Partners in the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) have recently agreed a number of changes to the project to ensure it can be delivered within the timescale and available budget. 

These include a focus upon the Town Hall as the main ‘Critical Project’ as well as an increase in the level of grant available for property owners to carry out building repairs.  THI work must be completed by spring 2012.  All the changes have now been formally approved by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The building repairs grants have been increased from a maximum of £25,000 to a maximum of either £35,000 or £45,000 dependant on the scale of the project.  The purpose of these grants is to assist with the reinstatement of original features in some of the town’s historic buildings.  The effectiveness of the grants can be seen with the works completed to properties in Church Street and McNeils Bar in the Narrows.  However time is now starting to run out to get grant applications considered.

The THI grant is complemented by the Comhairle’s own painting grant scheme which operates within the same area as the THI, while properties in the wider Stornoway Conservation Area are eligible for conservation area grant also through the Comhairle.   The Conservation Area Grants are also available in the other Conservation Areas in the Islands.

Much has already been achieved in improving Stornoway’s historic town centre through the Stornoway THI. New paving and street lighting along with works to a number of historic buildings have been completed making the town centre a more attractive place for both locals and visitors.  The replacement feature for the pyramid has added a new ‘meeting’ place.

An application for European funding towards developing Traditional construction skills has also been approved using funds from the THI as match funding and will be delivered during the remainder of the THI project.

Other works planned for the town centre include the re-creation of the Perceval Square civic space.  This is being funded through the successful £1.5m bid for Town Centre Regeneration Fund and the works associated with that fund are scheduled to be completed in the coming months.