Heritage Works

Welcome to Heritage Works

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Heritage Works is a registered charity that regenerates historic buildings whose cost of repair is uneconomic for the private sector. Working with a range of partners, Heritage Works, formerly Ancoats Buildings Preservation Trust (ABPT), is able to acquire, refurbish and resell (or lease) property, operating as a 'developer motivated by heritage rather than profit'.

The Trust was established in 1995 to rescue buildings at risk in the Ancoats area of Manchester, reputedly the world's first industrial suburb. In 2006, the Trust completed the restoration of two significant buildings as part of the regeneration of Ancoats: the former St Peter's Church and Murrays' Mills, Manchester's oldest surviving cotton spinning mill. In parallel with the Murrays' Mills project, the Trust implemented an innovative education and outreach project, Skills Schools and Stories, to involve the community in the regeneration of the Ancoats area. Grants of over £14m were secured for these projects from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Northwest Regional Development Agency.

Everton Library, Liverpool

With the consent of the Charity Commission and the support of English Heritage, Heritage Works has now formally extended its geographical remit to 'England and Wales', although its focus is on projects within about 50 miles of Manchester and on schemes that contribute to local regeneration initiatives.

Current activities include:

Ongoing management of Hopwood Gateway Site, in advance of its redevelopment
Everton Library: Heritage Works has recently completed an options appraisal study of this building and is looking for ways to take the project forward.

Old Hall, Sandbach,
Cheshire

As an extension of our work with English Heritage on Buildings at Risk, Heritage Works is in the process of putting together a funding package for a feasibility study for the Old Hall in Sandbach.

The Trust is always on the lookout for potential new projects, and is currently exploring possibilities in Liverpool, Leeds and Wigan.

Heritage Works receives revenue funding to support its office and staff costs from charitable trusts. In 2008/09 these included the Pilgrim Trust. Heritage Works can also secure income from its projects, consultancy commissions and private sponsorship.

See our News page for the latest on Heritage Works' activities.