GrantRadar

North Kesteven District Council

North Kesteven Heritage Grant Scheme

North Kesteven District Council's Heritage Grant Scheme pays a percentage of the cost of sympathetic repair or reinstatement of traditional features on historic buildings (residential and commercial) in North Kesteven, plus traditional signage on historic commercial properties. Grants are 80% of eligible costs for listed buildings (max £3,000), 60% in conservation areas (max £1,800), 50% for locally listed non-designated heritage assets (max £1,200) and 80% for traditional signage (max £1,000); voluntary and not-for-profit organisations may get a higher percentage, especially where works have wider community benefit. It is aimed at building owners rather than community projects; the 2026/27 scheme total is £50,000 and there is no published deadline.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£1,000 – £3,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Owners of historic buildings in North Kesteven, residential or commercial/retail: statutory listed buildings, buildings in a conservation area, or properties on the Council's local list of non-designated heritage assets (or meeting its criteria)
  • Signage grants are for commercial properties meeting one of those heritage descriptions; tenants need evidence of an active lease of at least 12 months
  • Voluntary and not-for-profit organisations may get a higher grant percentage (still capped), particularly where works have wider social or community benefit
  • Properties bought within the last 12 months are not normally eligible
  • One grant per address per financial year

What it funds

  • External repairs in appropriate traditional materials and reinstatement of traditional features (on physical or documentary evidence) to statutory listed buildings (Grade I, II*, II), buildings in conservation areas, and locally listed non-designated heritage assets (or those meeting the local list criteria)
  • Eligible works include:
  • Repair, restoration or reinstatement of original/traditional windows and doors
  • Brickwork and stonework repairs and repointing
  • Reinstatement of traditional roof coverings and rainwater goods
  • Chimney repairs or rebuilding
  • Timber frame repairs
  • Reinstatement of missing architectural features (subject to evidence)
  • Repair/reinstatement of traditional boundary walls, railings and steps
  • Installation of traditional signage on commercial properties that are heritage assets or in conservation areas, in line with the Shop Front Design Guide

Internal works only in exceptional circumstances (e.g. publicly accessible or of particular special interest).

What it will not fund

  • Installation of uPVC windows and doors
  • Injection of damp proof treatments
  • Cosmetic redecoration (internal or external)
  • Scaffolding (as part of a scheme of repairs)
  • General maintenance works
  • Reinstatement/replacement of non-original architectural features
  • UPVC/aluminium signage boards, hanging signs or other features resisted in the Council's Shop Front Design Guide
  • Internal works, except in exceptional circumstances
  • Retrospective works, or works started before a grant is offered and accepted
  • Works without required planning permission/Listed Building Consent, not in accordance with approved plans, or regularising unauthorised works (including those under enforcement)
  • Properties sold to the current owners in the previous 12 months (normally; signage needs evidence of an active 12-month lease instead)
  • More than one grant per address per financial year

How to apply

  1. Get any planning permission or Listed Building Consent needed, and discharge pre-commencement conditions
  2. Obtain at least two comparable, detailed quotations for the works
  3. Complete the online Heritage Grant Scheme application form and return it to the Council's Conservation Officer with the quotations
  4. Wait for a written grant offer and accept it before any works start on site
  5. Complete the works and send copies of final receipted invoices within one year of the written offer; the Council pays the applicant (not the contractor)

The grant is registered as a local land charge or restrictive covenant; if you sell within three years of payment the Council can recoup all or part of it.

Queries to the Planning team on 01529 414155 or planning@n-kesteven.gov.uk, quoting 'North Kesteven Heritage Grant Scheme'.

Have ready

  • Completed application form
  • At least two comparable and detailed quotations for the works
  • Planning permission/Listed Building Consent where required
  • Signage applications by tenants: evidence of an active lease of at least 12 months

Full receipted invoices are needed after the works to claim payment.

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