Monthly Archives: August 2010

Wrexham Council is contemplating legal action over the unauthorised demolition of the town’s former mines rescue station. Key parts of the Grade II-listed building were destroyed last week two days after it was spot listed by Welsh historic monuments body … Continue reading →

Property developers and landowners have been warned they could face fines and deals ruled void when land agreements become subject to competition law. Leases, transfers and other land agreements will have to meet the demands of the Competition Act from … Continue reading →

Communities secretary Eric Pickles and transport secretary Philip Hammond have written to councils to ask them to reduce the amount of highway signage in urban and rural areas. This move to “cut the clutter” – which aims to reduce unnecessary … Continue reading →

Ministers have been urged to legislate for a limited third party right of appeal. The call has come from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the Environmental Law Foundation (ELF). The two organisations have pointed out that while … Continue reading →

Work is now under way which should see neighbouring planning authorities in north Wales sharing staff and collaborating to provide both development and building control services. This initiative is expected to take two years to come to fruition and involves … Continue reading →

Outline plans to expand Frome’s town centre and redevelop a large area of semi-derelict land on its eastern side has been approved by Mendip District Council, with a single building to be retained within the application site – the Notts … Continue reading →

The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) has opened booking for its forthcoming conference, ‘Conservation: Bridging the recession’, to take place in Newcastle on 24  September 2010. IHBC Past President David Lovie, a member of the IHBC’s North Branch which … Continue reading →

The British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA) has gone into voluntary liquidation, a move that was announced in a memo sent to members yesterday by BURA chair Jackie Sadek. Sadek said: “In recent years the expansion of regeneration media, events and … Continue reading →

Scotland’s Chief Statistician today published the Scottish Household Survey (SHS) 2009 Annual Report. The SHS is a survey of households across the whole of Scotland, and is designed to provide reliable and up-to-date information on the composition, characteristics and behaviour … Continue reading →

Europa Nostra has announced the opening of its 2011 awards, with a deadline of 1 October 2010. Categories include: CONSERVATION Outstanding achievements in the conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage in the following areas: Single buildings or groups of buildings … Continue reading →

Northern Ireland environment minister Edwin Poots has published new planning policies to help safeguard areas of established residential character from town cramming. Poots said the policies, an addendum to PPS 7, were designed “to ensure greater control over the density … Continue reading →

Minister for Heritage and Tourism John Penrose announced a range of listing decisions last week (9 August). Three new listings were announced for: the Darul Ummah Community Centre, Tower Hamlets (London), the Dunboyne Road housing estate, Camden (London) and the … Continue reading →

The threat of demolition of the terraced home which was the Liverpool birthplace of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr has returned. The Victorian property at Madryn Street, Toxteth, is one of hundreds in the “Welsh Streets” area which is due to … Continue reading →

Cigarette bin row in conservation area Westminster City Council has decided to go to court over a number of branded cigarette bins located in a conservation area which it has argued require planning permission. At issue are 21 cigarette bins, … Continue reading →

The IHBC is developing recommendations for Historic Environment Records (HERS) on the incorporation of national information on the built environment and would like to hear about any research on HER and conservation service links. Fiona Newton, IHBC Projects Officer said … Continue reading →

Eric Pickles has responded positively to the cross-sector promotion of ‘larger than local’ planning in a letter that adopts  ‘strategic planning’ as an official phrase in the new government. Pickles has said that the government is ‘considering what additional tools … Continue reading →

Almost every local planning officer (96 per cent) says that there are benefits from including design review in the planning system. Of these, 67 per cent say that access to specialist expertise is the main advantage. These findings are part … Continue reading →

A report by Roger Tym & Partners says planners should receive more training in the economics surrounding the development process to enable them to make more informed decisions when preparing local plans and considering new housing and commercial development projects. … Continue reading →

A project to refurbish six former Welsh miners’ houses into sustainable and desirable modern homes was launched today by Jane Davidson, AM, Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing. The Wales Eco Terrace Project in Penrhiwceiber, Rhondda Cynon Taf demonstrates … Continue reading →

HCA has launched Place Spotlight, a resource to support the local investment planning process and help local authorities to identify ways to improve their delivery of great places. Place Spotlight supports practitioners to develop a strong vision for a local … Continue reading →

London Mayor Boris Johnson has published final planning guidance to strengthen the protection given to the historic views of the city’s most iconic landmarks and World Heritage Sites. The ‘London Views Management Framework’ will help ensure some of the conurbation’s … Continue reading →

Luca Csepely-Knorr, a landscape architecture graduate and PhD student at the Corvinus University of Budapest, has been awarded the 2010 Goldfinger Scholarship by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) to assist her research into the work of Béla Rerrich … Continue reading →

Nick Hurd, England’s minister for civil society has told charities involved in public service delivery to expect longer contracts of up to ten years, payment-by-result models funded by the private sector, the end of full cost recovery and less money … Continue reading →

The Prime Minister has pledged to make Britain one of the top five tourist destinations in the world. Mr Cameron said the income generated from the £115 billion-a-year tourism sector was ‘fundamental’ to rebuilding the UK’s economy. The PM was … Continue reading →