Restoration plans for some of Warwick's most important historic buildings have been given a significant boost with the awarding of grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England.

Funding of up to £138,838 received from players of The National Lottery will support the development of detailed designs and a historic interpretation programme for the grade II listed Master's House and St Michael's Chapel in Saltisford.

A further £40,000 contribution from Historic England has been earmarked to fund specialist archaeological investigations on the site.

The St Michael's Place regeneration project - which is being led and part funded by Warwick District Council (WDC) in partnership with the West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust - will see the former house and chapel "carefully and sympathetically" converted for residential use.

WDC's portfolio holder place, Cllr Chris King commented: "We are thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players, which will not only help us to rescue and conserve the legacy of these buildings but will also assist in sharing their fascinating history with our local community."

"The council is also grateful for the added support from Historic England which will allow us to discover even more about the significance of this historic site to the town of Warwick."

A CGI representation of the site (Image via WDC)

The council was given planning permission to turn the buildings into houses and flats last May.

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West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust chair Sue Whitehouse added: "We are delighted with the support for St Michael's Place by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England.

"This is an inspirational example of organisations working in partnership to find a solution to a complex and challenging historic building and site.

"This funding will help us to ensure that the Master's House is removed from Historic England's Heritage at Risk register and have a secure future as new homes."

The district council served a compulsory purchase order for the hospital in January 2021 stating that the then owners, who purchased the site over 30 years ago, had allowed it to become "structurally unstable".

As part of the process, the council submitted a planning application in May that year.

And while the owners, who had carried out repair work on the chapel, objected to the order, it was approved by the Secretary of State in September.