Historic England has reopened the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, provided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as part of the Government’s wider £1.5 billion investment in arts and culture.
The fund supports the conservation, repair and conversion of heritage at risk across England. It aims to remove or significantly reduce deterioration for priority assets, bring historic buildings back into safe and productive use and target projects in England’s most disadvantaged communities.
The total amount of the fund is £75 million with £15 million available each year from 2025 to 2030. Grants of up to £1 million are available. The level of funding offered depends on the type of activity and the needs of the individual project.
Individuals and organisations can apply as long as have legal responsibility for the repair of the property. This includes freeholders, holders of a full repairing lease with at least 21 years remaining, or parties with an agreement to acquire the property outright or via a qualifying lease.
Support is available for listed buildings of all grades, historic buildings in conservation areas, registered parks and gardens and scheduled monuments.
Eligible projects must demonstrate strong local community benefits and be located in areas within Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 1-3 and/or areas identified through the Community Needs Index (CNI).
During the first year of the fund, a total of £15 million was awarded in funding to 37 projects from across England including a medieval harbour in Penzance, Cornwall and a former coal mine in Northumberland.
The funding is expected to run over the next four years with further rounds of grants later this year and in the future.
There is a two-stage application process.
The first deadline for Expressions of Interest is 7 June 2026.
