IHBC NewsBlogs

IHBC members and networks should note that our Marsh Award Nominations – for Community Contribution (Retired Member) and Successful Learning… – will now open at the end of September each year, and close in December, so watch out for more details, and do start planning your nominations with our easy-use form, coming soon.

The IHBC’s 2026 Yearbook is our network’s essential sector guide, reference and review for 2026-27, complementing our 2026 Newcastle School, with IHBC updates and a foreword by Jan Bessell FRTPI, 2026 RTPI President, who supports ‘conservation planning’ as ‘… a creative, collaborative and cohesive force for good in the public interest’.

image for illustration: Chris CC BY-SA 2.0 vis Wikimedia Commons

A recent IHBC online discussion covered the wide-ranging implications for conservation in England’s new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), complement a raised profile as IHBC Chair, David McDonald OBE, fronts some early thoughts picked up by Planning Resource.

image for illustration: Belfast, Photo via IHBC

The IHBC is delighted to host a stall at the Heritage Network Conference 2026, on 28 September, with Branch and National Office leads attending, so if you are there be sure drop by, and remember to encourage your colleagues and friends to come along too!

IHBC members and networks should note that our Marsh Award Nominations – for Community Contribution (Retired Member) and Successful Learning… – will now open at the end of September each year, and close in December, so watch out for more details, and do start planning your nominations with our easy-use form, coming soon.

The third symposium hosted by The Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain (SAHGB) in memory of Mark Girouard looks at women’s contributions to architectural history in Britain and Ireland, with sponsors that include the IHBC, will take place on 14 November 2026.

The Scottish Government has issued guidance that provides a ‘technical insight into the conversion of Scotland’s traditional buildings, balancing building regulation compliance with conservation’ and ‘promotes a holistic, risk-based approach to technical compliance in the performance of traditional buildings.’

IHBC’s heritage business register HESPR – our Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition quality assurance scheme for heritage services – emails members weekly ‘News and Tender Alerts’, and this week features the IHBC welcoming COTAC’s new ‘Developing Personal Competences’ guidance.