1. Support for voluntary sector regeneration of historic buildings
Gavin Richards

2. Who we are
AHF set up as a result of a 1971 Civic Trust study and 1975 European Year of Architectural Heritage
Advice, grants and loans, plus lobbying and capacity building
Promote the role of historic buildings in regeneration
Ongoing support to >500 projects a year
Network of support officers throughout England and Scotland
Loans of £124m to 900 historic building renovation projects, and 1,200 grants totalling over £10m

3. AHF strategy and mission
To ensure as many people as possible can enjoy the cultural, social and economic benefits of a vibrant and well-managed architectural heritage.

4. Our objectives
Objective One: To support people, communities and organisations to take ownership, to repair and to adapt historic buildings and places for new sustainable uses. Objective Two: To attract more investment for the conservation and sustainable re-use of the UK’s architectural heritage. Objective Three: To inspire the start up and growth of new community enterprises that utilise historic buildings and places for public benefit. Objective Four: To demonstrate the value of a well-managed historic environment by championing and showcasing the impact of the projects we have supported.

5. The AHF client
1980s/1990s
Revolving fund Building Preservation Trusts (BPT), some set up and resourced by local authorities.
Market purchase of historic building at risk.
Repair costs mainly financed by a short-term AHF loan.
Additional grants from statutory agencies and local authorities.
Building sold to private buyer on project completion for moderate profit.
Requires skills in delivery of a capital repair project.
2016
Single project BPT or other community organisation, or partnership between BPT and social enterprise.
Historic buildings increasingly acquired through asset transfer.
Repair costs mainly financed by HLF grant with supplementary AHF loan to make up shortfall.
Additional funds increasingly raised through social investment – e.g. community shares.
Building retained on project completion and run as a community business.
Requires skills in delivery of a capital repair project AND running a business.
AHF loan term longer and increasingly reliant on trading to repay capital debt rather than sale.

6. Growing our services
3-year funding agreement with DCMS to increase Support Officer provision and expand grant programmes.
3-year extension of funding from Historic England for existing Support Officers.
Contributions from DCMS and Historic Environment Scotland to increase resources for lending.
Grant from Garfield Weston Foundation to expand advice and grant services into Wales.

7. Support Officers 8 support officers in England
1 support officer in Scotland
1 support officer in Wales by 2017
Seeking a support officer in Northern Ireland
Additional specialist skills in
Business planning
Public relations, media and marketing
Property management
Community engagement
Social investment

8. Grants £1m per year to award in grants to projects in England
£250,000 per year in Scotland
Expanded grants programme to be introduced in Wales and Northern Ireland in 2017
Applications assessed according to:
Heritage need
Social impact
Urgency
Financial need
Project Viability Grants
Grants of up £5,000 to establish project viability
Can be used to produce a viability appraisal
Decisions within 6 weeks
Project Development Grants
Grants of up to £25,000 to develop a project up to works starting on site
Can be used for other funding bids or planning consents
Project viability must be established
Decisions taken at 4 meetings a year

9. Eligibility criteria
In 2013 we broadened our criteria to support any incorporated not- for-profit organisation with an eligible historic building rescue project Community Benefit Societies (supporting Community Share issues) Community Interest Companies Charitable Incorporated Organisations Most applicants are still registered charitable companies limited by guarantee
Buildings that are listed or in a Conservation Area and of acknowledged architectural merit
Change of ownership and/or change of use
Focus on economically viable new uses for buildings at risk (broad interpretation)
The applicant must own or intend to acquire the project building (freehold or min. 25-year lease)

10. Project Viability Report
Template created jointly with the Heritage Lottery Fund – viability appraisal
Background: summary of heritage significance, circumstances of building, (prospect of) ownership
Building condition: summary and repair costs
Local area context: e.g. infrastructure, demographics, residential/business mix, statutory land use position
Options for use:
Potential end users/market/operation
Building works needed and cost / conservation deficit
Comparison of options (need/demand, competition)
Preferred option and outline funding strategy

11. Loans
Significant capital available for lending at competitive rates for building acquisition and/or working capital.
Loan terms of up to 5 years available.
New Community Heritage Support Fund – loans/community shares of up to £50,000 to support and sustain community enterprises in historic buildings.

12. Plas Kynaston, Wrexham
Grade II listed house in Cefn Mawr, Wrexham. Originally home to the Kynaston family, who developed the Plas Kynaston foundry which cast the ironwork for the nearby Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Gifted to local community in 1937 but disused since Identified as suitable first project by the newly formed Welsh Georgian Trust Awarded AHF grant to carry out an options appraisal in 2012 AHF Project Development Grant in 2015 Trust acquired building for £1, January 2016

13. Plas Kynaston, Wrexham
2016: Conversion to six one-bedroom apartments for sale. Project awarded £320,000 through the Cefn Mawr Townscape Heritage scheme. AHF working capital loan = £223,000 “The AHF have been instrumental in making this project happen. They have supported us all the way from the initial idea, through the Options Appraisal and Project Development Grants, to the loan finance which has enabled us to realise our vision.” Andrew Beckett, Welsh Georgian Trust

14. In summary
For over 40 years the Architectural Heritage Fund has helped charities and social enterprises across the UK find solutions for vulnerable historic buildings.
Our ambition is to help more people to enjoy the cultural, social and economic benefits of architectural heritage.
We will use our expanding advice, grants and loan services to help BPTs and other community organisations find enterprising new uses for historic buildings at risk.
We will continue to support traditional revolving fund BPT projects.
But we will prioritise support for projects that establish or grow community businesses trading from historic buildings.
Specifically, we wish to significantly encourage the growth of community share offers in the built heritage sector.
We will work closely with the Heritage Trust Network to build capacity, share expertise and celebrate the remarkable achievements of BPTs.

15. For further details about the AHF and our services visit our website:
Thank you
For further details about the AHF and our services visit our website:
ahfund.org.uk