Cash bid to takeGovan shopsback to future...
SHOPKEEPERS in Govan are being offered grants to take their premises back to the future.
Around £850,000 has been made available to reinstate the scale and details of the original exteriors of business in the area.
The work is part of the townscape heritage initiative which was set up in 2009 to regenerate Govan by restoring, repairing and preserving the area’s heritage and listed buildings.
It is being funded by the city council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and a number of other partners.
Regeneration group Get into Govan says many more people are expected to live in and visit the area when the new river crossing and more than 100 houses at Water Row are completed by the end of 2019.
Its website says: “The time has never been better to make the most of Govan’s shopfronts and encourage more residents, businesses and visitors to choose Govan.
“The positive effects of townscape heritage initiative funding shopfront improvements can already be seen in Langlands Road and at the Water Row shops and Cafe 13 at Govan Cross which together have added cosmopolitan cafe culture, more local jobs and higher quality goods and services to the town centre.”
As well as full scale shopfront reinstatements, money could also be provided for smaller improvements such as a creative approach to signage, decorations and window displays.
Owners or tenants of shops in Govan conservation area who are interested in the scheme should register their interest by December 7.
A Get into Govan spokesman said: “Grants are on a first come first served basis so you are encouraged to register in round one and as early as possible as there is no guarantee grant funding will be available towards the end of the programme.”
Kenny McLean, the city council’s spokesman for neighbourhoods, housing and public realm, said: “This very welcome funding will play a valuable role in the ongoing regeneration of Govan.
“Similar work at Govan Cross has transformed the appearance of many of the shop frontages, making the area more attractive for everyone living, working or shopping there.”