Heritage Action Zones in Stoke-on-Trent and Coventry
Two Heritage Action Zones (HAZs) in the West Midlands are using the historic environment as a springboard to regeneration and prosperity. Working in partnership with local authorities and community organisations, Historic England is celebrating heritage and transforming historic places.
Coventry
The Coventry Heritage Action Zone will boost the city's image and prosperity by celebrating heritage while promoting sustainable development.
Activity will include:
- Research leading to a Historic Area Assessment that will define the character of the area, explain its significance and identify potential threats to it
- A project aimed at uncovering 'hidden' medieval remains
- Grants aiming to repair and improve the City Walls and Gates, as well as conservation areas like Lady Herbert's Garden and The Burges
Stoke-on-Trent Ceramic HAZ
The town of Longton is the focus of the Stoke-on-Trent Ceramic HAZ, although projects to protect surviving bottle kilns throughout the Six Towns are included in the HAZ programme.
The HAZ will strive to:
- Breathe new life into the Longton conservation area with the insertion of new housing over historic shop-fronts
- Put historic buildings back into use as office space
- Deliver social and economic community activities that improve understanding of the local historic environment - including archaeological digs and education projects
