{"id":38760,"date":"2024-01-16T16:07:41","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T16:07:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogsnew.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=38760"},"modified":"2024-01-15T17:30:14","modified_gmt":"2024-01-15T17:30:14","slug":"ahf-uk-towns-and-cities-get-5m-funding-to-help-bring-disused-historic-buildings-back-to-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=38760","title":{"rendered":"AHF: UK towns and cities get \u00a35M funding to help bring disused historic buildings back to life"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) has reported that Chatham, Derry\/Londonderry and Glasgow are among places where social enterprises and charities are being empowered to take over and transform at-risk high street buildings.<\/h3>\n
image for illustration: Derry City Walls<\/a> by\u00a0SeanMack, CC BY 3.0<\/a> <>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/h6>\n

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\u202612 new Heritage Development Trusts\u2026.will each receive funding of between \u00a355,000 and \u00a370,000\u2026<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

AHF writes:<\/p>\n

12 UK towns and cities are to benefit from a new \u00a35 million fund empowering communities to breathe new life into their disused and at-risk historic buildings.<\/p>\n

Stretching from Aberdeenshire to Cornwall, the money will help social enterprises and charities in some of the country\u2019s most deprived places take over dilapidated high street and town centre buildings and transform them into new community spaces, workplaces and homes.<\/p>\n

The funding includes support for organisations in\u00a0Medway,\u00a0where a Grade II-listed former hospital mortuary will be turned into a new community space,\u00a0Derry\/Londonderry\u00a0where work is focused on restoring a number of heritage buildings within Derry\/Londonderry\u2019s historic walled city and\u00a0Glasgow\u00a0where work will focus on revitalising the city\u2019s rich heritage.<\/p>\n

The funding is being awarded as part of a new partnership between the\u00a0National Lottery Heritage Fund\u00a0and charity the\u00a0Architectural Heritage Fund,\u00a0to expand the Architectural Heritage Fund\u2019s Heritage Development Trust model across\u00a0the UK following the success of a pilot programme in England.<\/p>\n

The programme has already supported seven Heritage Development Trusts to repair, restore and reuse at-risk buildings in their local areas, including not-for-profit\u00a0Valley Heritage in Bacup, Lancashire. Last year, Valley Heritage restored an empty Victorian bank building into a new co-working space and housing for homeless young people. Meanwhile in Sunderland,\u00a0Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust\u00a0has transformed a row of Georgian merchants\u2019 houses once threatened with demolition into a vibrant music venue, coffee shop and bar.<\/p>\n

Research by Historic England has found almost half of retail buildings in England and Wales, one-third of offices and almost one in five industrial buildings are more than 100 years old. As many as 6,000 shops have become vacant in the last five years according to\u00a0the BRC\u2019s Local Data Company vacancy monitor from this summer.<\/p>\n

The 12 new Heritage Development Trusts will also operate in areas such asLeicester,\u00a0Luton\u00a0and\u00a0Haverfordwest,\u00a0and they will each receive\u00a0funding of between \u00a355,000 and \u00a370,000 a year to acquire and redevelop a pipeline of local historic buildings. The trusts can also apply for grants to support early project development, and will be given guidance from consultants and mentors to develop their skills and knowledge alongside peer-to-peer support to expand their network of contacts.<\/p>\n

Arts & Heritage Minister, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, said: \u201cThrough its Heritage Development Trusts, the Architectural Heritage Fund has helped to breathe new life into old buildings across England, creating new jobs, homes, and opportunities.<\/p>\n

“I am delighted that this new partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund will take the scheme nationwide, making a difference to people and communities across the UK.<\/p>\n

\u201cI look forward to seeing how these 12 new projects develop and the difference they make to people’s lives \u2013 now and long into the future.”<\/p>\n

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Matthew Mckeague, Chief Executive of the Architectural Heritage Fund, said:\u00a0\u201cHeritage has a lot to offer the future of the UK\u2019s places and people. Bringing old buildings back into productive use will protect our country\u2019s rich architectural past while creating important new homes, workplaces and community and cultural venues. We\u2019ve already seen the many benefits this work can bring to communities across the country, including through the success of our first Heritage Development Trusts across England.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund is an important commitment to continuing this work in 12 more areas of the UK by giving more people the funding they need to work together to save and restore their most historic and at-risk local buildings. We\u2019re very grateful to the Heritage Fund for this partnership, and to National Lottery players for making it possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:\u00a0\u201cAs the UK\u2019s largest funder of heritage, we collaborate with organisations which share our vision for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am delighted that our \u00a35 million grant funding is supporting the expansion of the Heritage Development Trust programme across the UK \u2013 stretching from Medway to Glasgow. This partnership with the Architectural Heritage Fund\u00a0 is supporting communities, charities and heritage groups in 12 towns and cities, to develop plans for the transformation of at-risk historic buildings \u2013 boosting pride in place, connection to the past and investing in the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the next 10 years, we aim to invest \u00a33.6 billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players, and this programme is one of the ways we can support projects of all sizes across the UK to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The organisations receiving the funding as part of the Heritage Development Trust programme are:<\/p>\n