Built Heritage Investment Scheme & Historic Structures Fund 2024
Are you looking for a way to restore and preserve your historic property? Do you want to contribute to the cultural heritage of your community? If so, you might be interested in applying for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and Historic Structures Fund 2024 grant schemes!
These schemes are designed to support the owners and custodians of protected structures and historic buildings in carrying out conservation and repair works. They are funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and administered by the local authorities.
The grant schemes have been formally launched and are now open for applications. The closing dates for submissions are the Monday 22nd January 2024. Don’t miss this opportunity to secure funding for your project!
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible and start planning your works for next year. By doing so, you will not only improve your property, but also help to protect and enhance the built heritage of Ireland.
Further information, including guidance documents, can be found here: HERE or call us to make an appointment where we can guide you through the process.
Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS)
The BHIS scheme supports the conservation and repair of privately owned historic properties that are protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000, including Protected Structures and those located within Architectural Conservation Areas. Each project, no matter how small, fosters and sustains specialised conservation and traditional skillsets including ironmongery, joinery, lime pointing, stained glass repair and thatching.
Projects can be awarded between €2,500 and €15,000 for works to conserve and repair historic buildings; a small fund is also available for routine maintenance and minor repairs with a maximum grant of €2,500 per project. The total value of all public funding provided for individual projects must not exceed 50% of the total project cost.
Historic Structure Fund (HSF)
The core aims of the HSF are to enable large-scale conservation works where the historic structure is considered especially significant and in need of urgent repair, encourage the regeneration and reuse of historic structures, support employment in the conservation and construction sectors, and build resilience in our historic structures to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change.
There are multiple Streams with different funding thresholds. Stream 1 offers grants from €15,000 to €50,000 (up to 80% of the eligible costs) and is aimed at essential repairs and smaller capital works for the refurbishment and conservation of heritage structures. Stream 1 also has a sub-stream with the same funding parameters for historic shopfronts and Irish language shopfronts. Stream 2 offers grants from €50,000 to €200,000 (up to 50% eligible costs) for larger enhancement, refurbishment or reuse projects involving heritage structures where a clear community or public benefit has been demonstrated, or a clear residential benefit has been demonstrated (such projects must be advanced through the planning process as necessary). This annual scheme operates on a match-fund basis.
