Monthly Archives: May 2010

The IHBC, the professional body for built and historic environment conservation specialists, has welcomed the Queen’s Speech for its confirmation of a Bill to introduce ‘localism’ into the planning system, and the opportunities that this will provide to support and … Continue reading →

Legislation that could see arts, heritage and sport each receiving an extra £50 million a year will be placed before Parliament in September, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt announced today in a keynote … Continue reading →

DCMS will contribute £61 million from its budget towards reducing the Government deficit, plus savings of £27 million from the Olympics budget. The move is part of £6.2 billion reductions across Government in this financial year, announced today by the … Continue reading →

Greg Clark has been named as minister in charge of planning policy in a share out of responsibilities at the DCLG by new secretary of state Eric Pickles. Clark will also lead on decentralisation and the government’s ‘Big Society’ programme. … Continue reading →

English Heritage (EH) and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) have today (Monday 24 May 2010) announced funding of just under £7million to help restore 68 historic Grade II listed places of worship in England. Places of worship from a range … Continue reading →

An appeal to find the ten most endangered historic buildings in the country has been launched by the Victorian Society. The Society is calling on historians, enthusiasts and local campaigners across the country to nominate Victorian or Edwardian buildings that … Continue reading →

A green home improvement scheme targeting households in at least 21 communities in Wales with £30m in funding during its first year has been unveiled by Wales environment minister Jane Davidson. The ‘arbed’ scheme, which means ‘save’ in Welsh, will … Continue reading →

IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly welcomed the announcement of the inaugural Building Appraisal, Pathology and Performance (BAPP) Conference, to take place on Thursday 1 July, in London, saying that: “This is a hugely important area for our members, and we expect … Continue reading →

English Heritage launched its new website with a clearer, simpler design. www.english-heritage.org.uk

IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly has welcomed the new postgraduate programme specialising in the theory and practice of building conservation and conservation-led urban regeneration, at the University of Sheffield School of Architecture, which has just been launched for prospective students to … Continue reading →

Ministers have confirmed that ‘radical’ reform of the planning system will be central to the new coalition Government’s programme with the scrapping of Regional Spatial Strategies, the abolition of the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) and replacing RDAs with (potentially identical) … Continue reading →

The DCMS today (20/5) performed an extraordinary U-turn by announcing that Ed Vaizey will not serve as architecture minister. In a surprise appointment, even to Vaizey himself, who gave an interview to BD at the RIBA on Tuesday night outlining … Continue reading →

Essex-born Bob Neill MP, a Parliamentary under Secretary of State in Communities and Local Government, is expected to be named as planning minister after shadowing the role in Opposition. He was a barrister specialising in criminal law before election as … Continue reading →

Demand the Right Skills for the Repair & Maintenance of Traditional Buildings: ConstructionSkills, English Heritage and the National Heritage Training Group (NHTG) with other sector partners are organising a briefing session in each region in England on the expertise and … Continue reading →

Government cost-cutting leads to more high-profile departures and reorganisation of operations into three divisions. The Homes and Communities Agency is to streamline its senior management team following the latest in a series of high-profile departures at the agency, and pressure … Continue reading →

In an important step at a point of fragile recovery in the housing market, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Housing Minister Grant Shapps today announced that with immediate effect, they are suspending the requirement for homeowners to provide a Home … Continue reading →

The EU Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) is due to be reformed by 2013 and a formal public consultation is under way, closing 3 June, as the Commission prepares to publish a policy paper setting out different options for the future … Continue reading →

Places at the Annual School and Day School of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) are filling up fast, and prospective delegates are being encouraged to now book their place at ‘Going for Gold’ (London, 10-12 June) if they … Continue reading →

Some of the new ministerial line-ups for England can be accessed below: CLG Ministers: LINK DCMS Ministers: LINK defra Ministers: LINK BIS Minsters: LINK Education Ministers LINK

The Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) has appointed Craig Stirrat as its new Director. Craig Stirrat will take up the reins at the umbrella body which represents both voluntary and professional bodies in Scotland which are involved in sustaining both … Continue reading →

Wales environment minister Jane Davidson has announced £1.75m of funding to improve the delivery of planning services. All 25 local planning authorities in Wales (including the three National Parks) will benefit from a grant allocation of £70,000. Planning Portal News: LINK

Eleven town centres across the UK are to receive a much-needed boost of £14m, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) announced, with the earmarked money helping fund vital community regeneration schemes in these currently neglected areas. This investment is part of … Continue reading →

Artist and graphic designer Dave Anderson unwittingly breached EH copyright with his piece, a near-perfect copy of a blue plaque emblazoned with the words ‘The Man Who Sleeps With Your Wife Lives Here’. A limited edition of 250 of Anderson’s … Continue reading →

The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) has today published its Corporate Plan 2010-15, which is being proposed for adoption at the next IHBC AGM, on 11 June 2010, to take place during the institute’s Annual School in London, the … Continue reading →

The IHBC has launched a new website for its celebrated annual Gus Astley Student Award, helping raise awareness of the IHBC’s support for students across the historic and built environment disciplines that underpin conservation; see LINK The website reviews the … Continue reading →