NOW funding has helped save a much-loved Walthamstow institution - Manze's Pie and Mash shop which has been serving customers on the High Street since 1929.

The NOW funded project responsible for enhancing Manze’s building is the Strategic Street Properties Refurbishment/Heritage Economic Regeneration (SSPR/HERS) programme. The project seeks to restore and undertake beneficial works on significant buildings, mainly commercial properties within Walthamstow's St James Conservation Area, thereby improving the built environment and assisting the regeneration of the area. The project is run in partnership with English Heritage and started in 2002 with circa £500,000 in funding - £250,000 of which comes from NOW.

Architecturally significant buildings and those with links to Walthamstow's heritage are being helped by the SSPR/HERS programme in a way which is sympathetic to their history. The restoration carried out has made existing businesses more attractive to customers and encouraged new shops to open premises within this area. Grants of up to 80 per cent are available towards the improvement costs for key buildings.

Since April 2002, SSPR/HERS has successfully completed the regeneration of:

	The Clock House 13 Pretoria Avenue (Grade II listed).
	Amin Opticians 27 High Street.
	The Cock Tavern & Stables 67 High Street.
	Get Direct Internet Café 39-41 High Street.
	L. Manze's Pie & Mash Shop 76 High Street (LBWF Locally-Listed).
	Cassino Shoes 103 High Street.
	Compucare (PC) Centre 16 St. James's Street.

The project was scheduled to end in 2004/2005, but has been granted an unprecedented fourth year of funding by English Heritage as a result of its satisfaction with the project. This allows English Heritage's agreed allocation of £75,000 for 2005/2006 to be matched by SRB funds.