Seven heritage attractions have been given development funding, enabling them to progress plans in order to apply for a full Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant.

The full list of the sites that secured a total of more than £1m are:
• Unveiling a Secret Garden, Swiss Garden, Befordshire - first-round pass of £2.38m, including £275,400 development funding
Project plans include restoring the garden landscape and its architectural treasures. The local community will help to research the garden's history whilst skills training placements will be offered to help restore the unique ironwork and rustic decoration.

• A New Life for St Nicholas Chapel, King's Lynn - first-round pass of £1.5m, including development funding of £82,500
Plans for the chapel include undertaking urgent repair work to the building and converting it into a cultural and community centre, providing a place to learn about the history of the chapel.

• Restoring Southwell Palace, Nottingham - first-round pass of £994,300, including £155,500 development funding
The project aims to refurbish the Great Hall and restore the palace ruins, opening them up to the public for the first time.

• English Folk Dance and Song Society, London (across England) - first-round pass of £615,400, including £30,000 development funding
The project will carry out essential conservation work, digitise the collections and join them through a single web portal, allowing online public access to the collections for the first time.

• Europe 1600 -1800 - The Victoria and Albert Museum, London - first-round pass of £4,757,600, including £401,600 development funding
Project plans include unveiling its historic architecture, creating larger and much improved exhibition spaces for the collection.

• Brecknock Museum and Art Gallery, Powys - first-round pass of £1.9m, including £141,200 development funding
The project will see major restoration work carried out on the building and the creation of new exhibition spaces allowing unseen collections to be shown.

• Merthyr Tydfil Old Town Hall, Mid-Glamorgan - first-round pass of £2m
The project aims to undertake urgent repairs to the dilapidated fabric of the building and turn it into an arts and heritage centre, giving it a sustainable use for the local community for the first time in over 20 years.