Issue details
Formal offer of Historic Building Grant to St. Mary and Holy Trinity Church
St Mary and Holy Trinity Church applied for a Historic Buildings Grant of £30,000 in March 2018.
The grant would contribute towards a second phase of repair work on the Church. The first phase, which focused on remedial and restoration work to the west tower, was completed in June 2018. The Council contributed a Historic Buildings Grant of £20,000 to the project.
The second phase will help further alleviate damp and water ingress problems at a lower level, improve access to enable a wider range of community activities, enhance the appearance of the church and the setting of the conservation area. The work should see the removal of the church from Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register.
A decision to make an informal offer of grant in principle, subject to conditions, at the Grants Determination Sub-committee on 27 September 2018. The Council was not in a position to make a formal offer of grant at that stage because the Church could not make 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. These items have now been received; they have been checked and found to be in order by the Heritage at Risk Projects Officer.
St Mary and Holy Trinity Church have been awarded a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant offer and have an imminent start date, pending approvals from TfL for highway access.
(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: 03/06/2019
Decision due: 3 Jul 19 by Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion – (Job Share post as part of Social Inclusion and Public Realm portfolio)
Lead director: Corporate Director, Place