Issue details

A second THI is proposed for central Morecambe focusing on making available grant aid to property owners towards improvements to the fabric of predominantly commercial properties on part of Marine Road Central and on streets immediately landward. This is to achieve a significant uplift in the character and appearance of the historic commercial core of the town in order to support wider regeneration activity.

The Council made a first stage application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the second THI earlier this year. In the event that in October 2007 the HLF gives its approval in writing to the first stage application the Council must decide whether to contract with the HLF to undertake all necessary preparatory work as may be required (by the HLF) in order for the Council to submit a more detailed second stage THI application (within 12 months). The HLF requires that such a contract is made within 21 days of its approving in writing the first stage application.

The HLF advises that, should a positive decision subsequently be forthcoming at stage 2, the Council would need to decide within three months whether to proceed and thereby contract with the HLF to deliver the THI over a five year period. This prospectively would mean a THI commencement from early in the financial year 2009/10. Any contract for delivery will involve the Council in underwriting 50% of the total costs of the THI to match a 50% funding contribution from the HLF. At this very early stage officers anticipate that this would require the Council to find some £1 million in funding over five years from 2009/10 but
with any direct contributions by the Council offset by the total of funding contributions that it might procure from third party organisations towards the THI.