Historic buildings in Armley and Chapeltown will be restored at a cost of £2.5m, mainly from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Both are historic communities which were absorbed into what became the city of Leeds as it spread from its roots in Briggate.

But both retained their individual identities and are vibrant communities with their own main streets and town centres.

Armley is to receive a grant of £1.1m and Chapeltown £0.8m. Leeds City Council will add a further £300,000 to each grant making a total of £2.5m between the two.

The Armley cash will be used to restore listed buildings and historic shopping parades including shop frontages in Branch Road, near Mike's Carpets.

The Chapeltown funding will be used to restore and repair Victorian and Edwardian properties and carry out restoration work to shop fronts along Chapeltown Road.

The money is part of the Heritage Lottery Fund's Townscape Initiative to regenerate historic parts of towns and cities.

Leeds City Council says it will work closely with local groups and residents on the plans.

There will also be training for local builders interested in working on heritage based construction and information for owners and occupants of historic buildings on how to maintain them.

Councillor Andrew Carter, Leeds City Council executive board member for regeneration, said: "We can now set about conserving and improving Armley and Chapeltown so they remain in good shape for years to come."
One of the Armley shops to benefit will be Hair in Branch Road.

Proprietor Marie Dobson, who has run her business for 12 years, said: "I had a letter and that was the last I heard of it," she said.