Tewkesbury town centre is benefitting from a new multi-million pound fund that will regenerate historic high streets through Historic England's High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) scheme.

It is one of a number of high streets across England selected to receive a share of the £95m fund.

Tewkesbury has been awarded just over £1m, which will contribute towards agrant programme for the restoration of traditional shopfronts and facades and enable vacant upper floor units to be changed to residential use, a public consultation on Tewkesbury's public spaces followed by a schedule of improvements, initiatives to encourage the regeneration of the Healing's Mill site and events promoting the use of traditional skills and materials.

In addition, Tewkesbury HSHAZ has been awarded £80,000 for a programme of cultural events celebrating the town's rich heritage. A cultural consortium, Tewkesbury Culture, which comprises a number of cultural and heritage organisations, groups and schools, has been established to promote this programme, aiming to bring new and bigger audiences to the town.

This week marks the start of the HSHAZ with the appointment of a programme manager to help local businesses get the support they need from the scheme. 

In addition, all the information about the Tewkesbury HSHAZ - from grant funding to cultural events - is now available online at www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/hshaz. 

Councillor Mel Gore, Tewkesbury Borough Council's lead member for Built Environment, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for Tewkesbury, which will bring about positive improvements to the town centre and encourage increases in business investment and tourism, and we are really excited to see it move forward.

"The new webpages will be a place where anyone can find out the latest information about our programme of initiatives and what it has to offer. They will be regularly updated and, in time, will provide such information as how to apply for the grants or find out what events are happening in the town."

Ross Simmonds, regional director at Historic England in the southwest, said: "Tewkesbury's high street has a distinct character that will be enhanced to make it an even more special place. Grants to improve historic building frontages and to bring upper floors into use, combined with better public spaces, will provide an even more pleasant place for shoppers, visitors, residents and businesses to be.

"There will be opportunities to learn more about Tewkesbury's history and how to care for its heritage, as well as an exciting programme of cultural and creative events to attract people back to the high street. We look forward to seeing how this investment in Tewkesbury's heritage and celebration of its past will combine to deliver a successful future for the town centre and the community."