Historic Towns Initiative 2025

Aims of the Scheme

The Historic Towns Initiative 2025 aims to provide support to historic towns engaged in a programme of heritage-led regeneration.

In 2025 we are interested in projects that address residential vacancy and dereliction in town centres, that propose the re-use of historic structures and that can act as a demonstrator for future projects. We will continue with two funding Streams for the HTI 2025.

What works are considered for funding under this scheme

Under Stream 1 this year we are seeking proposals for capital works to repair and enhance the heritage of the town through heritage-led regeneration projects designed and implemented by local authorities, projects that encourage private owners and/or occupiers to invest in appropriate conservation-led works and repairs, projects that address dereliction and residential vacancy, the conservation of landmark buildings, streetscape conservation projects, and conservation-led public realm works which encourage investment from other sources. Projects which work within an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) and which will promote this designation are also sought. Applications must show how they will build resilience in the historic built environment of the town to enable it to withstand the effects of climate change.

Match funding of 20% is required from the local authority or owners under Stream 1. As set out in the Housing for All (2021) policy we are particularly interested in proposals to bring vacant or underused floor area in historic buildings back into residential use. Grants which specifically address residential reuse by encouraging private owners and/or occupiers to invest in appropriate conservation-led works and repairs and to bring vacant floor area in historic buildings back into residential use may be phased over two years, i.e., 2025 and 2026, subject to a maximum award of €350,000 in total per town.

Successful applicants should check their Letter of Offer for details of how funding is to be spent over the two years, where applicable. This letter will include contractual, procurement and governance conditions.

Under Stream 2 we will support applications to deliver a heritage-led regeneration plan (please see above for details of the HTI
framework) which will examine the existing heritage of a town and determine what conservation focused interventions are required. The resulting plan should ultimately inform future grant applications. Under Stream 2 we will award up to €50,000 per town for heritage-led regeneration plans.

Match funding of 20% is required fromthe local authority under Stream 2. Local authorities may apply for more than one Stream 1 and Stream 2 projects.

Information Workshop and Booklet

Download the information booklet below in pdf or keep reading down the page for further information.

Previous information workshops can be viewed on our YouTube Channel

Previous information workshops can be viewed on our YouTube Channel

Funding Available

A total fund of €2 million (capital funding) is available to local authorities under the HTI 2025. A 20% minimum matching contribution
will be required (please see below). The extent of matching resources will be taken into account in the assessment of applications.

Operation of the HTI 2025

• The HTI 2025 will be administered by the Heritage Council, as advised by the HTI National Steering Group.
• Each local authority may apply for Stream 1 and Stream 2 projects for funding under the HTI 2025 for historic towns in their functional area. Applications will only be accepted from local authorities. Unlike in previous years there is no limit on the
  number of applications per local authority area.
• The programme is intended to support a small number of towns in 2025. Funding will be allocated on a competitive basis, in
  accordance with the assessment criteria set out below. It will not be possible to support all applications in this round.
• Applications will be assessed by the HTI National Steering Group which will make recommendations to the Board of the
  Heritage Council for funding under the programme.
• In the case of Stream 1, priority will be given to applications that are ‘plan-led’, i.e. in line with a HTI Management Plan based
  on the HTI framework, or a Conservation Plan, or a Public Realm Plan, conservation actions identified in a Town Centre First
  Plan, or eligible actions from a Town Centre Health Check Plan, or equivalent.
• It is expected that local authorities will work with a range of partners in delivering Stream 1 or 2 HTI 2025 projects and evidence of such partnerships, e.g., letters of support, should be included with any application.
• We are encouraging local authorities to partner with owners of historic buildings and not for profit groups in possession of
  historic buildings in need of conservation
• Funding for each successful town in Stream 1 will be in the region of €150,000-€350,000, depending on the projects proposed. Applications should reflect the scale of the likely funding available and the identified actions should be achievable within the allocated funding timeframe, i.e. in 2025. Applications under Stream 1 which specifically address residential vacancy as per Housing for All may project spending over 2025-2026, and such applications should clearly set this out.
• Projects funded under the HTI should show strong public engagement. Social media should be used to promote events where members of the public are invited in to learn about the project, and if possible to take part. Examples how this might be done include demonstrations, traditional skills training, community or NGO-management, or encouraging underrepresented groups to take part or to share their heritage. It is expected that successful towns will hold an event about their projects during Heritage Week 2025.

What Towns Are Eligible?

Almost all Irish towns are historic in origin. A town seeking to benefit from the HTI should possess significant cultural and heritage assets and have a distinctive sense of place.

Historic towns include those of medieval and pre-medieval foundation, plantation towns, planned estate towns and those established
around local industries.

Urban centres designated as Special Regeneration Areas under the Living City Initiative are not eligible to apply.

What Works Are Eligible?

1. Capital works to repair and enhance the heritage of the town in line with a programme assessed by the HTI National Steering Group and approved by the Heritage Council. This may include:

• Heritage-led regeneration projects meeting the criteria set out above which are designed and implemented by local authorities
• Projects that encourage private owners and/or occupiers to invest in appropriate conservation-led works and repairs and to bring vacant floor area in historic buildings back into use
• Projects that address dereliction and vacancy, the conservation of landmark buildings, improved maintenance and general improvements to streetscapes and conservation-led public realm works which encourage investment from other sources
• Projects that would build resilience in the historic built environment of the town to enable it to withstand the effects of climate change
• Projects to retain and enhance character in an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) and which will promote the value of an ACA
  designation

2. All grant-aided work under the HTI must respect the character and special interest of individual buildings and the heritage of
the town in general.

3. Works must be in accordance with best practice principles contained within the Architectural Heritage Protection Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2011) and relevant volumes in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s
Advice Series.

4. All statutory requirements for the protection of heritage must be met – including natural, archaeological and architectural heritage.

5. Where grant funding is sought for conservation and re-use of vacant buildings, information shall be provided on a sustainable proposed future use.

How To Apply

Applications will only be accepted from local authorities. Applications must be made via the Heritage Council online grants management system by 5pm on Friday 14 February 2025.

Hard copy or emailed applications will not be accepted.

Please note that a new Online Grants System was introduced in 2024. If you did not receive grant funding in 2024 you will have to register first before you can start an application. 

What happens next?

• A webinar will be held by the Heritage Council on Thursday 16 January 2025 for local authority personnel interested in applying for the HTI 2025.
• The deadline for receipt of online applications is 5pm on Friday 14 February 2025. Applications received after this date
  will not be considered.
• The Heritage Council will notify applicants of the outcome of the assessment following Board approval in March 2025.

Recoupment of Grant Funding

Grant awards must be recouped from the Heritage Council within the 2025 calendar year (Except for the projects that are approved to run over 2 years). Funds not claimed at the end of the year will be forfeit.

Works must be completed and verified by the local authority before grant funding can be recouped. A report detailing the works carried out must be signed by the Architectural Conservation Officer or Heritage Officer or a member of the local authority’s professional staff with oversight of the project. This must be accompanied by proof of payment i.e., a signed letter from the Director of Finance and relevant Director of Service stating that monies claimed have been expended.

Value Added Tax (VAT) is allowable under this scheme only for that portion of capital works being funded and only in circumstances
where such VAT is not recoverable under this scheme by any other means.

Recoupment is via the online payments process on the Heritage Council’s online grants management system. The date for submission
of final claims and reporting to the Heritage Council is Friday 14 November 2025.

Matching funding requirement

Matching funding of at least 20% of total project expenditure is required for each project funded.

Where a building is in local authority ownership the requirement for 20% matching funding can be met from local authority financial resources. In-kind contributions (e.g., the salaried time of publicly funded personnel) from the local authority can be cited as a contribution but this should only be in addition to matching funding (i.e., in-kind local authority contributions cannot make up the minimum of 20% matching funding).

Confirmation of matching funding approval is required from the local authority at Director of Service level at application stage.

Where a HTI project is also funded under other grant schemes financed by the Exchequer or the EU, the cumulative total of such funding must not exceed 80% of the total project cost. Any HTI grant funding provided to a local authority that is subsequently recovered from the owner/occupier under the provisions of the Planning and Development Acts must be refunded to the Heritage Council.

There will be a requirement for interim progress reports. Where sufficient progress is not evident in these reports, the Heritage Council, on the advice of the HTI National Steering Group, reserves the right to reallocate funding to other approved HTI projects.

Useful Resources

Heritage Council publication Ballybrilliant: heritage-led regeneration in 5 Irish towns (2018) 

Information on case studies can be found in the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland publication Creating Vibrant Places: the RIAI town and village toolkit and in the publication Old House, New Home

Our urban centres contain a large amount of underused building stock. The sensitive reuse of such floor space at ground level and on
upper floors should be encouraged. In relation to this, attention is drawn to the publication Bringing Back Homes: Manual for the reuse of existing buildings.

Town Centre First: a policy approach for Irish towns (2022)

Further Information

Read More about the Historic Towns Initiative here

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