BHIS-2027

Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2027

Please send completed applications to heritage@longfordcoco.ie before Friday 30 October 2026.

Click here for information on the Historic Thatched Buildings Stream 2027- open for applications until 30 October 2026.  

About the BHIS 2027

Ireland’s historic buildings contribute to the vitality of our cities, towns, villages and countryside, while instilling a sense of pride of place. The historic built environment makes a significant contribution to economic prosperity by attracting investment and tourism, providing direct and indirect employment. Our built heritage can also make a vital contribution to the regeneration of urban and rural areas, and their conservation can contribute to the national effort to reduce our carbon emissions.

The primary custodians of structures protected under the Planning and Development Acts are their owners and occupiers. The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS for short) is a Government grant scheme administered in Co. Longford by Longford County Council to help support the care and conservation of those buildings. Applicants can apply to Longford County Council under this scheme for qualifying structures within the county. 

The scheme runs alongside the BHIS Historic Thatch Buildings Stream (HTBS) for historic thatched buildings, and Historic Structures Fund (HSF) which enables larger scale conservation works to be carried out on heritage structures. 

Who may apply?

The BHIS provides funding for repair/conservation works to the following types of qualifying structures:

1. Protected structures that are listed on the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) of the Longford County Development Plan 2021-2027. Please note that the RPS number for your building may have changed recently, please visit sheet 165 of the link PDF to see the current numbers. 
2. Proposed protected structures, added to the RPS before 31 December 2026.
3. Structures within the boundaries of an Architectural Conservation Area (ACAs).
   • The Battery Road ACA (see sheet 159 of the linked PDF) and
   • The Ardagh Village ACA (see sheet 163 of the linked PDF).
4. Vernacular buildings - buildings and built features which were built by ‘ordinary’ people, as distinct from trained professionals, using traditional methods and local materials. 
5. Historic shopfronts

If you are unclear whether your structure is eligible under this scheme, you may contact the Heritage Officer at heritage@longfordcoco.ie. The RPS includes the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) registration number which should be included in the application form. Further information can be found at buildingsofireland.ie. 

Qualifying and non-qualifying works

Some of the qualifying works under the scheme include: 

• Works essential to stabilise a structure or part of a structure
• Repair (or renewal) of roof structures, coverings and features, including rainwater goods.
• Works to repair external walls and exterior fixtures and features, including joinery and stained glass windows. 
• Repair and conservation of internal structures and features
• Repair and conservation of historic shopfronts
• Repair of machinery which is an integral part of a structure
• Certain works to improve thermal efficiency following DHLGH guidelines.
• Certain Professional fees

A full list is available to download by clicking here. 

Amounts available and match funding

• Funding is available of up to 80% of the cost of doing approved work- this means you will need to fund a minimum 20% of the project cost yourself. 
• The funding awarded for successful projects will be between €2,500 and a maximum of €50,000 (€30,000 in the case of a vernacular building that is not on the RPS).
• The total value of all public funding provided for individual projects must not exceed 80% of the total project cost, which includes other grant supports, such as the the Department of Housing Thatching Grant, Vacant Homes Grant, the Rural Development Programme or other funding schemes.
• The level of grant support will be dependent on the level of support received from the Exchequer, and will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Please note that the Scheme is usually oversubscribed by eligible works, therefore the actual grant award will likely be significantly below what was requested.
• While Longford County Council will endeavour to give as much support as possible, it cannot guarantee that each application will be successful. 

How to apply

• Before completing your application, you must read the Built Heritage Investment Scheme Guidance Booklet for Applicants
• Complete and sign the Application form A
• Your application must include:
  • Maps showing the location of the building being applied for, and the building outlined in red.
  • Estimates/quotations for the works; applicants should follow National Procurement practices and seek multiple quotations.
  • Good quality photographs. (See note below)
  • It should also be accompanied by a method statement, completed by an architect/ engineer/ conservation advisor. Guidelines on completing a method statement is set out on Page 4 of the Guidance Booklet.
• Email your completed application form, application checklist and supporting documents to heritage@longfordcoco.ie by Friday, 30 October 2026. The subject line of your email must include: 'BHIS 2027' and the name of the structure.
• The application and supporting documents should be in PDF or Word format. Printed hardcopy applications will not be accepted.  
• The application form must have a handwritten signature in the Section 10 Declaration. This can be sent in as an additional PDF document. Application forms with blank signature lines, or with the name typed in will not be valid. 
• Please do not send the application to another email address other than heritage@longfordcoco.ie, as it will not be seen by the assessment committee. 

Application photographs 

Your application should be accompanied by a selection of photographs, showing the works that need to be undertaken. These must be in PNG or JPEG digital format only. Printed photographs will not be accepted. They should:

• Be clear, well-lit and in-focus. Photographs that make it difficult for someone unfamiliar with your building to understand what is being photographed and where are not acceptable. 
• Be of a reasonable size, about 500 - 1500mb in size. 
• The file name should be changed to read: BHIS27-[Name of building]-Before-[number] or assist the Heritage Officer to change them at a later date. 
• The images provided should include a general image of each exterior elevation (front/back/sides). 
• A closer shot of the elements being applied for, e.g. roof, chimney, windows, doors, damage to walls etc. 
• Detailed images of the damage to show need and urgency for the repair 
• For interiors, try to give two wide -angle images of each room being applied for, taken from diagonally opposite corners of the room, showing the fireplace/ doors and windows in context with the room. 
• Provide detailed images of the features to be repaired. Be careful with photographs of windows to use a flash to ensure that the window and its surround/shutters can actually be seen. 

To help with your application, you can take a look a sample application form from a previous BHIS.

Notes for successful applicants

• Successful applicants will be notified in early 2027.
• Works should not begin on the grant-aided works prior to the publication of the successful works by the Minister for Heritage and DHLGH. 
• Grant-aided works must begin by the end of July 2027 and be completed by the second week of October 2027. There are no guarantees that extensions will be granted.
• Successful applicants will be required to give periodic progress reports, outlining the work undertaken, number of days worked by the contractors and monies spent to that point.
• They must keep a series of photographs from before the grant-aided elements of the work began, during work and on completion. These should be submitted in JPEG or PNG format as part of the funding draw-down process, along with a short report outlining the works undertaken, the final costs of the repairs, number of days of work by the contractors.
• The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will publish the names of the successful buildings.
• Photographs and updates on the works may be selected for publication on social media posts and reports during the duration of the works and after completion.