Monthly Archives: June 2009

The 2008 Place Survey provides information on people’s perceptions of their local area and the local services they receive. This release summarises the headline findings for England and Government Office regions with results for individual local authorities shown in the … Continue reading →

Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) Network’s website is live and can be accessed via www.rdpenetwork.org.uk By way of a brief overview, it includes the following main sections: 1) Your Network – providing an overview of what the RDPE Network is … Continue reading →

Planners have been told that the latest climate change projections should not require regional and local plan-making to be slowed down or planning applications deferred. http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/ 1115316690227.html

Consultation on the Implementation of the Removal of the Duty to Notify Historic Scotland (HS) on Certain Types of Listed Building Consent Application. Below is a link to the consultation on the implementation of the removal of the duty to … Continue reading →

The Welsh language, the country’s distinct and diverse culture, its colourful history, its rugby clubs and industrial heritage – all have a contributing role to play in the sustainable regeneration of communities in Wales. That was the message from Leighton … Continue reading →

A modernist covered market, that provided a life-line for the people of Coventry after the bombing of the city, has been listed at Grade II by the Government on the advice of English Heritage. English Heritage welcomed that the flying-saucer-like … Continue reading →

Famous views of London landmarks are in line to receive greater protection from potentially visually-intrusive development as a result of new draft guidelines published for consultation by Mayor Boris Johnson. The ‘London View Management Framework’ is designed to ensure that … Continue reading →

A public inquiry opened Tuesday, 16 June, to determine the future of a significant part of the historic city of Lancaster, a Georgian city which has been described as the ‘‘Bath of the North’’. English Heritage is opposing a proposal … Continue reading →

A 5-part television series following the work of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, Hidden Histories, is being shown on BBC4. Click here to download flyer

A nationwide survey of estate agents shows that home owners, buyers and sellers value Conservation Areas (CA), thanks to their special character and appearance. The survey, commissioned by English Heritage, reveals that 75 per cent of estate agents believe that … Continue reading →

The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) has launched a customised professional indemnity insurance scheme for conservation professionals. Fiona Newton, IHBC projects officer, who helped devise the scheme, says ‘While other policies are very broadly defined, many of our members … Continue reading →

Government £16.5 million ‘Real Help for Communities’ Modernisation Fund will help third sector organisations be more resilient to the impact of the economic downturn. It is focused on helping organisations providing services to those worst hit by the recession. The … Continue reading →

A new map of greater London will be available from September, courtesy of a new mapping programme independent of the Ordnance Survey. The programme, branded as UKMap, is the brainchild of the GeoInformation Group. Over the next few years it … Continue reading →

The Local Government Association has published a revised guidance note on probity in planning which sets out the role of councillors and officers. Among other guidance it notes: ‘Both councillors and officers are guided by codes of conduct. The code … Continue reading →

Welsh environment minister Jane Davidson has announced a review of the planning application process in the country. The announcement came as the administration pledged some £1.75m extra funding for all 25 Welsh planning authorities. This will be divided equally between … Continue reading →

Seán O’Reilly, IHBC director, welcomed a widening push for reduced VAT for building renovation and repair, represented by calls from mainstream construction sector interests for VAT regime sympathetic to repair. Dr O’Reilly observed that ‘Given the political, economic and environmental … Continue reading →

With some 250 professionals expected for the IHBC’s Day School in Buxton on Friday, the institute has, reluctantly, closed its booking earlier than expected. Members not able to get along to Buxton are encouraged to keep an eye on our … Continue reading →

The IHBC warmly welcomes Baroness Andrews’ appointment as the long-awaited new Chair of English Heritage. Baroness Andrews, as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with responsibility for built heritage there, has been an energetic proponent of … Continue reading →

Anthea Case steps down as Chair of Heritage Link in December at the end of her six-year term, having taken the organisation from its early days to its current position, respected and valued by Government and the heritage sector alike. … Continue reading →

Culture and Planning ministers in England are asking people for their views on its proposed new policy on archives. Culture Minister Barbara Follett, said: “Our archives hold the stories of our past and therefore play a unique role in building … Continue reading →

Chief Executive of Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) Sebastian Tombs has announced that he is to step-down from his post. Sebastian Tombs has led A+DS through its early years since its launch in 2005. Following the recent Policy and Management … Continue reading →