Much-loved historic buildings in Cornwall are getting more than half a million pounds from the Heritage Lottery Fund to carry out vital restoration work and improve energy efficiency.

Cornwall Council successfully bid for the money which it hopes will now be matched by hundreds of thousands of pounds of private investment.

The money will be used to carry out quality traditional repairs on empty or underused historic buildings in Conservation Areas in and around Camborne.

Julian German, Cornwall Council Cabinet member for the Environment, said: "This is fantastic news for some of the most important industrial heritage buildings in Cornwall. We have an incredibly rich history of architecture in the area and I'm absolutely delighted to be awarded this money which will be used to preserve our fine heritage.


"The works carried out will be a great example of energy conservation in historic buildings – Cornwall needs to be able to preserve its heritage but do so in an environmentally sustainable way."

The scheme promotes the use of local materials and building techniques and provides a means of bringing empty or underused historic buildings back into use.

A Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) scheme is already in operation in Camborne, Roskear and Tuckingmill and is funding works to 23 significant buildings as well as traditional skills and energy saving initiatives.

The continuation of the THI scheme will include improvements to 12 historic buildings within the Conservation Areas and skills training projects. Negotiations with developers of large properties identified in the funding bid are already under way.

Camborne Town Council was delighted to hear that the bid had been successful. The Council fully supports the scheme as it recognises the need to maintain and preserve the ancient buildings and framework of the area. Camborne Town Council has committed £15,000 of match funding for THI projects in the parish over the next three years and looks forward to working with Cornwall Council to ensure the continued success of THI.

The scheme also gives an opportunity to help bring back into use major vacant buildings in the area such as the Northlights building in the former Bickford Smith Fuseworks, Pendarves Street, Tuckingmill and the former Public Rooms at The Cross, Camborne.

(CD)