About the Townscape Heritage Initiative
What is it?
The Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) is a grant-giving programme for the repair and regeneration of the historic environment in towns and cities throughout the United Kingdom.
Why we need it!
In regeneration situations, the additional costs of work in historic areas (to pay for specialist materials, craftsmanship etc) can mean that much needed repair and redevelopment projects become financially unviable. The THI grants are designed to compensate for this "conservation deficit". Grants can contribute towards an identified deficit between the costs of repair or renovation to a conservation standard, and the market value of a property on completion. Grants can also contribute to the additional costs of undertaking new build and public realm projects to a conservation standard, in comparison with a more basic specification.
Funding from the common pot will be allocated to eligible conservation projects within the Old Town Conservation Area based on an application and assessment procedure.
What is eligible?
Grants are available for 5 different eligible categories of work. Each category has a maximum grant level (as a percentage) that will be allocated against eligible works. However, each scheme will be assessed on its own merits and in special circumstances grant levels may be altered at the discretion of Cityventure.
The eligible categories are:
Building Repairs
Reinstatement of Architectural Detail
Bringing Vacant Historic Floor Space Back Into Use
Infilling Gap Sites in Key Frontages
Public Realm Works
Grants can also fund:
Professional Fees, Archaeological Work, VAT
The Conservation Requirement
The key objective of the Townscape Heritage Initiative is to stimulate conservation led regeneration, encouraging the highest standards of restoration and new design appropriate to a conservation area.
All works undertaken with a THI grant must respect the character and integrity of the building or structure, and of the area in which it lies, in accordance with the relevant national conservation policies, guidance and advice. Design and specification should aim for the highest standards, quality and practice, aiming for use of matching material and detailing where good evidence exists of the original construction.
The THI Conservation Manual provides some general guidance on meeting the conservation requirements of the THI. However, the conservation element of each proposal should be tailored to meet the specific circumstances of individual buildings or localities. The THI has a dedicated Conservation Officer who is available to give advice on individual schemes.
Click here to view the Conservation Manual
It is essential that projects applying to the THI obtain all necessary consents and permissions (i.e. planning permission, listed building consent, conservation area consent). We expect that the projects submitted will be designed in accordance with Hull City Council's Old Town Conservation Area Character Appraisals.
To view the Conservation Area Character Appraisals relevant to the THI area click on the links below:
Old Town: Central and Eastern - http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/conservation/ca_old_town.php
Old Town: Western and Northern - http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/conservation/ca_old_town.php
The Conservation Deficit
The calculation of all THI grants is based upon the deficit that is created by the additional costs of working to an appropriate standard within a conservation area. This is known as the conservation deficit. When making an application for a THI grant you will need to prove that a conservation deficit exists for your project.
For building repairs, architectural reinstatements and projects to bring historic floor space back into use: to calculate your conservation deficit you will need to consider the cost of your works to a conservation standard against the end value of your property when the works are completed.
For projects to fill gap sites in key frontages and for public realm projects: to calculate the deficit you will need to compare the cost of your project to a conservation standard with the cost of a similar project to a "normal" standard outside the conservation area.
Like most public grant schemes, THI grants are subject to clawback conditions. For most eligible categories, clawback will only be assessed upon the sale or transfer of ownership of the grant aided property. For the vacant floorspace category, your project will be assessed for clawback two years after completion. If the value of your property has increased beyond that which was expected within the lifetime of your contract with the THI, it is expected that you will pay back a share of the increase. The amount we recover will be in proportion to the percentage of our contribution to the overall project costs. If the property value does not increase, there is no liability to repay any grant. As clawback conditions will vary according to the circumstances of individual projects, it is recommended that you discuss the implications for your project with the THI Co-ordinator.
Supporting Initiatives
The work of the Hull Townscape Heritage Initiative links with the following construction related initiatives:
Construction Works: an initiative to encourage the inclusion of local labour and local supply chains within local construction projects. All projects making an application to the THI will be required to make contact with Construction Works to explore how this initiative could assist their project.
www.constructionworks.org
Hull City Council's Sustainable Construction Policy: The THI encourages the adoption of procedures to encourage good practice towards social, economic and environmental sustainability in construction projects.
The Hull Townscape Heritage Initiative also works to support the Hull City Centre Masterplan.
www.hullcitybuild.co.uk
Tel: 01482 481878. Fax: 01482 329189. Email: job@cityventure.co.uk