Historic Building Grants

Oxford City Council has allocated a small amount of money each financial year since the early 1970's to offer grant-aid towards the repair and restoration of historic buildings and structures that are part of the public domain.

Buildings and structures listed for their special architectural or historic interest are eligible for consideration. Unlisted buildings that are considered to be of local architectural or historic interest by the City Council may also be eligible.

Historic buildings grants are offered to ensure that works compatible with the building and area are carried out in a sensitive manner with sympathetic, natural and appropriate materials. Grants are not made for works using unsustainably produced tropical hardwoods.

What criteria and types of buildings or works are eligible for consideration for an Historic Building Grant?

• Historic Buildings Grants are not awarded for normal works of repair and maintenance.
• Usually grants do not exceed 25% or £1,500, whichever is the greater sum, of the total costs involved.
• The award of an historic buildings grant is not automatic and is dependent on the nature of the proposal, available funds, and the discretion of the Council.
• Grants must be taken up within 2 years of the date of approval

Types of buildings and works eligible:

• Churches and private individuals are normally eligible. 
• Colleges and commercial concerns are not normally eligible.
• External works that make a contribution to the street scene are eligible.
• Essential structural repair is eligible in appropriate cases.
• The retention, or reinstatement, usually with traditional and natural materials of the following are eligible:

1. Features of special interest such as main chimney-stacks, porches, stone detailing and carving.
2. Roof coverings. (Not Welsh slate)
3. Original window and door types.
4. External walls to buildings, significant front garden walls and railings.
5. Grants are not awarded for works that are retrospective.
6. Grants may be awarded towards the upkeep of gardens, where carried out in conjunction with work to buildings and structures.

How do I apply for a Historic Building Grant?

The process

If the criteria above applies to your proposals and you wish to proceed with your enquiries, you must obtain an application form from the Conservation department using the contact details on the right of this page, or download the form below:

Fill in the form clearly and send back to us using the contact details on the right of the page. You should also provide any supporting information, for example, photographs or historical documentation on the building/structure, which will help the Council consider your submission. Copies of contractors' estimates or surveyors/architects specifications are essential and should be included.

There will be a waiting period when your application is processed.  Do not commence work during this period, as you will cease to be eligible for grant aid.

An officer from the Conservation Section of the Planning Department will contact you in order to carry out an inspection of the property in connection with the proposed works and grant application. After this inspection, applications for grant aid will be considered and a letter will inform you of the decision.

If you are successful, you will be able to start work. You must notify the Conservation Section of the commencement of works on site in order that they may be inspected as they progress. The grant is made payable on the completion of the works to a satisfactory standard, using the materials and methods specified. The quality of materials, workmanship and care taken on the work is essential to its success. If changes are to be made, you should notify the Conservation Section at once so that suitable alternatives can be discussed.

Past projects that have benefited from historic building grants include:

• Re-thatching of houses in Beauchamp Lane, Temple Cowley, Wolvercote, Old Marston and Iffley where the parish hall was also re-thatched.
• Re-construction of the cornice and cartouche to an 18^th century Doorway at Greyfriars, Paradise Street.
• Re-instatement of part of the overflow weir to the 1790's Oxford Canal, Hythe Bridge Street.
• Provision and re-roofing of a Stonesfield slate roof to a house in Wolvercote and Bartlemas Chapel.
• Restoration of Victorian conservatories in the North Oxford Victorian Suburb conservation area.
• Cleaning and re-placement of worn stone surfaces and details to houses in St John Street and the villages.
• Restoration of front stone boundary walls in Iffley, Old Headington Headington Quarry and St Clements.
• Recarving worn stone work to church bell-cotes, window and door openings.
• Recarving a worn inscription on a "Hundred stone" on the public highway and recutting the inscription on the plaque to Friar Bacon, set in the wall of Westgate.
• Cleaning and restoration of the stone faced Folly Bridge.

Page last reviewed 14 Nov 2008