The Value of High Street Heritage Action Zones

Supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Arts Council England, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the programme aimed to help high streets transform into vibrant community spaces by investing in buildings and the public realm, creating new partnerships, empowering communities and celebrating local culture through heritage.

The independent evaluation of the programme, carried out by AMION Consulting, has shown that the £103 million investment in places that needed it most has re-engaged people with their high streets.

Read the evaluation report

Delivering the High Streets Heritage Action Zones programme's core aims has:

• Driven local economic growth. The benefits from the programme are valued at over £245 million, it has leveraged an additional £140 million in match funding from private and public sources and created over 700 new jobs
• Engaged communities across England, bringing 930,000 people to 1,695 public events, reaching 28,000 students through 592 activities, and delivering 634 construction training sessions. The programme was supported by over 42,000 hours of volunteers' time
• Protected and enhanced local historic character by repairing 723 historic buildings, reinstating 462 shopfronts, bringing vacant buildings back into use, and creating or bringing back into use 224 homes

This evaluation underlines the possibilities for continued investment in high streets as centres of cultural, social and economic renewal. Our approach has brought regeneration to where it’s needed most, proving that heritage is not just about the past—it’s a powerful catalyst for future growth.

Some evaluation outputs accompanying this report, including case studies and activity summaries, have been delayed but will be published in the near future.