Category Archives: Sector NewsBlog

AHF marks 50 years of social impact through conservation and adaptation

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is marking 50 years of social impact through conservation and adaptation supporting communities across the UK to rescue, reuse and reimagine historic buildings

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Government announces bumper £1.5 billion package ‘to restore national pride’

£1.5 billion will be invested in cultural organisations over a five-year period ‘turning the corner on underfunding over the last decade and more’.

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HE: Delivering heritage construction skills and training in projects

Historic England’s (HE) Conservation and Heritage Capital projects ‘offer great opportunities to build in skills and training’ helping address skills gaps and shortages identified in its research.

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National Retrofit Hub on ‘Health, place & retrofit’: Findings and recommendations for change

A National Retrofit Hub paper highlights how retrofit policy and delivery often focus narrowly on technical performance and energy metrics, when ‘enabling communities to have a… say… is critical to delivering lasting benefits.’

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UK Heritage Pulse seeks participants for ‘collaborative data and insight project for… UK’s heritage sector informing strategy, recovery and reinvention’

UK Heritage Pulse – created by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and partners – is calling for participants in panel of hundreds at the heart of the sector to regularly offer views, shape strategy, share knowledge and influence funding priorities.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Man ordered to pay £38,000 after stripping out historic listed building

A man has been ordered to pay £38,000 for stripping out the historic interior of a 17th Century, protected building in Topsham, reports The Mid-Devon Advertiser.

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RTPI & TCPA: ‘Planning for the Climate Crisis – A guide for local authorities’, 5th Edition

The RTPI and The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) have published the fifth edition of their joint guidance on planning for climate change.

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‘Empty Properties in Wales’ handbook issued by Welsh Government

The Welsh Government has published guide for finding out how to bring empty properties back into use.

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Introducing the HEF’s first Newsletter: ‘Resilience Review’

Introducing the Resilience Review, a new quarterly newsletter by the Historic Environment Forum (HEF)

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Scotland’s Bar-L’ joins the (Category) A list

image for illustration: HMP Barlinnie from the air by Thomas Nugent, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons Late 19th and early 20th century phases of HMP Barlinnie, the historic Glasgow prison, are now listed at Category A, reports Historic Environment Scotland.

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Regeneration leader appointed to key role at Homes England

John Reid will join government’s housing and regeneration agency in March 2026 to lead new national hub, working hand-in-hand with regional teams, as strategic plan comes into action.

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Swansea University Heritage Project recovers evidence of a major archaeological find

A unique slice of history – a Roman villa – has been found, which ‘will offer unparalleled information about Wales’s national story’.

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Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee notes ‘Potential for fraud’ after ‘clear and catastrophic failure’ in government-funded wall insulation works

The Public Accounts Committee said that the ‘level of non-compliance’ by installers on government-funded external and internal wall insulation schemes should be investigated for fraud, and that the government’s current response was ‘not credible’.

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LI Briefing: ‘A landscape-led approach – Maximising value for people, place and nature’

The Landscape Institute (LI) has launched a briefing paper ‘Maximising value from built development: How a landscape-led approach delivers more for people, place and nature’

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Templar Heritage Trust Bursary Scheme funds up to 50% of fees for training in crafts of historic building restoration or conservation…

A bursary scheme funded by the Templar Heritage Trust (THT) for up to 50% of course fees for training in the crafts of historic building restoration or conservation, primarily for the benefit of young, unemployed, or disadvantaged persons has been … Continue reading

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Government’s New National River Walk announced: the first of nine to be created in manifesto pledge: the ‘Mersey Valley Way’

The Government’s first new National River Walk – the 21-kilometre ‘Mersey Valley Way’ – is set to run from Stockport through Manchester to Trafford, to ‘boost for local business and people who will have better access to nature’.

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CMS Select Committee: Oral evidence from HE concerning Protecting Built Heritage

On 6 January, Historic England (HE) was called to give oral evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee as part of their ongoing inquiry into Protecting Built Heritage, with Co-CEO Emma Squire and Director of Policy and Evidence … Continue reading

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Bridge deterioration unnoticed for 15 years raises alarm on lack of technical expertise in LAs following report to Cross Safety

Alarm has been raised about the lack of technical expertise in local authorities after severe bearing deterioration was discovered on a strategic road bridge, as findings – linked to a report to the confidential safety reporting site Cross Safety – … Continue reading

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Winner of the RIAS Doolan Award 2025: Category B-listed Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen by Stallen Brand

The Royal incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) reports that the winner of its Doolan Award for 2025 is Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen by Stallen Brand.

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New Corporate Strategy from Natural England

Natural England’s new Strategy ‘Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security’ has been issued.

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New Newsletter from TCPA on Healthy Homes

The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) has issued a new Newsletter on Healthy Homes, including resources, consultations and events.

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New strategy for Scotland’s protected historic places

Historic Environment Scotland(HES) has published its new strategy for heritage designations in Scotland.

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Historic and Botanic Garden (HBG) Training Programme opportunities – early notice for March 2026

Historic and Botanic Garden (HBG) Training Programme.

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New Skills Relay to inspire the next generation of construction and housing talent

PfP Thrive, part of the UK’s leading social enterprise Places for People (PfP), has launched the Skills Relay – a nationwide challenge to tackle the UK’s construction and housing skills crisis.

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Scotland’s first-ever canal and traditional skills centre considered by councillors

Scottish Canals reported in December 2025 that Councillors would be asked to consider the Full Business Case for one of the Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal’s flagship skills projects.

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