The investment in heritage is part of the overall settlement between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and The Treasury.

Today’s announcement means that English Heritage’s funding will be £124.7 million in 08/09, £126.7 million in 09/10, and £130.7 million in 10/11.  The organisation will be expected to make saving in staff and administration costs, focussing more of their funding on grants to maintain historic properties for the nation.

James Purnell said:

“Maintaining our historic built environment for future generations is incredibly important, and I am grateful for the great work that English Heritage have done over the last few years.  In a very tight spending round, our overall funding settlement for the DCMS was far better than many had expected.  Today’s allocation to English Heritage means that they will be able to continue their grants programme at present levels and press on with the Heritage protection Review.

“I am also asking English Heritage - along with my own department and all of its grant-making bodies – to make value-for-money and administration savings.  This should mean that, for English Heritage, there could be a further £1 million available for front line activities.”