West Midlands Heritage Trust, a new regional charity dedicated to rescuing and reusing historic buildings at risk, was officially launched this week with the backing of former West Midlands Mayor Sir Andy Street CBE.
Formed from a collaboration between three long-standing building preservation trusts, the new charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) provides a unified identity and shared platform for their work. The Trust aims to increase impact through collective capacity, shared expertise, and a stronger public profile.
Worcestershire Building Preservation Trust, the oldest of the three, celebrates 60 years of service in 2025. It began a partnership arrangement with West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust in 2011 and Wolverhampton Heritage Trust joined in 2016,with the Trusts adopting a joint strategy for long-term sustainability. A key outcome was the plan to create a dedicated support body able to take on staff, attract investment, and enable the Trusts to deliver heritage at risk rescue projects more effectively across the region.
Supported by funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England, the Trust now employs a dedicated team with expertise in heritage regeneration. It is currently leading active building restoration projects at Willow Court Farmhouse in Droitwich Spa and St Michael’s Place in Warwick, alongside feasibility and development work at Pipe Hall in Bilston and St James the Great Church in Dudley.
Sir Andy Street CBE, former Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority, said:
“Preserving our built heritage is essential as it reminds us of who we are and of the history which shaped our society. Whilst welcome new development is all around us the reborn Trust is well set to respect our shared history and protect it for the future.”
Corinne Brazier, Manager of the Birmingham Police Museum and Chair of West Midlands Heritage Trust, added:
“The three founding trusts have a proven track record of delivering heritage transformation projects across the West Midlands going back 6 decades.
The new West Midlands Heritage Trust brings together the combined expertise of trustees, shared resources and overarching strategy to be able to continue to save heritage buildings across our region.
It’s really exciting to be a part of it and I’m privileged to be the first Chair of Trustees.”
Peter Jenkins, Head of Projects, West Midlands Heritage Trust, said:
“We’re actively working to find viable futures for around 40 buildings. It can take time to line up all the pieces – community support, willing owners, responsive local authorities, and essential funding – but we’ve shown that with persistence, it can be done.”
The Trust’s launch event took place at the Old Palace, Worcester, on Monday 9th June. Attended by local authority representatives, funders and heritage professionals, the evening celebrated both the legacy of the founding Trusts and the promise of a stronger, region-wide future for historic buildings at risk.
The WMHT work is made possible with grants from a number of funders including the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Architectural Heritage Fund. For details and more information about WMHT work visit the website: https://wmhbt.org.uk/blog/
