1. Can I apply for a Townscape Heritage Initiative grant?
We give highest priority to applications from not-for-profit organisations. Your organisation can be a single organisation, for example a local authority or building preservation trust; partnership organisations, for example local regeneration companies; or a less formally structured partnership. A wide range of people, including your local community, should take part in developing your THI scheme.
2. Is your scheme for an area that has conservation area status?
The area in which your THI scheme would operate must have special architectural and historical character and must be a designated conservation area.
3. Does your THI scheme involve works to a number of buildings?
Your area scheme must tackle more than one building within a conservation area. THI schemes normally seek to tackle buildings owned by a variety of people or organisations. The public benefits of your scheme must outweigh private gain on the part of the property owners.
4. Does your THI scheme involve works to the public realm?
Grants under this programme are available to repair features lost from the public realm, especially where they are important to restoring the special character of the area. No more than 25% of your common fund must be spent on tackling works to the public realm.
5. Does your scheme involve new buildings for gap sites?
Grants under this programme are available for new buildings for gap sites, especially where they are important to restoring the special character of the area. No more than 25% of your common fund must be spent on tackling gap sites.
6. Is the special character of the area threatened by problems of poor repair, inappropriate change, vacancy and loss of historic buildings that result from wider decline?
THI schemes must demonstrate that problems with the conservation area’s historic buildings are extensive and caused by wider social and economic problems that need grant-aid to solve them. We will give priority to areas demonstrating high levels of deprivation.
7. Will your THI scheme contribute to the area’s wider regeneration objectives?
THI schemes must be part of wider regeneration strategies to address the area’s problems, and ensure that regeneration does not take place at the expense of conservation. The scheme must be big enough to tackle enough buildings in the proposed THI area to have a real and lasting impact on the condition of the overall area.
8. Will your THI scheme involve and deliver benefits to the local community?
You must consult and engage with the local community during the development and delivery phase of your scheme. THI schemes must encourage local people to be involved in caring for and maintaining their heritage.
9. Will your THI scheme tackle local conservation skills shortages?
It is important for the long-term success of all THI schemes to address local skills shortages in conservation.
10. Will the benefits of the THI scheme be maintained through a long-term approach to conservation issues?
You must produce a conservation area management plan for the area, which must be put in place for 10 ears after your scheme ends. The local planning authority must be prepared to maintain high standards of conservation after the scheme has finished and show a commitment to using statutory powers. Your scheme should also attempt to tackle local shortages of conservation skills and raise awareness for the importance of heritage through community participation.
11. Can I get development funding for the THI scheme?
Yes. At the first round you can also apply for a development grant of up to £50,000. If your first-round application is successful, the development grant will help you meet the cost of planning and developing your scheme up to your second-round submission.