Thriving Places

People sitting in a sunny park, near a bandstand

Pearson Park in Kingston upon Hull

We are investing in places, not just individual projects, to bring about benefits for people, places and our natural environment.

What we mean by place

‘Place’ refers to a meaningful location, and definitions vary depending on where you are and who you ask. It could mean a local community, a natural landscape or an entire city.

How heritage supports thriving places

Heritage plays a unique role in building pride in place by connecting communities and visitors to an area and helping to boost economies.

Buildings and monuments, landscapes, high streets and parks all contribute to a sense of place alongside the stories, memories and experiences we associate with them.

Our funding for heritage projects

We welcome applications for heritage projects that take local needs, challenges and opportunities into account by:

considering how the activity you deliver benefits your area
valuing the experience and knowledge of your local communities
partnering or co-ordinating with other organisations to have a wider impact

Projects taking this place-based approach can focus on different types of heritage and can include an individual heritage site or a wider area.

We are delivering strategic initiatives, as part of our Heritage 2033 strategy, that focus on place:

Heritage Places is targeting place-based investment to boost pride in place and connect communities and visitors with heritage, distributing £200million across the UK during Heritage 2033
Landscape Connections is investing £150million in around 20 long-term projects boosting nature recovery by supporting Protected Landscapes and other world-class landscapes across the UK
Nature Towns and Cities is a partnership initiative supporting places to improve the quality of, and access to, historic parks and urban green spaces, distributing £15million in 2025 for projects lasting up to three years

See our funding programmes, area-based projects good practice guidance and strategic initiatives pages to find out more.

Our approach to supporting places

We fund places, not just projects, by:

valuing the local expertise of our Area and Nation Teams and Committees in our decision-making for grants
engaging with stakeholders across the UK including working with local and strategic authorities, making connections between priorities and projects
delivering our place-based strategic initiatives: Heritage Places, Landscape Connections and Nature, Towns and Cities
working with partners and agencies to bring about benefits for places, such as the Architectural Heritage Fund’s Heritage Development Trusts programme

Discover how heritage can create better places in the project examples below.

Computer render of the refurbished Winter Gardens: and iron and glass building with open spaces, lush plants and visitors.

An artist's impression of the redevelopment plans for the Winter Gardens. Credit: Great Yarmouth Borough Council.

Projects

Great Yarmouth Winter Gardens - Reimagining the People's Palace

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is restoring the UK’s last surviving Victorian ironwork seaside winter gardens.

29/06/2021

A windmill with houses in the background set against a blue sky

Basic Page

Strategic initiatives

We support and invest in heritage in multiple ways. Find out more about some of our planned interventions and how we’ll deliver them.

An aerial view of Albert Avenue outdoor swimming pool in Hull

Albert Avenue outdoor swimming pool in Hull. Photo: Esteem.

Projects

A lido revolution: championing outdoor swimming

The Pooling Resources project, led by Future Lidos, has developed and delivered a digital toolkit to support the revival of lidos across the UK.

05/12/2022

A head and shoulders image of Helen Featherstone

Helen Featherstone. Photo: Roth Reed.

Blogs

A year as Director of England, North: resilience and saving heritage

Our Director of England, North Helen Featherstone reflects on her first year in the role, the needs of heritage organisations in the North and our commitment to supporting resilience.

15/02/2024

Two young boys taking part in a performance with two women. Photo credit: Andrew Baker.

Publications

How our targeted funding is improving confidence and collaboration

In the fourth year of our Areas of Focus initiative, we examine how our support is benefiting communities and their heritage in our 13 target areas.

The Court House, Bangor.

Projects

How a derelict building on Bangor’s seafront became Northern Ireland’s newest venue

Thanks to overwhelming community support, Open House turned a former bank and court house in Bangor into a contemporary music venue, saving it from dereliction.

13/03/2018

A person walks on a path under trees and next to a lake in summer

Improving access to parks and green space. Credit: Nottingham City Council.

News

Two awards for a programme putting nature at the heart of thriving urban places

The Future Parks Accelerator programme, a joint initiative with the National Trust, has won Social Project of the Year and the prestigious Overall Project of the Year Award.

21/11/2023

Ted at Etty & Tyler motor and cycle repair shop in Forest Gate. Credit: Andrew Baker Photographer.

Projects

Full Cycle: a history of cycling in Forest Gate

This project will look at the cycling history of Forest Gate in Newham – an important cycling epicentre in the late 19th century close to Epping Forest.

04/10/2023

Torquay on the South Devon coast, with Torre Abbey in the foreground.

News

£200million funding for Heritage Places will boost local economies and pride in place

We’re forging long-term partnerships with towns and cities across the UK as part of a 10-year journey to help places thrive by unlocking the potential of their heritage.

08/10/2023

A mock directional sign pointing to the nine Heritage Places

Publications

Data for Heritage Places – a new analysis using the Heritage Index

How we’ve used data about heritage, society and investment levels, alongside local insight, to select an initial nine locations across the UK for strategic investment.