Nidderdale Grant Scheme amended to help farmers
26 August 2009
Harrogate Borough Council has amended its grant scheme for the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to include support for farmers whose farmsteads have a high heritage value.
The AONB approved a Heritage Strategy in April this year which classed traditional farm buildings as a top priority.
Councillor Don Mackenzie, Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport, says that farmsteads and field barns are an integral and distinctive part of the landscape of the Nidderdale AONB.
He added:
"Whilst many barns have been converted to residential use, some are being left to decay because there is no apparent economic benefit to the farmer to repair them.
"The Nidderdale Heritage Strategy is a significant new document and it is important to make sure that our built environment initiative allows heritage projects to be prioritised and to be grant aided."
The council is also proposing to set up an additional grant to help owners and community groups gather information necessary for future building repair projects.
Anyone interested in the Nidderdale AONB Built Environment Initiative, which also includes grants for other at risk heritage buildings, should contact
Ann Johnson, Principal Conservation and Design Officer on 01423 556591.
ENDS
FURTHER INFORMATION: is available from Councillor Don Mackenzie, Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport on 01423 872211 or 07957 304109.
Further technical information is available from Ann Johnson on 01423 556591 regarding grants and Paul Burgess, Nidderdale AONB Officer regarding the heritage strategy.