Apply for Historic Towns Initiative Program 2025 (Ireland)

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

In 2025 they 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.

Streams

• Under Stream 1: This year they 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.
• Under Stream 2: They will support applications to deliver a heritage-led regeneration plan which will examine the existing heritage of a town and determine what conservation focused interventions are required.

Funding Information

• Stream1: Maximum award of €350,000 in total per town.
• Stream 2: Award up to €50,000 per town for heritage-led regeneration plans.

Eligible Projects

• 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
• 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.
• 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.
• All statutory requirements for the protection of heritage must be met including natural, archaeological and architectural heritage.
• Where grant funding is sought for conservation and re-use of vacant buildings, information shall be provided on a sustainable proposed future use.

Eligibility Criteria

• 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.

Ineligibility Criteria

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

Assessment Criteria

• Applications will be scored under the following criteria:
  • The extent to which private owners and/or occupiers or community groups will bring and keep vacant or underused floor area in historic buildings in use (in particular residential use) and address dereliction and vacancy (30%)
  • The town’s track record to date in heritage-led regeneration, the extent to which the application fulfils the aims of the HTI, and is likely to make a significant contribution to the heritage-led regeneration of the town (20%)
  • The quality of the project(s) proposed (20%)
  • How the project would build resilience in the historic built environment of the town to enable it to withstand the effects of climate change (15%)
  • The presence of a vibrant and engaged community who would support the implementation of the Initiative (15%)

For more information, visit The Heritage Council.