Dunstable was 1 of 67  historic high streets across England to have had government funding from Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as part of the High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) programme. Between August 2020 and March 2024 Dunstable Town Council worked with Historic England and several other partners to deliver the HSHAZ programme. The HSHAZ focused on a key stretch of the High Street falling within Dunstable Conservation Area. It included an area fronting High Street South and adjoining Middle Row and Ashton Square and on the opposite side of the road it extended to the rear of Priory House and included Priory Gardens.

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This strand comprised undertaking physical works to properties in the HSHAZ area. The privately owned properties included 18 High Street South and 21-23 High Street South and was partly dependent on which private property owners or long-term tenants choose to work with the HSHAZ.

The building refurbishment  included work to Priory House, which passed into the ownership of Dunstable Town Council in 2003. The Priory House project continued after the HSHAZ using Heritage At Risk and National Lottery Heritage Fund grants.

The Priory House project is being led by The Morton Partnership and the privately owned properties projects were led by Conception Architects.

Priory House undercroft

(Undercroft of Priory House comprising four bays)

The Cultural Programme/ Cultural Consortium sat alongside the HSHAZ . It involved Cultural activities and events led by the Dunstable Cultural Consortium. Historic England worked on the cultural programme in partnership with National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England. The Dunstable Cultural Consortium worked with Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC) https://bedsrcc.org.uk/ and they planned and delivered the cultural programme. The Consortium involved several existing local organisations, groups and societies along with individuals who came together as one to deliver the cultural programme.

This involved events and activities related to the HSHAZ, heritage, history and culture as part of Dunstable Town Council’s events programme. All of the Community Services Team at Dunstable Town Council were involved with HSHAZ related community engagement between August 2020 and March 2024.