Funding for heritage buildings

Financial help available for owners of heritage buildings. Photo / Supplied

Whanganui's heritage buildings are a growing attraction for visitors and the district council says owners may need help to keep buildings looking spick and span.

It has made funding available through the Whanganui Heritage Grants Scheme which provides financial assistance for projects that promote and conserve local heritage, with a total of $150,000 available in the current financial year.

The fund preserves the heritage of private buildings and can be used for restoring original features, painting with heritage colours, external lighting, reinstating parapets and other historic elements.

The works must be visible from a public place and offer tangible heritage benefits. Eligible properties must be in the town centre and designated as a significant heritage building.

Councillor Helen Craig says Whanganui's comprehensive preserved heritage town centre is unique in New Zealand and is a growing focus for tourism.

"Whanganui attracts a huge amount of interest in its heritage story from academics to government representatives who want to support and retain New Zealand's unique heritage inventory," Craig said.

"In other, larger cities where this fund is provided, results have been excellent, with many owners using the fund as a trigger to invest in more work to preserve and protect their buildings.

"I encourage interested people to get in touch with the council's planning team, who can work through the application with them and put them in touch with the well-developed network of people in Whanganui with heritage experience."

The fund has been made available as part of the council's Town Centre Regeneration Strategy.

Applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis up to the value of 50 per cent of the works. For projects valued at less than $15,000, 80 per cent toward the cost of works may be considered.

The current funding round closes on September 30, 2018, and will open again in November, 2018. Applications will require an estimate of costs and building and resource consents, if needed, must be obtained before a funding application is made.

Other funding is also available for owners of heritage buildings, such as the Government's Heritage Equip Fund, which may fund up to 50 per cent of earthquake strengthening costs and the National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund for Heritage New Zealand listed buildings.