English Heritage has confirmed a £500,000 grant for the Buxton Crescent and Thermal Spa scheme, which will create one of the UK's first genuine spa hotels for more than 100 years.

The funding is to go towards the £35m transformation of Buxton's Grade I-listed Crescent and the adjacent Grade II-listed Natural Baths and Pump Room. When complete, the development will feature a 79-room spa hotel incorporating the Natural Baths; a thermal, natural mineral water spa; eight specialist shops; and a visitor centre.

Repairs to the Pump Room are expected to take place later this year, before being converted into an information centre for the remainder of the transformation. Trevor Osborne Property Group, CP Holdings and Danubius Hotels are currently working on the scheme in partnership with High Peak Borough Council (HPBC).

Derbyshire County Council is also involved with the development and is providing funding - along with HPBC. Five years ago, the Heritage Lottery Fund contributed £12.5m. HPBC leader Caitlin Bisknell said: "The funding takes us another important step towards the realisation of a nationally-important development that will strengthen the growing reputation of our spa town as a major visitor destination."