Traditional Field Barn Minor Repairs Grant Scheme

South West Peak Traditional Field Barn Minor Repairs Grant Scheme:

** The deadline for expressing interest in this scheme has been extended to November 30th 2020 **

A scheme for the conservation of field barns through minor repairs, managed by the South West Peak Landscape Partnership.

Field barns built from local materials, in a vernacular style, are a distinctive feature and a key landscape characteristic across the South West Peak.  Most were constructed during the second half of the 19th century, up to the outbreak of World War I. Their form, location and particularly their internal arrangements reflect the changes that have occurred in upland farming practice over the last 150 years. These changes have meant that field barns have limited use in modern agricultural terms and this has led to many falling into disrepair and some even lost altogether. The aim of this scheme is to stop deterioration before it gets to the point of requiring full restoration at a much higher cost.  In order to achieve this objective a small grant is available for minor repairs to traditional field barns that are otherwise structurally sound.  Minor repairs could include work to doors, windows, rainwater goods, minor roof repairs like slipped tiles, and re-pointing, to prevent any further deterioration.

Grant amounts can vary from a few hundred pounds up to a few thousand. Barns receiving maintenance payments under other environmental schemes are ineligible.  Any work that is a requirement as part of a planning condition is also ineligible.

A grant award can be made for up to 80% of the cost of the works with a maximum available grant of £7300.  The grant will be paid once the work has been completed according to agreed conditions and specifications.

The key conservation principle of minimum intervention and like for like repairs using traditional materials and methods applies. Works which are considered to be restoration works cannot be supported within this scheme. If this is the case, information about the barn can be retained for any possible future grant opportunities.

The process is competitive due to a fixed amount of available funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and it may be that not all enquiries will be successful.

To be eligible:

Your barn must:
*Be in the South West Peak (see map below).
*Be a field barn or outfarm – no yard barns can be considered.
*Be built before WWI using traditional materials e.g. gritstone, sandstone, limestone, Staffordshire blue tiles, stone slates.
*Contribute to the character of the South West Peak Landscape and thus have public benefit.
*Ideally be in some form of agricultural use.
*Be structurally sound.

You must be prepared to:
*Agree to appropriate future maintenance requirements of the completed repair works for a period of five years.
*Agree to the historic recording of your barn prior to the repair works being carried out.
*Agree to wildlife surveys and the provision of existing and future opportunities for wildlife.
*Allow the SWPLP project team, volunteers or authorised representative to carry out inspections during the repair works and on completion.  Monitoring during the term of the agreement will also be a requirement.

You must not:
*Be already in receipt of any other agricultural state aid (not including PDNPA Grant Scheme, Defra’s Countryside Stewardship or Environmental Stewardship Schemes) that, together with any grant you may receive from this scheme, exceeds our maximum grant threshold.
*Be in receipt of any other funding for barn maintenance (such as building maintenance options under Environmental Stewardship or Countryside Stewardship).  This would be regarded as double funding.

The works must:
*Be carried out in accordance with recognised good practice, using like for like traditional materials and methods.
*Meet the standards as agreed and outlined in the agreement
*Not be a requirement of a planning condition.

Still interested?
Then contact the SWP Cultural Heritage Officer, Catherine Parker Heath at SWP@peakdistrict.gov.uk, or telephone on 01629 816279 or 07970 237129.

Download this Information as a PDF here.