Work is due to start next month to restore two shop fronts to their former glory as part of a £2.7m scheme to protect Keighley’s heritage.

The Volunteer Centre, in North Street, has been given £60,000 from Bradford Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund to help transform its double frontage to reflect how it originally looked when it was built in the 19th century. The Centre is contributing around 27 per cent to the cost of the work, said Keighley Townscape Heritage officer Sue Oakley under the Council’s Keighley Heritage Initiative grant scheme.

The Centre is part of the Burlington Buildings, built around 1891 by Laycocks, and the hope is to restore all of the shop fronts in that building to their former Victorian grandeur.

“All of the shop fronts were identical and we’re trying to recreate it and get it back to how it was,” she said.

“I’ve worked with a conservation architect and we’ve looked at archives and old photographs and other bits and bobs found on site and recreated what it would have looked like.”

The makeover is expected to be completed by December and will be the third shop front updated as part of the scheme.

Miss Oakley said: “It’s been a slow process, but when you have a couple going, then other people show an interest.”

Shop owners wanting to improve their shop fronts can apply for a grant of 75 per cent from the Council.

Councillor Val Slater, Bradford Council’s executive member for housing, planning and transport, said: “It is great news that the restoration of the Volunteer Centre is due to start soon as this will further enhance the buildings on North Street and complement the work already carried out on the Arcade.

“Hopefully this work will encourage more property owners to come forward and accept grant funding. This is a wonderful opportunity to improve the historic buildings within the Keighley Conservation Area and encourage regeneration.”

Anyone wanting to get involved with the scheme, they can call (01274) 437495 or e-mail: sue.oakley@bradford.gov.uk