The UK Government announced the recipients of the final round of the Community Ownership Fund (COF) at the very end of 2024. Amongst the 85 sites and groups receiving £36 million in grants are several industrial heritage sites, including the East Lancashire Railway and the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway.

More than £1m will go to the East Lancashire Railway Trust to support the restoration of High Woodhill Viaduct, with three local authorities from Bury, Rochdale, and Rossendale putting in a further £276,000 in match funding. The bridge and its arches were built in 1845, but are in need of renovation, with the last major upgrade in 1932. Work on the viaduct is due to start in the spring. ELR chairman Mike Kelly said: “There are a great many important Victorian structures along our 12 miles of railway, which thousands of our visitors travel over or under each year, but don’t often see their splendour. Now with this fantastic news, we are able to continue running our award-winning events and services without disruption for future generations to enjoy thanks to the generosity and support of the East Lancashire Railway Trust, our local community partners and supporters via our JustGiving page, as well as local and national politicians.”

Background to the renovation project can be found here: https://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/news/higher-woodhill-viaduct/

The UK Government has also offered up to £410,000 to the Welshpool and Llanfair light railway for vital building repairs. The heritage railway owns three industrial units on its Llanfair Caereinion Station site, built by the local council in the 1970s and acquired by the L&WR in 2016. These will be repaired and the spaces improved for the Heritage Railway’s archives, and its engineering stores, with addtional space for increased community activities.

Details about the railway can be found here: https://wllr.org.uk/our-railway/about-us/

Follow these links for the recipients of the final COF funding round.

Since 2021, the Community Ownership Fund has awarded, in total, over £135 million to 409 projects across the UK, with a number of industrial heritage sites benefitting from this support. £93.4 million was allocated to 283 projects across England, over £22 million allocated to 57 projects in Scotland, £8.8m million to 30 projects in Wales, and around £11.4 million to 39 projects in Northern Ireland. The programme was due to give £150 million by the end of 2025, but the Government has closed the programme early, citing financial pressures.