Conservation Grants

There are 3 conservation grants available through Cork City Council:

Architectural Conservation Area Grant

The ACA Grant Scheme is now closed and will reopen in early 2026. If you would like to be notified when the grant scheme reopens, please email conservation@corkcity.ie

The purpose of Cork City Council's Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) grant scheme is to assist the owners of historic buildings in the 42 ACAs across Cork City to undertake external works necessary to secure their conservation e.g. repairs of windows, doors, roofs and chimneys, gutters, railings and shopfronts. Reinstatement of lost character may also be considered where this benefits the ACA. Works must be in line with best conservation practice and should aim to employ methods of minimal intervention.

Grants of up to €20,000 are available under this scheme. Works can be funded up to a maximum rate of 50% of the project cost. As there is a limited overall budget available for this grant scheme, it is a competitive process and not all applications received can be grant aided.

A Guidance Document is available at the end of this Webpage.

Built Heritage Investment Scheme 

The BHIS is now closed; the final date for receipt of applications for the 2025 scheme was Friday 27th September, 2024. Details of the grants awarded in 2025 are available here

If you would like to be notified when the BHIS scheme reopens in 2025, for works taking place in 2026, please email conservation@corkcity.ie 

The primary aim of the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) is to provide financial assistance to owners in carrying out appropriate conservation works to their historic properties which are protected structures and/or located within an Architectural Conservation Area. This scheme supports the repair of historic fabric, the use of traditional materials and the sensitive reinstatement of historically accurate architectural features. Works must be in line with best conservation practice and should aim to employ methods of minimal intervention.

Projects can be awarded between €2,500 and €50,000; a small fund is also available for routine maintenance and minor repairs with a maximum grant of €2,500 per project. The total value of all public funding provided for individual projects must not exceed 80% of the total project cost. (Please note that the proportion of costs covered will, in many cases, be considerably lower than 80%).

As there is a limited overall budget available for this grant scheme, it is a competitive process and not all applications received can be grant aided.

Please note that a method statement must be submitted by the applicant to enable approval of any grant.

For further information, please see the qualifying and non-qualifying works document and the Guidance Circular at the end of this Webpage. 

Historic Structures Fund

The core aims of the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) are to enable large-scale conservation works where the historic structure is considered especially significant and in need of urgent repair, encourage the regeneration and reuse of historic structures, support employment in the conservation and construction sectors, and build resilience in our historic structures to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change.

The HSF (which offers grants from €50,000 to €200,000, up to 50% eligible costs) is now closed and should reopen in in late 2025. If you would like to be notified when the grant scheme reopens for works taking place in 2026, please email conservation@corkcity.ie

For further information, please see the guidance booklet, circular and qualifying/ non-qualifying document below at the end of the Webpage.

Architectural Conservation Area Grant Scheme Guidance Document

ACA Grant Scheme 2025 Application Form (1)

HSF 2025 Guidance Booklet For Applicants

FINAL HSF 2025 Circular REVISED Dec 2024

HSF 2025 Revised Qualifying Non Qualifying Works

HSF2025 Application Form A

HSF 2025 Checklist For Applicants

BHIS 2025 Circular.pdf (size 1 MB)

BHIS 2025 Qualifying Non-Qualifying Works .pdf (size 686.1 KB)