High Streets Heritage Action Zones

Breathing new life into high streets

This 4-year programme delivered from 2020 to 2024, saw derelict and underused buildings become new community spaces such as cinemas and market halls.

The work to maintain, restore and bring buildings back into use for communities and local businesses improved at least 460 shop fronts and completed 224 quality homes. 

The High Streets Heritage Action Zone programme of cultural events was the largest ever publicly funded community-led cultural programme to date, directly supporting regeneration, encouraging people to visit their local high streets, and breathing new life into them for future generations.

Over 2.7 million people got involved in cultural events celebrating their high streets and over 5,000 people volunteered over 40,000 hours of their time.

Of those who joined in with local events, 3 out of every 4 people had come to the high street specially and went on to spend money locally while there.

After attending a cultural event, 80% of people felt more pride in their place and a part of their community, and 69% told us they felt they were more likely to visit their high street more often.

Creating partnerships

The programme worked in partnership with local authorities, community interest groups, funders and more than 400 arts organisations on a wide range of projects across England. To date, over £92 million of funding from government and £3 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund has unlocked more than £140 million further private and public investment The programme has also built new connections between local organisations and communities with over 130 partnerships working together to unlock creative solutions to shaping better places.

The High Streets Heritage Action Zone programme has demonstrated a successful model for revitalising high streets in England.

Historic England focuses on using the power of heritage to secure vibrant and sustainable futures for places with historic character so that generations to come can continue to enjoy them. We are currently developing a new framework, along with our partners, to share our experience and approach. Historic England will continue to use tools such as Heritage Action Zones to support communities in securing improvements for their place.