Wicklow Protected Structures to Benefit from Rural Regeneration Schemes
Posted 31/05/2017
County Wicklow is an area well known for its rich architectural heritage but the cost of funding the restoration of heritage buildings, particularly community owned properties can be difficult and costly. The Irish Government has acknowledged the importance of heritage buildings in their €3.87 million rural development programme 'Realising Our Rural Potential: the Action Plan for Rural Development', announced this year. Wicklow News report that thirteen separate protected structure properties in the county will benefit from two schemes, ten under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and 3 projects under the Structures at Risk Fund, totalling central government support of €137,000.
Heritage Officer Ms Deirdre Burns is reported as saying that County Wicklow has “ over 700 properties on the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) which are either of national, regional or local interest. The availability of grant support is key to ensuring the survival of these structures into the future.”
The council hope that the grants announced in 2017 will increase confidence in the projects and encourage further private investment.
