Heritage and Architectural Conservation

Heritage 

Local authorities work to preserve and raise awareness about heritage in the local area. 

Local authorities have heritage officers who, in partnership with the Heritage Council, are key to promoting heritage awareness and developing heritage policy in counties across Ireland. 

The work of the Heritage Officer is varied and includes projects related to built, natural, archaeological, and cultural heritage. 

A key role for heritage officers is the provision of advice and guidance on all aspects of heritage to members of the public and to the local authority.  They also access and help to secure funding from a variety of sources to facilitate and to undertake collaborative heritage projects, assisting the local authority and local communities to engage positively with local heritage and thereby achieving national objectives for its promotion and preservation.     

The work of the Heritage Officer broadly includes:

• Developing policies and preparing and implementing heritage plans for the local authority area 
• Consulting with the public in the development of heritage plans and policies
• Providing information and advice about Irish heritage
• Collecting data and conducting research on heritage in the area
• Raising awareness and promoting local heritage by organising engaging educational programmes, events, and commemoration ceremonies
• Advising and assisting local communities and individuals in relation to funding streams for heritage projects, including the Heritage Council’s Community Heritage Grant Scheme, Historic Towns Initiative, Heritage Capacity Fund, and Heritage Stewardship Fund. 
• Building partnerships between varied stakeholders to achieve common objectives around heritage issues
• Liaising with owners of heritage sites to facilitate access at selected times, for example National Heritage Week, Culture Night, Open House
• Assisting with the development of national heritage policy through active engagement with government agencies during public consultation 

Other heritage-related work carried out by the local authority across other heritage sectors includes:

• Advising and assisting with securing funding and grants to for community groups and owners for the protection and maintenance of built and natural heritage sites
• Maintaining public archives and carrying out research   
• Managing visitor centres and public museums
• Digitising archives, catalogues, and records

National Initiatives supported by local authority heritage offices include:

• National Heritage Week; National Biodiversity Week; National Tidy Towns Pollinator Award; National Biodiversity Forum
• Irish Walled Towns Network; Town Centre First; The Historic Towns Initiative
• Community Archaeology Programme; Adopt a Monument Scheme
• Creative Ireland Programme
• Built Vernacular Heritage Strategy
• Climate Change Sectoral Plan for Built and Archaeological Heritage Planning; ICOMOS Ireland Energy Committee and other cross-border and European partnership heritage initiatives.

Architectural conservation

Local authorities work to preserve and raise awareness of the historic built environment. Local authorities have Architectural Conservation Officers who are key to ensuring the protection, conservation and reuse of our historic structures, in raising awareness of best practice and developing policies in line with national policy and legislation.

Role of the local authority in architectural conservation 

Local Authorities have a statutory role under the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) under Part IV of the Act in relation to the protection, enhancement and adaptive reuse of protected structures and buildings within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs). 

By providing advice and funding, the local authorities architectural conservation section can support owners/occupiers of protected structures and who own buildings within ACAs in the continued maintenance of their properties. 

The role of the local authority architectural conservation section includes: 

• Preparing a Record of Protected Structures (RPS) including buildings and structures in the county or city that are considered to be of merit 
• Designating Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs) to protect and conserve the character and appearance of particular areas, streets, townscapes or groups of buildings
• Identifying, evaluating and providing advice on structures, groups of structures, areas and other features of architectural heritage significance, with a view to making recommendations regarding their inclusion in a Record of Protected Structures and on development objectives
• Preparing conservation reports in relation to planning applications relating to protected structures and development within Architectural Conservation Areas and preparing Section 5 Declarations
• Monitoring the state of repair of structures included in a Record of Protected Structures, and, if necessary, making recommendations on the need, if any, for the planning authority to take enforcement action
• Liaising with other local authority departments, state agencies, and voluntary bodies and European organisations in relation to architectural conservation
• Advising on national and european legislation and regulations and contributing to the development of a conservation policy for inclusion in the local authority’s development plan.
• Monitoring sources of funding for architectural conservation and preparing applications for funding
• Providing advice to owners and occupiers of structures included on a Record of Protected Structures on good practice in the conservation of such structures and on the availability of assistance including financial assistance, for conservation
• Assessing structures included on a Record of Protected Structures with a view to issuing a Section 57 declarations as to works that require planning permission
• Advising in relation to energy efficiency works and adaptive reuse of protected structures and buildings within ACAs in accordance with climate change objectives and national policy.

Both the Record of Protected Structures and the Architectural Conservation Area Register are set out in the local authority’s development plan.

Record of Protected Structures (RPS)

The Record of Protected Structures is a list of all protected structures and buildings in the local authority area. You may sometimes hear the term ‘listed building’ used to describe a building that is on the record of protected structures. 

Any building or structure included on the Record of Protected Structures is considered of architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, social, scientific, or technical importance and particular rules apply to development or changes to the building.

How buildings are included on the RPS

Local authorities consider structures to be added or removed from the RPS during the Development Plan process. It is a reserved function of the elected members to agree on any additions or deletions to the RPS list. 

Details of proposed additions to the RPS must be displayed to the public for at least six weeks, during which time anyone can comment on the proposed list. These comments must be considered when finalising the list for the RPS. 

The local authority must make their final decision to list a structure in the RPS within 12 weeks of the end of the display period. The owner and occupier of the structure must be notified that it will be included in the RPS within two weeks of making the decision. 

Owning or occupying a protected structure

Owners and occupiers of protected structures have a legal obligation and duty of care to ensure it remains in good condition and does not become endangered through damage or neglect. 

Because the building is protected, changes must not be made to the structure without first going through the correct planning process. You should contact the planning or architectural conservation section in your local authority for more information. 

If you own or occupy a protected structure, you can apply to the local authority for a ‘Section 57’ declaration which will let you know the types of work the local authority considers would or would not materially affect the character of the structure – you will then know what is considered an exempted development and what would require planning permission. The declaration must be provided withing 12 weeks of receiving the request. If you disagree with the declaration, you can appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

If a structure is included on the RPS, protection is applied to:

• Both the exterior and interior of the structure
• Surrounding land and curtilage (curtilage is any land or buildings that immediately surround the structure and are closely associated with it, within the one enclosure)
• Any other structures on the land and their interiors
• All fixtures and features of these structures
• Carrying out work on a protected structure
• Any work carried out on a protected structure that would materially affect its character requires planning permission. This can include any work done on the interior of the structure such as painting. 

 Find out more about applying for planning permission.

Endangering a protected structure

If the structure is not well maintained and becomes endangered through neglect, decay, damage or harm, the local authority can serve a notice to the owner or occupier to carry out works to protect the structure or for the ‘restoration of character’. This could mean removing or replacing parts of the structure or anything that was added or changed without permission.

If you own or occupy a protected structure and you have been served a notice by the local authority to carry out works, you can make a written representation to the local authority requesting more time or financial support. Advice can be sought from the Local Authority Architectural Conservation Officer . Tis will be taken into consideration when the local authority makes a final decision on the issue. If you are not happy with the final decision, you can appeal to the district court within two weeks of the last response from the local authority.

Failing to protect or causing harm to a protected structure is an offence under the Planning and Development Act 2000. If an owner or occupier is found guilty of endangering a protected structure or failing to carry out works as directed by the local authority, penalties include:

• Penalties of up to €12.7 million and/or
• Up to two years in prison

Architectural Conservation Areas

An Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) is an area that is considered of architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, social, scientific, or technical importance, or important to the surrounding environment of a protected structure. ACAs can be groups of buildings within a town, village or city, or an entire town centre could be designated an ACA.

The local authority’s development plan sets out the Architectural Conservation Areas in the city or county and includes details on how the character of ACAs will be preserved. 

Changes to buildings in an ACA

Any works carried out in an ACA that will affect the special character of the area will require planning permission. This can include changes to the external appearance of structures such as the roof or windows, boundary walls, and any new construction of feature added to the exterior. 

To find out what type of works require planning permission for a structure located in an ACA, you can apply to your local authority for a declaration under Section 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. This declaration will list what works can be carried out without affecting the special character of the area and do not require planning permission. If the work you plan to do could alter the character of the area, you will need to apply for planning permission. Find out more about applying for planning permission.

For more information on ACAs, contact your local authority’s architectural conservation section.

Architectural Conservation Grant Schemes

Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS)

The Built Heritage Investment Scheme can assist with the repair and conservation of structures that are protected under the Record of Protected Structures or are in Architectural Conservation Areas. 

Funding available

BHIS is a match-funding scheme, which means the applicant must be able to supply 50% of the funding to cover the costs of the project. 

Funding of up to €15,000 can be awarded for works to conserve and preserve historic and protected buildings. For projects funded within an ACA, the maximum amount is €10,000 per project. 

Applying for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme

Funding is allocated to the Built Heritage Investment Scheme annually so is open for applications during a particular period each year. 

To find out more about applying to the scheme, you can contact your local authority’s architectural conservation section. 

Historic Structures Fund (HSF)

The Historic Structures Fund (HSF) is available to help with the cost of for large-scale conservation works on historic structures. 

The fund is open to owners of:

• Structures on the Record of Protected Structures or proposed for inclusion
• Structures within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACA)
• Structures within the amenity of a National Monument

Funding available

HSF is a match-funding scheme, which means the applicant must be able to supply between 20% - 50% of the funding to cover the costs of the project. There are three streams of funding available under HSF.

Stream 1

Grants of between €15,000 - €50,000 for essential repairs and smaller capital works for the refurbishment and conservation of heritage structures. 

A sub-stream of Stream 1 provides funding for historic shopfronts and Irish-language shopfronts.

Stream 2

Heritage grants available through the local authority include:

Grants of between €50,000 to €200,000 for larger enhancement, refurbishment or reuse projects involving heritage structures. The application must demonstrate a clear community, public or residential benefit to the works being carried out. Note that these projects may require planning permission. 

Stream 3 – Vernacular Stream

A vernacular structure is one that is built using traditional methods and local materials, and that had no formal plan in its construction. This stream offers grants of €5,000 to €10,000 for conservation repairs and capital works to vernacular structures that have not been included on the local authority’s Record of Protected Structures and are not legally protected in any other way. 

Applying for the Historic Structures Fund

Funding is allocated to the Historic Structures Fund annually so it is open for applications during a particular period each year. 

To find out more about applying to the scheme, you can contact your local authorities Architectural Conservation Section. 

Community Monuments Fund

The Community Monuments Fund provides funding to help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments /Protected Structures to safeguard them into the future. The fund supports projects that conserve, maintain, protect and promote local monuments and historic sites.

The monuments that receive support from this fund must be on the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) under the National Monuments Act 1930, or the Sites and Monuments Records (SMR) compiled by the National Monuments Service.

Funding available

Funding is available under three streams. Grants in all streams cover up to 100% of eligible project costs.

Stream 1

Grants of up to €100,000 for essential repairs and capital works for the conservation of archaeological monuments.

Stream 2

Grants of up to €30,000 for the development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports and detailed Specification of Works aimed at identifying measures for conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access.

Stream 3

Grants of up to €30,000 for the enhancement of access infrastructure, interpretation projects (including virtual/online), and small-scale emergency conservation works at archaeological monuments.

Applying for the Community Monuments Fund

A call for projects is issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage each year. Projects are proposed by local authorities, Community Groups or state-funded heritage organisations to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage , National Monuments Services section. 

If you are the owner or custodian of a monument you can apply to your local authority to propose a project or apply directly to the DHLGH NMS. To find out more contact NMS or your local authority.