Historic England: every grant open right now (March 2026)
Historic England grants worth up to £250k close April 1st, 2026. Find funding for heritage repairs, research & preservation projects.
Historic England is the government's heritage advisor, protecting England's historic buildings, monuments, and landscapes. They fund community groups, charities, local authorities, and heritage organisations to research, repair, and preserve historic sites across the country.
All five of their current grants close on 1 April 2026, giving you just over a week to prepare your application.
Current Historic England grants
| Grant | What it funds | Funding | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repair Grants for Heritage at Risk | Emergency repairs to listed buildings and monuments | £5,000 - £750,000 | 1 April 2026 |
| Partnership Schemes in Conservation Areas | Local authority conservation area improvements | £100,000 - £300,000 | 1 April 2026 |
| Heritage Protection Commissions Programme | Research and skills for heritage protection | £250 - £300,000 | 1 April 2026 |
| Regional Capacity Building | Local heritage understanding and protection projects | Up to £100,000 | 1 April 2026 |
| Section 17 Management Agreements | Improving access to historic monuments | £100 - £30,000 | 1 April 2026 |
Repair Grants for Heritage at Risk
The Repair Grants for Heritage at Risk scheme offers £5,000 to £750,000 for urgent repairs to listed buildings, scheduled monuments, and registered parks that are on Historic England's Heritage at Risk register. This is for emergency work to prevent further deterioration, not general maintenance or improvements. You need to own the building or have a long lease, and Historic England expects you to contribute at least 25% of the total project cost.
Partnership Schemes in Conservation Areas
The Partnership Schemes in Conservation Areas grant gives £100,000 to £300,000 to local authorities for enhancing conservation areas. This covers building repairs, public realm improvements, and community engagement projects that preserve the area's historic character. Only local planning authorities can apply directly, but they often work with local heritage groups and property owners to deliver the projects.
Heritage Protection Commissions Programme
The Heritage Protection Commissions Programme funds research and skills development with grants from £250 to £300,000. This covers strategic research into heritage protection methods, training programmes for heritage professionals, and projects that build capacity in the heritage sector. Universities, research organisations, and established heritage bodies typically receive the larger grants, while smaller community projects might qualify for the lower amounts.
Regional Capacity Building
Regional Capacity Building provides up to £100,000 for projects that help local communities understand and protect their historic environment. This could fund training programmes, community archaeology projects, or initiatives that build local expertise in heritage conservation. Community groups, local heritage organisations, and charities working in heritage education are the main beneficiaries.
Section 17 Management Agreements
Section 17 Management Agreements offer £100 to £30,000 for improving how scheduled monuments are managed or accessed by the public. The funding covers practical improvements like new interpretation boards, improved pathways, or conservation work that makes sites safer for visitors. You need to be the owner or occupier of a scheduled monument to apply.
Before you apply
Historic England wants to see clear evidence that your project addresses a genuine heritage need. Check whether your building or site is already on their Heritage at Risk register, as this strengthens applications for repair grants significantly.
Match funding is crucial for most schemes. Historic England rarely funds 100% of project costs, so have your additional funding sources confirmed before applying. They particularly value partnerships between different organisations.
Your application needs detailed costings from qualified professionals. For building repairs, get quotes from contractors experienced in historic building work. Historic England can spot unrealistic budgets quickly and will reject applications with poor financial planning.
Focus on long-term impact rather than short-term fixes. They want to see how your project will protect heritage for future generations, not just solve immediate problems.
Set up alerts for Historic England grants to catch their next funding rounds when they open.