Historic England Reveals Heritage At Risk In London-Are We Losing Our Heritage Sites?

• 20 sites across London have been saved and removed from the Heritage at Risk Register, including an ancient barn in Upminster and historic public toilets in Tottenham
• 21 sites across London have been added to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register 2025, including Hampstead Heath’s Hill Garden Pergola
• Historic England spent£782,000 in grants for support and repairs to sites in London on the Heritage at Risk Register during 2024/2025 
• There are 604 entries on the Heritage at Risk Register for London

Historic England has today (Thursday 6 November 2025) published its Heritage at Risk Register 2025. The Register gives an annual snapshot of the health of England’s valued historic buildings and places. It helps to ensure they can be protected and continue to be enjoyed in the future.

Heritage plays a vital role in the pride people feel about their local place. It gives meaning to the places where people live, work and spend time, connects us, inspires creativity, and boosts economic growth. When it’s not looked after and used, communities feel a sense of decline.

Sites that have now been brought back into use and saved include the previously derelict Bruce Grove public toilets in Tottenham which date back to 1910 and have been transformed to house a café, community space and new public loos, and Upminster Tithe Barn which has a new thatched roof.

Historic England works together with partners and communities in inventive ways to breathe new life and hope into places that need it most. We want to see ‘at risk’ historic buildings brought back into productive use so they can be enjoyed by local communities and contribute to the local economy.

This year, 20 sites across London have been rescued and their futures secured. Many buildings and sites have been rescued with the help and commitment of local people, communities, charities, owners and funders. This includes the Leaning Woman Statue, a beautiful piece of post-war public art in Hammersmith that has been restored thanks to a crowdfunding project led by the Heritage of London Trust.

There are also more buildings and places which need help. Over the past year, 21 historic buildings and sites in London have been added to the Register because they are at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate development. This includesthe Hill Garden Pergola, a popular and picturesque structure on the west side of Hampstead Heath which is starting to show its age.

Historic England spent £782,000 in grants for support and repairs to 7 sites (including conservation areas) in London on the Heritage at Risk Register during 2024/2025.

There are 604 entries in London on the Heritage at Risk Register 2025.

Claudia Kenyatta CBE and Emma Squire CBE, Co-CEOs of Historic England, said: “The heritage we see all around us impacts how we feel about our local places. The annual Heritage at Risk Register gives us the opportunity to celebrate the many benefits of bringing our historic buildings back into use.

“The best way to protect our buildings is to reuse them, turning them into places of local connection and joy. The sites that have been saved and have come off the Register this year really highlight the benefits of working together in partnership, and with communities, to create positive, sustainable change. Together we can safeguard our heritage for future generations.”

Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross said: “We are determined to protect the heritage at the heart of our communities.

“It is fantastic to see so many historical sites saved for communities up and down the country. These are much loved places and it is great to see them being brought back in to use. This year alone our £15 million Heritage at Risk Capital Fund has been key to saving buildings like these.”

BUILDINGS AND SITES SAVED IN LONDONINCLUDE: 

SAVED: Upminster Tithe Barn, Havering

Upminster Tithe Barn, a scheduled monument on the outskirts of London, has been saved for future generations following repair and restoration work including a new thatched roof.

The medieval barn has been removed from the Heritage at Risk Register after essential repairs were completed with funding from National Highways, via the Lower Thames Crossing scheme, and Historic England.

Havering Council led the project which included repairs to the structure’s historic timber frame which dates back to the 15th century, and the rethatching of its vast roof. Historic England worked closely with the partners throughout the conservation work, providing specialist advice and technical expertise to give the building a new lease of life. The next phase is to install new facilities on site, including toilets, so the barn can be used more widely.

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