Inverkeithing is now celebrating a grant award of £1,255,900 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for essential repairs and improvements to its historic streetscape and buildings.
The Townscape Heritage (TH) funding, which can be allocated thanks to National Lottery players, was confirmed by the Scotland Committee of the National Lottery Heritage Fund today.
The good news means that a regeneration package of over £3 million is now available for a five-year programme of heritage themed improvement & investment in the town, 2019-2024.
This National Lottery award will now be combined with the grant made in April to Inverkeithing of £1,007,700 from the Historic Environment Scotland Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), along with Fife Council money and other funding contributions.
Councillor Alice McGarry, Area Convenor for the South and West Fife Area Committee said: “This is more good news for Inverkeithing and its regeneration. It reflects the positive and constructive input taken onboard from local people and groups in Inverkeithing whilst the applications were developed. It also represents a major step forward in starting to realise local people’s vision for the town as expressed in the Imagine Inverkeithing Community Masterplan developed last year. People wished to see new investment, jobs, and diversifying the local economy, whilst protecting and enhancing our built and natural heritage.”
Commenting on the awards, Riona McMorrow, Acting Head of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“Making more decisions on funding in Scotland means we can focus on the heritage that really matters to people, creating jobs, bringing economic prosperity and improving people’s lives right across the country.
“The awards we’ve made today not only demonstrate how incredibly diverse our heritage is, they celebrate the thousands of volunteers who commit their time to making sure our country’s past is kept safe for future generations.”
The Inverkeithing Heritage Regeneration project will be managed by Heritage Trust Network members, Fife Historic Buildings Trust (FHBT), in partnership with Fife Council.
Lorraine Bell, Manager of Fife Historic Buildings Trust, said:
“So many people have been instrumental in the planning process for this magnificent level of funding. FHBT will build on its recent experience of delivering the award winning Cupar CARS project to bring some of Inverkeithing’s most historic buildings back to life in partnership with the local community and Fife Council. We are absolutely thrilled for Inverkeithing, and we can’t wait to get started.”
For more information on the Inverkeithing CARS TH funding bid, please contact: Chris Wragg, Town Centre Development Unit, Fife Council, chris.wragg@fife.gov.uk or tel 03451 555 555 ext 471851 or visit the website http://www.fifehistoricbuildings.org.uk/inverkeithing
