The Heritage Revival Fund has reopened for a second round, supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Historic England. It forms part of the Government’s wider £1.5 billion investment in arts and culture.
The grant initiative is intended to help communities across England rescue and repurpose neglected historic buildings, with a focus on town centre locations. It will support community organisations to take ownership of, adapt and reuse heritage assets, with the aim of bringing disused and underutilised properties back into use.
A total of £45 million is available, with £10 million per year, which is double the £5 million annual allocation in the first round.
There are three different grants:
Priority will be given to projects that contribute to town centre regeneration and demonstrate economic and social impacts, proposals in deprived areas including the top 30% most deprived areas, projects that bring historic buildings into community ownership and plans to restore and reuse vacant or at-risk buildings.
Eligible applicants include not-for-private-profit organisations and the lowest tiers of local government. This includes registered charities, social enterprises, CIOs, charitable companies limited by guarantee, community benefit societies, co-operatives, parish and town councils and CICs limited by guarantee where activities align with recognised charitable purposes. Unincorporated charities can apply for Project Viability Grants only.
The grant can support feasibility studies, business planning, design and surveys, as well as acquisition and renovation costs.
There is a two-stage application process for the three grants.
Expressions of Interest are open and will be accepted at any time. Check direct with funder for deadlines.
