Communities across England can now apply for a share of almost £20 million to help care for historic buildings and heritage sites in their local area, including pubs.
Public buildings and parks at risk of falling into disrepair will be protected with a £15m grant scheme, now open for applications.
This will run alongside a new £4.85m Heritage Revival Fund, also open for applications, helping communities to take ownership of local heritage sites and bring them back into good use. This programme will be delivered by the Architectural Heritage Fund and will run until 31st March, 2026. It will be open to charities and social enterprises in England seeking to take ownership of and adapt historic buildings for community uses.
The £15m Heritage at Risk capital fund has opened for expressions of interest from individuals or organisations, focusing on the most deprived areas to rescue their locally cherished, at risk historic sites and buildings. This funding will support projects which seek to repair and enhance a variety of heritage buildings to benefit the local public and community, like shops, pubs, parks, and town halls. This is in addition to Historic England’s current Heritage at Risk repair grants, and will be open to a wider range of local heritage sites, celebrating the historic buildings people care most about.
“It is so important to communities across the country that we preserve local heritage that helps us to tell our national story,” said heritage minister Sir Chris Bryant.
“I am delighted that we have been able to provide this support to save the historic buildings most at risk, whilst simultaneously empowering people all over the country to take over the heritage sites at the beating heart of their communities and bring them back into good use.”
The new funding has been welcomed by CAMRA, but its pub heritage group chair, Paul Ainsworth, said the government also needed to provide funding to save under-threat locals that aren’t classed as heritage pubs.
“There are more than 200 community-owned pubs in the country, where previously struggling pubs have been taken over and run for the people, by the people,” he said.
“But those looking to take over their local as a community-owned pub, if it is under threat of closure or conversion, need to be able to access advice, support, and funding to make sure bids are successful, securing the pub at the heart of community life for decades to come.
“Since the Community Ownership Fund closed last year, no such funding has been available. The government should urgently create a new funding stream so that communities can save their local pub.”
