DfC launches fund for historic monuments and listed buildings

Last week, the Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons, launched the Northern Ireland Historic Environment Fund (HEF).

About the fund

Delivered by the Department for Communities (DfC), the grant programme exists to support the repair, research and regeneration of Northern Ireland’s heritage assets including listed buildings, scheduled monuments and community heritage projects.

Eligible applicants include owners of listed buildings and monuments, community and heritage organisations and district councils.

A total of £810,000 has been allocated to the Fund, with £500,000 already set aside for capital repairs to 86 listed buildings.

Current project streams

The Department is now inviting applications for the following project streams:

• Monument Regeneration Fund – Support for monument owners to carry out small works
• Research and Revival General Stream – Support for communities to carry out activities to research or celebrate their heritage
• Research and Revival Stream for Councils – Support for councils to develop initiatives to improve public understanding of heritage in their area
• Listed Building Development Support – Support for owners of heritage at risk to develop proposals for their listed buildings
• Scheduled Monument Development Support – Support for communities to carry out preliminary works to monuments in preparation for future repairs

Further information and timeline

For more information and details on how to apply, information is available on DfC’s website here.

Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Friday 5 September 2025, with offers expected to be issued in early October 2025.

If you have any questions or comments about the Fund, please contact Curtis Large, RSUA Policy and Public Affairs Officer, at curtis@rsua.org.uk