Deadline: 19-Jan-2026
The Architectural Heritage Fund offers significant opportunities for organisations in Wales to bring new life to historic buildings through regeneration projects that serve their local communities.
The fund provides support at both the early and development stages of a project, helping groups plan, test, and deliver sustainable reuses for buildings of heritage value.
At the feasibility stage, the Project Viability Grant offers up to £15,000, with the average award being around £6,861. This grant allows organisations to explore the possible uses of a building and assess its current condition. The work typically results in a Viability Report, which helps determine whether a project should progress and can be used to attract further funding. Administered on a rolling basis, this grant offers quick turnaround times, with applicants usually hearing the outcome within six weeks.
Once viability has been demonstrated, the Project Development Grant provides up to £30,000, with an average grant of £13,286. This funding supports the next stage of planning and development, covering the costs of coordination, design work, and professional input to move the project closer to construction. To be eligible, applicants must have shown that the intended use of the building is achievable and that the project is ready to advance.
Applications are open to a range of not-for-private-profit organisations and the lowest tiers of local government. Eligible groups include charitable incorporated organisations, charitable companies limited by guarantee, charitable community benefit societies, community benefit societies, community interest companies limited by guarantee, and parish or town councils. Unincorporated organisations that plan to incorporate may also apply for the Project Viability Grant. Independent secular organisations that wish to take ownership of a place of worship can also apply, provided that religious use makes up less than half of the building’s activities and that the process of establishing ownership or an independent management body is underway.
The fund does not generally support private individuals, local authorities other than parish or town councils, universities, independent schools, or for-profit companies unless they are in partnership with a not-for-profit lead organisation. It also excludes unincorporated organisations with no plans to incorporate, groups with fewer than three independent trustees or directors, and churches that intend to continue using a building primarily for worship.
By offering tailored financial assistance, the Architectural Heritage Fund plays a vital role in helping communities across Wales safeguard their historic buildings and repurpose them for contemporary needs. These grants not only protect the nation’s built heritage but also stimulate local regeneration, support community enterprise, and create spaces that contribute to social and economic wellbeing.
For more information, visit The Architectural Heritage Fund.