HISTORIC Kidderminster cottages that were lovingly rescued and restored through a £1million project have been sold.

Nick Millinchip, partner with Phipps & Pritchard with McCartneys, announced the sale of the three Grade II listed 18th century Weavers’ Cottages in Horsefair.

Worcestershire Building Preservation Trust (WBPT) secured grants including £730,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and more than £300,000 from the Architectural Heritage Fund to carry out the repairs and convert them into two-bedroom properties.

The buildings lay derelict for a number of years but Kidderminster Civic Society successfully campaigned for the cottages to be given protected status ahead of WBPT starting restoration work.

Last year, the rescue project saw refurbished buildings were shortlisted for the prestigious Historic England Angel Awards.

Mr Millinchip said: “We are most privileged to have been chosen to assist the Trust in the sale of these very important properties and the project has demonstrated something quite extraordinary for the open market.

“Namely, the extreme - yet for the lucky purchasers, and indeed Kidderminster itself, richly rewarding - concept of conservation before cost!

“Refreshingly however, profit has not been the point – the focus is perfection in conservation which has been sensationally achieved.

“Such is the prominence of the Weavers’ Cottages project that it has also been shortlisted in the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) 2018 West Midlands awards in both the Conservation and Community Benefit categories.”

Bob Tolley, Trustee of The Worcestershire Building Preservation Trust, added: “It’s wonderful to have people once again living in the cottages and to have demonstrated how historic buildings can be refurbished to provide attractive housing for future generations to enjoy.

“We are grateful to the large number of people who have played a part in enabling the Trust to deliver this successful transformation from an eyesore to an asset of which the local community can be proud.”