Govan Cross Townscape Heritage Initiative

Description:

Govan Cross Townscape Heritage Initiative (GCTHI) aims to regenerate Central Govan by investing and promoting its unique and rich heritage. As a grant giving programme, GCTHI offer grant support to the local community. The funding is deisgned to:

• Preserve and enhance the appearance of Govan Cross;
• Repair and maintain the buildings and features that give Govan Cross its architectural character and distinct sense of place;
• Ensure that historic buildings have uses that contribute to the economic and social vitality of the Govan Community; and
• Promote opportunities for people to learn about and appreciate the exceptional events, buildings and people that have shaped this historic place.
• The Govan Cross THI scheme identifies a number of target projects including the Pearce Institute, a striking example of Edwardian architecture, gifted to the people of Govan in 1906 in memory of Sir William Pearce: Chairman of the Fairfield Shipbuilding Company and Govan's flamboyant first Member of Parliament.  The Pearce Institute's historic features will be repaired and restored, as will the buildings, shops and streets in the surrounding areas.

Projects funded or earmarked for funding include:

• Pearce Institute Phase 1 Roof Repair
• Govan Cross Public Realm Improvements - Phase 1, The Square
• Aitken Memorial Fountain restoration
• William Pearce Statue restoration
• Traditional Shop Front Improvements - Water Row, Burleigh Street and Langlands Road
• Historic building repairs - Water Row Tenements, Cardell Halls & Brechins Bar

The Heritage Lottery Fund supports Townscape Heritage Initiatives all over the UK, which aim to regenerate conservation areas in towns or cities that have particularly suffered from social and economic problems. There are three THIs in Glasgow: Merchant City, Parkhead and Govan Cross. Following the declaration in 2009 of Govan Cross as a Conservation Area, Heritage Lottery awarded Govan Cross THI £939,000. The initiative is a partnership with Glasgow City Council and forms a distinct but integral part of Central Govan Action Plan.