Leith Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI)

The Heritage Lottery Fund's Townscape Heritage Initiative programme makes grants of £500,000 to £2,000,000 available for community-related regeneration of conservation areas throughout the UK.

Edinburgh has been awarded THI funding for two initiatives for the regeneration of historic Leith.

Leith and the wider Waterfront area are currently undergoing extensive change. Leith has a distinct architectural character, derived from its history as a port and independent burgh, however areas of this historic core have not benefited from the same levels of investment as the economically successful waterfront and the architectural character of the area has suffered.

The THI programmes aim to foster physical, social and economic integration between Leith's traditional heartland and the new Waterfront development through the regeneration of Leith's historic core. The work focuses primarily on building restoration and public realm improvements, supplemented by community involvement and skills training.

The Leith THI is a comprehensive 5-year project which started in June 2007 and runs to June 2012. It comprises:

• External restoration of four priority buildings 
• Improvements to two areas of the public realm 
• Complementary initiatives including training and education
• Small-scale grant schemes for building restoration and shop front improvements.

This initiative has been awarded £1.87 million funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £468,285 funding from Historic Scotland, and £250,000 from the Scottish Government's Community Regeneration Fund.

The midway point of the 5th and final year of the initiative has been reached, with 6 months remaining to conclude projects.