The Architectural Heritage Fund’s Heritage Impact Fund is a social investment loan fund designed to provide tailored and flexible loan finance to enable not-for-profit, charitable organisations and community businesses to deliver economic and social impact from the reimagining and reuse of the UK’s historic buildings.
Loans can be used to acquire, reuse or redevelop buildings which are of historic or architectural importance. This can include historic buildings that may be particularly significant to a community, is a listed building, or is in a conservation area.
Applicants will be expected to demonstrate how their project will be financially viable at the end of the Architectural Heritage Fund’s loan term. The Architectural Heritage Fund will help lenders to evaluate and assess the impact of their project. Additional expert support, advice and mentoring to applicants is also available to applicants to support sustainable business change and help deliver long-term social and economic impact.
Loans of £25,000 to £500,000 are available for up to five years. Interest rates are competitive but flexible and can include both capital and interest repayment holidays. Loans usually require some form of security, generally a first legal charge. Incentivised terms are available to provide greater assistance to those organisations and projects that will deliver enhanced local economic and community impact.
Loan finance is not available for:
o Churches or other places of worship, where the building will remain in use primarily as a place of religious worship.
o For-private-profit companies, unless in a partnership led by incorporated charity, community business or social enterprise.
o Local authorities and other public sector bodies.
o Private individuals, or
o Unincorporated trusts or associations.
To apply, eligible organisations should complete an Initial Enquiry Form, which is available on the Architectural Heritage Fund website under the "How to Apply" heading.
Applications can be made at any time. The Architectural Heritage Fund reviews applications to the Heritage Impact Fund every 3 months.
