Development funding of £79,400 has been awarded to help progress the plans to apply for a full grant from HLF within two years. The project aims to conserve the Transmitter Block building on Bawdsey Manor Estate in Suffolk and increase opportunities for people to learn about this pioneering radar site. Work on the application for the delivery grant should be completed by the autumn of 2014 and the aim is that the project will start in 2015 and be complete within two years.

The Transmitter Block was built in 1938 and was a key building at RAF Bawdsey, the world’s first operational radar station. As well as developing plans for conserving the fabric of this building, which will need funds in the order of £1million, Bawdsey Radar will be working to develop ways, physical and virtual, in which more people can visit the site and understand the importance of the radar heritage that the Transmitter Block represents. New displays within the Transmitter Block and at other locations within East Suffolk will tell the story of radar and its significance in the Second World War. Radar helped win the war by playing a vital part in the Battle of Britain in 1940. An important part of the project will be providing opportunities for learning about radar’s fascinating social and scientific history and about how the early work on it at Bawdsey laid the foundation for our current age of electronics and the computer.

The building has become a focal point for the local community and Martin Grimwood, Bawdsey Radar Trustee and a member at Suffolk Coastal District Council has commented: "We're delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this funding. The Transmitter Block has been enthusiastically supported by the local community and has over the last few years been the source of exciting activities involving a wide variety of people.”

Opening the block to the public and all activities associated with it have to date been accomplished primarily through the efforts of volunteers. The project presents an exciting opportunity for even greater involvement by individuals and the voluntary sector.

Robyn Llewelyn, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund East of England, said: “This is a truly unique historic building; hidden away for many years, the block is home to many stories of local wartime endeavour and national secrets! With Lottery player’s money, the trust will be able to develop their plans further and move closer to full restoration of this iconic site.”

Notes for editors

Bawdsey Radar Trust has been awarded an HLF first-round pass together with development funding towards the development of our project.

A first-round pass means the project meets HLF criteria for funding and HLF believes the project has potential to deliver high-quality benefits and value for Lottery money. The application was in competition with other supportable projects, so a first-round pass is an endorsement of outline proposals. Having been awarded a first-round pass, the project now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award.

On occasion, an applicant with a first-round pass will also be awarded development funding towards the development of their scheme.

Bawdsey Radar Trust is a private limited company and is registered as a charity. It was formed in 2008. Its principal aims concern the conservation of the Transmitter Block, a Second World War radar building, on the Bawdsey Manor Estate, Bawdsey, Suffolk. The trust has its origins in Bawdsey Radar Group, a group set up in 2003 in response to a one-off occasion that summer when the Transmitter Block was opened to the public and instead of the expected 50 to 100 visitors there were 950. For further information, view the Bawdsey Radar website.

Further information

Bawdsey Radar Trust: Mrs Mary Wain on 07821 162 879, email: info@bawdseyradar.org.uk.

Heritage Lottery Fund: Vicky Wilford, Communications Manager on 020 7591 6046, email: VickyW@hlf.org.uk.