Two major funding initiatives have been revealed for historic listed buildings in Northern Ireland, Minister of the Environment Arlene Foster has announced. The schemes will total £3.9m.

Firstly, the historic buildings grant-aid scheme will receive an additional £1.5m, increasing it from £2.4 to £3.9m. The existing policy has been revised to take account of this. Secondly, up to £500,000 per year will be set aside from this extra money to help building preservation trusts rescue listed buildings at risk.

Speaking at the 'Windows of Opportunity' regeneration and Heritage Conference in the Stormont Hotel, the Minister said: "This announcement means that for the first time since the 1980s secular grade B2 listed buildings can benefit from a grant-aid scheme. This will allow some 3,400 more owners to get help with valuable works of repair or maintenance to the historic fabric of their building."

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The percentage of grant aid for eligible works to the historic fabric of buildings is also increasing to 35% for most buildings. This represents an increase from 20% for the higher grades of building and reflects the recognised additional cost of appropriate conservation materials and techniques - an essential requirement when carrying out works to a listed building.

"My Department has already worked successfully with building preservation trusts to produce innovative solutions for threatened and dilapidated buildings and I want to see this partnership between government and the community sector greatly extended," the Minister added.

"Therefore I am providing up to £500,000 of the increased budget to fund building preservation trusts and similar community based organisations."

Ms Foster concluded: "Our historic heritage has great potential both socially and economically and I look forward to positive progress and to many more listed buildings benefiting from this additional funding."

(JM)