This consultation is particularly important in the context of recent reductions in funding to the historic built environment in Northern Ireland including the withdrawal of Grant Aid for listed buildings. Listed building grant aid helped against the gap in added costs VAT imposed on the retention and restoration of existing buildings over new build. It also help relieve the costs of conservation deficit, encouraging appropriate repair, re-use and regeneration of our historic buildings. We recommend that steps for the reinstatement of grant aid are taken through the funding framework and its implementation, particularly for endangered thatch buildings and other of our most vulnerable buildings at risk. We welcome the inclusion of a Heritage at Risk strategy within the proposed model.
Have your say on the draft policy proposals for the strategic direction of funding for the historic environment, as outlined below.
Hurry. Closes Monday 6th June at 5pm.
Historic Environment Fund: Public Consultation.
This consultation is issued from the Historic Environment Unit, Department for Communities. It is proposed that the Historic Environment Fund 2016-2020 will encompass four key strands:
-Heritage Research,
-Heritage Regeneration,
-Heritage Repair,
-Heritage Revival.
The consultation document also outlines reasons the Historic Environment Unit (DfC) should provide this funding, and how they might promote capacity in each of the strands.
The consultation can be accessed on the DfC website at:
https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-proposals-historic-environment-fund
Link to consultation document:
CLOSING SOON: Deadline 5pm on Monday 6 June, 2016.
