Karbon has been awarded over £98,000 through Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Capital Fund to breathe new life into community spaces in Byker, Newcastle.
The Grade II* listed Byker Estate, owned by Karbon, is one of 37 heritage sites across England to receive a grant, for a project set to bring the estate’s hobby rooms back into use. The fund is led by Historic England and funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The project will transform two hobby rooms, spaces dotted amongst the homes on the estate designed by architect Ralph Erskine in the 1960’s, to help foster community interaction and cohesion.
One hobby room on Spires Lane will become a vibrant new community hub and another on St Michael’s Mount a dedicated artist’s studio, providing space for creative production and community engagement.
Victoria Keen, Place Lead at Karbon, said: “We’re thrilled to receive this funding through Historic England, which will allow us to restore these unique spaces and make them fit for today’s community needs.
“The hobby rooms are an important part of Byker’s architectural and social heritage, and this project will help us preserve this part of the estate’s identity, while creating new opportunities for our customers to connect, create and thrive.”
The restoration forms part of our Fair Foundations approach to placeshaping, which focuses on delivering projects that help make lasting change and support social growth. Karbon will work with local partners, who will occupy the spaces and drive important initiatives within the community.
Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Capital Fund aims to revitalise heritage buildings in disadvantaged areas across England which demonstrate strong local benefits.
Lou Brennan, Director of Regions at Historic England, added: “Thanks to the extra funding from the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, we are able to breathe new life into neglected historic buildings that we haven’t been able to help through our existing grant schemes.
“This initiative will not only boost economic growth but also create amazing opportunities for people in some of the nation's most disadvantaged areas. We're thrilled to support projects that harness the power of heritage to make a real difference where it's needed most.”
Work on the Hobby Rooms is expected to begin later this year, with completion scheduled for Spring 2026.
Karbon has been awarded over £98,000 through Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Capital Fund to breathe new life into community spaces in Byker, Newcastle.
The Grade II* listed Byker Estate, owned by Karbon, is one of 37 heritage sites across England to receive a grant, for a project set to bring the estate’s hobby rooms back into use. The fund is led by Historic England and funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The project will transform two hobby rooms, spaces dotted amongst the homes on the estate designed by architect Ralph Erskine in the 1960’s, to help foster community interaction and cohesion.
One hobby room on Spires Lane will become a vibrant new community hub and another on St Michael’s Mount a dedicated artist’s studio, providing space for creative production and community engagement.
Victoria Keen, Place Lead at Karbon, said: “We’re thrilled to receive this funding through Historic England, which will allow us to restore these unique spaces and make them fit for today’s community needs.
“The hobby rooms are an important part of Byker’s architectural and social heritage, and this project will help us preserve this part of the estate’s identity, while creating new opportunities for our customers to connect, create and thrive.”
The restoration forms part of our Fair Foundations approach to placeshaping, which focuses on delivering projects that help make lasting change and support social growth. Karbon will work with local partners, who will occupy the spaces and drive important initiatives within the community.
Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Capital Fund aims to revitalise heritage buildings in disadvantaged areas across England which demonstrate strong local benefits.
Lou Brennan, Director of Regions at Historic England, added: “Thanks to the extra funding from the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, we are able to breathe new life into neglected historic buildings that we haven’t been able to help through our existing grant schemes.
“This initiative will not only boost economic growth but also create amazing opportunities for people in some of the nation's most disadvantaged areas. We're thrilled to support projects that harness the power of heritage to make a real difference where it's needed most.”
Work on the Hobby Rooms is expected to begin later this year, with completion scheduled for Spring 2026.
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