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Townscape Heritage Initiative

Oswestry Townscape Heritage Initiative
THI Grant Assistance
Grant Rates
Apply for a Grant
Oswestry THI Buildings
Contact Details

Oswestry Townscape Heritage Initiative

View Large Version of Oswestry Conservation Area Plan

The Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) is an urban regeneration initiative focusing on the historic environment of the Oswestry Town Centre Conservation Area. The Grant award from the Heritage Lottery Fund represents a pool of funding which, when matched by partners from the European Regional Development Fund, and Oswestry Borough Council, creates a source of incentive for private, corporate and commercial bodies to improve their property via a range of eligible projects.

The Townscape Heritage Initiative is aimed at tackling the decline of the historic town centre, where circumstances have led to the physical erosion of the character of the built environment with associated loss of commercial or residential activity.

The initiative will be primarily targeted at owners or leaseholders of historic buildings within the conservation area where grant assistance is required to enable an appropriate standard of repairs, re-use or upgrading to take place. All repairs will need to adopt the highest standards of materials, craftsmenship and design.

The project aims to tackle important heritage buildings in a poor state of repair or underuse. Priority will be given to buildings requiring comprehensive schemes of work to bring them back into full time use although other more minor works works are eligible.    

THI Grant Assistance

• building repair - essential repairs to external fabric of significant historic buildings
• reinstatement of lost historic detail - for example return to sash or casement windows, or shopfront improvements to a traditional pattern
• bringing vacant floor space back into use - the conversion of floors above shops as housing
• facilitating high standards of design in filling gap sites in key frontages
• public realm improvements - such as the repair of reinstatement of passageways, or railings.

Grant Rates

Grants rates are set to encourage positive action in tackling the problems of disrepair and loss of architectural detail

• for works of external and internal structural repair 60% of the eligible costs
• for works or architectural reinstatement 75% of eligible costs
• for works associated with bringing vacant floorspace back into use, the 'conservation deficit' will be assisted. The conservation deficit is based on the difference between works to a suitably high standard and the pre and post works value of the property, which the project manager will explain to you. 

Apply of a Grant

What Kind of Information do I Need to apply for a Grant ?

If you think you have a project within the Conservation Area which fits the eligible criteria, please arrange to meet with the project team to discuss your proposals, and if appropriate, to receive an application pack.

All applicants will be expected to engage a suitably qualified professional, (such as an architect or conservation accredited chartered building surveyor).

Grant applications for works which are already underway or completed will not be eligible for consideration.

Relevant planning and conservation consents will have to be in place before applications can be processed.

This guidance information leaflet is only an introduction to the Oswestry Townscape Heritage Initiative, further guidance and clarification should be sought from the Project Team.

Contact Details

Oswestry Borough Council
Castle View
Oswestry
Shropshire
SY11 1JR

Tel: 01691 677382
Email: generalenquires@oswestry-bc.gov.uk