Historic Environment Scotland (HES)’s Annual Grants Report 2024-25, published today (Wednesday 11 June), shows that the organisation committed over £1 million to Moray Council last year – the highest of any local authority, followed by Highlands and Islands Council. This is the first time Moray’s local authority has been the biggest benefactor of HES funding.
A significant portion of the committed funding (£980,000) is for the revitalisation of Forres Conservation Area as part of HES’s Heritage and Place Programme. The revitalisation will encapsulate both a programme of work to understand and improve the state of traditional buildings within the conservation area, as well as improving the availability of traditional skills for their maintenance through training and education.
Moray Council was awarded the grant following their successful delivery of Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) projects in both Keith and Elgin. These previous CARS projects delivered grant funding in excess of £1 million to the area, grant-aiding over 60 properties and removing six properties from the Buildings at Risk Register, as well as creating 16 new jobs and bringing 3,000 square meters of vacant floorspace back into sustainable re-use.
With the almost £1 million grant funding, which HES will distribute over the next five years, the aim is for Forres Conservation Area to become another success story. Forres is an outstanding conservation area, with several category-A properties and a wide variety of architectural detail. The funding will target investment into properties in the area and their sustainable care, to ensure that the town’s historic character becomes the heart of a vibrant community once more.
Alison Turnbull, Director of External Relations and Partnerships at HES, said: “The revitalisation of Forres is a tremendous project, and one which we are happy to fund. It is wonderful to see that the highest investment into a local authority went to Moray Council last year, breaking with the trend of the most grant funding being committed to local authorities in the Central Belt.
“We are dedicated to ensuring that our grants fund the places and people who need it most, and we have spent more time this past year working with underrepresented groups and areas. We know that our grants funding doesn’t feel equally accessible to all councils, but we work to protect and promote our historic environment for everyone in Scotland, everywhere in Scotland.
“Where local authorities are unsure how to apply for HES funding, we are always pleased to offer guidance in the early-stage development of projects that might be eligible and create more success stories like this one.”
Caroline Clark, The National Lottery Heritage Fund Director for Scotland, said: “Heritage sits at the heart of a place’s identity, adding depth, character and value. It helps connect people and communities to a place and boosts local economic prosperity. Thanks to National Lottery players we are working along HES to support heritage driven regeneration for Forres.
“Our aim is to help to drive heritage and community focused regeneration, helping local people to deliver long-term, sustainable improvements.”
Moray Council Leader and Forres Ward Member, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, said: “Receiving the highest level of funding for any local authority in Scotland shows just how successful projects in Moray can be. We have a lot to offer here in Moray and conserving that is vital, not only locally, but is significant at a national level too. Our communities recognise that, as we see from the dedicated level of input from volunteers who often take ownership of projects, but it’s fantastic to see this recognised by a national body like HES.
“I can’t wait to see the funding in Forres contribute to conserving, repairing and reopening vacant properties; the progression of the historical trail and more. The boost to the town is welcome and I thank HES for believing in our region enough to invest in our heritage, bringing funding to our rural communities.”
Chair of the Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme Partnership Management Group, George Alexander, said: “This project offers something for everyone, creating more opportunities for collaboration and connection—whether people are long-time supporters of heritage or engaging with it for the first time. After all the effort that went into shaping these plans, we’re thrilled to begin bringing them to life, with the same energy and enthusiasm that the Forres community is so well known for.”
