A CLUTCH of small-scale projects are due to start soon as part of Keighley’s £2.7 million Townscape Heritage Initiative.

Shop fronts on some of the town centre’s most historic streets will be returned to their Victorian and Edwardian appearance.

And the impact of larger Townscape revamps, carried out over the past two years, is encouraging more property owners to get involved in the scheme.

The news was revealed in a report on the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), which was presented to last week’s meeting of Keighley Area Committee.

THI, funded by Bradford Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund, provides grants to property owners in the historic area around North Street.

Owners are also expected to pay towards the cost of renovating the exterior and interior of the century-old buildings.

Key schemes so far have included the refurbishing the North Street Arcade and creation of apartments above; transformation the old police station into Keighley Civic Centre; refurbishing Keighley Volunteer Centre on North Street; and, most recently the £285,000 renovation of the Jean Junction building near the High Street roundabout.

Sue Oakley, the council officer spearheading the THI, reported to the area committee that the scheme, which began in summer 2011, was progressing well.

She said the latest major schemes, the re-paving of North Street and High Street with stone flags, was already making an impact.

She said that external repairs and reinstatement works were almost complete on a section of shops in Church Street – opposite Keighley Shared Church – and re-rendering of the nearby Red Pig was underway.

She said: “Now that the impact of the THI is starting to show quite a number of property owners are coming forward for grants.

“A large number of smaller projects will potentially start on site in the next few months.”