Grants of up to £10,000 are available to support early-stage feasibility work on historic building projects in England that help revive high streets and place a strong focus on environmental sustainability and energy efficiency. Grants of up to £15,000 in Scotland and £7,500 in Wales and Northern Ireland are also available.
(Please note that Town and Parish Councils are able to apply but local authorities and other public sector bodies are not).
The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is offering grants through its Project Viability Grants Programme to support charities, not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises for work on restoration and conservation of historic buildings in England.
AHF’s aims are to:
- Champion the impact of heritage and community-led regeneration.
- Deliver targeted investment that leads to the sustainable reuse and management of historic buildings, and
- Support charities and social enterprises to take ownership of, develop and sustain new uses for historic buildings.
Project proposals should:
- Be for buildings located in the 30% most deprived areas in England (you can use the Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2019 mapping tool to identify whether your project qualifies. Enter the postcode after clicking on the drawing pin icon on the right-hand side of the page).
- Contribute to local regeneration schemes.
- Have a strong focus on environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.
- Help revive high streets.
- Involve and support diverse communities, and
- Involve the new use of a vacant historic building.
Grants of up to £10,000 over a 12-month period are available across England for project costs and overheads. Matched funding is welcomed but is not essential.
A grant should be used to support an initial assessment of the building’s conditions and repair needs, outline designs sensitive to the heritage that would accommodate the uses being considered, the outline cost of the works needed to repair and convert the building, and surveys or audits that identify ways to improve energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Examples of eligible costs can, for example, include:
- Costs associated with setting up a charity, converting a Community Interest Company into a charity, or converting an existing charity or social enterprise into a Community Benefit Society.
- Costs of community engagement work (eg, outreach, pop-up events, consultations).
- Fees for professionals/consultants needed for initial plans (eg, architect, quantity surveyor, structural engineer, mechanical and electrical engineer, energy consultant).
- Legal costs where this is critical in establishing ownership or the viability of proposed uses (eg, advice on restrictive covenants) or for advice on governance (eg, to explore constitutional models for delivering the project and operating the building following completion).
- Outline business plans.
- Outline fundraising plans, and
Property valuation by a valuer registered with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
There are 2 stages to the application process:
Stage 1: Expression of Interest – eligible organisations should complete the short Expression of Interest form available on the AHF’s website.
Stage 2: Full Application - applicants that are successful at the expression of Interest stage will be invited to submit a details full application.
The next deadline for submitting an Expression of Interest form is Wednesday 31 July 2024 for a decision in September 2024. The following deadline is Thursday 31 October 2024 for a decision in December 2024
The Architectural Heritage Fund can take up to 6 weeks to assess an Expression of Interest and up to 3 months to assess a full application.
Further information, guidance and the Expression of Interest form is available on the AHF website.