Heritage Lab CIC

Heritage Lab CIC was established to unlock the social and economic potential of historic buildings and community assets. In 2017, our founder led the project with Historic England, local councils, and several community organisations to ensure Ramsgate became the first place in the UK to be established as a Heritage Action Zone. Many of its 450 listed buildings are in a state of poor repair, empty, or underused, yet they could represent a powerful tool in the regeneration process.

Focusing mainly on the expanding creative sector, we use our skills and expertise, and those of our partners and community, to bring Ramsgate's heritage buildings and community assets back into sustainable use. This creates high-quality community spaces, workspace, and jobs, enhancing pride in our town. Complementing other regeneration initiatives, we believe this will reinforce a sense of community, rejuvenate the local economy, and provide a catalyst for improvements to the wider area.

We aim to revitalise the overall quality of the built environment and boost health and wellbeing among Ramsgate's residents through their participation in our curiously creative spaces. We believe that Ramsgate's unique and rich heritage provides the key to unlocking regeneration. By using our expertise to unlock grant and philanthropic investment wisely, we can regenerate buildings and places that would otherwise not be commercially viable.