Colwyn Bay Victorian building Heritage Lottery Fund grant

More than £4m could be spent restoring the Victorian character of the north Wales town of Colwyn Bay.

The Heritage Lottery Fund made the announcement after pledging £800,000 for the latest round of improvements to buildings.

The town has been undergoing a revamp over the last few years and more is now planned.

The latest HLF grant will "improve and preserve the unique character" of historic buildings in the town centre.

Colwyn Bay has many distinctive buildings which have fallen into disrepair”

Premises due for the improvements include the old Woolworth building, the art deco A&A Cash & Carry and Central Hotel.

Restoration work will see traditional shop fronts restored with cast-iron canopies.

A total of 37 projects are being considered, including reopening empty buildings, creating exhibition spaces as well as a local history centre.

Local colleges providing building courses will create heritage-based training modules teaching traditional building techniques to help with the restoration and future maintenance.

Conwy council was given the £803,500 grant via HLF's Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI).

"Once a thriving Victorian seaside resort, Colwyn Bay has many distinctive buildings which have fallen into disrepair after many years of social and economic decline," said a HLF spokesperson.

"The aim of the THI scheme will be to create new and sustainable uses for the buildings to attract new businesses, improve the retail offer and build the confidence in the local community."

This investment in Colwyn Bay is an important opportunity to ensure a quality reinstatement of the historic architectural heritage”

The last THI grant of £600,000 was awarded in Colwyn Bay in September 1998 and was spent on its Victorian conservation area.

The project could result in up to £4m being spent on buildings in Colwyn Bay over a five year period taking into account match funding from the private sector with help from project partners Conwy council, HLF, Welsh government and its heritage section, Cadw.

Councillor Phillip Evans said the latest grant "forms an essential component in the renaissance of the town" which follows the reopening of the regional events centre at Eirias Park as well as £5m improvements in the town's promenade.

Conwy principal conservation officer Peter Jones Hughes said similar THI projects have made a "significant impact" in Penmaenmawr and Llanrwst.

"This investment in Colwyn Bay is an important opportunity to ensure a quality reinstatement of the historic architectural heritage of the area."