Heritage and Conservation

Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) & Historic Thatched Building Stream (BHIS HTB)

Heritage and Conservation

Following on from the announcement on Friday 25th July by James Browne TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2026 for the repair and conservation of protected structures has been launched for the coming year & the BHIS Historic Thatched Building Stream (BHIS HTB) 2026 for works to historic thatched structures. Fingal County Council is now inviting applications for both Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2026.

CLOSING DATE: The deadline for receipt of applications for both schemes is 5PM ON FRIDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2025.

Completed Application Forms and relevant supplementary material should be emailed to [email protected] in either Word or pdf format. The size of the email with all attachments should not exceed 15MB.

Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS)

Funding Levels: Minimum €2,500; Maximum €50,000

The BHIS 2026 offers financial assistance towards the repair and conservation of the architectural heritage of Fingal. Applications can be made for:

· Protected structures or Proposed Protected Structures

· Structures in Architectural Conservation Areas where the works enhance the character and appearance of the ACA.

· Non-protected Vernacular Structures (max grant for these is €30,000 where they are not a protected structure nor or they located within an ACA)

For the list of Protected Structures or ACAs in Fingal see Appendix 5 of the Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029, The appendix includes individual boundary maps for the ACAs.

The Application Form and Guidance Documents on the Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2026 are available to download below.

BHIS 2026 Application Form (Form A)

BHIS 2026 Guidance Booklet for Applicants

BHIS 2026 Qualifying and Non Qualifying Works

Historic Thatched Building Stream (BHIS HTB)

Funding Levels: Maximum €20,000

Applications can be made for:

· Historic Thatched Buildings – Funding is available for conservation repairs to historic thatched structures, helping owners offset other costs. Works to repair the thatched roof are the main focus of the scheme but works to other areas of the building can be applied for e.g. mud wall repairs.

The annual allocation to Fingal under this stream is generally limited but applications of thatched properties can also be considered under the main stream BHIS and it may be prudent to also apply to it.

The Application Form and Guidance Circular for the Historic Thatched Buildings Scheme (BHIS HTB) 2026 are available to download below.

HTB 2026 Application Form (Form A)

HTB 2026 Thatch Circular

DECISION ON APPLICATIONS:

Both BHIS schemes are very competitive grant schemes with limited budgets. Not all applications may be successful. Applications will be evaluated during October and November with a list of projects forwarded to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for formal approval. The Department will announce the list of successful projects in January 2026 and notification will issue to applicants on foot of this.

All BHIS applications will be assessed and prioritised on the basis of:

· Significance of the Structure

· Efficacy of the Works (effectiveness of proposed works to conserve the structure)

· Quality of Works Proposed (specification or method statement for works meets best conservation practice)

· Contribution to Public Amenity (improvement to streetscape or landscape)

A method statement is required as part of the application documentation and so it is important that a Conservation Professional designs, specifies and oversees the works on site. Where the specific expertise lies with a practitioner or contractor such as a thatcher or stone mason then they can be put forward as fulfilling the role of the conservation professional and can set out the method statement.

OTHER CONSERVATION GRANTS:

Historic Structures Fund (HSF) 2026

This scheme will be advertised in November 2025 for larger grants of between €50,000 and €200,000. However, this is a very restricted scheme with a limit for each local authority of 3 applications for privately owned structures and 3 for publicly owned structures to go forward for consideration to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Stitch in Time Grant 2026 -

Fingal County Council operates a separate scheme, called the Stitch in Time Grant, for small repairs/maintenance works that would fall below the minimum grant level of BHIS i.e. for grants under €2,500. Applications can be submitted now for the 2026 Stitch in Time Grant. However, approvals will not start to issue until January 2026 and must be for works carried out in 2026 and not beforehand. Details of this scheme are available HERE