Category Archives: Sector NewsBlog

Historic England’s new sector newsletter: The Professional Edit

Historic England encourages heritage professional to sign up for its heritage Sector Newsletter: The Professional Edit.

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‘Cultural Tax Reliefs Impact Review’ published by Arts Council

The Arts Council has published its independent report on the impact of Cultural Tax Reliefs – ‘Cultural Tax Reliefs Impact Review’ – produced by Nordicity, Ipsos and SafferyLLP.

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New CPRE exhibition marks 100 years of countryside protection

image for illustration: The Museum of English Rural Life, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons To mark the centenary year of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), a new exhibition at The Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL) … Continue reading

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Aviva Analysis indicates proportion of new homes built in flood areas rises to one in nine

One in nine (11%) new homes in England constructed between 2022 and 2024 have been built in areas of medium or high risk of flooding, according to new analysis from insurer Aviva, as Greater London and Essex have the highest … Continue reading

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Protrade on ‘State of Construction Apprenticeships in 2026’

New analysis by Protrade reveals a 1.5% increase in new construction apprentices for 2024/25, representing the first year of growth since the 2021/22 peak.

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IHBC Director’s pick from HESPR’s weekly works: Authority seeks conservation plans for iconic structures, to 27/03

The IHBC’s heritage business register HESPR – our Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition quality assurance service – emails members our exclusive ‘News and Tender Alerts’, with the Director’s tender taster for NewsBlog readers this week a call from a national … Continue reading

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NCT’s Fact Check: What we know about the new funding for churches and VAT changes – and … ‘write to your MP’

image for illustration: Ballidon Church, Derbyshire by Ralph Mills CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons On the 22 January 2026, the UK Government confirmed the end of Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, to be replaced by a £92 million four-year-fund … Continue reading

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UKRI’s ‘Proof of Concept funding opportunity from 04/03’ + simplified research translation & commercialisation funding

With Proof of Concept funding opportunities open from 4 March, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is streamlining its research translation and commercialisation funding opportunities to make them clearer and more consistent.

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DB on NPPF Plan making and national decision-making policies

Designing Buildings National Planning Policy Framework 2025 draft review in brief with indicative responses.

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IHBC President’s ‘Members only’ Invitation to next Virtual Council: Online, 8 April 2026, from 4.30pm – Scoping ‘Investigation’ of conservation in local government, with a call for suggestions etc.

IHBC members should have received their invitation from our President, Rebecca Thompson, to join in our new-style and ‘members-only’ online Council from 4.30pm on 8 April, when, as well as Charters & much more, we start to ‘investigate conservation roles … Continue reading

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IHBC’s ‘Evaluation’ Signpost: Poetry from concrete – Scotland’s fascinating historic concrete and brutalist architecture

image for illustration: Bernat Klein Studio 2010, Jonathan Oldenbuck, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Historic building conservation is for buildings more modern than you might expect, reports Scotland’s The Engine Shed.

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Ministerial Update: on ‘Relationship between Cadw and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales’

Jack Sargeant MS, Wales’ Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, has announced the publication of the review of the relationship between Cadw and the Royal Commission.

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Tell The Heritage Fund: Is your historic park or garden prepared for the climate crisis? TO 16/03

The Heritage Fund is asking the thousands of owners and managers of historic landscape parks and gardens across the UK to take part in a new survey about how the climate crisis is affecting the places you care for.

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Georgian Group objects to visitor pavilions in British Museum forecourts

image for illustration: British Museum from NE, Ham, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons The Georgian Group has formally objected and recommended refusal for the visitor pavilions in the forecourts of the British Museum.

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Consultation on new regeneration body for Greater Cambridge

A new consultation for a development corporation in Greater Cambridge has been launched.

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DCMS Honours Team on New Year 2027 (NY27) ‘Invitation to nominate’, information sessions and nomination form (to 31/03)

The DCMS Honours Team has circulated its Honours Information Sessions to support nominations for the New Year 2027 Honours List.

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RTPI asks: Can England still build its utopian vision of a ‘new town’?

New research from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) argues that the utopian ambition behind new towns doesn’t need to be abandoned, but rediscovered.

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New design guidance to raise the bar for new build developments

The government has published updated new build design guidance ‘to focus on design quality’.

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RICS modernises CPD framework and launches new member app

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has significantly updated its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework whilst launching a new member app to help members keep up to date with their CPD and professional status.

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UK Research and Innovation launches creative industries strategy

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has launched a high-level?UKRI’s research and development (R&D) strategy for the creative and cultural economy will ensure research and innovation drives and sustains growth in the creative industries.

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ARB’s five-year strategy to strengthen safety, competence and culture in architecture

The Architects Registration Board (ARB) has published a new five-year strategy focused on improving safety, strengthening professional competence and improving workplace culture among architects in the UK.

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Pride in Place: 40 neighbourhoods join transformational programme

Thousands more people are being handed the power to ‘decide how millions are spent in their area’ as Government’s Pride in Place programme expands.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Preferred developer and development proposal for Egyptian Halls in Glasgow approved

image for illustration: Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s Egyptian Halls in Glasgow, 2005 by Maccoinnich, via Wikimedia Commons The restoration of Glasgow’s Egyptian Halls has taken another step forward with the selection of a preferred developer to progress plans for the A-listed … Continue reading

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England’s cultural infrastructure: repair, maintenance and renewal reports from Purcell show £2 billion of unfunded repair and maintenance (R&M)

Reports for government, prepared by Purcell, into the repair, maintenance and renewal needed in the English cultural sector have been issued, estimating a backlog of £2 billion unfunded repair and maintenance (R&M) in the sector.

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Icon launches new Early Career Membership category

Following feedback gathered from members, Icon has launched a new Early Career Membership category.

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