WHY EHS OFFERS GRANT AID TO LISTED BUILDINGS
EHS’s published aim is to protect and promote our built heritage for the appreciation of present and future generations. Under Article 42 of the Planning Order 1991 the Department of the Environment (of which EHS is an executive agency ) is required to draw up lists of ‘buildings of special architectural or historical interest’. This allows the Department to identify the most special parts of our built heritage and to consider this interest in regard to proposed changes.
Under article 106 of the same order ‘The Department may make grants or loans towards the whole or part of any expenditure incurred or to be incurred in the repair or maintenance of a listed building. ’ The Historic Buildings Grant Scheme has been designed to help owners meet the recognised additional costs required to repair listed buildings and keep their special character intact.
As a major aim of the scheme is to help retain the special interest of listed buildings it is important proposals are designed with this in mind. EHS will expect schemes to follow the recognized international conservation principles of :
Minimum Intervention- Only undertaking work which is essential.
Maximum Retention of fabric- Work should aim to keep as much historic material as possible.
Reversibility- Interventions should be capable of being reversed in the future were possible.
Clarity- It should be possible to distinguish new work from old.