08 January 2025
Complete guide to grants for listed buildings
6 minutes
Owning a listed building can be exciting; you get to care for something historically significant to the nation’s heritage. But that also comes with the responsibility of maintaining the property, which could get costly due to its age and non-standard building materials. That’s when grants for listed buildings can be helpful.
Applying for a listed buildings grant requires some preparation, so we’ll tell you everything you need to know to improve your chances of approval. We’ll even name some of the most prominent organisations that award grants for listed buildings so you can get a head start on your planning process.
Is my property eligible for a listed buildings grant?
Firstly, can you get grants for listed buildings? Yes, selected organisations and local authorities still provide discretionary grants for grade 1 listed buildings and separate grants for grade 2 listed buildings.
While most usually have a list of eligible listed buildings and heritage assets they’re willing to support, others focus on specific buildings like listed places of worship, monuments, or war memorials. But as a general rule, the following types of buildings are eligible for listed buildings grants:
- Grade 1 or 2* listed building
- Grade 2 listed building within a conservation area or London borough
- Grade 1 or 2* registered park or garden
- Grade 2 registered park or garden within a conservation area or London borough
Will I need to insure my property before applying for a grant?
Some organisations, such as Heritage England, require grant applicants to provide proof of insurance when applying. This is when Howden Listed Buildings Insurance can help; we help you meet grant scheme requirements and ensure your listed property is adequately protected at all times.
Even if the grant scheme doesn’t specify an insurance requirement, it’s a good idea to insure your property anyway. Listed buildings are typically considered “non-standard construction” due to their age and building materials, so you need to make sure you have enough insurance cover in case things go wrong.
Where do you apply for a listed buildings grant?
Multiple organisations award grants for listed buildings, and they usually have specific building and applicant requirements when it comes to processing applications. Here are some of the most well-known organisations that award grants for listed buildings:
- Cadw (Historic Environment Service for Wales)
- Department of Communities - Historic Environment Division (Northern Ireland)
- Pilgrim Trust (Charities only)
- The Architectural Heritage Fund (Charities only)
Some of these organisations can point you to other preservation trusts they work with, which may also run their separate historic buildings grant programme.
Who can apply for a listed building grant?
If you want to apply for a listed building grant, you must be one of the following:
- Private owner of a heritage building or land
- A charitable organisation or a trust
- Faith-based or church organisation
- Community/Volunteer groups
- Community interest companies
Keep in mind that some organisations don’t accept repair grant applications from private owners. Instead, they require applicants to be members of a charitable organisation or a trust before accepting the application.
What does the listed building grant cover?
Listed building grants focus on certain things when funding heritage projects. For example, there are dedicated insulation grants for listed buildings to help improve their energy efficiency. And a grade 2 listed windows grant will repair or replace windows in a grade 2 listed building.
Generally, you can expect listed buildings grants to cover issues like:
- Repairs needed to keep the building’s structure safe without damaging or altering the original material or any architectural features
- A series of minor repairs aimed at preserving and protecting the original building aspect instead of replacing it outright
- Project development costs, as long as they’re for:
- Understanding the building and its unique maintenance requirements
- Planning the building’s future use
- Planning for long-term care and preservation of the building
- Professional fees and other staff expenses related to the project, including VAT
- Project-specific insurance coverage, such as historic restoration insurance for restoration work
- Acquisition costs, as long as you can prove that the purchase and subsequent repairs/maintenance are beneficial to the listed building
The key thing to remember is that you must apply before any repair/maintenance work is done to the building itself. Organisations that offer grants to repair grade 2 listed buildings and grade 1 listed buildings want to know how you intend to preserve the building before awarding your grant.
What does the grant not cover?
Grants for listed buildings have precise specifications on what the funds can’t be used for, which include:
- Repair work that was already performed before the grant application was submitted
- Minor repairs and ordinary maintenance costs
- Alterations or improvements that don’t protect the building’s original construction, unless necessary for structural stability
- Removals or demolitions
- Installation of artificial grass or plants
- Reconstruction of parts of the building, unless necessary for the building’s structural stability
- Activities that promote the causes or beliefs of any related political or faith-based organisations
How do you apply for a listed buildings grant?
Grant-giving bodies usually take about 6-8 weeks to process your application, so here are some steps you can take to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible:
- Identify what kind of project is needed: You must demonstrate that your project is necessary and has a focus. Is it an urgent repair or a long-term maintenance plan? Do you already know who you’ll hire to do the work? If you think your project plan is too broad or if you need more information, most organisations will be happy to give you some guidance.
- Get an idea of the project costs involved: Organisations want to see that the funds they’re awarding are being spent properly. This means providing price quotes (including VAT) for all services involved in the project.
- Secure any necessary building consent, permission, or approval: Although you don’t need to obtain any building consent, permission, or approval from the local authorities before applying, it’s a good idea to do this early. There’s usually some wait time involved, so it’s best to get that out of the way while you wait for your application results.
- Formulate a timetable for the project: Your grant application must show that your heritage project has a defined start and completion date, along with any expected milestones. You should also present a contingency plan to account for any unforeseen problems that could cause delays.
- Identify future plans for the listed property (e.g. maintenance, public access): Grant-giving organisations usually require grant recipients to describe any future plans for the building, such as long-term maintenance plans or public access.
What you must do once your listed buildings grant application is approved
Once you receive and accept your grant offer, it’s go-time for your project. Make sure to:
- Sign the grant contract or the funds won’t be released to you or your trust’s account
- Perform the work as outlined in your application
- Send regular updates about the project’s progress as specified in the grant conditions
Keep in mind that some organisations may visit your site occasionally to assess the project's progress. If the grant conditions require you to fulfil certain obligations, such as publicly acknowledging the grant award, make sure to do them while the project is ongoing.
What if your grant application is denied?
If your repairs grant application is unsuccessful, don’t fret. Take the time to review the related organisation’s requirements and compare them with your project’s scope.
If you’re not sure where things went wrong, consider discussing your project with the organisation that processed your application. Even if they can’t discuss specific information from your application, they can help steer your project plan into something that aligns better with their goals.
In summary: How to get a grant for listed buildings
Maintaining or repairing a listed building is a significant responsibility, but you don’t have to tackle it alone. Government departments and non-profit organisations can help with the costs by awarding grants to repair and maintain historic buildings.
The good news is that a listed buildings grant can cover any cost related to your project—from early planning costs to labour and material costs. But before applying for one, make sure you have a detailed plan. Organisations want to see what you have in mind and are happy to chat with you if you’re not sure how to proceed.
Once your listed property’s repairs and maintenance projects are completed, make sure you have the right insurance cover. Howden listed building insurance will ensure your property is adequately protected so you and everyone can appreciate its history for years to come.
How Howden can help
Through our strong relationships with selected insurers, we can help you find the right policy for your needs. Whether you’re looking for home insurance, contents insurance, or gadget and possessions insurance, speak to our team today. We’ll not only help to save you money but will ensure all your valuables are properly protected.
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