 and will focus on the Brierley Hill High Street Conservation Area and proposes a series of building projects (repair, architectural reinstatement and the bringing of vacant property back onto use) and public realm improvements to the gateways into the Conservation Area (around the Brierley Hill Civic Hall and the Grade II listed Brierley Hill War Memorial).
Running alongside the project there will be a cultural programme which will be coordinated/led by Brierley Hill Community Forum and there will be a programme of activities designed to engage with the local community.
The Brierley Hill High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) will complement the wider regeneration programme proposed for Brierley Hill which includes the Metro and the Future High Street Fund and the HSHAZ will play a key role in the economic and social recovery of the town centre following COVID-19.
A specific focus will be on historic buildings that have been vacant for a considerable period of time such as the Grade II listed former Brierley Hill Institute and Library and the former Danilo Cinema.
The War Memorial is Grade II listed and occupies a focal point overlooking the southern entrance to the town centre conservation area. It is a very fine example of one of the many memorials set up following the First World War and provides an important focus for the identity of the community.
The public realm located in-front of the Brierley Hill Civic Hall forms the northern gateway into the town centre conservation area and improvements are proposed to the green space and to the junction at High Street, Level Street and Bank Street. Improvements are also proposed to the improve the setting of St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, a locally listed landmark at the southern end of the Conservation area.
Community engagement and activities are being progressed and developed in conjunction with Brierley Hill Community Forum, Friends of Marsh Park, Dudley Market, Black County Living Museum and also with Adult and Community Learning, Dudley Museum, Dudley Business First and the Historic Environment Team.
A Cultural Consortium has been established by Brierley Hill Community Forum with support from Dudley Council and Dudley CVS to deliver cultural activities between now and March 2024 thanks to funding from the Arts Council England, National Heritage Memorial Fund and Historic England. Work is now underway on pulling together a programme of cultural events and activities which will help to make the high street an engaging and vibrant place where the community can come together. One of the events recently delivered was the 'Round Here' project. Brierley Hill was one of six High Street Heritage Action Zone communities across England selected to work with Live Music Now on a live musical performance that took place on 10 July 2022. For more information contact the Cultural Consortium Coordinator.
If you want to know about what is a High Street Heritage Action Zone and why is the focus on high streets or what can the money be spent on, Historic England have set up a Frequently Asked Questions page.
