In support of the Town Centre First: a policy approach for Irish towns (2022), the Historic Towns Initiative (HTI) is a joint undertaking by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Heritage Council which aims to promote the heritage-led regeneration of Ireland’s historic towns.
Aims of the Scheme
The Historic Towns Initiative 2026 aims to provide support to historic towns engaged in a programme of heritage-led regeneration.
In 2026 we are interested in projects that address dereliction in town centres, that encourage a proactive approach to maintenance and repair, that propose the re-use of historic structures and that can act as a demonstrator for future projects. We will continue with two funding Streams for the HTI 2026.
What works are considered for funding under this scheme
Under Stream 1 this year we are seeking proposals for capital works to repair and enhance the heritage of the town through heritage-led regeneration projects designed and implemented by local authorities, projects that encourage private owners and/or occupiers to invest in appropriate conservation-led works and repairs, projects that address dereliction, the conservation of landmark buildings, streetscape maintenance and conservation projects, and conservation-led public realm works which encourage investment from other sources. Projects which work within an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) and which will promote this designation are also sought. Applications must show how they will build resilience in the historic built environment of the town to enable it to withstand the effects of climate change. Match funding of 20% is required from the local authority or owners under Stream 1.
Complex and ambitious proposals (e.g., streetscape wide projects involving multiple buildings/owners) which encourage private owners and/or occupiers to invest in appropriate conservation-led works and repairs may be phased over two years, i.e., 2026 and 2027, subject to a maximum award of €350,000 in total per town.
Successful applicants should check their Letter of Offer for details of how funding is to be spent over the two years, where applicable. This letter will include contractual, procurement and governance conditions.
Under Stream 2, we will support applications to deliver a heritage-led regeneration plan (please see above for details of the HTI framework) which will examine the existing heritage of a town and determine what conservation focused interventions are required. The resulting plan should ultimately inform future grant applications. Under Stream 2 we will award up to €50,000 per town for heritage-led regeneration plans. Match funding of 20% is required from the local authority under Stream 2. Local authorities may apply for more than one Stream 1 and Stream 2 projects.
Information Workshop and Booklet
View/Download the information booklet below in pdf.
A webinar will be held by the Heritage Council on 23 January from 9.30am to 12.30pm for local authority personnel interested in applying for the HTI 2026. Register for the information webinar
Previous information workshops can be viewed on our YouTube Channel
Previous information workshops can be viewed on our YouTube Channel
Funding Available
A total fund of €2 million (capital funding) is available to local authorities under the HTI 2026. A 20% minimum matching contribution
will be required (please see below). The extent of matching resources will be taken into account in the assessment of applications.
Operation of the HTI 2026
- The HTI will be administered by the Heritage Council, as advised by the HTI National Steering Group.
- Each local authority may apply for Stream 1 and Stream 2 projects for funding under the HTI for historic towns in their functional area. Applications will only be accepted from local authorities. There is no limit on the number of applications per local authority area.#
- The programme is intended to support a small number of towns in 2026. Funding will be allocated on a competitive basis, in accordance with the assessment criteria set out below. It will not be possible to support all applications in this round.
- Applications will be assessed by the HTI National Steering Group which will make recommendations to the Board of the Heritage Council for funding under the programme.
- In the case of Stream 1, priority will be given to applications that are ‘plan-led’, i.e. in line with a HTI Management Plan based on the HTI framework, or a Conservation Plan, or a Public Realm Plan, conservation actions identified in a Town Centre First Plan, or eligible actions from a Town Centre Health Check Plan, or equivalent.
- It is expected that local authorities will work with a range of partners in delivering Stream 1 or 2 HTI 2026 projects and evidence of such partnerships, e.g., letters of support and/or expressions of interest, should be included with any application.
- We are encouraging local authorities to partner with owners of historic buildings and not for profit groups in possession of historic buildings in need of conservation
- Funding for each successful town in Stream 1 will be in the region of €150,000 -€350,000, depending on the projects proposed. Applications should reflect the scale of the likely funding available and the identified actions should be achievable within the allocated funding timeframe, i.e., in 2026. Applications under Stream 1 which are complex and ambitious (e.g., streetscape wide projects involving multiple buildings/owners) may project spending over 2026-2027, and such applications should clearly set this out.
- Projects funded under the HTI should show strong public engagement. Examples how this might be done include demonstrations, traditional skills training, community or NGO-management, or encouraging under-represented groups to take part or to share their heritage. It is expected that successful towns will hold an event about their projects during Heritage Week 2026.
What Towns Are Eligible?
Almost all Irish towns are historic in origin. A town seeking to benefit from the HTI should possess significant cultural and heritage assets and have a distinctive sense of place. Historic towns include those of medieval and pre-medieval foundation, plantation towns, planned estate towns and those established around local industries.
Urban centres designated as Special Regeneration Areas under the Living City Initiative are not eligible to apply. This includes areas within Dublin, Galway, Cork, Kilkenny, Waterford, Limerick and the recent addition of Athlone, Sligo, Drogheda, Dundalk and Letterkenny. However, we will consider projects involving publicly owned buildings in these areas, i.e., buildings/projects that are not eligible for the Living Cities Initiative tax relief.
What Works Are Eligible?
1. Capital works to repair and enhance the heritage of the town in line with a programme assessed by the HTI National Steering Group and approved by the Heritage Council. This may include:
- Heritage-led regeneration projects meeting the criteria set out above which are designed and implemented by local authorities
- Projects that encourage private owners and/or occupiers to invest in appropriate conservation-led works and repairs and to bring vacant floor area in historic buildings back into use
- Projects that address dereliction and vacancy, the conservation of landmark buildings, improved maintenance and general improvements to streetscapes and conservation-led public realm works which encourage investment from other sources
- Projects that would build resilience in the historic built environment of the town to enable it to withstand the effects of climate change
- Projects to retain and enhance character in an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) and which will promote the value of an ACA
designation
2. All grant-aided work under the HTI must respect the character and special interest of individual buildings and the heritage of
the town in general.
3. Works must be in accordance with best practice principles contained within the Architectural Heritage Protection Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2011) and relevant volumes in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s
Advice Series.
4. All statutory requirements for the protection of heritage must be met – including natural, archaeological and architectural heritage.
5. Where grant funding is sought for conservation and re-use of vacant buildings, information shall be provided on a sustainable proposed future use.
How To Apply
Applications will only be accepted from local authorities. Applications must be made via the Heritage Council online grants management system by 5pm on Friday 20 February 2026.
Hard copy or emailed applications will not be accepted.
The Heritage Council will notify applicants of the outcome of the assessment following Board approval in early March 2026.
Useful Resources
Heritage Council publication Ballybrilliant: heritage-led regeneration in 5 Irish towns (2018)
Information on case studies can be found in the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland publication Creating Vibrant Places: the RIAI town and village toolkit and in the publication Old House, New Home
Our urban centres contain a large amount of underused building stock. The sensitive reuse of such floor space at ground level and on
upper floors should be encouraged. In relation to this, attention is drawn to the publication Bringing Back Homes: Manual for the reuse of existing buildings.