The Buxton Crescent & Thermal Spa Project Funding
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The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded further funding towards a major project to conserve Buxton’s iconic Grade I listed Georgian Crescent - one of the first purpose built hotels in the country.
HLF will provide £11.3million, in addition to the major grant already allocated, to secure the long-term future of the Crescent which was built by the fifth Duke of Devonshire as the centrepiece of this famous spa town. The extra money is essential to unlock the major regeneration plans and follows various unforeseen cost increases and delays including legal difficulties and the loss of funding from other sources. It will pay for extensive repair and restoration works to stop the structural deterioration of the building so that a thermal spa and hotel can be created. This will bring the building back into use for the first time since 1992, attracting many more people to the town and in turn providing a huge boost to the local economy. The flagship £46 million development is also being funded by High Peak Borough Council, Derbyshire County Council, English Heritage and developer Buxton Crescent Hotel and Thermal Spa Co Ltd. Councillor Caitlin Bisknell, Leader of the Borough Council, said: “This is exactly the news everyone has been hoping and waiting for. This is an extremely important moment for the town. I know many people have fond, personal memories of the former hotel and baths and are anxious to see the buildings restored. It’s been a long time coming but it really does now feel like all the hurdles have been cleared and I look forward to work starting in the New Year.” 
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The innovative plans, supported by HLF, also include an interactive visitor centre, tearoom and heritage experience in the Grade II listed Pump Room - open to the public free of charge - as well as enabling public access and interpretation of the Assembly Rooms.
This will complement the transformation of the historic Crescent which will include:
Derbyshire County Council’s Leader Councillor Anne Western said: “This is great news for this wonderful building, Buxton and the surrounding area and we are very grateful for the support that the Heritage Lottery Fund has shown. “Once we secure the final funding we can get on and bring new life to the Crescent. Once the works have been completed and the building is open for business this will mark a new beginning for Buxton. The economic benefits will be felt for many years to come and an iconic building will have been saved for future generations.” Developer Trevor Osborne added: “The restoration of the Crescent is the cornerstone of the heritage-led regeneration currently helping to revitalise the High Peak so this is the best possible news we could have received. We’ve chosen our contractor, Vinci, who carried out the first phase and the enabling works so have a proven track record in this field. Subject to securing the final piece of the funding jigsaw we’re all set to go in the New Year – it’s an exciting time for the scheme and the whole town.” Vanessa Harbar, Head of HLF East Midlands, said: “Buxton is a gem of the Peaks and the perfect example of how heritage can help to regenerate a whole town and give it a new sense of purpose. The Crescent is the final piece in the puzzle, rejuvenating a precious example of Georgian architecture and creating a base for people from all over the world to explore Derbyshire’s treasures.” In 2013, HLF announced new research showing that heritage-based tourism is worth £26.4bn to the UK economy - £5.8bn higher than the previous estimate published in 2010. Buxton Spa Aromatics would like to thank visitors to this page who showed their supported by filling in a form that was sent to the Heritage Lottery Fund via the local Borough Council. |
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