Shop owners and residents in Leith are being urged to take advantage of a £200,000 grant to restore shop fronts and buildings to their former glory.
The money has come through the Heritage Lottery Fund with £100,000 set aside for shop fronts and £100,000 for building restoration.
It is part of the wider £6m Leith Townscape Heritage Initiative which is currently transforming a large part of the Leith Conservation Area.
The project started in 2007 and has so far successfully refurbished the Citadel Youth Centre, Leith Victoria Boxing Club and the Hindu Mandir Temple. It is due to finish in June 2012.
Shops in the area of Great Junction Street , Duke Street , Constitution Street , Bernard Street and the Shore are eligible for the shop front funding.
So far around £50,000 has been spent restoring shop fronts at the Conservation Studio (27 Duke Street), What’s On (208 – 210 Great Junction Street), MS Properties (206 Great Junction Street) – both successful recent transformation of the ground floor of the former State Cinema – and the new barbers shop at 11 Duke Street.
Councillor Jim Lowrie, Planning Leader, said the Townscape Heritage Initiative had really helped revitalise parts of Leith. He said: “This final grant is a great way of restoring shop fronts and buildings to their former glory and I would urge businesses and residents to get their applications in as soon as possible.”
Each successful property can receive a maximum of £15,000 to cover 75% of eligible works. These include re-instating works like signage, security, stall risers, external doors and professional fees. Residents in the same area can also apply for the money to re-instate traditional features on their homes such as timber sash & case windows, external doors, stonework repairs and railings.
All grants must be awarded by 31 March 2012. For more information contact Lesley Porteous on 0131 529 6236 or e-mail lesley.porteous@edinburgh.gov.uk
