Grants and Funding

Historic Environment Repair Grant

Grants to support the cost of conservation-standard repair projects for buildings or ancient monuments which are of special architectural, historic or archaeological interest.

  1. Overview
  2. Eligibility
  3. Eligibility costs
  4. Application assessment
  5. Outcomes
  6. How to apply

1 Overview

Under the Historic Environment Repair Grant programme we normally offer grants from £10,000 - £500,000 to support conservation-standard repair projects across Scotland which secure the original fabric of historic buildings and ancient monuments using traditional materials and skills, in line with our Advisory Standards of Conservation and Repair. HES grant support will form part of a wider package of partnership funding.

We expect Historic Environment Repair Grant to be used to repair buildings or ancient monuments which are of special architectural, historic or archaeological significance.

Applications will be accepted for initial assessment three times a year: 30 April, 31 August and 31 December. We will let you know if your project has passed our initial assessment checks within 2 months. Please note that the HES grant assessment process is separate from the statutory planning consent process.

2 Eligibility

Under this programme we expect to fund:
  • Not-for-profit organisations such as charitable trusts, local authorities or social enterprises;
  • Partnerships led by not-for-profit organisations
Applicant organisations must be formally constituted with a clear governance and financial structure and have their own bank account.
If you are applying as a partnership you will need to nominate a lead applicant. The lead applicant should provide a signed partnership agreement showing the involvement of each partner and how the project will be managed financially.
Private owners or commercial organisations are eligible to apply, but are not a priority for support under this grant programme. These applicants would need to demonstrate that wider benefits to the public significantly outweigh their private gain.
We can fund projects whereby the applicant organisation:
  • owns the heritage asset or;
  • holds a full repairing lease which has at least 21 years to run or;
  • in the case of an ancient monument, has the written permission of the owner to carry out conservation works on the monument
We can fund projects which meet all of the following:
  • delivering conservation-standard repair works to significant historic assets
  • informed by Conservation Accredited Professional Advisors
  • yet to begin
  • timetabled for five years or less
  • achieving our priority outcomes
  • not funded by a City Heritage Trust (as their funding is via HES grants)
Owners must insure and maintain the building, or agree to maintain the ancient monument, and allow an agreed level of access to the public in return for financial help.

3 Eligibility costs

We can fund:

  • historic fabric repair costs
  • traditional skills training for professional craftspeople and construction workers
  • fees for conservation accredited professional advisors
  • evaluation and maintenance planning costs
  • contingency
  • inflation allowance
  • non-recoverable VAT

We do not fund:

  • demolition
  • repair or installation of services
  • extension
  • alterations
  • internal works
  • routine maintenance
  • minor repairs

4 Application assessment

Historic Environment Repair Grant bids are assessed in competition with each other. We will assess how well your project achieves the priority outcomes for the Historic Environment Repair Grant programme (below), how well planned and deliverable it is and how you plan to sustain the scheme benefits in the longer term. We will assess the urgency and level of risk facing your heritage asset.

We will consider the overall value for money your project offers against all of these factors as well as the grant intervention level requested and the need for grant support. You should apply to us at outline design stage.

5 Outcomes

We assess how well your project achieves our grant outcomes. In your application tell us in detail how your project will achieve the Historic Environment Repair Grant priority grants outcomes below.

If your project also meets any other grants outcomes you can tell us in your application.

Understand

Priority outcome: Existing and new audiences will have opportunities to access and learn about the historic environment

Protect

Priority outcome: Historic Environment is in better condition
Priority outcome: Historic Environment is better managed and maintained

Value

Priority outcome: People and communities enjoy the historic environment
Priority outcome: Positive approaches to energy efficiency and climate change are adopted and promoted

Lead

Priority outcome: Conservation and/or archaeology skills within the historic environment and connected sectors are enhanced

6 How to apply

Apply for funding when you have an outline project design, with an estimated funding package and programme. We accept online applications for Historic Environment Repair Grants by the following submission deadlines:

  • 30 April
  • 31 August
  • 31 December

We will let you know if your application has been accepted for full assessment within two months. If your bid is accepted we will work with you to agree appropriate conservation-standard repair works and associated traditional skills, evaluation and maintenance plans so that you and your professional advisors can incorporate these into your project design, programme and funding plans.

The following process is used to reach a final decision on your grant award:

Apply

Before you apply please get in touch with us by email grants@hes.scot or telephone 0131 668 8801

Application is through our Grants Online Application System. New users must register to use the system.

Apply now

Useful links

Projects which relate to repair work must be carried out in accordance with conservation best practice. You can find more about what we consider best practice in our Advisory Standards of Conservation and Repair.

Please make use of the HES Inform Guides which provide specialist conservation information for historic fabric repairs.

Projects which receive a grant award will be required to sign a grant contract with HES.

Historic Environment Scotland is bound by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act. This means that any information that you send us or which is provided to help process your application may be made publicly available. However, any sensitive information you give us will be covered by the relevant legislation and will be dealt with accordingly.

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