Stuart Anderson MP welcomed progress in his campaign to protect South Shropshire’s cultural heritage, as three new funds have been opened for Expressions of Interest but warned about the impact of cuts and caps.
- Three new funds have opened to protect cultural heritage.
- However, there are strict deadlines for the new schemes.
- Stuart has called for full funding and VAT relief to be reinstated.
Stuart Anderson MP:
“South Shropshire is steeped in history, from our historic churches to our ancient landscapes and industrial landmarks. Yet, too many of them are struggling with rising costs and complex funding rules. My Cultural Heritage Campaign aims to protect and promote our cultural and historical assets. I am pleased that the government has opened applications for three new funds for crucial repair projects in at-risk heritage sites. However, I am disappointed that funding hasn’t been fully restored for listed places of worship and the scheme doesn’t cover the cost of VAT. This is the first time in decades that VAT has been levied on church conservation projects. Churches now face having to cover 20% of repair costs, despite over 1,000 places of worship being listed as at risk. I will continue pressing Ministers to reinstate VAT relief and full funding - as the Conservatives have already pledged to do if returned to government.”
Stuart Anderson MP has welcomed the opening of applications for three new heritage funds but criticised the government's decision to remove VAT relief from church conservation projects The new support packages includes the new Places of Worship Renewal Fund, which replaces the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme that had invested more than £346 million in repairs to roofs, masonry, and monuments since 2010. The new fund offers upfront capital grants for crucial repair and maintenance projects. Unlike the previous scheme, however, it does not cover the cost of VAT. It is the first time in decades that VAT is imposed on church conservation projects. This means that churches are now forced to take on 20 per cent of repair costs, despite over one thousand places of worship being listed on the 'at risk' register.
The Fund is offering up to £23 million a year to help Listed Places of Worship with the cost of conservation. A further £69 million has been pledged by 2029. However, Stuart has said that the annual allocation is only half the previous amount which stood at £43 million under the Conservatives. He added that this follows cuts which the government introduced in January 2025, when it imposed a cap of £25,000 on how much could be claimed through the scheme. This is despite Historic England's latest Heritage at Risk Register revealing that almost a thousand of them are in need of urgent support. The Register has 54 entries for South Shropshire, including 20 chapels and churches. Meanwhile, a National Churches Trust survey of more than 3,600 churches found two in five are at risk of closure, with rural churches the most vulnerable.
The package of support also includes second rounds of the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund and Heritage Revival Fund as part of a £1.5 billion Arts Everywhere Fund
Up to £15 million in funding is available to at-risk heritage sites this year, while the Heritage Revival Fund has opened with £10 million per year to help communities rescue historic buildings from further neglect. Applications are now open - but with tight deadlines. Expressions of interest must be submitted by 7th June 2026 for the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund and 14th June 2026 for the Places of Worship Renewal Fund. Expressions of Interest can be submitted via Historic England.
