Built Heritage

Waterford City and County Council are inviting applications under a new grant scheme for the maintenance of historic graveyards. There are over 130 historic burial grounds across Co. Waterford that are vested in the care of Waterford City and County Council. Many are protected as archaeological sites on the Record of Monuments and Places (www.archaeology.ie- Historic Environment Viewer). These sites require ongoing maintenance and in recognition of the work by local communities Waterford City and County Council are providing a maintenance grant scheme in 2025.
Details and application form are available on : https://submit.link/3E5

Closing date for receipt of online applications is May 25th 2025.

Heritage Officer, Bernadette Guest said “Support for the maintenance of closed or historic graveyards is one of the most frequent enquiries we receive to the Heritage Office and we hope this grant scheme can go some way towards helping the efforts of local communities in maintaining their local graveyard. We will host training days in East and West Waterford on the care and conservation of historic graveyards over the summer and we looking forward to working with groups across the county on this important area of our heritage.”

ENDS

Waterford City and County Council are inviting applications under a new grant scheme for the maintenance of historic graveyards. There are over 130 historic burial grounds across Co. Waterford that are vested in the care of Waterford City and County Council. Many are protected as archaeological sites on the Record of Monuments and Places (www.archaeology.ie- Historic Environment Viewer). These sites require ongoing maintenance and in recognition of the work by local communities Waterford City and County Council are providing a maintenance grant scheme in 2025.
Details and application form are available on : https://submit.link/3E5

Closing date for receipt of online applications is May 25th 2025.

Heritage Officer, Bernadette Guest said “Support for the maintenance of closed or historic graveyards is one of the most frequent enquiries we receive to the Heritage Office and we hope this grant scheme can go some way towards helping the efforts of local communities in maintaining their local graveyard. We will host training days in East and West Waterford on the care and conservation of historic graveyards over the summer and we looking forward to working with groups across the county on this important area of our heritage.”

ENDS

The National Built Heritage Service (NBHS), Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage has just announced the launch of the 2025 Conservation Advice Scheme for Vacant Traditional Houses.  The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Houses is an expanded funding scheme to provide grants for expert conservation advice to owners of vacant traditional houses who are availing of, or considering, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme provides grants to cover 67% of the costs (up to a maximum grant of €5,000) of having a conservation expert with proven and appropriate expertise:

• visit a vacant or derelict traditional building
• conduct a survey, and
• compile tailored conservation advice for the property owner.

This expert advice will include a report which outlines the condition of the building and identifies conservation improvements which would restore it to use while enhancing its character, energy efficiency, integrity, and amenity.

Stream 1 of the scheme is open to owners of vacant traditional houses in villages, towns and cities where the building is a Protected Structure and/or an historic structure within an Architectural Conservation Area. Buildings previously used for commercial purposes also qualify for the scheme where the intended use is as a single dwelling or a single dwelling over a shop.

Stream 2 of the scheme will provide grant support for the provision of expert conservation advice to private owners of vacant traditional farmhouses, where the building one of the following:

1. A farmhouse which is a Protected Structure.
2. An historic farmhouse located within a rural Architectural Conservation Area.
3. A vernacular farmhouse that has no statutory protection.

Vernacular farmhouses comprise modest homes constructed by people without formal training following long established folk traditions, using materials such as thatch, stone, slate, earth, wattle and unsawn timber.

The aim of the scheme is to help owners of traditionally constructed houses to understand the heritage value and potential of these structures and to prompt them to consider investments which could protect and enhance that value.

The deadline for application is the 2^nd May 2025, only eligible and fully completed applications will be accepted. Please note that as this is a competitive application process, only the highest scoring projects will be chosen in line with the available funding budget. Unsuccessful applications will not be carried through to any subsequent approved grant scheme. All applications will be assessed under the following criteria:

• Heritage interest of the building
• Vernacular interest: Please note that only vernacular buildings will score under this category.
• Reuse potential of the building
• Demonstrated experience of chosen Conservation Professional – in particular in relation to historic buildings, vernacular buildings and energy upgrading
• Best value for money of costings provided

Please see the following link for further information and relevant documentation: gov.ie – Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Houses

Application forms can be accessed here: gov.ie – Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Houses

ENDS

The National Built Heritage Service (NBHS), Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage has just announced the launch of the 2025 Conservation Advice Scheme for Vacant Traditional Houses.  The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Houses is an expanded funding scheme to provide grants for expert conservation advice to owners of vacant traditional houses who are availing of, or considering, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme provides grants to cover 67% of the costs (up to a maximum grant of €5,000) of having a conservation expert with proven and appropriate expertise:

• visit a vacant or derelict traditional building
• conduct a survey, and
• compile tailored conservation advice for the property owner.

This expert advice will include a report which outlines the condition of the building and identifies conservation improvements which would restore it to use while enhancing its character, energy efficiency, integrity, and amenity.

Stream 1 of the scheme is open to owners of vacant traditional houses in villages, towns and cities where the building is a Protected Structure and/or an historic structure within an Architectural Conservation Area. Buildings previously used for commercial purposes also qualify for the scheme where the intended use is as a single dwelling or a single dwelling over a shop.

Stream 2 of the scheme will provide grant support for the provision of expert conservation advice to private owners of vacant traditional farmhouses, where the building one of the following:

1. A farmhouse which is a Protected Structure.
2. An historic farmhouse located within a rural Architectural Conservation Area.
3. A vernacular farmhouse that has no statutory protection.

Vernacular farmhouses comprise modest homes constructed by people without formal training following long established folk traditions, using materials such as thatch, stone, slate, earth, wattle and unsawn timber.

The aim of the scheme is to help owners of traditionally constructed houses to understand the heritage value and potential of these structures and to prompt them to consider investments which could protect and enhance that value.

The deadline for application is the 2^nd May 2025, only eligible and fully completed applications will be accepted. Please note that as this is a competitive application process, only the highest scoring projects will be chosen in line with the available funding budget. Unsuccessful applications will not be carried through to any subsequent approved grant scheme. All applications will be assessed under the following criteria:

• Heritage interest of the building
• Vernacular interest: Please note that only vernacular buildings will score under this category.
• Reuse potential of the building
• Demonstrated experience of chosen Conservation Professional – in particular in relation to historic buildings, vernacular buildings and energy upgrading
• Best value for money of costings provided

Please see the following link for further information and relevant documentation: gov.ie – Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Houses

Application forms can be accessed here: gov.ie – Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Houses

ENDS

The Historic Structures Fund (HSF) 2025.

The primary focus of the HSF is to assist with the conservation and enhancement of historic structures and buildings for the broader benefit of communities and the public .Grants are  from €50,000 up to €200,000 and focus on larger enhancement, refurbishment or reuse projects involving heritage structures, where:

1. A clear community or public benefit has been demonstrated, or
2. A clear residential benefit has been demonstrated (such projects must be advanced through the planning process as necessary)

The total value of all public funding provided for individual projects is 50% of eligible costs. In exceptional circumstances a higher percentage may be sought, subject to a max of 80%.

Eligible applications will be assessed for selection under the following criteria:

• Significance of the structure
• Efficacy of the grant in achieving the aims of the Historic Structures Fund
• Quality of the methodology and technical merit of the works proposed
• Contribution of the proposed works to keeping the structure in use, or bringing it back into use
• Broader public or community benefit of the project

The Department encourages project promoters to incorporate a traditional skills training element in the project. There is a requirement for a comprehensive and sound methodology to accompany the application and that in the event of a successful application,  appropriately qualified conservation professional shall oversee the works.

The Historic Thatch Buildings  Grant 2025

The purpose of the scheme is to protect the heritage value of historic thatched roof buildings across Ireland, including dwellings and other structures. An application under the BHIS Historic Thatched Buildings Stream does not preclude a separate application under the Historic Structures Fund or the main stream of the BHIS, but only one grant can be availed of per structure. A Method Statement or description of the proposed works, drawn up in consultation with an experienced thatcher or other relevant building professional, is required.

The Conservation Section, Waterford City and County Council will administer both schemes on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.   Full details of the schemes, including the application forms, the applicant checklists and the criteria are available on our Grants page.

Completed application forms to be submitted by email only to Planning@waterfordcouncil.ie  by Friday 17^th January 2025.