Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS)
Campaign for retention of LPWGS
In early October 2024 we wrote to the Government asking it to extend the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (which refunds VAT) for three more years beyond March 2025, which is the date until which the Scheme is currently funded. This was in advance of the Budget planned for 30 October.
Later, along with others, we organised a campaign for the retention of the Scheme.
Announcement of continuation, with cap
On Wednesday, 22 January 2025, at a special Westminster Hall debate, Chris Bryant MP, the minister for Culture, Media and Sport announced that the Listed Places Worship Grant Scheme will continue for one year from March 2025 as follows:
◾ The Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme will be renewed for one year – until 2026,
◾ A spending cap will now apply. There is now a limit of £25,000 that can be claimed through the scheme – this is how much VAT you would have paid on £125k vatable work which can be reclaimed in maximum by an individual place of worship during that year.
◾ The overall budget of the scheme has been reduced to £23 million. (last year £29m was spent).
You can read the DCMS statement issued after the debate here. (The material about grants at the bottom of the DCMS statement is somewhat misleading and can be disregarded). https://www.gov.uk/government/news/23-million-government-package-to-support-restoration-of-thousands-of-listed-places-of-worship
You can see a written record of the debate here https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-01-22/debates/1BB8B56E-26D3-45B1-9E0E-A80287596BA7/ListedPlacesOfWorshipScheme
Also on the 22nd January, the House of Commons Library issued a briefing document on Churches and VAT, whose final pages bring matters up to date. The briefing covers the origins of the LPOW Grant Scheme, and reasons successive governments have been ambivalent towards a permanent extension of the scheme. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn01051/
Reactions
The continuation of the Scheme has been widely welcomed, but there are concerns about the impact of the cap. As is normal, the HRBA has not issued a formal statement.
The following organisations have issued statements:
Church of England https://www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/comment-listed-places-worship-grant-scheme-announcement
The Catholic Church of England and Wales https://www.cbcew.org.uk/continuation-of-the-listed-places-of-worship-grant-scheme-announced-with-reduced-funding/
The Church of Scotland
https://churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/congregations-with-listed-buildings-in-need-of-repair-urged-to-submit-early-applications-for-funding
Association of English Cathedrals https://www.englishcathedrals.co.uk/latest-news/the-listed-places-of-worship-lpw-grant-scheme-statement/
The National Churches Trust https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/news/listed-places-worship-scheme-only-renewed-one-year-reduced-budget
Friends of Friendless Churches https://friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/news/vat-on-repairs-a-decision-from-dcms/
A short piece appeared in Sky News with a statement from the Chair of the Heritage Alliance, our parent body: https://news.sky.com/story/church-of-england-concerned-after-government-nearly-halves-funding-for-listed-places-of-worship-repairs-13294414