On a fresh spring morning, the sun glints off the peak of the Great Tower at Dover Castle as conservationists busy themselves renovating a First World War command post in time for the summer.

A short trip along the coast is Walmer Castle near Deal, where new displays are being installed to commemorate 200 years since the Battle of Waterloo. The Duke of Wellington, who led Britain to the famous victory against Napoleon, spent 23 years at the castle and died there in 1852.

English Heritage, which looks after the sites, is able to afford these renovations at its 400 properties across the country thanks to an £80 million giveaway by the government as part of a long-term process to eventually fund itself.

From today, it will separate into two organisations. Historic England will be the new name for the regulatory public body that protects the country’s historic environment.

Meanwhile the English Heritage Trust, a new independent charity, will look after the National Heritage Collection and keep them open for the public, including Stonehenge, Dover Castle and parts of Hadrian’s Wall.

“Preserving our heritage cannot just be about protecting buildings, we have to understand them better and be able to explain their value and importance to the world,” said Culture Secretary Sajid Javid.

“The new model allows for that and will give these bodies the freedom they need to explore new and entrepreneurial ways of protecting, promoting and bringing our heritage to life.

“By safeguarding our nation’s heritage in this way we will continue to attract visitors to our heritage sites, boosting the country’s tourism industry and driving economic growth for many years to come.”

Far from being another cost-cutting measure by the government, this move was instigated by English Heritage, which looks after 27 sites in Kent including Richborough Roman Fort and Rochester Castle.

“The government is definitely not washing their hands of us,” said Neil McCollum, historic properties director for English Heritage in the South East.

“They recognised we could improve the way the sites are run to generate more investment. The government saw it as a strategic move rather than just getting English Heritage off the books.”

To reach the target of receiving no government money in eight years, English Heritage aims to grow membership from 800,000 to more than a million.

It will also have to increase visitor numbers, with Dover Castle – English Heritage’s second most popular attraction after Stonehenge – needing to increase admissions from 350,000 to nearer 400,000 a year.

“In a positive economic environment going forward we believe we could do it sooner,” said Mr McCollum.

“Obviously we don’t know what is on the horizon but we think we are prepared for whatever could happen. It is about using our money wisely.”

The charity only charges admission at eight of its 27 sites in Kent and there are no plans to change that, even for sites which are less popular.

The changes could also be good for Kent economy, as it frees the charity from government red tape.

Mr McCollum said: “We can talk to local business and work with the local supply chain which is a great opportunity for business in Kent.”

Even though some sites do not make money, English Heritage will not be able to drop less commercially attractive locations.

Unlike the National Trust, which can cherry pick sites it looks after, English Heritage is required to care for places of historical significance, which will not change when it gets its independent status.

“Our deal with government is to take on the 400 sites and we will have to look after them,” said South East historic properties director Neil McCollum.

“There is no get out cause within that. Whatever we do with the business plan, it has to incorporate all those sites.

“With the best will in the world some of those will never be a Dover Castle so it is important that within the business plan we use those that are commercially viable to help us manage those smaller sites like St Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury and Reculver Towers.

“We went into the business plan process with our eyes wide open knowing we have some great access but equally a number of sites which are historically important but are never going to be commercially viable. We built the business plan to take that all into account.”