Minister visits Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes to make key heritage funding announcement

Heritage sites across Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes could benefit from a major new Government funding package aimed at restoring historic buildings and supporting community regeneration.

The Government has announced three heritage funding schemes worth a combined £48 million this year, including support for urgent repairs to listed places of worship, restoration of at risk heritage buildings, and projects to transform historic sites into community assets.

Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross visited Grimsby Minster and the Sir Moses Montefiore Synagogue to launch the funding programmes, meeting local volunteers who help maintain the historic sites and preserve the area’s heritage.

Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn welcomed the minister’s visit to the constituency and said the announcement recognised the important role heritage buildings continue to play in local communities.

Melanie said: “It was wonderful to welcome Baroness Twycross to Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes and to showcase the incredible work being done by volunteers at Grimsby Minster and the Sir Moses Montefiore Synagogue.

“These buildings are not only part of our shared history, they are also important community spaces that continue to serve local people every day. Funding like this can help protect them for future generations while supporting wider regeneration across our towns.”

The largest of the new schemes is the Places of Worship Renewal Fund, which will provide up to £23 million this year to support projects ranging from structural repairs to improved accessibility and new community facilities. A further £69 million is expected to be made available over the course of this Parliament.

The scheme is aimed particularly at areas facing high levels of deprivation, where fundraising for major repair works can often be difficult. It will be open to listed places of worship of all faiths and delivered by Historic England.

A second round of the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund has also opened, with up to £15 million available this year for projects that restore neglected heritage buildings and create local economic and cultural benefits.

Meanwhile, the Heritage Revival Fund has doubled to £10 million a year, helping communities bring historic town centre buildings back into use as arts venues, workspaces and affordable housing.

Speaking during the visit, Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross said many historic buildings sit “at the heart of communities” and praised the volunteers and community groups who care for them.

She said the funding would help ensure heritage sites remain “water tight and doors wide open” for the communities they serve.