Conservation in Hampshire - Trust Annual Report 1976
A useful illustrated pamphlet has been published by the Planning Officers of the County and District Councils of Hampshire, providing basic information on Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, Ancient Monuments, Trees, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and so on. There is also reference to a new scheme "The Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust Ltd," as the Council's contribution to European Architectural Heritage Year 1975. This will enable threatened historic buildings to be purchased, restored and re-sold, when they would otherwise be lost. This is one of the most promising schemes ever to be put forward, and should help in the preservation of Winchester.
There is also news of the newly constituted Council of Management of the Architectural Fund, a lasting reminder to promote the aims of European Architectural Heritage Year. For the first year, £125,000 has been allocated to provide loan capital to enable building preservation trusts and others to acquire and restore buildings which, though neglected, are architecturally or historically significant. Loans will generally be for a period of two years and the Fund will normally advance up to 50% of the costs of acquisition and restoration. Repayments will be made in a lump sum on completion of the project, usually from the sale of the restored building, so that the loan can then be re-cycled to assist another scheme elsewhere. Further details of the scheme are to be issued in a leaflet obtainable from the Civic Trust.