TOWN CENTRE property owners in Keighley are being urged not to miss out on grant cash to renovate their buildings.

But owners of historic buildings are warned they must be prepared to fund part of the refurbishment costs themselves.

The call comes from Keighley councillors who have welcomed a progress report on Keighley’s £2.7 million Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI).

District councillors Khadim Hussain and Abid Hussain both say the project, active since June 2011, has made a great impact on the town centre. They want to ensure maximum use is made of the £700,000 left in the fund before the project ends in December.

Cllr Khadim Hussain said: “The scheme is generally delivering benefits. It has given a facelift to North Street and has improved some heritage buildings.”

The THI, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and Bradford Council, aims to return Victorian and Edwardian buildings in the town centre to their former glory.

THI money covers much of the cost of restoring period features on eligible buildings near North Street, High Street and Church Street. Seven building projects are complete, 1,000 sq m of vacant floorspace is back in use, and 16 shop fronts refurbished.