MORE than £17 million has been spent in eastern England in a major economic regeneration of the area, a new report reveals today. English Heritage, Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) have launched the first Heritage Dividend Report 2003 to highlight the £17,400,911 investment into both private and public funding in the region.

MORE than £17 million has been spent in eastern England in a major economic regeneration of the area, a new report reveals today.

English Heritage, Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) have launched the first Heritage Dividend Report 2003 to highlight the £17,400,911 investment into both private and public funding in the region.

Richard Halsey, regional director of English Heritage East of England, said: "The report shows that heritage funding in the East of England is exceeding the national average heritage dividend and that over the past five years, through our Conservation Area Partnership Schemes (CAPS) and Heritage Economic Regeneration Schemes (HERS) huge improvements have been made to the region.

"Sustainability of buildings is key to keeping the look and feel of an area. The region's historic towns and cities have grown up over the years but continued investment is essential for attracting people to live, work, shop and spend their leisure time in the area."

Schemes in Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk have been among those to have benefited.

Halesworth was one of the towns to benefit from the scheme with more than £1 million being spent that resulted in improvements to 38 buildings including ten homes, 990 sq m of commercial floor space, 4,000 sq m of environmental improvements, 50 jobs created and 110 jobs safeguarded.

Projects in the north Suffolk market town have included new shop fronts, repairs to traditional buildings, extensions to an organic food shop and a major refurbishment for a nursery school.

A wine bar in the Thoroughfare has been extended to include an internet café and computer training area, and support has been given to the New Cut Arts Centre in Halesworth.

Amanda Arrowsmith, Heritage Lottery Fund committee chair for the east of England, said: "The Heritage Lottery Fund is delighted to support regeneration through heritage in the east of England.

"Our investment creates new economic opportunities, stimulates positive change and encourages other funding."

Also in north Suffolk the scheme has paved the way for more than £1 million being spent on environmental improvements in South Lowestoft.

This work involves projects to private and public property including major upgrading of the Esplanade Gardens.