Boston Townscape Heritage Initiative

Boston Townscape Heritage Initiative

The Boston Townscape Heritage Initiative will provide grant funding to help with conservation repairs and reinstatement of buildings within the scheme area. Working with property owners the enhancement to properties will aim to reinstate a positive traditional character in the area

Boston Borough Council is offering grants to private owners of historic properties within the Market Place, Dolphin Lane and Pump Square.

Grants are for improvements to the properties through repair, reinstatement of historic features and improvements to signage. Priority will be given to target buildings and schemes that involve the reinstatement of traditional shop fronts. The grants are funded through a partnership between Boston Borough Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The scheme will also focus on community engagement, improving understanding of Boston's unique heritage and what we can do to improve it. Updates will be posted on this page as the scheme develops.

Grants available

• 50% of the cost of high quality repairs to historic buildings
• 85% of the cost of reinstating architectural features (priority is given to the installation of traditional shop fronts).
• A minimum of 50% towards improvements to signage.

Eligible properties

For further details and a list of eligible properties download the guidance and application form.

Public Engagement

An associated activity programme will focus on young people helping them learn about their local heritage, creating an important sense of place and personal identity, as well as developing a sense of civic pride and engagement in community action.

The activity plan for this project includes:

• Establishing a Boston Townscape Heritage Youth Board to involve young people in decision making, to give them practical work experience opportunities and to allow them to develop complimentary small projects such as heritage trails, Youtube videos promoting the area and performance art;
• Heritage skills courses including master classes in conservation skills for college vocational students, repair and maintenance courses and workshops for historic building owners;
• Building recording training will be offered to young people by members of the Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology Building Recording Group and the research will be used to inform new interpretation boards for Dolphin Lane and Pump Square;
• A budget for an annual medieval market has been included to celebrate the Hanse league membership and young people will be encouraged to organise and promote the event to gain work experience and to work with a wide range of communities to reflect the Continental trade.

Contact details

For further information and details of how to apply contact Matt Bentley, Conservation Project Manager

Tel: 07810845862

Email: Matt Bentley

Address: Municipal Buildings, West Street, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE21 8QR.