Restoration of two More High Street Properties Underway as Heritage-Based Regeneration Continues

Restoration work on two more Bedford High Street properties has started on site under the heritage-based regeneration programme which is delivering £4.5 million of investment into the High Street area. No.'s 99 and 101, towards the northern end of the High Street, are being restored together, and follow a string of succesful restoration and regeneration works on and around the High Street. These include the dramatic transformation of the 'Coffee With Art' building, and the ongoing work to bring the fifteenth century 1-4 St Paul's buildings back into use after forty years standing derelict in one of Bedford town centre's most prominent locations.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "These restoration works are further good news for Bedford High Street, continuing the heritage-based regeneration our THI project is delivering in the heart of town."

"The project has already enabled a dramatic transformation of High Street properties such as the 'Coffee With Art' building. It is also set to help bring back into use the old Porter Blacks and the historic 1-4 St Paul's Square, both of which stood empty and unused in the heart of Bedford for many years in the past. Just as these previously-derelict properties once stood as symbols of a relative decline of Bedford High Street, their renewal signifies the regeneration now taking place here and across town."

No.99 was most recently occupied by Mario's Fish Bar, and No. 101 was most recently occupied by Jinx clothing.

The partnership working between the owners of the two properties has helped to reduce costs and save valuable time achieving a unified shop front design. This twin project will reinstate the elegant shop fronts and part of the historic stone colonnade that used to be grand features of this terrace of properties.

It is understood that they were built by George Handscombe Miller in the early 1860's. Historic records show they housed William Warning, a grocer and Mrs Maria Merrie's toy warehouse in the 1890's; electrical and radio engineers, coal merchants and boot and shoemakers in the early 1900's; followed by Singer sewing machines and K Shoe Shop in the 1970's.

The works will be carried out by contractor The English Listed Building Company, who delivered the repair and shop front reinstatement work at 82 High Street - Coffee with Art. The new shop fronts have been designed and the contract will be administered by Bedford based MK40 Architects. It is also hoped the improvements will complement the public art installation in the passageway running between the two properties, by Bedford College Fine Art student, Michelle Crowther.

To facilitate the safe delivery of the works, the passageway will be closed for the duration of the works and pedestrians, particularly from Lurke Street Car Park, will be directed to use alternative routes down Mill Street and Lurke Street instead.

In addition to the grant funded works at 99 and 101 High Street, works continue at No. 51 (previously Gunns Bakery) and 1-4 St. Paul's Square as well as a complex scheme to bring 220 sqm of vacant floor space back into use on site above The Kiln at 87 High Street.

It is hoped that another three schemes on High Street will commence on site later this year. The grant-funded work will contribute to THI efforts to lift the visual appeal of High Street, in support of businesses operating in the High Street and surrounding area.

The Townscape Heritage Initiative has drawn in external funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, property owners and businesses and BedfordBID, all in addition to Council funding, to deliver a project which is helping to restore the historic character of Bedford's High Street.