The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) has distributed $35 million in grants and loans over the past five years to support community-led restoration of historic buildings across the UK. In just the last twelve months, 157 projects received financial backing from the organization, which channels funding from government sources and philanthropic foundations to assist social enterprises and charities, particularly in economically disadvantaged communities.
Many of these restoration projects involve complete professional teams that include architects, such as Mosedale Gillatt Architects' work for the Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust, which is currently rescuing a 19th-century former bank in Sunderland. However, some architects are going beyond their traditional roles, crossing from designer to project initiator and exceeding their conventional responsibilities.
By embedding themselves within their local communities, these architects have effectively become clients on heritage regeneration projects, delivering grassroots social and economic impact. AHF Chief Executive Matthew McKeague believes architects are uniquely positioned to take on this expanded role, helping guide quality design decisions, especially when community groups lack experience or are undertaking projects for the first time.
"Where we see architects really add value is when they work collaboratively with other key professionals and the community," McKeague explained. "This collaboration often helps create schemes that adopt a high-quality design and conservation approach, but that take account of other vital elements: making sure the design fits the business plan, management and maintenance is properly considered and costed, and that plans are adaptable to changing circumstances."
Bruce Newlands, founder of Kraft Architecture and co-founder of Creative Regeneration, exemplifies this approach through his work on The Glebe project in Inverclyde. The empty, 200-year-old B-listed building is being transformed into a heritage skills and cultural hub. Newlands became directly involved with community groups when he established his sole practice in 2008 after leaving Anderson Bell & Christie, viewing it as an extension of his desire to work deeply embedded in community development.
After founding MAKLAB, Scotland's first digital makerspace, and helping establish the Innovation Factory as part of Built Environment Smarter Transformation around 2017, Newlands moved to Inverclyde in 2018. There, he co-founded the volunteer-run Inverclyde Shed, assisting with a $1 million renovation of a derelict facility in central Greenock while also working with the Woodlands Community Development Trust to support local community groups in fighting planning appeals.
The Glebe represents a $5.5 million project that will create a maker-space with partners NEXTFab, a digital rehearsal space for international theater group Vanishing Point, exhibition areas, offices, and community spaces. The crowning element will be a national stained-glass school and retrofit hub. To the existing 1,500 square meters of floor area across five floors, the project will add an additional 300 square meters of glazed roof extension.
"My background has made navigating the early feasibility stages, liaising with and commissioning consultants, speaking to funders and working with partners, a lot easier than for an organization without that experience," Newlands noted. He has conducted the architectural design work to date with assistance from Balfour Engineering, Design Workshop Engineering, and Carbon Futures Energy Consultancy, supported by Brown & Wallace on building condition surveys and Dalgety Design with early architectural visualizations.
Emily Pieters, project director at Harmony Works, demonstrates another successful example through her involvement with Canada House, the former head office of Sheffield United Gas Light Company built in 1874. Her journey began with a conversation mixing friendship, music, and architecture when lifelong music education champions Ian Naylor and Martin Cropper approached her in 2017 about the Grade II-listed building in Sheffield's heart that was for sale.
Pieters connected with the University of Sheffield's School of Architecture and Landscape, where master's students explored the building's potential through a live project. Their scenarios brought Canada House to life in new ways, provided the name Harmony Works, and crucially helped secure political and funder buy-in with compelling stories and visuals.
The project aims to give music education in Sheffield the home it has long deserved by bringing together Sheffield Music Academy and Sheffield Music Hub, both thriving organizations operating in unsuitable, dispersed spaces. From an idea with no funding, they have grown into a charitable incorporated organization with political backing and over $13 million raised, including major grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, and $1 million recently received from The Garfield Weston Foundation.
"Having an architect embedded in the early stages can completely shift what's possible – especially when the architect is the client," Pieters explained. "Problem-solving, curiosity, advocacy and patience have all been crucial skills. Understanding the long journey of a project, while holding on to a clear end vision, has helped sustain motivation and build confidence among stakeholders."
Stephen Anderson, chair of Valley Heritage and director at Buttress, represents a third approach through his work on The Alliance, a former Lancashire & Yorkshire Bank in Bacup built in 1878. Anderson moved to Rossendale in Lancashire in 2001 and began volunteering at Rossendale Civic Trust, which advocates for high-quality development and conservation of the historic environment.
Realizing that Rossendale needed a different kind of organization to address its disused and derelict heritage assets, Anderson helped establish Valley Heritage as a constituted charity in December 2015. Their first capital project, completed in 2022 despite pandemic challenges, transformed The Alliance, a Grade II-listed former bank in Bacup, into homes and co-working spaces as part of Bacup's High Street Heritage Action Zone.
The project received support through a $200,000 AHF loan for acquisition and a $350,000 grant for refurbishment. Valley Heritage's team, including three volunteer architects, contributed concept designs that expedited the process. The organization's sustainability was further bolstered by revenue support from AHF's pilot Heritage Development Trust program.
All three architects emphasize the transformative role that AHF funding played in their projects. The fund's early-stage project viability support enabled critical baseline surveys, building condition assessments, and cost planning that allowed development of design proposals and business cases essential for discussions with capital funders. Historic England now supports Valley Heritage with a three-year grant, helping tackle Rossendale's most challenging heritage assets and developing a pipeline of future projects.
