Dunstable High Street Heritage Action Zone

The Dunstable High Street Heritage Action Zone will generate significant community engagement and celebrate Dunstable's rich history and heritage.

It will lead to an improvement in local aesthetics, an increase in footfall to the area, a more stable business environment, reduced vacancy rates and the removal of Priory House from the Heritage at Risk Register plus the securing of a Green Heritage Flag for Priory Gardens.

The Dunstable High Street Heritage Action Zone is focussed on Middle Row and the north end of High Street South within the Dunstable Town Centre Conservation Area. It contains 11 listed buildings including the 18th century Grade II* listed Priory House and Gardens which is on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register and the nationally important buried remains of the 12th century Priory which are protected as a scheduled monument.

The main objective is to bring a sense of pride and vitality back into the neglected historic core of Dunstable's High Street. Historic buildings in the area are considered to be at risk of falling into disrepair within the next five years if left to deteriorate. The local community sees Middle Row as the oldest part of the high street and conservation area but also believe the area to be the most neglected and most in need of investment.

How the Dunstable High Street Heritage Action Zone will help

The Dunstable High Street Heritage Action Zone will bring life and a sense of pride back into the neglected historical core of Dunstable's High Street, primarily High Street South and Middle Row, through repair and conservation interventions, community engagement and cultural programming.

Stay up to date

Below you can find just some of the progress being made in the Dunstable High Street Heritage Action Zone. For more, follow us on Twitter @HistoricEngland

  • Works have been taking place in Ashton Square. The Clock Tower has been repaired and the first phase of work to the gardens outside the Methodist Church has been completed. There are further improvements planned for the south side of the church.
  • The cultural programme has been given a grant of £92,572 to run activities around the High Street in 2022 and 2023.
  • A new exhibition has opened in Priory House for Spring 2022 focusing on Medieval Dunstable and the Augustinian Priory.

Working in partnership with

  • Dunstable Town Council

High Streets