Historic England (HE) has updated Historic Building Restoration Grant Pilot – a collaborative project to restore historic agricultural buildings in National Parks launched in 2018 – while as every £1 of the scheme adds between £1.65 – £2.50 locally – an additional £8 million pilot project has been launched for existing applicants, to close on 30 March.
image: Dartmoor National Park
HE writes:
The deadline for final applications for a £8 million pilot project to restore historic agricultural buildings in National Parks is 30 March 2020.
The Historic Building Restoration Grant Pilot was launched on 29 March 2018 and is a collaborative project between Natural England, Historic England, the Rural Payments Agency and five National Parks (Dartmoor, Lake District, Northumberland, Peak District and Yorkshire Dales).
The aim of the pilot is to bring life back to traditional agricultural buildings within the participating National Park boundaries. Funding is available for restoring buildings for continued agricultural use, using traditional methods and materials, which will improve the distinctive character of the area.
As the scheme is a pilot, it is now closed to new applicants but existing applicants can submit restoration grant applications up until March 2020.
Once restored, these buildings are enhancing the historic landscape and public enjoyment of the National Parks, as well as providing welcome habitat for wildlife, such as bats and barn owls.
Early economic forecasting of the impact of the pilot grant scheme found that for every £1 of public money offered by the scheme in rural areas, the benefits to the local economy in terms of creating jobs and helping local businesses ranges between £1.65 – £2.50.
The analysis also indicated that the scheme creates around 15 full-time equivalent jobs in the local economy of each of the five National Parks; equating to at least 77 full-time equivalent jobs for an initial grant investment of just over £4 million.
Given that the pilot grant budget has been increased to £8 million, it is anticipated that the economic return will exceed early forecasts.
Applications are rigorously assessed by a grants panel chaired by the Rural Payments Agency with representatives from Historic England, Natural England and the National Parks. The budget for the scheme is £8 million and to date £5.4 million has been awarded for capital works.
View the launch by Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity
