Professional Fees, Archaeological Work, VAT
Professional Fees:
Expenditure on fees for qualified professional advisers is eligible for grant provided they belong to one of the recognised institutions: normally architects (but not architectural technicians) or Chartered Surveyors (members of the RICS) with an appropriate level of specialist experience. The involvement of professional advisers is encouraged. Full professional fees for architectural services are only eligible if the professional adviser inspects the work in progress and is responsible for its certification on completion.
Planning Fees:
Expenditure on fees associated with planning permission, Building Regulations, Conservation Area and listed building consent are all eligible for grant, provided that these fees clearly relate to the building and the work that is subject of grant.
Archaeological Work:
Planning Policy Guidance 16 (Archaeology and Planning) should be followed, and the costs of adhering to best practice included in development appraisals. Many projects will be in the core areas of historic towns of medieval or earlier origin and are likely to require archaeological evaluation at an early stage. Preservation of deposits in situ should be maximised, with preservation by record of the remainder. Discrete archaeological projects are not eligible for support.
The cost of archaeological work in accordance with relevant national and local planning policies is eligible, in the following cases:
- Recording and analysing historic buildings of early origin or complex evolution as a basis for devising repair or conversion works, and monitoring during those works;
- Archaeological assessment, evaluation, excavation and monitoring in connection with alteration, extension or new build projects;
- Publication of the results, if necessitated by works which are themselves eligible within the scheme.
THI grants cannot be used to support the cost of stand-alone condition/structural surveys, technical feasibility studies and other similar work. This is because there is no guarantee that awarding a THI grant towards these types of preliminary study would result in work to a property being undertaken, and the THI grant would therefore achieve little real benefit. Instead, owners must undertake these studies for their own self-interest in understanding the condition of their property and the action needed to tackle it. If we are satisfied that a study was a vital piece of work needed to develop the project, we may consider including the costs that the owner incurred to undertake the study in the costs against which we calculate the THI grant required.
Studies such as options appraisals and business plans relate to the particular use of a building and are therefore outside the remit of THI. The cost of this work cannot, therefore, be included in the costs against which THI grants is calculated.
Back to the Townscape Heritage Initiative
Tel: 01482 481878. Fax: 01482 329189. Email: job@cityventure.co.uk