Heritage Now

HERITAGE NOW (01/2021) AUTUMN 2021   15 FEATURE es and embed a fresh approach and mindset in the town. The hope is that this will leave a legacy that endures long beyond the duration of the programme, providing the building blocks for a community-led approach to celebrating and car- ing for heritage across Middlesbrough. The com- bination of capital and community-led heritage regeneration aims to help residents engage with their local high street, while improved frontages to buildings will make it a more pleasant place to spend time. A local community’s engagement and use of their public spaces is crucial to ensuring the long-term importance and influence of an area. Buildings in the Trinity Triangle area of Hastings town centre have benefited from a ‘Spring Clean’ over recent weeks, supported by Historic England through the HSHAZ scheme. By setting up a local Maintenance Club, a coordinated community response to com- mon maintenance issues with historic buildings is helping locals get involved, while benefitting the buildings and owners as well. These examples demonstrate the wide range of ways the HSHAZ programme is addressing the issues being experienced by high streets up and down the country. Each high street project focuses on a combination of capital improvements and community engagement, through which we are al- ready seeing more interaction with local heritage. Overcoming the challenges high streets are facing will not be easy, especially with the ongoing con- text of Covid-19. There is a particular opportunity through this programme to redefine what heritage can mean for the economic and social health of the high street. With heritage at the core of building improvement, redevelopment, diversification and community activities, high streets will be able to increase their resilience and look towards the future with greater confidence.   ——————— Middlesbrough Historic Quarter, the HSHAZ project aims to make this historic area a more desirable place for businesses, visitors, investors and local people. © Bob Cottrell. Source: Historic England Archive