Partnership Schemes in Conservation Areas

Partnership Schemes in Conservation Areas are designed to target funding for the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas in England. These schemes are run on a day-to-day basis by local authorities and are based on a partnership between Historic England, the Local Authority and other funding bodies. They are designed to ensure the long term sustainable future of conservation areas, particularly through supporting heritage-based regeneration initiatives. In many deprived areas, conservation of the built heritage can act as a catalyst for wider regeneration, helping to improve the quality of run-down towns and cities, encourage inward investment and wider economic and community regeneration, and create new opportunities for local people. Partnership schemes make grants available to the owners of individual properties within a conservation area who want to carry out repairs or other appropriate work which will enhance the area. The schemes aim to provide a framework for identifying problems and opportunities, channel resources to encourage remedial work, and provide appropriate management and development controls. Historic England looks at the wider benefits that projects can achieve in addition to improvements to the historic environment, focusing on boosting social and economic resurgence, reinforcing historic character and significance, repairing and bringing back into use historic buildings, and ensuring appropriate standards and subsequent maintenance.