Guidance for places of deposit

Places of deposit should expect to accession increased volumes of public records from the public sector organisations listed in Schedule 1 during the transition period. During 2016, local places of deposit received records dating from 1987 and 1988. A further two years’ worth of public records were transferred each year until 2024, when records from 2003 and 2004 are to be received. The policy is also likely to encourage the deposit of records which were due for transfer under the previous 30-year rule (historic material).

Advice for local authority places of deposit

  • Use our application to find out which public record bodies should be transferring records to your place of deposit
  • Get in touch with local organisations to establish their current public record holdings and encourage these organisations to learn about the transfer processes and their responsibilities
  • Make plans on how you will work together within the transition period
  • Report your public record accessions in the next accessions survey
  • Get in touch regarding any transfer issues or if you’re not sure about your eligibility for funding

New Burdens funding

What is New Burdens funding?

£6.6 million of ‘New Burdens’ funding has been made available from central government over the ten-year transition period to cover the increased activity for local authority places of deposit, with smaller sums available to assist coroners. Distributed via The National Archives, £660,000 has been made available for each year of transition.

New Burdens funding is available to local authority places of deposit that have taken in certain classes of public records for permanent preservation from magistrates’ courts, coroners’ courts, NHS organisations, prisons, and other bodies listed as part of the amended legislation. Eligible places of deposit are those which are run by or on behalf of local authorities (or joint services where the local authority is a major partner). Payments are allocated in proportion to a place of deposit’s share of the total volume of accessioned public records covered in Schedule 1.

How do I claim New Burdens funding?

2024 is the final year to claim New Burdens funding. To do this, your organisation must:

  • be a place of deposit run by or on behalf of local authorities (or be a joint service where the local authority is a major partner)
  • take in the eligible public records (covered in Schedule 1) for permanent preservation by 31 December 2024
  • report the eligible public records that you’ve accessioned during the 2024 calendar year via your accessions return to The National Archives before the accessions survey deadline