£2m boost for historic Jewellery Quarter
A £2 MILLION scheme to renovate historic Jewellery Quarter buildings and attract more visitors to the area has been revealed.
The three-year Jewellery Quarter Townscape Heritage programme could see the renovation of the quarter’s Argent Centre, a complex of small office units, and home of the Pen Museum at 60 Frederick Street.
Also shortlisted for a revamp are the derelict 51-53 Vittoria Street and 23-26 Warstone Lane, where jewellery shop Artfull Expression is based.
The money will also fund heritage-themed events comparing the past and present, during the Jewellery Quarter Festival in July, and a programme of activities and tours during Birmingham Heritage Week in September.
Philip Davis, chairman of the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust, said: “We already know that the Jewellery Quarter has a distinct historic townscape and, through this new project, derelict properties will be converted into attractive, vibrant and interesting places for the benefit of the whole community. Complementing this will be an all-inclusive activity plan that will engage with a wide range of people on the heritage of the area including its buildings and people.”
The partners contributing to the project are Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District, Birmingham City Council, Historic England and Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.
A grant of £1.8 million had previously been secured for the project from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Vanessa Harbar, head of Heritage Lottery Fund in the West Midlands, added: “This is excellent news for Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, whose Industrial Middle contains one of the highest concentrations of derelict buildings in the city centre.
“Now, thanks to National Lottery players, this investment will enable and inspire property owners and volunteers to bring these important historic buildings back into life and back into use.”