WORK set to start on restoring a group of derelict historic buildings, including the original site of Binns department store.

The restoration of the Grade II listed properties of 170 -175 High Street West, in Sunderland is a key project for Sunderland’s Heritage Action Zone.

The buildings have been derelict for a number of years but there has long been a desire from the local community to preserve them.

The project led by Historic England and Sunderland City Council, which bought the buildings and passed their ownership to Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust.

The repair grant from Historic England will allow emergency repairs to be carried out to consolidate the buildings while funding is sought for the full conservation and conversion scheme.

The buildings will also feature as a case study in a European research project called Open Treasure, with the restoration compared with projects in Lisbon, Rome, Warsaw, Berlin and Budapest.

As part of the emergency repairs, road closures will be in place on High Street West and Little Villiers Street to allow work to take place safely. The road outside the buildings on High Street West will be closed from 19th February for 7 days and the road to the rear of the building on Little Villiers Street will be closed from 19th February for 21 days.

Trust manager Martin Hulse said: “It is quite clear this is the last chance to save these buildings, two of which were built in 1815 and are a crucial part of Sunderland’s history. They are currently an eyesore and the immediate job is to make them safe and improve their appearance.”

The Historic High Streets project began last year when the area was awarded Heritage Action Zone status. The partnership project which is led by Historic England and Sunderland City Council aims to transform Sunderland’s high street heritage, building on previous work by the council and local partners to revive historic Sunderland and reconnect it with the modern city centre.

Other projects that have been undertaken include detailed building assessments of Hutchinsons Buildings (Mackie’s Corner), the Athenaeum building on Fawcett Street, and Phoenix Masonic Hall on Queen Street.

Cabinet Secretary Councillor Mel Speding, said: “Binns holds a very special place in the hearts of people in Sunderland so it’s fantastic to see this group of historic buildings being given a second chance with a repair grant from Historic England as part of the Heritage Action Zone, while funding is sought to secure their long term future.

“They are an important part of the city’s history and it would be wonderful to see them restored and given a new lease of life for use by future generations.”