Britain has a very long, interesting, and sometimes controversial history. You can see it in various things, especially homes, commercial architecture, and public buildings. Sadly though, many significant older sites are at risk. Some are in a very sorry state and it would take a huge investment to save them. Luckily, Historic England recently gave out grants to help save dozens of properties. We want to have a closer look here.
The grants
Historic England does a huge amount of good work to protect heritage assets. They offer a range of different grants to provide funding for repairs, management, and urgent works. Recently they had a special 1 year scheme with £15m to allocate by March 2026 to help save historic sites. Interestingly, it had a specific focus on preserving buildings in areas struggling with deprivation or properties serving deprived communities.
The most important thing is the grants will help to save 37 sites all across England. This includes different listed buildings, scheduled monuments, and heritage assets. All of them are under threat for one reason or another, including neglect and mismanagement. The funding will support conservation or work to bring properties back into use for communities.
Some notable projects
The full list of sites to get funding is incredibly diverse. It includes some significant pieces of commercial architecture, such as an old tyre shop (formerly a bank) in Sunderland, the Golden Lion pub in Birmingham, and even a Pin Factory in Gloucester. A number of churches, including St John’s in Goole and St Mary Magdalene in Newark, will get funds. Galleries, museums, and community assets like markets and social clubs also got grants.
One of the most interesting projects is Newlyn Harbour in Penzance. The seaside town has an impressive history as a fishing port. The Historic England funding will allow work to restore the medieval Old Quay, allowing it to come back to use for the community.
Another significant project is the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Camden, London. It is approaching its 200 year anniversary and is still an important asset for the community. Sadly though, it was under threat, facing the prospect of demolition. Luckily, the grant money will pay for essential repairs so it can stay open.
The Gaumont Palace in Plymouth will also get grant funding to ensure it can return to community use. It is a landmark building with a fantastic history. Over its lifetime it has been a cinema, a music hall, a roller disco, and various nightclubs. Since closure in 2004 there have been plans to make it into flats, a religious conference centre, and creative workspace. The current owners hope to turn it into a venue for music and culture.
Need help with commercial architecture?
The grants from Historic England, and projects they will support, show it is possible to save crucial heritage assets. Not only that, it can also allow them to return to use. This is important because the loss of them can have a big negative impact on communities. Demolition can have a significant impact on the environment too. It is far better to conserve and renovate them.
Coffey Architects is a fantastic team to work with if you need creative solutions for a project. We can work to any brief, including returning historic listed buildings to use. We’re not limited in any way, so you can rely on us to explore any ideas and provide suggestions.
Get in touch today and let us know what you have in mind, especially if it involves commercial architecture.