The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced it will have an additional £25m to spend every year until 2018 thanks to a rise in lottery ticket proceeds. Sales have risen by more than 11 per cent since 2005, a phenomenon partly attributed to the recession.
HLF chief executive Carole Souter said: “This is extremely welcome news as there is a significant funding need for heritage across the UK and those with excellent projects should be assured that it’s well worth applying to us.
“The extra money will be invested in all sorts of transformational projects – from museums and historic buildings to parks, skills and training.”
The increase brings HLF's annual budget to £205m. This should allow the heritage sector to win back some of the funding diverted to the 2012 Olympics.
MA director Mark Taylor said: "Obviously this is good news and is likely to be very helpful in the difficult times ahead. What will be crucial is how HLF chose to allocate this windfall."
HLF also confirmed today that it had approved a £4.6m grant for Southampton's proposed maritime museum.
The announcement follows Southampton City Council’s recent decision to abandon controversial plans to sell artwork from its collection. The council said movements in the property market had opened up alternative funding options.
According to cabinet member for leisure, culture and heritage John Hannides, the council's U-turn had no bearing on HLF's decision to award the grant. Hannides said: “I’m not aware of anything that was specifically raised.”
Sea City Museum is now on course to launch in time for the centenary of the Titanic disaster in April 2012. Work will start on the Grade II* listed former Magistrate's Court in October this year.
The council hopes the new museum will be a highlight of Southampton's emerging cultural quarter. Hannides said: “We're thrilled. It’s been a long process in terms of the amount of time and planning involved.
“We are looking forward to what we hope will be a fantastic museum for the city.”
HLF also announced an additional £700,000 in development funding for six other projects. These include an extension at composer Benjamin Britten's Red House; Museum nan Eilean's bid to convert Lews Castle into a museum and archive; a new archaeology wing at the Wessex Gallery, Salisbury; and Portrait of Britain, a BFI project establishing online access to local film archives across the UK.
