The UK Heritage Development Trusts programme, which has just been launched with a budget of £5 million for revenue projects, is a strategic partnership between the Architectural Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund/ The Fund is designed to provide resources to charities and social enterprises to make a positive and lasting impact on heritage in their areas. Organisations selected as Heritage Development Trusts will be supported to become active delivery partners in place-based built heritage regeneration initiatives. The Guide for Applicants provides more information on the support available and who can apply.
The funders aim to support a diverse range of organisations, at different stages of development – from those just getting started to mature organisations looking to adopt this new approach – and with a good geographical spread across the UK.
By the end of 2026, the funders hope to see a UK-wide network of resilient Heritage Development Trusts that are improving and maintaining the historic built environment for the benefit of communities and the local economy. They will own and be developing income-generating portfolios of heritage assets and be working in partnership with local authorities, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), other not-for-profits and stakeholders to deliver lasting benefit to and with their communities.
The UK Heritage Development Trust Programme is expected to provide funding and capacity building support for between 10 and 13 Heritage Development Trusts in locations of need and potential across the UK. Successful applicants will join an existing group of 7 Heritage Development Trusts in England supported as part of a successful pilot initiative between 2020-23.
Applicants will be required to demonstrate:
1. Ambition to grow: they have the potential to develop a portfolio of heritage buildings that will deliver local benefits and generate long-term income.
2. Heritage buildings in need in their area: potential projects in places of economic and heritage need and opportunity, and
3. Local partners: a supportive local authority and their willingness to build working relationships.
Revenue grants of between £55,000 and £70,000 per year for up to 3 years are available to organisations across the UK, with funding scheduled to commence in January 2024 for projects that reimagine, rescue, repair and reuse historic buildings.
Project Viability Grants of up to £15,000 per project are also available, together with technical support from the Architectural Heritage Fund.
Heritage Development Trusts will be expected to share a commitment to the reimagining, repair, and reuse of historic buildings of value to their community. These are:
o Community-based partnerships: arising from the needs of their community, and working in close partnership with local people, local government and local business.
o Entrepreneurial and Not for Profit: reinvesting their surpluses in development, and creating additional economic, social, environmental and cultural value for their communities, and
o Multi-building developers: acquiring and managing a portfolio of heritage assets, to create an economically sustainable model through their revenue-raising potential.
The programme opened to applications on Wednesday 24th May 2023, with the following timetable:
o Monday 26th June 2023 at 9am: deadline for the submission of Expressions of Interest.
o Friday 14th July 2023: successful applicants at the Expression of Interest stage will be invited to submit a Full Application.
o Friday 15th September 2023 at 9am: deadline for submission of Full Applications.
o Friday 15th December 2023: successful project proposals announced.
o January 2024: projects commence.
A series of briefing session has been announced for organisations interested in finding more out about the programme, as follows:
1. Session 1 - Friday 26th May between 11am and 12 noon. Registration can be made at this link to Eventbrite.
2. Session 2 - Friday 2nd June between 10am and 11am. Registration can be made at this link to Eventbrite.
3. Session 3 - Thursday 8th June between 1pm and 2pm. Registration can be made at this link to Eventbrite.
4. Session 4 - Wednesday 14th June between 10am and 11am. Registration can be made at this link to Eventbrite.
Further information, guidance and an online Expression of Interest form is available on the Architectural Heritage Fund website.
