The Architectural Heritage Fund has announced 25 standout projects for its 50th anniversary celebrations. This diverse selection spans the UK and shows what half a century of heritage-led regeneration looks like in practice
Covering all four nations, the 25 projects have been arranged into five regional groups: Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, North & Midlands and London & South. Spanning five decades of Architectural Heritage Fund activity, they range from medieval stone forts and Victorian courthouses to industrial potteries, seaside piers and arts venues created within redundant warehouses.
Altogether, they tell a story of historic buildings that might otherwise have been lost, given new purpose by the communities that love them.
Matthew McKeague, chief executive of the Architectural Heritage Fund, stated: “For fifty years, the AHF has worked alongside communities to give new life to historic buildings and to ensure that heritage remains at the heart of regeneration.
“These 25 projects are a snapshot of what that looks like across the UK. They differ hugely in scale, age, and what they’ve become, while sharing a similar spirit. They are united by the fact that local communities saw potential in a building that others had given up on and found a way to bring it back.”
All 25 projects are unique in design
All projects in the selection are unique. In Belfast, Riddel’s Warehouse is a four-storey Victorian ironmongery warehouse with a spectacular cast-iron atrium, being transformed into a multi-use arts venue and coworking hub, rescued from the Buildings at Risk Register after years of disuse.
Kinning Park Complex, located in Glasgow’s Southside, was a former Edwardian school famously occupied by local mothers for 55 days to prevent its closure, and has been restored as a thriving space for dance groups, artists, musicians and community projects.
In the Lake District, Grizedale Arts used AHF support to bring a listed Cumbrian pub back to life as a hybrid community venue and arts centre. Jubilee Pool in Penzance became the UK’s first lido heated by a geothermal well, now open year-round and saving over 500 tonnes of CO2 annually.
At Penarth Pier Pavilion in the Vale of Glamorgan, a cherished Victorian seaside landmark has been secured for Wales, while Lissan House in County Tyrone is a 17th-century plantation house entirely run by volunteers on its 260-acre estate.
How the Architectural Heritage Fund creates a new future for historic buildings
Since its foundation in 1976, the Architectural Heritage Fund has supported 2,432 projects across the UK, awarding 3,079 grants and loans worth over £182m.
The 25 projects are part of a wider programme that includes a touring exhibition visiting Belfast, Glasgow, Cardiff, and London, a flagship conference in London in Summer 2026, and the launch of a refreshed visual identity and website.
Baroness Twycross, parliamentary under-secretary of state for museums, heritage and gambling, concluded: “Heritage is there to be used, not just admired. The Architectural Heritage Fund champions the impact of heritage and community-led regeneration and is often the first point of contact for community groups seeking to rescue local historic sites and buildings.
“It is there every step of the way, providing advice, loans and grants to local communities to help create new futures for these historic buildings.”
