Major Blow for Pitzhanger House Makeover

Bid to secure £7.3 million has been turned down

There's disappointment at Ealing Council after a bid to secure a grant to restore Pitzhanger Manor House to its former glory was turned down.

The Council will now look again at the plans that were originally submitted and intends put another bid in with the Heritage Lottery fund (HLF) later this year.

The project was up against very stiff competition, including a £15m bid from Kew Gardens to save its grade 1 listed Victorian Temperate House.

Carole Souter, Chief Executive of HLF, said:

“Our May board meeting was very over-subscribed and one of the most competitive that the Heritage Lottery Fund has ever faced. The quality of bids was also exceptionally high.

''The Pitzhanger Manor project was excellent but we simply did not have enough money to support it on the day.”

The council will now hold meetings with representatives from HLF to understand more about what might be done to make the project more likely to receive funding before submitting a revised bid in the category for grants of up to £5m.

Council Leader, Councillor Julian Bell, said:

“Of course we’re disappointed with the decision, but I know several other very high profile bids were also unsuccessful, including a project to restore the original 1897 building that houses Tate Britain.

“Our project had a great deal of support locally and this is far from the end of the road. We will now revise our plans and submit a new funding bid, which we are confident would still offer improved visitor facilities and a great range of activities.”

The council submitted a separate bid last year under the Parks for People scheme, to make major improvements to Walpole Park. It expects to hear whether that application for £2.4m has been successful this summer.

More information about Pitzhanger Manor House and Gallery and Walpole Park is available at www.ealing.gov.uk/pmgwalpole

Discuss Walpole Park on the forum : The Dying Fountains in Walpole Park Lake

1st June 2011