Lancaster High Streets Heritage Action Zone

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The Lancaster High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) is a four-year c.£2m programme centred in the Mill Race area of Lancaster which began in April 2020 and will end on 31 March 2024. It formed part of the Government’s national programme of investment into high streets, overseen by Historic England with a focus on capital works, community engagement and cultural programming. The Lancaster HSHAZ was led by Lancaster City Council with support from a number of local partners.

The Mill Race area is to the north east of the city centre encompassing North Road, St Leonard’s Gate, Lower Church Street and surrounding streets. It is an important area in the development of the city which flourished in the latter part of the 18th and early 19th century, bringing wealth to the city through its involvement in the triangle trades and early industrialisation. This industry was powered by an historic and now hidden mill race watercourse and this prosperity has left a legacy of fine architecture which today helps Lancaster be recognised as of one England’s Historic Cities.

The HSHAZ programme included:

  • Working with Lancaster Footlights charitable trust at the Grade II Listed Grand Theatre to support them in works to repair this well-loved cultural and community asset. The works included structural repairs, façade repair and improvement works, including new windows, signage and lighting.
  • Supporting building owners and businesses in the appropriate repair, re-use and improvement of a number of the area’s heritage assets, including 4-5 Stonewell, a vacant purpose-built shop with accommodation over, which had been vacant for over 10 years, 113 St Leonard’s Gate, a former carriage showroom which is used as a furniture shop, and 14-16 Damside Street, a former warehouse building, whose ground floor shop unit had been vacant for many years, and now has a new shopfront and residential access inspired by its original warehouse use.
  • Delivering improvements to the pavements and crossings to the north side of Damside Street took place over Winter 2022/3. Previously pavements were narrow and in a poor condition. The works have improved the setting of this group of early C19 properties, some of which have also been improved directly with grant assistance.
  • Delivering an exciting Cultural Programme, Mill Race: Flow of Change working with Lancaster Arts and a range of partners to increase opportunities for positive experiences and activity within the HSHAZ, raising the profile of Lancaster as a cultural and heritage destination and growing and diversifying audiences.
  • Providing a range of capacity building and heritage skill and learning opportunities to facilitate and sustain improvements, increasing understanding of the area’s heritage and through this supporting community cohesion and well-being.


If you would like to find out more about the work of the HSHAZ and Cultural Programme, including their legacy projects, please visit the Mill Race Collection page here: www.lancaster.gov.uk/millrace-collection


The Lancaster High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) is a four-year c.£2m programme centred in the Mill Race area of Lancaster which began in April 2020 and will end on 31 March 2024. It formed part of the Government’s national programme of investment into high streets, overseen by Historic England with a focus on capital works, community engagement and cultural programming. The Lancaster HSHAZ was led by Lancaster City Council with support from a number of local partners.

The Mill Race area is to the north east of the city centre encompassing North Road, St Leonard’s Gate, Lower Church Street and surrounding streets. It is an important area in the development of the city which flourished in the latter part of the 18th and early 19th century, bringing wealth to the city through its involvement in the triangle trades and early industrialisation. This industry was powered by an historic and now hidden mill race watercourse and this prosperity has left a legacy of fine architecture which today helps Lancaster be recognised as of one England’s Historic Cities.

The HSHAZ programme included:

  • Working with Lancaster Footlights charitable trust at the Grade II Listed Grand Theatre to support them in works to repair this well-loved cultural and community asset. The works included structural repairs, façade repair and improvement works, including new windows, signage and lighting.
  • Supporting building owners and businesses in the appropriate repair, re-use and improvement of a number of the area’s heritage assets, including 4-5 Stonewell, a vacant purpose-built shop with accommodation over, which had been vacant for over 10 years, 113 St Leonard’s Gate, a former carriage showroom which is used as a furniture shop, and 14-16 Damside Street, a former warehouse building, whose ground floor shop unit had been vacant for many years, and now has a new shopfront and residential access inspired by its original warehouse use.
  • Delivering improvements to the pavements and crossings to the north side of Damside Street took place over Winter 2022/3. Previously pavements were narrow and in a poor condition. The works have improved the setting of this group of early C19 properties, some of which have also been improved directly with grant assistance.
  • Delivering an exciting Cultural Programme, Mill Race: Flow of Change working with Lancaster Arts and a range of partners to increase opportunities for positive experiences and activity within the HSHAZ, raising the profile of Lancaster as a cultural and heritage destination and growing and diversifying audiences.
  • Providing a range of capacity building and heritage skill and learning opportunities to facilitate and sustain improvements, increasing understanding of the area’s heritage and through this supporting community cohesion and well-being.


If you would like to find out more about the work of the HSHAZ and Cultural Programme, including their legacy projects, please visit the Mill Race Collection page here: www.lancaster.gov.uk/millrace-collection


  • This survey is for people who do not own or occupy a property within the Lancaster HSHAZ area.


    We carried out a survey at the start of the HSHAZ to seek the views of those who may not live within the area, but who pass through or regularly visit the area, whether that be to work, shop or visit. Now that the programme is drawing to a close, we are following this up with a further survey. You may have seen some of the building and public realm improvements, taken part in one the many Cultural Programme, Mill Race: Flow of Change, events, or perhaps one of the HSHAZ workshops, talks or tours of the area. You may be able to see how the Mill Race programme might have left a lasting legacy for the area, changed your perception of the area or take a view on how the achievements could be furthered.


    We would really appreciate it if you could spare some time to provide us with your thoughts. We will use this data to inform our assessment of the programme and to help inform the future works and activities. This will include sharing appropriate information with our delivery partners. 


    For details of the Council’s data protection policy, please visit our website: https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/information/data-protection

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  • We carried out a survey of property owners and occupiers at the start of the HSHAZ, and now that the programme is drawing to a close, we are following this up with a further survey. Your property may have benefited from a grant. You may have seen some of the wider building and public realm improvements, taken part in one the many Cultural Programme, Mill Race: Flow of Change, events, or perhaps one of the HSHAZ workshops, talks or tours of the area. You may be able to see how the Mill Race programme might have left a lasting legacy for the area, changed your perception of the area or take a view on how the achievements could be furthered.You may be able to see how the HSHAZ programme might have left a lasting legacy for the area, changed your perception of the area or take a view on how the achievements could be furthered.

     

    We would really appreciate it if you could spare some time to provide us with your thoughts. We will use this data to inform our assessment of the programme and to help inform the future works and activities. This will include sharing appropriate information with our delivery partners. 


    For details of the Council’s data protection policy, please visit our website: https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/information/data-protection

    Complete Form
    Share Lancaster HSHAZ Property Owner and Occupiers Survey- End of Programme on Facebook Share Lancaster HSHAZ Property Owner and Occupiers Survey- End of Programme on Twitter Share Lancaster HSHAZ Property Owner and Occupiers Survey- End of Programme on Linkedin Email Lancaster HSHAZ Property Owner and Occupiers Survey- End of Programme link
Page last updated: 05 Apr 2024, 10:19 AM