Monthly Archives: December 2009

New Chair elected to lead planning enforcement association Sue Taylor has today been elected as the new Chairperson of NAPE – the National Association for Planning Enforcement.  Currently Acting Chair, following the stepping-down of Leslie Smith in July this year, … Continue reading →

A project to examine how to boost planners’ skills in the economics of development has been announced in the pre-Budget report. The study, to be carried out by consultants Roger Tym & Partners, will identify who requires what kind of … Continue reading →

The Heritage Lottery Fund’s (HLF) Skills for the Future programme is open to applicants (1) as of Wednesday 2 December. This new £5million grant programme will deliver up to 1,000 paid training opportunities for people across the UK seeking a … Continue reading →

A £4.5 million increase in Government funding for apprenticeships and trainees in the engineering construction sector will mean that opportunities for young people to train for skilled jobs could double to 1,200 by 2011, Secretary of State for Business, Lord … Continue reading →

Paul Morrell OBE has been appointed to the new role of Government Chief Construction Adviser, Construction Minister Ian Lucas and Economic Secretary to the Treasury Ian Pearson jointly announced November 24. The CCA role will work with Government and the … Continue reading →

Practices have taken an unprecedented battering following the downturn in property and development but some see signs of fresh life in the months ahead. Incontrovertible evidence of the hammering inflicted on the planning consultancy sector this year emerges from our … Continue reading →

As part of a remit to promote heritage protection reform, Karen Bewick, HPR co-ordinator at Heritage Alliance, is currently working with English Heritage to explore the training & development needs of the heritage voluntary sector in light of PPS15 and … Continue reading →

John Healey (Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government; Wentworth, Labour) said on 1 December: “I am today announcing the provisional allocations totalling £135 million for the second year of Housing Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG) (2009-10). HPDG was … Continue reading →

The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 aims to reinvigorate local democracy by placing local authorities on the front line of ensuring local citizens connect with local decision makers. This statutory guidance takes forward one strand of this … Continue reading →

At Wednesday’s AGM, among other things Kate Pugh reports: •4 new Trustees were elected: Loyd Grossman appointed by the Board as Chair. Charles Angus as Honorary Treasurer, Denis Dunstone, Mary King and Ela Palmer. Ian Lush led the thanks to … Continue reading →

People responsible for organising place-making training workshops have access to a new free flexible electronic toolkit – Train&Sustain. Train&Sustain provides trainers with all the materials they need to give their audiences a good understanding of place-making and practical examples of … Continue reading →

Pressure mounting on the RICS to reverse its plan to leave the Construction Industry Council The move, which created ructions across the industry, prompted high-profile figures to write to RICS officers, pressurising them to stay. One senior industry figure said: … Continue reading →

Following on from the success of the Professional Development Programme, the Construction Industry Council (CIC) is now offering tailor-made courses to built environment companies at a subsidised rate. Previously companies have only been able to send two members of staff … Continue reading →

The Welsh Assembly Government has clarified its national planning policy for sustainable buildings in advance of the final technical advice in early 2010. The Welsh Assembly Government’s chief planner, Rosemary Thomas, has written to all planning authorities and interested parties … Continue reading →

The Government today (27 November) set out how it will deliver on its vision and promise for making homes and neighbourhoods high quality, safe and more sustainable places to live in. That is why Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw and Housing … Continue reading →

Fiona Hyslop has been made culture and external affairs minister Under-fire education secretary, Fiona Hyslop, has been demoted in a reshuffle of Scottish government ministers. Ms Hyslop has come under sustained opposition attack on issues including falling teacher numbers, cutting … Continue reading →