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Grant Scheme Update - July 2011Due to the need for the Council to make substantial savings following a substantial cut in its central Government funding, the District Conservation Grant Scheme has now closed. There is presently no grant budget available for listed building repairs, conservation area enhancement, or biodiversity and landscape enhancement. This situation is not expected to change in the foreseeable future. Any changes to the availability of grants will be posted here.
However, for heritage projects within the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), there is still a grant budget available under the Built Environment Initiative. Details of this can be found at the Nidderdale AONB website at: http://www.nidderdaleaonb.org.uk/nidderdale-235
If you are a voluntary organisation, charity or community group based in and serving the community of the Harrogate District with a maximum annual income of £50,000, then your heritage project may be eligible for grant aid via the Harrogate Borough Council Community Chest small grants scheme. This scheme can provide a grant of between £500 and £3,000. The closing date for applications is 23 September 2011. Details of the scheme and applications can be made at: www.harrogate.gov.uk/voluntary
For all other heritage grants, the external website 'Funds for Historic Buildings' allows you to search for potential sources of grant funding: http://www.ffhb.org.uk/ (please note this is an external website and Harrogate Borough Council takes no responsibility for its content).
List of Buildings at Risk: Latest 'Good News' Stories
The Borough Council has maintained a Listed Buildings at Risk Register since 1990, at which time there was a national initiative to audit the condition of listed buildings Since 1998 English Heritage have published a national list of grade I and II* listed buildings and scheduled ancient monuments that are considered at risk through neglect and decay. The Council's Buildings at Risk List includes those on the national list and also the grade II listed buildings at risk. The role of the Council's Conservation and Design Team is to provide practical advice and resources to help owners secure the future of these heritage assets at risk. To date a total of seventy-five buildings and monuments have been removed from the Register following repairs. Details of the most recent and anticipated changes to the District 'at risk' register are as follows:
Repairs to Witch of the Woods Cottage, Galphay were completed in August 2010. This Grade II Listed Building is now no longer 'at risk' following roof repairs, which were grant aided via the Nidderdale AONB Built Heritage Initiative. The building dates from the seventeenth century with major alterations in 1717.
Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent were granted in August 2010 for the conversion of St Mary's Church, Harrogate to a spa. The Grade II* Listed Building is in need of substantial repairs due to a historical damp problem and the porosity of its stonework. This important building is on both the district and national Listed Buildings at Risk Registers and it is anticipated that the building will soon be repaired now that the site has a more certain future. The Edwardian church, designed by RIBA President Walter Tapper, will be repaired using private investment with grant aid from English Heritage and Harrogate Borough Council prior to conversion.
The ruined remains of Providence Smelt Mill, Bewerley were consolidated and repaired in early 2010. This Scheduled Ancient Monument has been removed from both the district and national 'at risk' registers as a result. The repairs were grant aided by English Heritage and the Nidderdale AONB Built Heritage Initiative. The building was used to process locally mined lead ore and was built in the 1780s.
Syningthwaite Priory, Bilton in Ainsty has been repaired internally and converted to a dwelling. The building has consequently been removed from the district and national 'at risk' registers. The exterior of the building had been repaired in 1995, but the condition of its interior meant the building was still 'at risk' until the recent repairs were completed. The building consists of a c.1820 farmhouse with a rear wing incorporating the fabric of a twelfth century priory which previously occupied the site. |
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As well as promoting good design in new development and redevelopment the Council is also concerned that Harrogate District's rich and varied heritage is conserved and protected. The Conservation & Design Team has prepared Supplementary Planning Guidance on many aspects of urban and rural design and it administers grants to further help conserve the District's built and natural heritage. In addition, it has published many documents which catalogue the District's heritage and explain the statutory protection which it enjoys. These also contain a wealth of architectural and historic information which locals, historical societies and potential visitors alike may find interesting.
Listed buildings and buildings (and trees) within Conservation Areas enjoy additional protection in planning terms. Please see our Planning Application Forms page to get a 'Listed Buildings Consent Form', 'Conservation Area Consent Form' or 'Notice of Intent to Carry Out Tree Work Within A Conservation Area'. |