Conserving Britain’s Heritage: A guide to navigating the Heritage Fund process

Article by Andrew Gillson, Associate, Artelia Heritage, Arts and Culture team

Britain’s historic buildings are not just bricks and mortar, they are part of both our national identity and that of local communities, telling the UK’s formative stories and journey and ensuring that future generations can explore and learn from these rich historical assets.

Over the past 25 years, Artelia’s Heritage, Arts and Culture team has had the privilege of supporting a wide range of unique and inspiring projects, guiding Trusts and local communities through the opportunities and complexities of heritage funding applications, conservation, repair, repurposing, and heritage management—helping not only to save buildings at risk, but also to enrich communities and open up heritage to diverse new audiences.

In this article, Andrew Gillson, Artelia Associate in the Heritage, Arts and Culture team, considers the significance of heritage construction projects on our local communities, economy, education and well being and examines the National Lottery Heritage Fund process that supports these endeavours, with examples from projects that Artelia has supported across the UK.

Funding Heritage

Most heritage construction projects across the UK focus on conserving, restoring and making historic buildings, cultural landmarks and landscapes more accessible to wider audiences. Central to many of these initiatives taking place is the National Lottery Heritage Fund—commonly known as the Heritage Fund and previously called the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)—which provides essential financial support to a diverse range of heritage schemes, the majority of which would not happen without its support.

The Heritage Lottery Fund concentrates on four key areas in terms of its funding principles[1].

1. Saving heritage: conserving and valuing heritage, for now and the future.
2. Protecting the environment: supporting nature recovery and environmental sustainability.
3. Inclusion, access and participation: supporting greater inclusion, diversity, access and participation in heritage.
4. Organisational sustainability: strengthening heritage to be adaptive and financially resilient, contributing to communities and economies.

The Importance of Heritage Construction

Heritage sites often have great cultural significance and are tangible links to the past, representing the social, political, and economic narratives of the nation and its past history. They embody local identities and community pride. Preserving these sites is crucial for maintaining cultural continuity into the future.

Heritage construction projects benefit and stimulate local economies by attracting tourism and creating jobs. Historic sites often become focal points for cultural tourism, which can have a significant positive impact on local businesses.

There is significant educational value available with heritage projects. They provide educational opportunities for local communities and visitors as well as those from further afield. Through guided tours, informational signage, and immersive/interactive experiences, these projects foster a deeper understanding of history and heritage.

Today’s heritage construction projects often include a drive to make buildings more energy efficient, which can be a significant challenge given the limitations of adapting or impacting historic fabric.

Meanwhile, adaptive reuse of historic buildings minimises waste and preserves existing resources, aligning with broader environmental goals.

On a practical level, heritage building projects are often multi-tiered, combining elements of repair and conservation, interfacing with modern new-build construction. Additionally, considerations such as interior fit-out, infrastructure improvements, enabling works, and the educational or commercial dimensions of the scheme, can make the overall project complex for client teams to navigate

Key Examples of Heritage & Nature Conservation Projects in the UK

Bletchley Park, the home of World War II codebreakers was saved for the nation thanks to the Heritage Fund. The investment enabled the restoration of key codebreaking huts and creation of a world-class visitor centre within refurbished historic structures at the Buckinghamshire site.

The Canterbury Journey is a Heritage Funded, six year, £34 million restorative programme of conservation that has revitalised almost every aspect of the 1,400 year old Grade I Listed Canterbury Cathedral and its Precincts (Scheduled Monument). Never before has such huge scale restoration and redevelopment taken place at the site, with up to 80 contractors and craftsmen at work at any one time.

Pitzhanger Manor, the home of one of Britain’s greatest architects, Sir John Soane, has been painstakingly restored, the 1929 art gallery extension upgraded, and visitor facilities, sustainability and accessibility improved.

Norwich Castle, King Henry VI’s 900-year-old keep will once again be full of the sights, sounds and stories of a Norman royal castle, while a partnership with the British Museum will bring nationally important treasures to Norwich, as part of a new medieval gallery. It aims to be the UK’s most accessible castle, accommodating wheelchair users, pushchairs and those with SEND requirements.

LCT7074 D Day Museum – a naval heritage project which has saved the last remaining intact Tank Landing Craft used in the Normandy Landings. Raised from the Wallasey Docks and brought to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, LCT 7074 underwent major repair and conservation before being moved to her permanent display site (also part of the project) at the D Day Museum.

Community Heritage Initiatives

Beyond major landmarks, numerous grassroots initiatives throughout the UK focus on preserving local heritage by restoring community centres, libraries, historic homes, and other important local sites. Support from the Heritage Fund ensures these smaller-scale projects receive the attention, resources, and recognition they deserve.

The Heritage Fund Process: An Overview

The Heritage Fund plays a pivotal role in financing and supporting heritage construction projects across the UK. Understanding the fund’s processes is crucial for stakeholders aiming to apply successfully for grants and deliver projects under its funding model. This is where Artelia comes in,  advising clients on defining clear objectives, outputs, and outcomes aligned with Heritage Fund priorities and coordinating a compelling grant submission, including supporting documents, such as business plans, conservation statements, activity plans, and budgets.

1. Application Process:

To access funding, applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), outlining their ideas so the Heritage Fund can assess if it is likely to offer support. This stage involves reviewing the project’s objectives, sustainability plans, and both initial and ongoing capital or operational costs. Applicants with successful EOIs are then invited to progress to a more detailed application phase.

2. Project Development:

Once the EOI is accepted, applicants receive guidance and resources like a Development Grant to refine their project plans. This often involves engaging stakeholders and a professional team, conducting feasibility studies to assess if the project is viable and aligns with the Heritage Fund’s objectives. Artelia frequently provides essential cost advice during the early stages of project scope development; for example, we are currently supporting Highgate Cemetery with its second-stage funding application to the Heritage Fund.

3. Funding Levels:

The Heritage Fund offers a range of funding , including small grants for community projects and large grants for significant restoration and interpretation works. Each tier has specific eligibility criteria and project requirements that need to be met.

4. Decision Making:

Applications for funding are evaluated against a range of criteria, including the project’s potential impact on the local community, its long-term financial sustainability, educational value, environmental considerations, and the historical significance of the site. It is therefore crucial to prepare a clear, comprehensive application that addresses each of these criteria thoroughly, as proposals are typically assessed by an expert panel.

5. Monitoring and Evaluation:

Once funding has been awarded, projects are closely monitored to ensure they meet the agreed objectives and Approved Purposes. This typically involves periodic reporting and evaluating the project’s impact on heritage and the local community. Artelia would provide regular cost monitoring and robust forecasting to ensure continued alignment with the project’s defined goals and funding conditions.

6. Compliance and Best Practices:

The Heritage Fund promotes best practices in heritage conservation and management, requiring funded projects to adhere to established conservation standards and approaches. Artelia supports this process by providing expert advice, rigorous project management, and specialist oversight, ensuring that projects consistently comply with these requirements.

Case Study: The Impact of the Heritage Fund

To illustrate the significance and impact of the Heritage Fund’s contributions, we can examine a specific case study: The restoration of Pitzhanger Manor for the London Borough of Ealing.

Pitzhanger Manor, a Grade I listed 18-20th-century combination of structures, sits in the North Eastern corner of Walpole Park in Ealing (the Grade II* listed park was also the beneficiary of a Heritage Fund ‘Parks for People’ grant). Famous for being an early architectural masterpiece of influential architect, Sir John Soane, the main manor structure was in a state of disrepair and facing further deterioration due to a lack of maintenance and funding.

The Council, recognising the need to save the building, sought assistance from the Heritage Fund, aiming to return Sir John Soane’s Manor to its original design. With a compelling submission, a £4.5M grant was received, enabling extensive repairs to the Manor’s roof, structure, windows, and interior, along with a partial reconstruction of the adjacent Art Gallery. Pitzhanger Manor re-opened with art exhibitions and a new community engagement programme, reinforcing local pride in the site and boosting national and international tourism. Additionally, with the creation of a Walled Garden Café, a valuable new source of revenue and visitor interest has been created, underscoring the profound impact that Heritage Fund-supported projects can have on their communities.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the successes of heritage construction projects and the support of the Heritage Fund, several challenges persist:

Funding Limitations: While the Heritage Fund provides substantial financial support, demand often exceeds available resources. Many deserving projects are turned down due to budget constraints, so ensuring that specific requirements are both identified and included in a sustainable proposal with professional support is key. This is as much a contribution to ensuring that the heritage within the project is protected for generations to come as is the work itself.

Balancing Modern Needs with Heritage Values: Heritage projects often grapple with juxtaposing contemporary requirements, such as accessibility and technological integration, with preservation of the historical integrity of the building or structure. The key here is to liaise early on with the relevant statutory parties on what is, and what is not acceptable as an intervention. A good example of this is Artelia’s project at Norwich Castle where a new lift to provide full access for all to the rooftop battlements has been designed as an integral feature of the build not as an afterthought.

Community Engagement: Engaging local communities in heritage projects can be challenging, especially in urban areas where populations are transient. Demonstrating that your project can connect with local people and resonate with community values and perspectives is crucial. Supporting Canterbury Cathedral’s evidence-based grant application was data from consultation with over 1000 people including local teachers, community groups, stakeholders and pilot sessions. This element of work is often best undertaken by specialist Activity/Interpretation consultants who will develop the Activity and Interpretation Plan sections of the application.

Climate Change: The effects of climate change are increasingly impacting heritage sites, such as torrential downpours leading to flooding, and clients are also keen to reduce operational energy costs and move to more sustainable energy sources. Integrating modern technology solutions often requires innovative approaches to mitigate the impact on the heritage aesthetic of a site. At Pitzhanger Manor in Ealing, it was possible to install a Ground Source Heat Pump system at the new Garden Café because of the space available to install the required trenching and boreholes, which was then made good without affecting the surrounding historic walls.

Conclusion

Heritage construction projects in the UK represent a critical aspect of preserving the nation’s identity and history and are also an important educational tool for keeping skills and traditions alive. Through the support of the Heritage Fund, numerous initiatives have succeeded in restoring historic sites, revitalising communities, providing habitats for nature and fostering greater access and educational opportunities.

The rigorous application and funding process ensures that the heritage construction projects that are taken forward, are well thought through, financially viable and self-sustaining in operation.

As the UK faces challenges related to funding, community engagement, and climate change, the significance of the Heritage Fund and its projects will only increase. The ongoing commitment to preserving heritage will play a vital role in preserving not only our historical landscape but also the cultural and environmental resilience of communities across the UK.

[1] National Lottery Heritage Fund, Heritage 2033 – Our 10 year strategy