(2008-2016) The Camborne, Roskear and Tuckingmill Townscape Heritage Initiative

The Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) was created by the Heritage Lottery Fund to encourage the repair and regeneration of the historic environment in towns and cities throughout the UK. The intention of the scheme is to deliver sustainable conservation in historic urban areas and to prioritise applications from areas experiencing social and economic deprivation. 

Camborne, Roskear and Tuckingmill are located within Area A5 of the World Heritage Site and are largely defined by the terraces of industrial workers’ housing built to accommodate an expanding workforce employed in mining or engineering related manufacturing. These urban streetscapes are part of the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage Site and the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) funds were first applied for in 2008, with these being fully committed well before the official completion date of 2013. The early take up of grant funding helped a successful bid for an additional THI in the same area. The new Camborne, Roskear, Tuckingmill Regeneration, Energy and Skills THI commenced in January 2012 and ran until January 2016. The latter scheme had an emphasis on monitored energy saving measures and local traditional skills training.

The THI scheme had a common fund of £1,048,750 which included contributions from the Heritage Lottery Fund (£629,250), Cornwall Council (£200,000), the Homes and Communities Agency (£200,000), and Camborne Town Council (£19,500).

The scheme exceeded its projected outputs with 28 buildings being improved including 8 Listed buildings. 15 buildings were removed from the Historic England Buildings at Risk register and a private sector contribution of £1,491,582 was also secured. An additional £8 million was also committed from a major residential development site at the former Holman’s No.3 Rock Drill Works at Trevu Road, Camborne.

The second round of THI funded works commenced in January 2012 and ran until January 2016. This had a common fund of £666,667 with contributions from the Heritage Lottery Fund (£500,000), Cornwall Council (£151,667) and Camborne Town Council (£15,000).

As part of the THI, guidance was produced on sympathetic ways of upgrading the energy efficiency of historic buildings. This guidance was produced using the results of the energy saving monitoring measures created by students from Cornwall College's Renewable Energy course. The guidance provides local examples of good practice along with current costs and performance details of suitable products.

Camborne, Roskear and Tuckingmill THI

Cornwall Council/Ainsley Cocks, 2016