Council services

Grant funding is limited and there is a high demand for financial assistance from the Council. As a result, we are unable to offer grants to every application, even if they do qualify for support. All applications will have to meet a set of defined criteria and are subject to the availability of funds.

Funding is available for all uses of buildings except churches. Generally assistance will only be offered for external works relating to the historic fabric of the building. In particular this may include the restoration of architectural features and detailing or the removal of unsympathetic additions. The level of grant offered will relate to the urgency of the works required to the building. Grants are not available for the routine maintenance, conversion, modernisation or decoration of an historic building.

To be eligible for grant funding, the building has to be located in a Conservation Area. Applications for community based projects that involve the restoration or repair of a row or group of buildings will be particularly welcomed.

All work should be carried out to a high standard to improve the look of the building.

In order to ensure that the planned works are carried out to a high standard, grants can cover the payment of fees for an appropriately qualified built environment professional (e.g. IHBC, RIBA qualified etc), who has been involved throughout, from the production of the schedule of works to the project management of the scheme. The amount of grant provided for this will depend on the total cost of the project and will only be paid on completion of the approved works to the building.