Jump to Content

Case Studies

AHF supports a vast range of projects and our case studies can be used to learn about our work, to inspire future projects and to help signpost current projects to support and advice.

Here is a collection of stories from several flagship projects. To help direct you to the most relevant story please use the filter below.

Case Studies

County Museum Outbuildings Abergwili, Carmarthenshire, Wales

Gatelodge and outbuildings at The Bishop's Park refurbished to provide exciting new visitor facilities

Dunoon Burgh Hall Dunoon, Argyll & Bute, Scotland

Creative arts hub in historic town hall

St Columb's Hall Derry, Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Bringing 'The People's Hall' back into community use as a flexible venue

The Old Observatory House Edinburgh, Scotland

Former home for resident astronomers restored as holiday accommodation and art space  

Pat Murphy's Tearooms Ederney, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

Adaptation of Pat Murphy House in Main Street, Ederney forms part of an inspirational Village Catalyst pilot

Midsteeple Quarter Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Restoring 115 to 117 High Street

11 High Baxter Street Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England

Bringing a grade II-listed town house back into residential use

West Boathouse Glasgow Green, Glasgow, Scotland

Edwardian boathouse on the River Clyde repaired and adapted for enhanced future use

Former Royal Academy Buildings Inverness, Scotland

From Royal Academy to Creative Academy - historic school building is transformed into creative hub for Inverness and the Highlands

The Old Market House Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland

Old Market House to provide new home for social enterprise, creating a welcome community space

The Chester Hydro Electric Building Chester, England

To convert a disused hydroelectric station into use as an environmental educational hub

New Galloway Town Hall New Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Community hub in historic town hall

Credit - SPAB/Daniel Bridge Old House Project Maidstone, Kent, England

Old House Project, St Andrew’s Chapel

The Arcade Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England

Late-Victorian shopping arcade to become the first community-run shopping centre in the UK

Image: Indoor market at Haverhub. Photo courtesy of Haverhub CIC. Haverhub Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Community movement breathing new life into neo-Georgian treasure

Haverfordwest Heritage Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Renovating and repurposing key neglected heritage buildings in Haverfordwest to revive a sense of place

Market House Penzance, Cornwall, England

Landmark town centre building brought into public ownership

170-175 High Street West Sunderland, England

Historic terraces that housed the first Binns Department Store in Sunderland will form heart of High Street rejuvenation

Credit - Philip Stewart Photographers John Trail Hotel Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Former bookshop to provide new visitor accommodation 

Bon Accord Baths Aberdeen, Scotland

Restoring Art Deco public baths to their former glory as a much-loved facility in the heart of the city

Credit: Three Seas Cornwall Looe Coastguard Flats East Looe, Cornwall, England

Creating affordable community-owned housing in historic buildings

30 Chapel Street Bradford, West Yorkshire, England

Former merchant’s warehouse to be transformed into multi-use space for artists, makers and businesses

The Woolstore Caledon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

19th-century Woolstore restored as childcare facility, thanks to innovative Village Catalyst programme

Credit: Thomas Doran Parkanaur Trust Parkanaur Manor House Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Listed buildings within important demesne to provide new employment opportunities

View of 17-20 Magazine Street from the city walls, Derry. Photograph by Jim McCafferty for Inner City Trust. Inner City Trust Derry, Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Breathing new life into Derry’s historic core to promote social intervention, skills development and economic regeneration

Capel Methodistiaid Calfinaidd Llithfaen, Gwynedd, Wales

Landmark former chapel to receive bright new future as a multi-use venue

15 Commercial Street Leeds, West Yorkshire, England

Expanding The Leeds Library and creating a fully accessible culture, arts and education hub

The Markethall Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales

​​​​​​​Cardigan landmark to serve community once again

The Old Police Station Langholm, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland

Former police station brought back to life to provide affordable homes in the centre of town

Farmer's Arms Ulverston, Cumbria, England

Restoration of historic inn breaks new ground and offers hope to the UK's vacant inns and public houses

Ellisland Farmhouse Museum Auldgirth, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland

Transforming the home of national bard Robert Burns into a Centre for Songwriting

The Lighthouse Harlesden, London, England

Former high street bank transformed into an education centre for young refugees

Leigh Spinners Mill Leigh, Greater Manchester, England

Historic mill expands capacity with loan from Thrive Together Fund

Equatorial Observatory Penllergare, Swansea, Wales

New future for historic astronomical observatory

Chandler’s House Rathfriland, County Down, Northern Ireland

Former bank building to be restored into community space

Former Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank Bacup, Lancashire, England

Former bank restored as co-working hub and residential apartments

Former St Luke's Church Swansea, Wales

Circus bringing high hopes to fallen church

Hillsborough Park Coach House Sheffield, England

Former Coach House restored as a community cafe

Tŷ’n Llan Public House Llandwrog, Gwynedd, Wales

The power of community action - saving and re-opening a historic village pub

Credit: Paul Quayle - Alamy Stock Photo Cardigan Market Hall Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales

Ensuring a long-term future for the long-serving Victorian Market Hall

Credit: Bordon Barr Broadway Cinema Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland

Restoration of Art Deco cinema to benefit the whole community

3-6 Priory Row (Lychgate Cottages) Coventry, Warwickshire, England

15th-century houses get a new lease of life as bespoke holiday lets

Delapré Abbey Northampton, Northamptonshire, England

Historic Northampton site opens to the public

Former Merthyr Tydfil Synagogue Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

Saving and restoring the oldest surviving synagogue in Wales

Station South Levenshulme, Manchester, England

Former train station transformed into a cycle-friendly café, bar and co-working space

Brynaman Lido Brynamman, Carmarthenshire, Wales

A splashing idea! Bringing an old lido back to life as an open-air swimming pool run by the community, for the community

Riddel’s Warehouse Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Transforming a 19th-century ironmongery warehouse into a multi-use arts venue and co-working space

Credit: Culmore Community Partnership Culmore Fort Culmore, Derry, Northern Ireland

Repairing and restoring a historic stone fort for community use

credit: Steve Brock of Newcastle City Council Keelmen’s Hospital Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England

Newcastle city landmark to be given new lease of life as potential for affordable housing

Ardnamurchan Lighthouse Complex Ardnamurchan Peninsula, Highlands & Islands, Scotland

Restoration of lighthouse complex to generate more activity on site

Maenofferen Slate Mills Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, Wales

Multi-use future for former slate mills

Credit: Gareth Jenkins Photography Gwesty’r Tŵr Pwllheli, Gwynedd, Wales

Future of historic High Street building secure under community ownership

Credit: Huntly Development Trust No.30 The Square Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

A community-owned historic multi-purpose venue in the heart of Huntly town centre

Credit: Real Ideas Organisation Liskeard Library Liskeard, Cornwall, England

Renovation of John Passmore Edwards library creates a contemporary space fit for the 21st century

Credit - Jubilee Pool Penzance Ltd. Jubilee Pool Penzance, Cornwall, England

Green innovation brings year-round joy to the Penzance community

Above Adventure Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland

West of Scotland’s first fully wheelchair-accessible climbing wall

Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration London, England

Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration

Credit: Isle of Kerrera Development Trust Kerrera Old School Isle of Kerrera, Argyll, Scotland

From redundant school building to a thriving hub for the community and visitors alike