Author Archives: IHBC NewsBlog

Following articles published in The Sunday Times on 17 December claiming that corruption is endemic in the English planning system, RTPI has complained to the paper and sent a Letter to the Editor from its President Stephen Wilkinson.

An opinion piece on UK ConstructionWeek explores why so few young people are taking up careers in construction, featuring a guest blog from a fifteen year old and Year 10 work experience student who says ‘… the industry needs to … Continue reading →

Twelve finalists have been chosen from this year’s ‘Art of Building’ architectural photography competition, run by the Chartered Institute of Building, as relayed by BBC News, with older and heritage places featuring strongly. image Mehmet Yasa BBC website

Historic England (HE) is inviting heritage sector organisations to participate in a scheme to increase the diversity of the heritage workforce. The scheme is aimed at undergraduates or very recent graduates who identify as having Black, Asian or other Minority … Continue reading →

On 30 November 2017, the Law Commission launched a twelve-week public consultation on its proposals to modernise and codify planning law in Wales, with a deadline for responses of 1 March 2018.

The Federation of Master Builders’ (FMB) has launched its ‘Homes on our high streets’ report, which makes recommendations to Local Authorities and others to help bring back residential units above shops back into use, arguing that ‘Many of these buildings … Continue reading →

Together with the Mayor of London, Transport for London (TfL) and Hackney Council, Islington Council are issuing an ‘Open Call for Design Ideas’ to create an iconic gateway at Old Street, with the entries closing on 29 January.

The Supreme Court has upheld a decision by the Court of Appeal against plans to build 521 homes in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The National Assembly’s Committee on Culture, Welsh Language and Communications is conducting an inquiry on the historic environment.

An ex-council house in Essex ‘Talliston House and gardens’ tells the story of different periods in history, incorporating nearly 2,000 objects, in a project that took 25 years to complete.

The Civic Voice Design Awards 2018 is open for applications, with Civic Voice highlighting categories that include showing how ‘new development can enhance a conservation area’, and the ceremony to be held in The Leadenhall Building, the second tallest building … Continue reading →

Design Council has published Designing a Future Economy, a study that presents a powerful picture about the value of design, with headlines including issues such as that skills shortages and gaps amongst those already working in design-skilled occupations costs the … Continue reading →

Across Government, Innovate UK, Research Councils, and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) expect to invest around £184 million in research and innovation in the built environment, and as part of this commitment, within the BEIS Energy … Continue reading →

England’s Parliamentary Communities and Local Government Committee (CLGC) has published analysis – titled ‘Reforming local authority needs assessment’ – suggesting ways in which the current needs and funding assessments for councils could be made simpler and more transparent. Parliamentary copyright … Continue reading →

A comparison of housing demolition figures used to help justify changing the HS2 route through South Yorkshire was wrong by at least 40 per cent, the Government has admitted.

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) has published its ‘Annual Review’ for 2016/17.