Historic England have announced the addition of Appleby Conservation Area and Appleby Castle Stable Block to the national Heritage at Risk register.

The Heritage at Risk programme protects and manages the historic environment, so that the number of ‘at risk’ places and sites across England is reduced.

The team work closely with owners, partners and funding bodies to improve these assets until they are no longer considered at risk. Eden District Council (EDC) and Historic England are keen to take this opportunity to work together in order to tackle Appleby’s heritage and economic needs.

The winter floods in 2015 caused significant damage to Appleby and Historic England flood research recorded that 121 historic assets were affected within the Appleby flood zone. Following advice from Historic England, EDC’s planning team undertook the work necessary which identified that Appleby Conservation Area met the relevant criteria for inclusion on the Heritage at Risk register.

At Appleby Castle, the Norman Keep is already on the register and will remain, while the stable block within the castle grounds has been added to the register this year. The Keep has already benefitted from Heritage at Risk funding from Historic England. Work will now be undertaken to consider what is required to ensure the future of the stable block.

Cllr Michael Slee, EDC's economic development portfolio holder, said: “The inclusion on the register will be a lever to help us to access funding streams which further develop and promote the heritage offer to visitors, raising the profile of Appleby.”

Charles Smith, principal adviser for Heritage at Risk for Historic England, said: “Appleby is a town richly steeped in heritage which has suffered disproportionately from recent floods. Placing the Appleby Conservation Area on the register will help us to focus attention on delivering solutions for those historic properties most under threat, which in turn will support the economic prosperity of the town as a whole.”

In Eden, the conservation area in Alston is also on the Heritage at Risk register. This designation has helped attract a grant of £1.3 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the Alston Townscape Heritage Initiative which will improve a number of architecturally important properties on Front Street and Market Street within the conservation area.