In a major boost that puts heritage at the heart of community renewal, the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) has announced the launch of a £5 million Heritage Revival Fund.
This exciting programme, delivered in partnership with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Historic England, is set to help communities across England rescue and repurpose neglected historic buildings. It will do this by supporting community organisations to take ownership of historic buildings, transforming them into vibrant spaces that meet modern needs.
Having supported hundreds of communities across England to save and reuse local heritage buildings, the AHF is delighted to renew its partnership with DCMS for this new fund, which is part of the government’s wider £270 million investment in arts and culture. Thanks to Historic England’s support, the programme will also support new projects just getting started on work to take ownership of, adapt and reuse beloved local heritage.
For nearly fifty years, AHF has been supporting communities to revive their high streets and town centres in England, and this new funding will help widen the number of communities able to use heritage as a way to breathe new life into where they live.
The programme will run from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2026 and will be open to charities and social enterprises in England seeking to take ownership of and/or adapt historic buildings for community uses.
Images: The
Grade II listed Buttermarket in Redruth, Cornwall, which is now a
vibrant community space with a food hall, co-working spaces and live
music - Architectural Heritage Fund
Ros Kerslake, Chair of the Architectural Heritage Fund, said: “We are delighted to announce the new Heritage Revival Fund and our renewed partnership with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Historic England. AHF’s work in recent years has demonstrated the impact that the regeneration of historic buildings can have on our town centres and high streets, so we are excited to be able to extend the reach of that work.
“Historic buildings aren’t just landmarks—they’re symbols of pride, purpose, and local identity and this funding will unlock the potential of social enterprises and charities to transform neglected heritage into thriving community spaces.
“We would also like to say a huge thanks to DCMS, the Culture Secretary and Historic England, this investment will breathe new life into these vital spaces.”
The Heritage Revival Fund builds on the recent work of the AHF, which has invested significantly in communities. During the last five years, the AHF has provided expert advice and grant funding to a wider range of community-led projects, including:
- The Ice House in Great Yarmouth. The Grade II-listed Ice House, originally one of a pair, is now the only building of its kind left in the country and serves as a reminder of the town’s once-thriving fishing industry. Thanks to Out There Arts, the unique building will soon be brought back into full use as a National Centre for Outdoor Arts and Circus, comprising an arts and circus training hub, with opportunities for performances and a bar. This imaginative and creative reuse of the building will further develop Great Yarmouth’s reputation as the capital of circus in the UK, while also strengthening the link between the town’s fishing and circus heritage.
- Across the country, in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust has revitalised 170-175 High Street West. Originally a row of houses, the buildings were rapidly adapted for commercial use when they housed the drapery shop of George Binns and his son, Henry. Over subsequent generations, the small drapery shop expanded to regional dominance as Binns Department Store. However, the buildings that provided Binns’ first home eventually fell into disrepair. Now, they have been restored and repurposed as Pop Recs – a café, community hub, and music and arts venue that has recemented the site’s position at the heart of Sunderland’s community.
- In Redruth, Cornwall, the Buttermarket has been given a new lease of life. This cluster of Grade II listed buildings was originally built in 1825. For many decades, it was a popular meat market, playing an important role in developing Redruth’s identity as a bustling market town. However, as the demand for the market later began to decline, the Buttermarket gradually fell into dereliction. Following a renovation by Redruth Revival CIC, the complex has now been transformed into a thriving cultural and community hub. Complete with a food hall, retail units, co-working spaces, and a diverse programme of live music, workshops, markets and more, the Buttermarket has become the go-to place for Redruth’s vibrant community to come together, whether it be to eat, work, dance, socialise, or to celebrate their town.
The new Heritage Revival Fund will enable the AHF to support more projects similar to these – projects that reactivate local historic buildings and deliver what communities need today – in places across England.
Heritage Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “It is so important to communities across the country that we preserve local heritage that helps us to tell our national story.
“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.”
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive at Historic England, said: “This funding will help give communities the opportunity to save their local heritage; to restore and renew historic buildings for current and future generations.”
