Weston had a Heritage Action Zone that came to an end in September 2022. The town also has a High Street Heritage Action Zone, which runs to March 2024, thanks to a joint investment of £2m from Historic England.
Great Weston Heritage Action Zone
North Somerset Council was awarded £800k funding and Heritage Action Zone status by Historic England in 2017. It was one of the first places in England to receive this status. This project ended in September 2022.
Work included:
- adopting Weston as a Conservation Area
- adopting shopfront design policy
- improving shopfronts in the town centre
- developing heritage walking routes through the town centre
- publication of the book ‘Weston-super-Mare: The Town and its Seaside Heritage’ in 2019
- development of ‘Know Your Place’, an interactive mapping project
- programming a series of major heritage exhibitions
You can view a snapshot of Heritage Action Zone achievements on our website.
High Street Heritage Action Zone
In 2020, North Somerset Council received a further £1.1m from Historic England when it was awarded High Street Heritage Action Zone status. This project will run until March 2024.
Work includes:
- engaging communities with the heritage of Weston through volunteering and stakeholder initiatives
- restoring and repairing original features in historic buildings
- delivering a comprehensive public realm scheme to enhance Station Road, Walliscote Road and Alexandra Parade
- improving the exterior of retail units through the delivery of a shopfront enhancement scheme
- funding the development of training opportunities in traditional heritage conversation skills
- delivering a cultural programme, in partnership with Culture Weston
Great Weston Conservation Area
Adopted in 2018, the Great Weston Conservation Area stretches from Birnbeck Pier in the north to Royal Sands in the south of Weston-super-Mare and includes the town centre.
Work includes:
- developing a shopfront design guide policy for North Somerset (adopted as a supplementary planning document in September 2019)
- developing a Local Heritage List for North Somerset (adopted autumn 2021)
- developing article 4 Directions for Weston to remove permitted development rights on demolition of stone walls one metre or less in height