Architectural Heritage Fund: Project Viability Grant
Overview
The Project Viability Grant (PVG) scheme is intended to be an initial assessment of whether it is viable to bring a historic building back into a sustainable use. In particular it aims to enable applicants to explore the evidence of need for a suggested use, or uses, for a building and the sustainability of that use, with a view to the likely requirements of grant funders.
The end report should provide sufficient information to help you decide whether to commit to further cost, risk and effort in developing the project. It should also indicate the principal areas of further work required, and be a useful tool in applying to other funders. The AHF will, in turn, use the report to judge whether the project is eligible to apply for further AHF development funding.
The AHF offers grants of up to 100% of the cost of the PVG report for eligible projects. The maximum grant is £3,000. The AHF welcomes contact from potential applicants at an early stage and can offer detailed advice on all aspects of the Project Viability Grant and project development in general.
Eligibility
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You must be a registered charity or a not-for-profit entity/organisation that is formally constituted and has a legal structure. If you are not sure whether this covers your organisation please contact us to discuss. Private individuals, commercial developers or other commercial companies are not eligible.
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Partnership applications are welcomed but both organisations have to be charities or not for-profit organisations and one has to be the lead applicant, with a formal partnership agreement in place.
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Applicant organisations must have in their powers (contained within their articles of association or their constitution) the power to borrow money, own property, and charge a loan against assets including property. Once more, if you are uncertain about this please contact the AHF for advice.
If the AHF considers that the applicant possesses sufficient uncommitted cash reserves, this may be taken into account when assessing the application.
Projects
The building must:
- Have statutory protection through national listing, or be in a conservation area and of acknowledged architectural or historic merit, and be at risk (on account of functional, structural, financial and/or other problems).
- Be potentially capable of beneficial re-use.
- You must have, or intend to obtain and have a strong indication that it will be possible to obtain ‘title’ to the building ('title' means either the freehold, or a leasehold of at least 25 years and one day).