IHBC members who deal with historic buildings in rural areas will be interested in research undertaken by the Historic Houses Association (HHA) which highlights opportunities for heritage from the EU LEADER funding scheme.
HHA writes:
While sources of government funding for rural tourism via the Department of Culture, Media and Sport may have dwindled, other departments may still offer significant funding opportunities. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs manages the LEADER programme, for example.
The LEADER approach is a well-established, mandatory element of the European Union’s Rural Development Programme. LEADER is an acronym (originally French) which roughly translates as ‘Liaison Among those who work in Rural Economic Development’. It is a £138 million scheme, as part of the overall package of £456 million for the Rural Development Programme for England. Funding is intended to help a range of businesses, sectors and communities in rural areas and is delivered through LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs) in rural areas to meet locally identified priorities.
A LAG is made up of local public, private and civil society representatives and has delegated powers to bring forward and fund projects in line with their Local Development Strategy (LDS). An LDS is created by the local group for their area and describes what it aims to achieve based on locally identified priorities and actions.
There are 80 LEADER groups throughout the country, covering 85% of rural England and 43 of these were open for business, as of 18 November 2015. These will increase support for jobs and growth in rural areas. It is envisaged that 70% of projects will directly support the rural economy, with the remaining 30% all needing to make some sort of contribution to it. There will be complimentary activity between Local Enterprise Partnerships and LEADER projects.
Ministers are particularly keen that LEADER should do more to support jobs and growth in rural areas and this is why it is expected that each LEADER group will deliver 70% of project funding directly in support of jobs and growth through the relevant policy priorities and every project a LAG approves will have to demonstrate that it has some direct benefit to the rural economy.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is currently in discussions with the EU’s LEADER Exchange Group (LEG) in order to take the programme to the point at which calls for applications can be made. It is expected that this will take place in mid-2016, although this is subject to internal clearance and resourcing issues. The LEADER page on the GOV.UK website includes various information, including contact details for LAGs.
LEADER funding information
Rural Development Programme for England website
HHA press release
Download Heritage Cases pdf
IHBC newsblogs on funding
