Swadlincote Townscape Heritage Scheme

What is a Townscape Heritage Scheme?

The Townscape Heritage Initiative was a Heritage Fund grants programme, which provided money for repairing and regenerating the historic environment in towns across the UK.

This financial aid didn’t just apply to grand buildings and large houses. Townscape Heritage schemes helped to renovate all kinds of premises and smaller shops, all of which contributes to the character of a town's conservation area.

How we did it:

In 2015, the Heritage Fund granted us more than £400,000 to improve the special historic character of Swadlincote’s conservation area.

Since the launch of the project in 2016, until its close in 2019, we’ve managed a larger fund containing additional match funding from ourselves, and Derbyshire County Council. Through grant aiding repair and restoration works to 11 shops and properties in Swadlincote Town Centre, the project has had a transformative outcome for the look and feel of our High Street. These grants were available for repairs and improvements to historic buildings, including windows, doors, shop fronts and distinctive architectural features.

What else is going on?

Streets and spaces: The Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Garden (across from Sharpe’s Pottery Museum, in West Street) has been redesigned to improve the green space for the town, and to encourage more people to use it. Before and after photos of the garden as well as a video of the launch can be found at the bottom of this page.

Town Crier: Thanks to the Townscape Scheme, Swadlincote has its own Town Crier. She can now be booked for any kind of event. For further information, email chairsoffice@southderbyshire.gov.uk.

Events and activities: There were a diverse range of ways to get involved in the scheme’s activities and learn about the industrial and social heritage of Swadlincote. This included guided walks and talks, self-led town trails and ‘have a go’ activities.

Maintenance activities were also provided for people who own or manage properties in the Conservation Area. Schools groups have had their own bespoke sessions and potential activities can be emailed to teachers. Details of these are in the Swadlincote Townscape Activity Plan ^{(pdf, 1.5mb) (pdf, 1.5mb)}.

The project is closed now, but more information about the project is available on the Swadlincote Townscape Facebook page.

For information on how to maintain and repair your old building read our Swadlincote Conservation Area Maintenance Guide ^{(pdf, 4.7mb)}. ^{(pdf, 4.7mb)}

For a more detailed overview of how Swadlincote will be preserved and enhanced read our Conservation Area Management Plan.

Click here for the Grants Progress Map. ^{(jpg, 4.3mb)}