Listed Buildings Grant aid Scheme

We manage a grant scheme which is available for repairs of all types of secular listed buildings and also for churches at Grade B+ and above. Related professional fees can also be assisted and enhanced grant may be applicable to owners of listed building in receipt of income based job seekers allowance, Income Support or Guaranteed Pension Credit.

Recent Changes to Historic Buildings Grant Scheme

1. Capping level for grant applications increased

The DOE Minister announced on 23 January 2012 that he was raising the cap on grant aid  that may be made available for all eligible grades from a maximum of £50,000 to £150,000

If you wish to apply, you can do so by completing the Historic Buildings Grant Application form (.PDF 394Kb). There are guidance notes (.PDF 334Kb) to assist you in completing the form.

2. Applying capping levels  

In December 2009, we introduced a cap of £250,000 on applications. This reduction became necessary due to the high demand for the grant.

In December 2010 it became necessary to introduce a further cap of £50,000 on schemes received during the period 5 July 2010 until 17 December 2010. This reduced cap did not apply to the following three categories which remained capped at £250,000 per scheme per year:

• thatched buildings
• listed buildings on the Buildings at Risk Register
• those who qualify for enhanced grant*

The scheme was suspended from 20 December 2010 to 19 May 2011 for all applications apart from those noted above

In April 2011 we reviewed the position and as a result have opened the scheme again to all eligible grades with effect from 20 May 2011 but all schemes were capped at £50,000.

On 23 January 2012 the capping level for all schemes was raised from £50,000 to £150,000.

If you have any questions in regard to this arrangement please go to our Grant Capping Frequently Asked Questions section.

NGO Grant aid Scheme

Grant aid may also available for charities to acquire historic buildings at risk in Northern Ireland through a scheme administered for us by the Architectural Heritage Fund.

In an agreement with the Fund we have set aside money from the listed buildings grant budget to help it fund ‘Building Preservation Trusts or other charities in NI, seeking assistance with the acquisition costs of Listed Buildings at Risk’. Money may also be made available to help ‘Groups seeking help and financial assistance in setting up a BPT'. See NGO Grant Aid Scheme to find out more.

Note: This scheme is currently under review.

Other assistance

The 'Funds for Historic Buildings Database' now includes detailed information on sources of funding available in Northern Ireland to repair listed buildings.

The Architectural Heritage Fund has compiled an online database with our support which lists 250 separate sources of funding in the UK for historic buildings. It is fully interactive and searchable by location and is free to use. See www.ffhb.org.uk.