The recognition of the importance of the Derwent Valley Mills by inscription as a World Heritage Site presents a major opportunity for developing visitor-led regeneration. For the communities to benefit from investment from visitors it needs to be maintained as an attractive historic environment.
Owners of buildings within the World Heritage Site may be eligible for grants towards external structural repairs, reinstatement of lost external architectural detail and bringing vacant floorspace into use. At present there are two area grant schemes operating in the World Heritage Site. A Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme (HERS) is operating in Cromford, Belper, Darley Abbey and a Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) in Belper and Milford. English Heritage operates grants for historic Buildings, Monuments and Designed Landscapes.
Heritage Regeneration Schemes provide grant assistance to property owners in Conservation Areas to promote economic regeneration. This particular scheme concentrates on Cromford, Bridge Street and Chapel Street in Belper, and Darley Abbey.
The map and schedule show the buildings that could benefit from a grant. The targeted buildings are the main historic buildings in poor repair or which have lost architectural detail.
Grants for ‘repair’ will normally be at a level of 60% for buildings in commercial use and between 40 to 60% for properties solely in residential use. Grants for the ‘reinstatement of lost architectural detail’ will normally be at a level of 75% and at 80% for environmental enhancement.
Click here to view the Schedule and map [PDF 9,630 KB]
Generally only repairs to the original structure or the reinstatement / restoration of lost detail are eligible, such as work to roofs, chimneys, chimney pots, rainwater goods, brick and stonework, render, windows and doors, boundary walls and gates. Internal repairs are only eligible where they are directly related to external repairs or are essential to the preservation of the building, for example, the eradication of dry rot. In exceptional circumstances, redecoration can be included if it is considered necessary as a result of an eligible repair.
Extensions, alterations, face-lifts and day to day maintenance are not eligible. Eligible and non-eligible work may well form part of the same programme, but the costs should always be kept separate.
Fees for professional advisors in connection with the building works are eligible for grant assistance and the involvement of suitably qualified, registered or accredited professionals is encouraged. The Partnership officers can advise on the level of fees that are eligible.
For more information or an informal discussion
about your
proposal, and an application form, please contact:
Paul Warren, HERS Partnership Scheme Officer
Derbyshire County Council
on 01629 580000 Ex 3352
OR
Mark Askey, HERS Partnership Scheme Officer
Derbyshire Dales District Council on 01629 761360
Robert Thorley, HERS Partnership Scheme Officer
Amber Valley Borough Council on 01773 841582
Harry Hopkinson, HERS Partnership Scheme Officer
Derby City Council on 01332 255061
The Belper and Milford Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) Scheme commenced in October 2004 to provide grants for building repairs, reinstatement of architectural detail, bringing vacant floorspace into use and enhancing tourism appeal.
The Townscape Heritage Initiative will focus, in particular, on restoring historic shop fronts in and around the Market Place and King Street and continuing the restoration and repair work to the mill workers' housing in The Clusters and the Hopping Hill terraces in Milford. The scheme will also involve securing the repair and re use of significant buildings which are currently vacant and the implementation of environmental improvement schemes.
The scheme will operate for five years and is being funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership, Derbyshire County Council. Amber Valley Borough Council and Belper Town Council.
The properties which are potentially eligible for grant assistance under this scheme are identified on the map. These are properties that have not yet been repaired and/or restored. Properties that have previously been fully restored through grant assistance under previous schemes will not be eligible for grant assistance under the THI scheme.
To apply for a grant you must own or lease the property and in the case of a lease it must have at least 10 years to run.
Click
here to view the Schedule and Map [PDF 301KB]
Generally repairs to the original structure or the reinstatement / restoration of lost detail are eligible, such as work to roofs, chimneys, chimney pots, rainwater goods, brick and stonework, render, windows and doors, boundary walls and gates. This does not include routine maintenance, redecoration or internal repairs alone unless these are needed as a direct result of eligible repairs. Internal repairs are only eligible where they are directly related to external repairs or are essential to the preservation of the building.
Physical works involved in order to bring vacant historic floorspace back into use are eligible, provided that they are sympathetic to the character and historic interest concerned. For projects involving reuse of upper floorspace, the level of grant will cover the “conservation deficit” i.e. in calculating your grant, any value added to the property as a result of the works will be deducted from the cost of the conversion/repairs, to arrive at a maximum level of grant. Grants cannot be used for fitting out space for a specific use. More information on calculating the conservation deficit can be obtained from the THI Project Officer.
If you would like further information and an application pack please contact either:
Francesca Machin, Townscape Heritage Initiative Project Officer
(01773) 841576
Elizabeth Rowbottom, Townscape Heritage Initiative Administration Assistant
(01773) 841577
The English Heritage Historic Buildings, Monuments and Designed Landscapes grants are primarily for urgent repairs to prevent loss or damage to important architectural, archaeological or landscape features.
To qualify for a grant under this scheme, we would normally expect your project to involve one of the following:
For further information visit www.english-heritage.org.uk
Or contact:
East Midlands Region
44 Derngate
Northampton
NN1 1UHTel: 01604 735400