1. EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) TO
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) TO HIST0RIC ENGLAND - AIM: to IMPROVE THE TOWN’S HISTORIC CENTRE AND BRING IT BACK TO BEING A VIBRANT MARKET TOWN FOR THE BENEFIT OF LOCALS AND VISITORS; - SUCCESSFUL EOI OUTCOME: WILL PROVIDE A MASTER PLAN OF PROJECTS TO MAKE THE TOWN CENTRE A PLACE PEOPLE WANT TO VISIT - AND AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE - THAT WILL ENCOURAGE OWNERS TO MAINTAIN THEIR BUILDINGS AND BRING NEW BUSINESS INTO THE TOWN.

2. EOI SUBMISSION THREAD AND MISSION
EOI SUBMISSION THREAD AND MISSION STATEMENT - A COMMON THEME, ENDORSED BY TOWN TEAM COMMUNITY GROUPS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, RUNS THROUGH THE EOI SUBMISSION; - SEE HANDOUT, historic England high street heritage action zone website AND eoi DOCUMENTATION at

3. what is the scheme about
what is the scheme about? - a £44m fund launched in may 2019 to find new ways to: champion and revive historic high streets; - THE scheme recognises THE VALUE high streets bring to places: WHEN PROPERLY CARED FOR, THEY ARE THE FOCUS OF LOCAL COMMUNITY AND LOCAL COMMERCE; - UNIQUE CHARACTER OF PLACE GIVES A SENSE OF CONNECTION AND OWNERSHIP: SOCIAL COHESION , BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE AND MORE CONFIDENT AND RESILIENT PLACES; - POORLY MAINTAINED HISTORIC BUILDINGS CONTRIBUTE TO THE ADVERSE EXPERIENCE OF PLACE ADDING TO THE IMPACT OF INTERNET AND OUT OF TOWN SHOPPING.

4. CRITERIA & EVIDENCE - HIGH STREET HAZ MUST BE IN A CONSERVATION AREA: YES; - MUST BE DELIVERED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP AND INCLUDE LOCAL AUTHORITY AS A PARTNER: YES; - MUST HAVE DEMONSTRABLE SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY: STRONG SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS. (ESSENTIAL THAT PUBLIC SUPPORT IS NURTURED THROUGH PUBLIC MEETINGS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES); - MUST BE CAPABLE OF DELIVERY WITHIN 4 YEARS, APRIL 2020 – MARCH 2024: YES.

5. DELIVERY - DEVELOPING A MORE VIBRANT TOWN CENTRE: LED BY BFTC AND LOCAL GROUPS WITH DORSET COUNCIL INPUT; - CONSERVATION GRANT SCHEME: LED BY CONSERVATION OFFICER – LINK TO ENFORCEMENT ROLE; - INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS: LED BY HIGHWAYS – PLANNED FOR EARLY DELIVERY IN THE PROGRAMME.

6. DELIVERY - CONSERVATION GRANT SCHEME: LED BY CONSERVATION OFFICER
DELIVERY - CONSERVATION GRANT SCHEME: LED BY CONSERVATION OFFICER. Design of grant scheme with local groups. Grant scheme and enforcement to run in tandem throughout the project; - INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS: LED BY HIGHWAYS – Including REPAVING OF PAVEMENTS AND PEDESTRIANISATION OF THE MARKET AREA and more seating in the town centre. (longer term aspiration to relief pressure of traffic on the town centre);

7. DELIVERY cont’d - DEVELOPING A MORE VIBRANT TOWN CENTRE
DELIVERY cont’d - DEVELOPING A MORE VIBRANT TOWN CENTRE. LED BY BFTC, with an events coordinator, LOCAL GROUPS, DORSET COUNCIL and historic England INPUT: - USE OF THE Pedestrianised MARKET AREA FOR FREQUENT, VARIED and attractive EVENTS, FROM ENTERTAINMENT, cultural and SOCIAL to COMMUNITY and BETTER MARKETS; - a new Cultural programme appealing to families and all age groups, involving museums, church, fording point, etc. -

8. COSTS AND MATCHED FUNDING
ITEM
YEAR 1
YEAR 2
YEAR 3
YEAR 4
TOTAL
Local events coordinator
£15,000
£60,000
Support for local events
£3,000
£12,000
Paving
£345,000
Conservation grant scheme
£25,000
£100,000
TOTALS
£413,000
£68,000
£617,000

10. Why investment is needed now
The HSHAZ programme has come at a very opportune time. This proposal is locally led, with support from Dorset Council. Blandford Town Team, Blandford+ Neighbourhood Plan Group and Blandford Forum Town Council have been working together to develop proposals with the primary aim of improving the central part of Blandford and particularly the Market Square, a long-term aspiration. There is other ongoing heritage conservation work on specific buildings
There is a key role for the Civic Society in the delivery of the conservation grant scheme. .

11. QUESTIONS PLEASE