BHIS 2025
Funding for Conservation of Heritage Buildings
Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2025
Sligo County Council is inviting applications under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2025 as operated by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The grant scheme will apply to structures within the Sligo County Council area only and will be administered by Sligo County Council.
Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2025
The grant scheme provides support to assist with the repair and conservation of Protected Structures and in certain cases, works to structures within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs). The grant scheme also provides funding for Historic Shopfronts and Vernacular Buildings (including thatch).
The scheme supports essential repairs and smaller capital works for the refurbishment and conservation of heritage structures and the employment of conservation professionals, craftspeople and tradespersons.
A significant change for 2025 is the incorporation of the former Historic Structures Fund (HSF) Stream 1 projects into the BHIS. This allows for an increase in the upper limit of funding per project to a maximum of €50,000 and an increase in the percentage of State support to 80% of costs. The HSF will be advertised later this year and will reflect previous Stream 2 funding. An application under the BHIS does not preclude a later application under the HSF, but only one grant can be availed of per structure.
Under the BHIS, grants of between €2,500 and €50,000 will be awarded, with applicants required to provide a minimum of 20% of total costs. A micro grant scheme for routine maintenance and minor repairs will also apply under BHIS 2025 and the maximum award for such projects will be €2,500.
The BHIS 2025 funding Streams are as follows:
| Funding Stream | Available Funding | Max Grant |
|---|---|---|
| Built Heritage Investment Scheme (including Historic Shopfronts & Vernacular Buildings) |
€2,500 - €50,000 | Max: 80% of eligible costs |
| Vernacular Structures (Where the structure is NOT protected, proposed for protection or within an Architectural Conservation Area) |
€2,500 - €30,000 | Max: 80% of eligible costs |
| Micro Grant Scheme (Routine maintenance and minor repairs) |
Up to €2,500 | Max: 80% of eligible costs |
For the BHIS grant scheme, eligible structures include:
- Protected Structures: Structures included in the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) of each Local Authority area.
- Proposed Protected Structures: Structures proposed for inclusion in the RPS but not yet formally approved. Such structures must be added to the RPS by 31 December 2024.
- Structures in Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs): where it can be demonstrated that the works will enhance the character and appearance of an ACA.
Full details on the terms and conditions of the grant scheme, application form and checklist are available on the links below:
Applicants should read the scheme guidelines and be familiar with the qualifying criteria and conditions of the grant scheme.
Applicants must ensure that all elements of Application Form A and the Application Form A Checklist are fully and correctly completed and that a Method Statement (prepared by a conservation professional) has been provided. The Checklist is to be returned in MS Word format.
Applications by email (encouraged) must be clearly marked Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2025 and emailed to conservation@sligococo.ie.
Alternatively, hard copy applications can be sent to: Heritage Office, Sligo County Council, City Hall, Quay Street, Sligo, F91 PP44.
The deadline for receipt of completed applications is 4pm Friday 27th September 2024.
Please note that late applications and/or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
For further information please contact: Heritage Office, Sligo County Council on:
Tel: 071-9114446 or email: conservation@sligococo.ie