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.
Continue readingThe IHBC’s new ‘Branch Committee Bulletin’ has been issued, updating our Branch committees on strategic developments and current priorities, while if you want to find out more just check the NewsBlogs or contact your Branch Officers or the IHBC’s National Office.
Click on the image below to sign up for the alerts:
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 Services and Support Executive Officer, and Branch Link, Sarah Homer will be there and said: ‘I am really looking forward to working with our wonderful Northern Ireland Branch Colleagues to host our stand at this sector leading conference.’
‘It will be a pleasure to have the rare opportunity meet such a wide range of delegates and to make new connections.’
‘The conference is focussing on the impact of community-led heritage on people and places, which is really important for the IHBC – and was an important theme in our case for a Charter – so please do spread the word, and if you are able to attend, drop by for an informal and friendly chat.’
‘We would love to make the most of this opportunity to hear about and share your thoughts and experiences.’
Architect Alina Holyst, Deputy Chair of IHBC’s Northern Ireland Branch said: ‘We’re delighted that the Heritage Network event is coming to Northern Ireland this year! Having such a fantastic gathering right on our doorstep is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our rich heritage, strengthen connections and create new opportunities for collaboration.’
‘The IHBC Northern Ireland Branch is very pleased to be involved, and we’re looking forward to welcoming colleagues from across the heritage sector to Belfast and Armagh.’
Continue readingIf you are no longer interested in holding on to your hardcopy Context don’t let it go to waste: ‘Help The Conservation Professional’ and pass it on to a friend or colleague, and help us all spread the word about the great benefits offered by the IHBC and our members!
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image: Worcester Cathedral interior by Steve McLeish for IHBC Annual School 2016
This IHBC and our West Midlands Branch will join the next West Midlands Heritage Trust (WMHT) Careers Fair, which will come to Worcester Cathedral on 21 October 2026.
Continue readingThe Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has partnered with the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) on a new publication about tackling damp and mould in England’s housing sector.
Continue readingThe IHBC’s heritage business register HESPR – our Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition quality assurance service – sends members exclusive ‘News and Tender Alerts’, with the Director’s top taster for NewsBlog readers this week a call by an England Council for and Architect/Design Team for transforming a Grade II listed Town Hall, to 09/10/2026.
JOIN HESPR, FROM £145PA (TO 2 EMPLOYEES)
Continue readingUK Parliament’s Energy Security and Net Zero (ESNZ) Committee is launching new inquiries on Business and energy and delivering Warm and comfortable homes across the UK.
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image: (c) Fiona Newton, IHBC
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has announced Scotland’s Places of Worship Fund to support eligible listed places of worship across Scotland by helping them recover VAT costs associated with repair works, expected to open for applications in Autumn 2026.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) writes:
Historic places of worship form an important part of Scotland’s historic environment. As well as places of worship, many also serve as community spaces, local landmarks, visitor destinations and venues for a wide range of activities and services. The pilot scheme has been developed in response to the closure of the previous UK-wide Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which helped eligible listed places of worship reclaim VAT costs on repair and conservation projects. The Scotland’s Places of Worship Fund will operate as a standalone scheme until the end of March 2027, with up to £1 million made available through the existing HES Grants budget. Funding will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants. The pilot will help assess demand for the scheme in Scotland and provide evidence to inform any potential future funding arrangements.
Katerina Brown, Chief Executive Officer at HES, said: ‘Scotland’s historic places of worship are an important part of our shared heritage. They contribute significantly to the character of towns, villages and cities across the country, and many continue to play a central role within their local communities. The Scotland’s Places of Worship Fund pilot will help organisations caring for listed places of worship undertake essential repair and conservation work by offsetting eligible VAT costs. By supporting early intervention and ongoing maintenance, the Fund will help protect historic buildings, sustain traditional skills and support the long-term resilience of significant heritage assets across Scotland. This is a pilot scheme for 2026/27. The experience and evidence gathered through the pilot will help inform discussions on any potential future delivery arrangements.’
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic Màiri McAllan said:
‘Historic places of worship are religious centres, landmarks and important community hubs, offering meeting places for local groups and a lifeline to those in need. This new fund will help care for these important buildings and keep them at the heart of community life, since VAT charges on essential repair work can act as a barrier to investment in historic buildings. It shows our ongoing commitment to Scotland’s cultural heritage, and I am glad we have been able to work with Historic Environment Scotland to plug the gap left by the UK Government’s withdrawal of this vital support.’
Susan O’Connor, Head of Grants at HES, said: ‘We are delighted to provide an opportunity for listed places of worship to reduce some of the financial pressures associated with caring for historic buildings that are often at the heart of their communities. Many organisations eligible for the Scotland’s Places of Worship Fund may also be able to access support through our Historic Environment Grants Programme, and we encourage anyone planning repair and conservation work to explore the support available through HES. We look forward to consulting with representatives from places of worship across Scotland in the coming weeks to help shape a Fund that supports the care of these important historic buildings and responds to the needs of the diverse communities that use, value and maintain them.’
HES will review the outcomes of the pilot at the end of the funding period with the Scottish Government and any decisions on future support will be considered separately, following that review. The new fund will be open to eligible listed places of worship from all faiths and denominations across Scotland. Guidance and application information are being developed in consultation with faith groups and sector stakeholders before launch. More information on eligibility, application requirements and opening dates will be published on the HES website ahead of the launch of the scheme at the start of October 2026.
Research from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) shows that 9 in 10 local authority planning departments across England and Wales are understaffed, delaying planning decisions and threatening the Government’s target of 1.5 million new homes.
Continue readingA government consultation on ‘Planning powers for mayors in England’ seeks to gather views on implementation of planning powers for mayors of strategic authorities.
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image: Temple of Vaccina, Philip Halling, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A new report from Historic Houses looks at how Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register?(HARR) can be used.
Continue readingThree new cross-government taskforces are being launched in the new Office for the Prime Minister (PM) & Cabinet, ‘tackling systemic issues like the cost of living and public control of essentials and supporting local communities’.
Continue readingCOTAC’s newly issued ‘Insight 2’ provides helpful guidance, on the 14 ICOMOS Education and Training Guidelines for those seeking re-accreditation.
Edinburgh Group Chair Ingval Maxwell said: ‘In describing conservation projects, professionals commonly use third-party accounts of what ‘we did’. However, for the individual practitioner, what matters is their ability to make effective and relevant personal decisions as part of the project team.’
‘From a conservation accreditation perspective, it is these individual decisions and contributions that matter.’
‘Consequently, Conservation Scheme Assessors look for applicants to provide clear information about what ‘I did’ in their written submissions. This latest ‘Developing Personal Competencies – Insight 2’ volume from COTAC aims to promote a better understanding of what is relevant when compiling and submitting an individual application as part of the process towards achieving peer-reviewed accredited or certified conservation status.’
Continue readingimage 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 Services and Support Executive Officer, and Branch Link, Sarah Homer will be there and said: ‘I am really looking forward to working with our wonderful Northern Ireland Branch Colleagues to host our stand at this sector leading conference.’
‘It will be a pleasure to have the rare opportunity meet such a wide range of delegates and to make new connections.’
‘The conference is focussing on the impact of community-led heritage on people and places, which is really important for the IHBC – and was an important theme in our case for a Charter – so please do spread the word, and if you are able to attend, drop by for an informal and friendly chat.’
‘We would love to make the most of this opportunity to hear about and share your thoughts and experiences.’
Architect Alina Holyst, Deputy Chair of IHBC’s Northern Ireland Branch said: ‘We’re delighted that the Heritage Network event is coming to Northern Ireland this year! Having such a fantastic gathering right on our doorstep is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our rich heritage, strengthen connections and create new opportunities for collaboration.’
‘The IHBC Northern Ireland Branch is very pleased to be involved, and we’re looking forward to welcoming colleagues from across the heritage sector to Belfast and Armagh.’
Continue reading
The IHBC is delighted to announce the launch of a new Early Career Network, to support the next generation of heritage and conservation practitioners, players and professionals, inspired by a new Early Career Working Group initiative.
SIGN UP HERE for the IHBC’s Early Careers Network
Continue readingIf you are no longer interested in holding on to your hardcopy Context don’t let it go to waste: ‘Help The Conservation Professional’ and pass it on to a friend or colleague, and help us all spread the word about the great benefits offered by the IHBC and our members!
Continue readingHistoric England (HE) has recently published ‘Guidance on Control of Microorganisms in Historic Buildings’.
Continue readingIHBC’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 IHBC on Building on new NPPF ‘a pretty bold swing’… but…!’
JOIN HESPR, FROM £145PA (TO 2 EMPLOYEES)
The IHBC writes:
IHBC sponsors Gardens Trust on ‘New Town Landscapes: Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future’, 23-24/09, Milton Keynes
The IHBC is delighted to help sponsor The Gardens Trust exploration of ‘New Town Landscapes: Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future’ which will be held in Milton Keynes on 23/24 September.
The Gardens Trust writes: ‘…. [the conference] will focus on how lessons from the past can meaningfully shape future planning, design, governance, and community life. It is conceived as both a scholarly forum and a space for professional and intergenerational exchange, encouraging dialogue between research, practice, and lived experience.’
IHBC’s call to all HESPR members
Join IHBC’s Membership Assessors
Please submit your Expression of Interest NOW HERE
If you are an IHBC Full Member you can help evaluate the next generation of professionals, maintain our high standards, and earn valuable CPD along the way, by joining us as an IHBC Membership Assessor.
Please submit your Expression of Interest NOW HERE
Andrew Shepherd, Trustee and Chair of IHBC’s Membership and Ethics Committee said: ‘It is vital that established members come forward to join the Assessors panel so that their skills and experience can help to assess the burgeoning numbers seeking Full and Associate membership’.
For a free promotion of your tendering opportunities and work needs to the IHBC’s HESPR members, please send details and links to Joanna at contact@ihbc.org.uk, as soon as possible.
Tenders can also be advertised for a fee with IHBC Jobs etc, including a targeted email to 2500+ recipients as well as full coverage on our NewsBlog alerts and social platforms (membership and followers c.25,000) and websites with c. 250,000 visits a month. Contact Joanna at contact@ihbc.org.uk
image: Albert Bridge, Michael Coppins, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Council bosses are making the most of the ongoing closure of Albert Bridge to give the iconic structure a fresh coat of paint ahead of its planned 2027 reopening, reports the Hounslow Herald.
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image: Westfield Court, Gorgie by Richard Webb, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Plans to give listed status to an Edinburgh block of flats have been dropped, clearing the way for the City of Edinburgh Council to press ahead with a buy-back programme, reports Scottish Housing News.
Continue readingThanks to a £3,000 digitisation grant awarded by TownsWeb, SPAB’s archive will be digitised, making some of its earliest and most interesting files available to a wider audience for the first time as it.
Continue readingThe Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Insights Manager explains that as workforce mobility declines, the industry must shift towards place-based skills strategies to meet regional demand.
Continue readingUK Heritage Pulse is welcome all to its Skills Exchange, a service connecting heritage organisations with people looking to share their time and talents
Continue readingThe Charity Commission’s ‘Research and Analysis Charity Sector Risk Assessment’ for 2026 has been issued.
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