The Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) in the Southgate Street area of the city has so far awarded five buildings with grants and further applications are coming forward.

The £1.2 million scheme is two years in to a five year programme, and is designed to regenerate the area and improve older properties in one of the key gateways to the city.

Seventy-five per cent of the funding comes from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with the remaining 25 per cent from Gloucester City Council.

Around 20 buildings have been identified for grants under the scheme, with un-occupied buildings and those in poor enough condition to be on the ‘at risk’ register targeted first for the available funding. The council hope to have all available funding offered to property owners by November 2016.

The council have organised a series of training sessions and workshops for property owners and contractors. An education pack has also been put together for schools concentrating on the buildings in Southgate Street.

The education pack is designed to help improve young people’s awareness of Gloucester’s historic past, and to encourage them to play a part in preserving these buildings for future generations.

Cllr Paul James, leader of Gloucester City Council, said: “It’s great to see so much regeneration taking place in our city centre.

“Southgate Street is an important link between the docks and the city centre so the Townscape Heritage Initiative will really make a difference in this area.

“It’s great to see the project progressing well and the funding helping to return some of these grand old buildings to their former glory.”

For further information about the scheme or the grants available email heretohelp@gloucester.gov.uk or call the project officer on 01452 396344.