Historic bodies issue fresh worry as London heritage count holds steady

The number of London heritage at risk sites has barely shifted over the past year, with 604 historic buildings, monuments, and landscapes now listed by Historic England as endangered.

The latest Heritage at Risk Register shows that while 20 London sites have been rescued and removed from the list, 21 others have newly fallen into disrepair – keeping the total unchanged. The conservation body said the figures reflected both the success of restoration projects and the continuing pressure on heritage across the capital.

“Heritage is vital and gives meaning to places,” Historic England said. “When it’s not looked after and used, communities feel a sense of decline.”

Among those newly classed as at risk are the Hill Garden Pergola on Hampstead Heath and the glass-roofed conservatory at Chiswick House, two of London’s best-known architectural landmarks now in need of urgent care. Others include Edward III’s moated manor in Rotherhithe, the low-level station at Crystal Palace, and Our Ladye Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Greenwich.

Saved through partnership

Some long-neglected buildings, however, have been given a second life. The derelict public toilets at Bruce Grove in Tottenham have been restored and reopened for community use, while almshouses in Wood Green and a former post office in Kingston are among those no longer on the register.

Historic England said these examples demonstrate how disused spaces can be “turned into places of local connection and joy”.

Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, the organisation’s joint chief executives, added: “The best way to protect our buildings is to reuse them. The sites that have come off the register this year really highlight the benefits of working together with communities to create positive, sustainable change.”

Funding the fight

During the last financial year, Historic England invested £782,000 in grants to support urgent repairs and stabilisation works at London sites. The organisation said it wants to see more historic buildings “brought back into productive use and contributing to local economies.”

Baroness Twycross, the government’s heritage minister, praised the ongoing restorations. “It is fantastic to see so many historical sites saved for communities up and down the country,” she said. “These are much-loved places and it’s great to see them being brought back into use.”

Balancing progress with preservation

Despite the success stories, the steady number of 604 at-risk sites illustrates a wider challenge: for every building saved, another slips into neglect. London’s scale and density of heritage make the task particularly complex, with some 17,000 listed buildings and structures across the city.

Efforts to preserve them are supported by the Repair Grants for Heritage at Risk programme, which funds urgent repairs to listed buildings and monuments throughout England.

The question now is whether this year’s balance between loss and rescue can finally begin to tip in heritage’s favour.

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[Image Credit | Historic England]

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