Culture Secretary Maria Miller has announced a further £5m funding – on top of the £80m already committed – to create a new charity arm of English Heritage to manage England's historic sites.

The new charitable status will give English Heritage the freedom to raise funds, with a target of finding a further £83m from third parties. This will allow it to undertake a huge programme of conservation for the properties and works to improve the visitor experience.

English Heritage's current duties and responsibilities for advising on and helping to conserve England's wider historic environment would remain unchanged. These will be delivered under the new name of 'Historic England.'

Commenting on the announcement, Miller said: "The new funding underlines the government's commitment to the heritage sector and will further protect the statutory functions of Historic England in these difficult economic times."

Sir Laurie Magnus, chairman of English Heritage said: "I am delighted that English Heritage has been awarded such a sum to invest in The National Heritage Collection.

"It will fund vital conservation work at our most vulnerable sites across the country and much needed improvements to our visitor facilities. It will help to boost local economies by creating jobs and enable us to nurture essential craft skills for the benefit of the entire heritage sector."

English Heritage properties currently receive more than six million visits every year.