Issue details
Informal offer of Historic Buildings Grant to St. Mary and Holy Trinity Church
St Mary and Holy Trinity Church have requested a Historic Buildings Grant from the Council to contribute toward partnership funding for a larger Heritage Lottery Fund grant. If the church does not receive sufficient partnership funding before the HLF deadline on 2 November 2018, then the HLF may withdraw their grant offer and the project may not go ahead.
A formal offer of grant cannot be made at this stage because the Church cannot meet the conditions for a formal grant offer, which is a full specification, drawings and three detailed quotes until after going to tender and a tender report written by the architect. Once these documents have been received (expected October 2018) and found to be in order then a request will be made to the Grants Determination Sub-committee to make a formal offer of grant to St. Mary and Holy Trinity Church. In the interim to help secure the HLF grant offer, permission is requested to write a letter of comfort to the Church to communicate the Council’s willingness to offer a Historic Buildings Grant of £30,000 in principle, subject to conditions.
(a) Without these works, the nationally significant Grade II* building would continue to suffer from damp and water ingress, leading to a further deterioration in the condition and appearance of the historic fabric. Without the repair work, Historic England would also continue to retain the listed building on its Heritage at Risk register.
(b) If the project goes ahead, the appearance of the church and the churchyard would be improved, enhancing the setting of the Fairfield Road Conservation Area. Access improvements would enable regular maintenance work to the church, reducing long term costs.
(c) The Church is one of the last remaining mediaeval buildings in the borough and it is a powerful contributor to a sense of place and continuity of the area. If the project does not go ahead, aspirations to enhance existing and develop new community services for a wider audience may not be realised. The project has the ability to contribute towards the theme ‘A Great Place to Live’ in the Community Plan to build a One Tower Hamlets.
Decision type: Key
Decision status: Issue Closed in System
Wards affected: Bow East;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 16/08/2018
Open/Exempt: Open;
Decision due: 27 Sep 18 by Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee
Lead member: Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Air Quality
Lead director: Corporate Director, Place
Department: Place
Contact: Ann Sutcliffe, (Corporate Director, Place) Email: Ann.Sutcliffe@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
Consultation process
No