Monthly Archives: November 2009

Reduced rates available to the AJ Historic Building conference, London, 1 December. Click here for programme

Advancing Assets for Communities is funded by Communities and Local Government and forms part of the implementation programme for the conclusions of the Quirk Review: Making Assets Work (2007). The Advancing Assets Programme forms a key component of the work … Continue reading →

English Heritage has voiced disappointment at the decision of culture minister Margaret Hodge not to list Birmingham’s Central Library in Paradise Forum. The heritage adviser said the building, designed by John Madin and opened in 1974, deserved Grade II-listed protection. … Continue reading →

Britain’s oldest surviving rollercoaster is being restored to its former glory, one of our finest Victorian railway stations will be transformed, and fishermen’s cellars from the 1800s will be refurbished as the latest round of the Government funded Sea Change … Continue reading →

New legislation has come into force which allows for the creation of a single regional strategy developed jointly by the Regional Development Agencies in partnership with the new local authority Leaders’ Boards. The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act … Continue reading →

A constitutional move has been made that brings the devolution of building regulations to Wales a step closer. An Order in Council has been approved by the Queen which transfers powers to make Building Regulations for buildings in Wales to … Continue reading →

There has been media speculation that the Government intends to include the British Waterways’ property portfolio as a component of the £16bn asset sale. An e-petition on the 10 Downing Street website opposes the proposal and the chair of the … Continue reading →

Heritage Link has relaunched its popular Heritage Funding Directory, a free online resource for all. Link

Communities and Local Government (CLG) is considering amending the legislation around environmental impact assessments (EIAs) in the light of two recent rulings, it has emerged. One was from the High Court the other from the European Court of Justice. One … Continue reading →

How do you ensure that new developments fit in and are sensitive to their historic area? Building in Context is a training programme for local authorities run jointly by English Heritage and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment … Continue reading →

Northern Ireland environment minister Edwin Poots has launched a consultation for a new draft planning policy statement to safeguard the character of established residential areas. The draft policies, set out as an Addendum to Planning Policy Statement 7 (PPS 7), … Continue reading →

Historic Scotland has issued a new CD Rom during National Maintenance Week which brings together expert advice to show owners the best way to maintain and care for their traditionally built properties. Ruth Parsons, Chief Executive for Historic Scotland,  today, … Continue reading →

Today the IHBC launched its Listed Buildings Prosecution data resource on its web site. IHBC director Seán O’Reilly said: “This is a special moment in our history,  the database actually predates the IHBC, yet, like much of our best work, … Continue reading →

Television production company, Darlow Smithson Productions, is working on a major new architectural history series for the BBC and they are URGENTLY looking for historic vernacular buildings in the UK and Eire that are due for re-construction/relocation (for good conservation … Continue reading →

A conservation event with broad appeal – & with no mention of conservation! IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly welcomed the CIOB’s ‘undercover conservation’ strategy, which is intended to help mainstream conservation methodologies without scaring the mainstream professions.  He said: “Many practitioners think … Continue reading →

The International Sustainability Alliance will drive the development of common international standards for real estate. These standards will embrace both new buildings and existing buildings – and a key feature of the Alliance will be the development of robust, reliable … Continue reading →

Living Streets Scotland launch free on-line toolkit to improve ‘walkability’ Local authorities are striving in difficult times to deliver services that will meet targets concerning health inequalities, social inclusion, stronger communities and sustainable transport. Working to increase levels of walking … Continue reading →

The Prime Minister has announced that the public will have more access to Ordnance Survey maps from next year, as part of a government drive to open up data to improve transparency. Gordon Brown said the government and Ordnance Survey, … Continue reading →

The Churches Conservation Trust is the national charity protecting historic churches at risk.  We’ve saved over 340 unique buildings which attract more than a million visitors a year, and are introducing a formal review of Appointed Consultants to coincide with … Continue reading →

UK Government signs up to historic European agreement on local democracy 17 November 2009 Local Government Minister Rosie Winterton  has signed an historic democratic agreement recognising the rights of citizens across Europe to have their views heard by their local … Continue reading →

Scotland’s Culture Minister has on 10 November expressed the Scottish Government’s clear commitment to a national centre for architecture based within The Lighthouse building in Glasgow. Michael Russell said that arrangements were in place for the employment of staff working … Continue reading →

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), the professional body for Britain’s 22,000 planners, has on 10 November welcomed the publication of the first draft National Policy Statements, but warned that without an overall national spatial plan, we risk missing out … Continue reading →

Summaries of the Draft National Policy Statements for England are available from Planning Aid The first draft National Policy Statements – which set out the national need for particular types of infrastructure – have now been published. Planning Aid is … Continue reading →

A legal fight over a disused monastery in the London Borough of Barnet has reached the High Court. Developer Metro Construction says that the Barnet council wrongly designated the former Carmelite Monastery at 119 Bridge Lane, Barnet, as a Conservation … Continue reading →

A total of 41 Scottish high streets across Scotland will share £20m of government cash to revitalise their town centres. It is the second tranche of money awarded from the £60 million Town Centre Regeneration Fund set up earlier this … Continue reading →