Heritage at Risk: Latest Findings
There are 4,891 entries on the Heritage at Risk Register in 2024.
We published our most recent Heritage at Risk Register on 14 November 2024. Our Register identifies sites most at risk of being lost as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.
Our regional teams work with communities, owners, developers, and funders to focus on the country's most vulnerable historic places and find solutions to rescue them.
Heritage at Risk in 2024
Historic places saved in 2024
Over the last year, 124 historic buildings and places have been saved. Looking after and investing in these historic buildings and sites is key to creating successful places that help to improve people's lives.
The buildings and sites rescued from the Heritage at Risk Register can:
- help boost people's pride in their local place
- level up economic opportunity
- support skilled local construction jobs
- build resilience in private and public organisations
- boost tourism
- positively impact on the wellbeing of people and communities
Reusing historic buildings and taking care of our building stock also speaks directly to addressing climate change.
Removed from the Heritage at Risk Register in 2024 after nearly two decades of repair works following significant input by local community organisations (the Ecton Mine Educational Trust, and Ecton Hill Field Studies Association) as well as Historic England.
Ecton is an extensive scheduled monument comprising of standing structures, earthworks and buried remains, it includes evidence of mining dating from the Bronze Age. The most important mine – Deep Ecton – was a ‘state of the art’ mine developed for the Duke of Devonshire from 1760 to 1790. At that point, it was the deepest mine in Britain.
What's new in 2024?
In 2024, 124 entries were removed from the Register for positive reasons, and 155 were added.
Grant aid
Grant aid from Historic England and other funders is one reason for removals. In 2023/24 Historic England gave grant aid of £8.14 million to 191 entries (including conservation areas)on the Heritage at Risk Register.
Challenges ahead
Heritage sites continue to be added to the Register every year. In 2024 there were 155 new entries, made up of 69 buildings and structures, 55 places of worship, 24 archaeology entries, 1 park and garden and 6 conservation areas.
Looking to the future, the Heritage at Risk programme will continue to grow and evolve, finding new ways to involve communities in caring for and enjoying their heritage.
This grade I listed building which is one of the oldest Quaker Meeting Houses in England was added to the Heritage at Risk Register in 2024 and is currently undergoing repairs for its traditional thatched roof.
Located in a quiet, isolated hamlet and surrounded by nature, this simple building has been home to a Quaker community for over 300 years.
Repairs are needed to prevent water from leaking in and damaging the structure. A project will start soon to re-cover the thatched roof and repair its fragile supporting timbers.
Finding solutions
Through advising communities and owners, working in partnership with others, and targeting our own grant where it is most needed, we will continue to reduce heritage at risk.
Sadly, some owners do not take responsibility for the condition of their sites. In these cases, Historic England can assist local planning authorities in exercising their statutory powers to prompt action.
Historic England can provide bespoke advice to councils, and we can also offer grants to support the cost of underwriting action.
Heritage at Risk is an Official Statistic
As well as publishing the Heritage at Risk Register in November of each year, Historic England releases statistics relating to Heritage at Risk each August which are defined as Official Statistics. They are accompanied by a Method Statement outlining how the statistics are collected and presented.
Also of interest
