New £25m fund for urgent roof repairs to listed places of worship

Chancellor announces next round of applications for the  Listed Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund

The next round of the government-funded Listed Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund opens for business today.

Congregations across the UK responsible for looking after listed places of worship can now apply for a share of £25million to address urgent roof repairs to ensure these historic buildings are weathertight, safe and open for use.

Organisations, trusts and congregations of all faiths and denominations can apply for a grant from £10,000 to £100,000 to meet the costs of urgent repairs to roofs and rainwater disposal systems. Limited funding can also be provided for structural investigations, specialist reports and bat surveys.

This is the second round of the Listed Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund. In March 2015, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that more than 500 places of worship had been successful in securing a funding package totalling £30million for urgent roof repairs including synagogues in Cheltenham and London and a Buddhist Centre in London.

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said: “Britain’s churches and cathedrals are central to our heritage and play a crucial role in communities across the country. The money we’re committing is thanks to us delivering a plan for economic security, allowing us to repair these important listed buildings and making sure they are here for generations to come.”

Heritage Minister Tracey Crouch said: "These beautiful places of worship are an integral part of our country's heritage and it is vital that they are protected. This fund will help ensure these much-loved buildings are conserved for present and future generations.”

The Listed Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund is administered by the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) on behalf of the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS). Applications are now open until 26 February 2016 with decisions to be announced in early summer.

For more information about the Fund and the kinds of places of worship that are eligible to apply visit Listed Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund website.