Hull City Council has successfully passed the first round of bidding and now has permission to progress the plans to round two and apply for a full grant worth around £1.567m.

The council now has until February 2015 to develop a detailed application that will include a range of proposals to restore, invest and bring back its heritage. If successful work will start late 2015 and will be completed by 2019.

The project aims to restore and preserve the heritage of a number of buildings in the Beverley Road area between Clough Road and the city centre, which is a significant gateway to the city.

Development funding of £69,900 has also been awarded to help Hull City Council progress plans to apply for a full grant.

The project aims to carry out essential conservation work, which includes frontage and boundary improvements to a number of properties and areas of vacant council land and will offer property owners the opportunity to apply for grants to carry out improvements to their properties to restore and repair some of the original features.

The council will work with a range of partners, owners, communities and schools to see how we can make best use of the area. The council will also work with land owners of vacant land to look at the opportunities available.

Councillor Martin Mancey, Portfolio Holder for Energy City, said: "We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund recognises the importance of the Beverley Road area, a major gateway into the city. We will now move forward with a detailed proposal that we hope will prove successful. We will be inviting businesses, residents, local schools and partners to support us in developing a proposal that preserves the look and needs of the local area.

"This area has been overlooked for a number of years and we hope this proposal will have a positive impact on the city.

"This announcement demonstrates the Fund’s confidence in Hull as a city and its recent City of Culture success, and will make a significant difference to the local area and our city of culture offer."

Fiona Spiers, Head of HLF Yorkshire and Humber, said: "Beverley Road is best-known as the gateway leading into the city of Hull. As such, it's key that it's restored to its original splendour in time for 2017 when Hull becomes 'City of Culture'. We're confident our funding will help the council to achieve this aim and will be working closely with it as plans progress over the coming year. City centres can - and should - be at the heart of community life and we believe that restored, high quality shop fronts and historic features, make a real difference to everyone’s overall quality of life."

Notes to editors

An HLF Townscape Heritage (TH) first-round pass means that money has been set aside by HLF. The applicants can then progress to the second round and send a detailed second-round submission to secure the full award. This early level of strong financial commitment means that THs can build strong partnerships with the assurance that funding for their scheme is in place provided their final proposals fully meet the programme criteria.

THs encourage partnerships of local organisations to carry out repairs and other works to a number of historic buildings, structures or spaces. Grants are available from £100,000 up to £2m. The next application deadline is 31 August 2014 with decisions being made in January 2015.

To date, HLF has invested over £229m regenerating towns that have suffered serious social and economic decline.