The buildings were purchased by Vale Royal District Council to prevent their demolition.
 In 1993, the Lion Salt Works Trust was formed as a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.
In 2000, a survey showed that the land around the works was stable and during the following years money was raised from DEFRA, English Heritage, Cheshire Rural Recovery and the Northwest Development Agency to enable surveys to be completed and a conservation plan to be written.
 In July 2005, an application was made to the Heritage Lottery Fund and a Stage 1 award was made the following March.
 In March 2008, it was announced that the Heritage Lottery Fund had made an award of £4.96 million towards the £7 million total cost of the restoration project.

In 2004, Lion Salt Works was a candidate on the BBC's Restoration programme.
 The surviving buildings are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated Grade II listed buildings.
 The specific buildings listed are the canal salt shed, the engine shed and pump house, the office in the works yard, and the pan sheds and stoves and the store shed behind the works.
 The buildings are registered as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
 The site is recognised as an Anchor Point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.

In 2009, the site came into the ownership of Cheshire West and Chester Council.
The site was reopened on 5 June 2015 after a major redevelopment project  as a new heritage visitor attraction.
  The £10.2 million project was sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Cheshire West and Chester, Manage +, Historic England, WREN and Wates Foundation.
The restoration won the AABC Conservation award at the 2016 Civic Trust Awards, and in August 2016 it was named the best UK Heritage Project by the National Lottery.
The buildings were purchased by Vale Royal District Council to prevent their demolition.  In 1993, the Lion Salt Works Trust was formed as a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. In 2000, a survey showed that the land around the works was stable and during the following years money was raised from DEFRA, English Heritage, Cheshire Rural Recovery and the Northwest Development Agency to enable surveys to be completed and a conservation plan to be written.  In July 2005, an application was made to the Heritage Lottery Fund and a Stage 1 award was made the following March.  In March 2008, it was announced that the Heritage Lottery Fund had made an award of £4.96 million towards the £7 million total cost of the restoration project.
In 2004, Lion Salt Works was a candidate on the BBC's Restoration programme.  The surviving buildings are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated Grade II listed buildings.  The specific buildings listed are the canal salt shed, the engine shed and pump house, the office in the works yard, and the pan sheds and stoves and the store shed behind the works.  The buildings are registered as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.  The site is recognised as an Anchor Point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.
In 2009, the site came into the ownership of Cheshire West and Chester Council. The site was reopened on 5 June 2015 after a major redevelopment project  as a new heritage visitor attraction.   The £10.2 million project was sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Cheshire West and Chester, Manage +, Historic England, WREN and Wates Foundation. The restoration won the AABC Conservation award at the 2016 Civic Trust Awards, and in August 2016 it was named the best UK Heritage Project by the National Lottery.
Lion Salt Works