-
Search the archive
-
IHBC’S NewsBlogs usually only summarise third party reports. Links to other sites may not be active so you may need to contact the host site for the original text.
Unless made explicit, IHBC NewsBlogs are not IHBC endorsements.
Categories
Monthly archive
Links
-
Recent posts
- IHBC’s newest ‘Branch Committee Bulletin, from the IHBC’s Director’: National updates for volunteer leads includes notice on ‘Online Branch Connection Event’, 22 /01 16/01/2026
- IHBC responds to MHCLG consultation on ‘Reforms to the statutory consultee system’, highlighting the ‘serious threat to heritage conservation’ they represent 16/01/2026
- IHBC’s ‘Save the Date’ notice for all Branch Committees: Have your say at our next online Branch Connection Event, 22 January 2025, 2pm – 4pm 16/01/2026
- IHBC’s ‘Members with benefits’: FREE CPD at London’s LPOC Listed Property Show, Olympia, 30-31 Jan 16/01/2026
- IHBC celebrates SAHGB 2025 Annual Awards, including SAHGB-IHBC Heritage Research Award success at HESPR member Donald Insall Associates 16/01/2026
- IHBC’s Research Signpost: ‘Who stays and who leaves? Mapping Arts, Culture and heritage Careers’ from the PEC 16/01/2026
- IHBC Director’s pick from HESPR’s £14K+ of weekly works: English Council seeks architectural adviser for GII LB, to 30/01 & £14.4K 16/01/2026
- IHBC features ‘Heritage from the (CBBC) doorstep’: ‘Newcastle’s Bird poo bridge –Nine TONNES of mess removed from historic landmark’ 16/01/2026
- New Corporate Strategy from Natural England 16/01/2026
- New Newsletter from TCPA on Healthy Homes 16/01/2026
- IHBC features ‘Heritage from the (Global & Spooky) doorstep’: Historic Ghosts house gains digital protection, as engineers create 3D model of West Horsley Place 16/01/2026
- IHBC’s 2026 AGM concludes successfully: All nominations ratified resolutions adopted, including talks, thanks, Charter progress, elections, congratulations and more 13/01/2026
- IHBC’s Context 185 under the spotlight: IHBC’s accessible CPD for Conservation Professionals, with Bob Kindred’s ‘Periodically’ – bite-sized & from the best 13/01/2026
- IHBC’s ‘Save the Date’ notice for all Branch Committees: Have your say at our next online Branch Connection Event, 22 January 2025, 2pm – 4pm 13/01/2026
- Check out IHBC’s new-style ‘CPD Circular’ & feed back: With ‘at-a-glance colour coding’, Director’s CPD Spotlight (ICOMOS-CIF 2026, Granada, 11-13/03), simpler format & more 13/01/2026
- IHBC’s ‘Members with benefits’: FREE CPD at London’s LPOC Listed Property Show, Olympia, 30-31 Jan 13/01/2026
- IHBC’s ‘Professional’ Signpost: A Practical Guide to Using AI for Smaller Construction Firms 13/01/2026
- IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Concerns Southend’s Kursaal building ‘exposed to the elements’ and falling into disrepair 13/01/2026
- New strategy for Scotland’s protected historic places 13/01/2026
- Historic and Botanic Garden (HBG) Training Programme opportunities – early notice for March 2026 13/01/2026
- New Skills Relay to inspire the next generation of construction and housing talent 13/01/2026
- Scotland’s first-ever canal and traditional skills centre considered by councillors 13/01/2026
- IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global (and local) doorstep’: WMF Britain update on Belfast City Council’s purchase of Assembly Rooms after inclusion on the ‘2025 Watch’ 13/01/2026
- Check out IHBC’s new-style ‘CPD Circular’ & feed back: With ‘at-a-glance colour coding’, Director’s CPD Spotlight (ICOMOS-CIF 2026, Granada, 11-13/03), simpler format & more 09/01/2026
- IHBC celebrates SAHGB 2025 Annual Awards, including SAHGB-IHBC Heritage Research Award success at HESPR member Donald Insall Associates 09/01/2026
Author Archives: IHBC
BEFS 2026 Manifesto: Building Foundations for a Better Scotland
BEFS has launched a new Manifesto, Building Foundations for a Better Scotland, in advance of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged BEFS, building, community, conservation, energy, environment, expertise, health, heritage, planning, Scotland, skills
Comments Off on BEFS 2026 Manifesto: Building Foundations for a Better Scotland
RIBA puts high-quality design on Parliament’s agenda
As the Planning and Infrastructure Bill makes its way through Parliament, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) reports that it has secured an amendment to ensure design quality is at the heart of new development.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged architecture, building, community, design, expertise, government, infrastructure, planning, skills
Comments Off on RIBA puts high-quality design on Parliament’s agenda
Pathway to Planning – Cohort 4 open to 6/01: … fast track career in the built environment as LG planner or surveyor, from £25K pa
Pathways to Planning is a graduate programme intended to attract a diverse group of individuals to fast track their career in the built environment as a local government (LG) planner or surveyor, with applications open to 6 January 2026.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged careers, environment, expertise, learning, localgovernment, planning, skills
Comments Off on Pathway to Planning – Cohort 4 open to 6/01: … fast track career in the built environment as LG planner or surveyor, from £25K pa
Expert Taskforce recommends locations for new towns
The New Towns Taskforce has recommended locations for the next generation of new towns.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, community, construction, environment, expertise, government, housing, nature, planning, towns
Comments Off on Expert Taskforce recommends locations for new towns
IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: Major new study to reveal the value of the UK’s UNESCO sites
image for illustration: Stonehenge by Sumit Surai – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 A major new study, announced today, will measure the economic and non-economic value of the UK’s UNESCO sites. From the world-renowned Stonehenge, Tower of London and the … Continue reading
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged building, conservation, culture, economy, heritage, UNESCO, value
Comments Off on IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: Major new study to reveal the value of the UK’s UNESCO sites
Context 184 under the spotlight: IHBC’s accessible CPD for Conservation Professionals, with Law & Policy Update – ‘A village is not a historic town’
IHBC’s members’ journal Context in June 2025 – No. 184 – focussed on ‘Leaders of conservation thought’, while including Alexandra Fairclough’s regular Law and Policy update.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged conservation, cpd, environment, expertise, heritage, learning, professional, publication, skills, town, village
Comments Off on Context 184 under the spotlight: IHBC’s accessible CPD for Conservation Professionals, with Law & Policy Update – ‘A village is not a historic town’
IHBC Research Signpost: Impacts of changes to local authority funding on small to medium heritage organisations
Government UK has issued a rapid evidence review commissioned to gather case study evidence of the impact that increased budgetary pressures on local authorities (LAs) can have on small to medium heritage sector organisations (HOs).
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged conservation, economics, expertise, funding, government, heritage
Comments Off on IHBC Research Signpost: Impacts of changes to local authority funding on small to medium heritage organisations
IHBC’s ‘Practice’ Signpost: Traditional and historic buildings – a new Retrofit British Standard, an update from IHBC’s John Edwards, with joint CPD webinar 14/11
‘BS 40104: 2025: Retrofit Assessment for Domestic Dwellings – Code of Practice’, was officially published at the end of September and here Prof. John Edwards, IHBC’s Technical Panel Secretary and lead on the heritage/traditional buildings workstream, updates NewsBlog readers on … Continue reading
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, conservation, cpd, environment, expertise, heritage, retrofit, skills, sustainability, training
Comments Off on IHBC’s ‘Practice’ Signpost: Traditional and historic buildings – a new Retrofit British Standard, an update from IHBC’s John Edwards, with joint CPD webinar 14/11
IHBC launches FREE ‘Events Calendar’ submission form – with potential for inclusion in our celebrated monthly CPD Circular
The IHBC has issued a new form to help ensure sector events with IHBC CPD values can be considered for inclusion in our free IHBC ‘Events Calendar’, with submissions required at least 2 weeks before the end any month to … Continue reading
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged accreditation, conservation, cpd, events, expertise, heritage, skills, training
Comments Off on IHBC launches FREE ‘Events Calendar’ submission form – with potential for inclusion in our celebrated monthly CPD Circular
IHBC HESPR’s ‘News from the Sector’: LocalGov on ‘Planning recruitment’ threats as 33 bodies (inc. IHBC) call for funds
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 LocalGov on 33 bodies highlighting ‘Planning recruitment at risk’.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, conservation, expertise, government, heritage, planning, skills
Comments Off on IHBC HESPR’s ‘News from the Sector’: LocalGov on ‘Planning recruitment’ threats as 33 bodies (inc. IHBC) call for funds
IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Welsh council to appeal High Court quashing of Article 4s over ‘misleading’ officers’ report
Gwynedd Borough Council is to appeal a High Court decision which found that cabinet members who supported a direction on second homes and short-term holiday lets were ‘materially misled’, reports Aberdare Online.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged building, conservation, government, heritage, homes, planning, wales
Comments Off on IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Welsh council to appeal High Court quashing of Article 4s over ‘misleading’ officers’ report
TCPA seeks support in Campaign for Healthy Homes: Joining health and PD rights advocacy in Planning Bill changes
The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) is calling for support in its campaign ‘to secure the healthy homes and neighbourhoods that our country so desperately needs’, linking health and PD amendments to the Planning etc Bill.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, community, environment, expertise, health, neighbourhoods, planning, skills
Comments Off on TCPA seeks support in Campaign for Healthy Homes: Joining health and PD rights advocacy in Planning Bill changes
Licensing builders must happen following ECO debacle, says FMB
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has warned that poor oversight in ECO scheme shows urgent need for builder licensing to protect consumers and restore trust in retrofit work.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, energy, expertise, government, quality, retrofit, skills
Comments Off on Licensing builders must happen following ECO debacle, says FMB
Honouring the legacy of the Sycamore Gap tree: a new creative commission
Two years after the illegal felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, the National Trust is launching a major creative commission to mark its legacy and inspire a renewed connection with nature.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged conservation, culture, environment, heritage, history, nature, skills
Comments Off on Honouring the legacy of the Sycamore Gap tree: a new creative commission
Built Environment Committee responds to New Towns Taskforce Report
House of Lords Built Environment Committee has responded to New Towns Taskforce Report and the Government’s response.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, construction, environment, expertise, government, planning, towns
Comments Off on Built Environment Committee responds to New Towns Taskforce Report
£10Mn+ Water company fines fund local restoration projects
Over £10 million in water company fines directed to restore local waterways through 51 projects aimed at cleaning up rivers, lakes and seas.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged environment, fines, funding, government, nature, sewage, water
Comments Off on £10Mn+ Water company fines fund local restoration projects
Elle Cass next Chair Royal Town Planning Institute Board
Elle Cass has been announced as the next Chair of the Board of Trustees at the RTPI.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged charity, environment, expertise, planning, profession
Comments Off on Elle Cass next Chair Royal Town Planning Institute Board
IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: UNESCO launches the first global Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects at MONDIACULT 2025
Three years after its announcement at MONDIACULT 2022, UNESCO is launching an innovative initiative: the Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects.
IHBC’s ‘Special Thanks’ to 2025’s Student Award entrants, as 49 seek prizes (to £500) & places at #IHBCNewcastle2026
The IHBC has received 49 submissions to our 2025 Student Awards, all hoping that our guest judge – soon to be appointed – will choose them for the coveted and certificated Award, £500 cash, and a place at IHBC’s 2026 … Continue reading
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged award, conference, conservation, heritage, learning, skills, student
Comments Off on IHBC’s ‘Special Thanks’ to 2025’s Student Award entrants, as 49 seek prizes (to £500) & places at #IHBCNewcastle2026
IHBC welcomes Campaign for National Parks success as ‘plans to weaken protected landscapes duty quietly dropped’
image for illustration: Peter Badcock Campaign for National Parks (CNP), the only independent charity dedicated to securing the future of National Parks in England and Wales, has celebrated its success.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged conservation, environment, expertise, government, heritage, landscape, parks, planning
Comments Off on IHBC welcomes Campaign for National Parks success as ‘plans to weaken protected landscapes duty quietly dropped’
IHBC’s ‘Practice’ Signpost: Traditional and historic buildings – a new Retrofit British Standard, an update from IHBC’s John Edwards, with joint CPD webinar 14/11
‘BS 40104: 2025: Retrofit Assessment for Domestic Dwellings – Code of Practice’, was officially published at the end of September and here Prof. John Edwards, IHBC’s Technical Panel Secretary and lead on the heritage/traditional buildings workstream, updates NewsBlog readers on … Continue reading
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, conservation, energy, environment, expertise, heritage, retrofit, skills, training
Comments Off on IHBC’s ‘Practice’ Signpost: Traditional and historic buildings – a new Retrofit British Standard, an update from IHBC’s John Edwards, with joint CPD webinar 14/11
IHBC’s ‘Director’s pick’ from HESPR’s £495K+ of weekly works: Welsh Council seeks team for urban hub, to 31/10 and c.£75K
The IHBC’s heritage business register HESPR – our Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition quality assurance service – emails members regular ‘News and Tender Alerts’, and the IHBC Director’s pick this week comes from The IHBC Director’s pick this week comes … Continue reading
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged building, climate change, conservation, environment, expertise, government, heritage, planning, skills
Comments Off on IHBC’s ‘Director’s pick’ from HESPR’s £495K+ of weekly works: Welsh Council seeks team for urban hub, to 31/10 and c.£75K
IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’ (& ‘Evaluation’ signpost!): ‘History of the Pioneering Stockton and Darlington Railway’ via HE
image for illustration: Stockton & Darlington Railway Opening by John Dobbin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Historic England (HE) explores how the Stockton and Darlington Railway became the world’s first modern public railway in 1825.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged conservation, engineering, environment, expertise, heritage, history, pioneers, railway, skills, transport
Comments Off on IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’ (& ‘Evaluation’ signpost!): ‘History of the Pioneering Stockton and Darlington Railway’ via HE
National Audit Office: Weak controls and oversight blamed for faulty home installations under energy efficiency scheme
A new report from the National Audit Office (NAO) sets out the reasons for failures in the government’s energy efficiency scheme for homes, including poor-quality installations, weak government oversight and inadequate audit and monitoring.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, energy, expertise, government, homes, insulation, net zero
Comments Off on National Audit Office: Weak controls and oversight blamed for faulty home installations under energy efficiency scheme
New UK Town of Culture competition to celebrate our national story
The contributions of towns across the UK to our national life will be celebrated through a new competition, the Culture Secretary has announced.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged community, competition, culture, education, environment, planning, towns, training, urban, volunteering
Comments Off on New UK Town of Culture competition to celebrate our national story