Harbour Street Fronts & Facades

The High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ), included £193,000 for the refurbishment, conservation and revitalisation of shop fronts and facades along Harbour Street. A design team was appointed in 2022 to carry out a prioritisation exercise of the HSHAZ. Designs and projects have been developed on the basis of a prioritisation matrix.

In addition to the building works to shop fronts, the HSHAZ is also funding the development of a Shop Front Design Guide, which will be used to support appropriate design and delivery of shop front and commercial works across the District.

The shop front design document is intended to be a useful guide for shop owners, developers and building owners wanting to undertake work to shop fronts and signs. It also gives guidance for new-built retail units.

The guide is aimed primarily at people who own their own shops and will be themselves responsible for its repair and economic success. As such the guidance covers a wide range of subject areas and is intended to aid owners find the most appropriate and cost effective way of keeping a good quality shop front and successful business. Shop fronts that require specialist architectural work or shops owned by companies with multiple outlets are less likely to need some of the guidance, however much of it will remain relevant.