£1.5m funding to boost heritage
Heritage projects in Renfrewshire could benefit from a new multimillion pound fund being launched by Historic Environment Scotland.
A new funding programme offering grants up to £1.5million opened this week, with heritage focused schemes being encouraged to submit their interest.
The Heritage & Place Programme aims to contribute to the development of vibrant and sustainable places in Scotland through community-based regeneration of the historic environment.
Heritage focused schemes that are located within conservation areas or distinctive heritage areas will be supported through the programme.
Grants, which will typically be between £750,000 and £1.5m, can be used for the repair and reuse of historic environment assets, training to strengthen local traditional skills, and building capacity within communities to value and look after the historic environment in the long-term.
HES and the Heritage Fund will work together to consider applications and will be hosting joint engagement sessions in April and May for applicants to find out more about the programmes.
Paisley has an abundance of heritage attractions and sites throughout the town, with countless listed buildings standing as testament to the town’s industrial heritage.
Some of the most well known are Sma’ Shot Cottages, providing visitors with an insight into two distinct periods of Paisley’s weaving history.
Others include the 850-year-old Paisley Abbey, Coats Observatory - which is the country’s oldest observatory, having been operational since October 1883, and Paisley Museum, which is undergoing major works as part of a £42m transformation.
Amy Eastwood, head of grants at HES, said: “Through the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme, we awarded over £52m to over 70 schemes across Scotland, bringing over 1,000 historic buildings back to life while supporting traditional skills training and encouraging community involvement.
“The Heritage & Place Programme builds on this success while streamlining the application process, providing further opportunities for participation and ensuring key aspects, from community involvement to traditional skills training, are strengthened to align with our current policy.
“Heritage-led regeneration and the reuse of historic buildings have the power to transform places and generate long-term social and economic benefits.
“Schemes accepted onto the programme will involve partnerships of a local, regional and national level to revive heritage areas based on a shared vision.
“Communities will be placed at the heart of each scheme to ensure their involvement throughout the process, as well as empowering them with the longterm aspiration of looking after their historic environment.
“By partnering with the Heritage Fund and taking a collective approach to our area-based funding programmes, we hope to support applicants maximise their funding opportunities as well as encourage highquality, sustainable development plans for Scotland’s places.”
Since HES was established in 2015, it has distributed £81.5m in grants.