The Government has announced that Cullompton has been successful in its bid to the High Streets Heritage Action Zones Programme.

As part of the programme, Historic England has offered a grant of up to £1.1 million to support the Cullompton High Street Heritage Action Zone Scheme, submitted on behalf of Cullompton by Mid Devon District Council. The funding will be used to support repairs and refurbishment of buildings in Cullompton’s historic Fore Street as well as improvements to the Higher Bullring area of the town.

Cllr Richard Chesterton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, said:

“This announcement comes at a key moment for Cullompton, as we all adapt to the new realities created by the pandemic. The funding will help to breathe new life into the town centre, restoring what is best in the town’s rich heritage and improving the visual appearance of the high street. It should give confidence to building owners that they can invest in their properties knowing that there is a concerted effort by everyone concerned to make the town more attractive to shoppers and kick start wider regeneration.”

The Council has always recognised the importance of Cullompton’s unique heritage. The High Street Heritage Action Zone funds will allow sensitive restoration of the conservation area in keeping with its future aspirations. In parallel to the physical improvements, there will also be a programme of cultural activities and events celebrating and promoting Cullompton’s heritage. The funding from Historic England will be matched with funding from Mid Devon District Council, Cullompton Town Council and Devon County Council. Initial grant schemes to support the programme will be announced in the autumn. The scheme will run from September 2020 to March 2024.

The success of the bid is welcome news and is an important step in continuing efforts to regenerate Cullompton. As part of the wider package of works planned for Cullompton, the Council is moving to the second stage of consultation on the town centre masterplan and continues to work to deliver a relief road that will alleviate traffic and free-up the town centre to create a more pedestrian friendly environment.