Monthly Archives: August 2010

The Strategic Review of the National Trust for Scotland  (NTS) led by the Rt Hon George Reid is now complete. The final report has now been published and makes a significant number of recommendations. These concern the streamlining of the … Continue reading →

The British Property Federation has urged Government to tackle the UK housing crisis by bringing empty homes back to life. Reviving empty homes provides a cheaper alternative to building new ones, it has told ministers. The federation has estimated that … Continue reading →

Local Government Minister Grant Shapps has hailed a new agreement between the Government and all public bodies that will allow them to use national mapping data for free. The Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA) will allow all parts of the … Continue reading →

Updated statistics on planning performance in Scotland have been released on 13 August by Scotland’s Chief Statistician. The main findings are: – The number of planning applications decided by Scotland’s planning authorities decreased from 47,220 in 2008/09 to 40,368 in … Continue reading →

A new big society committee of ministers from all departments with remits affecting the voluntary sector was scheduled to meet for the first time in July. The committee was to be chaired by Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, … Continue reading →

The UK’s nomination for the workplace and home of Charles Darwin to join UNESCO’s international list of World Heritage Sites was today deferred by the World Heritage Committee for further in depth assessment, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced. The bid … Continue reading →

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) has endorsed the design of a proposed new country house near Ipsden in south Oxfordshire, designed by architect Richard Meier. CABE’s design review panel stated: ‘The beautiful setting in an Area … Continue reading →

A uniquely wide-ranging group of 29 national bodies have written to the Communities and Local Government Secretary, Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, to urge national and local government to work with them to ensure that strategic planning – planning at … Continue reading →

IHBC President and consultant Eddie Booth has noted the successful application of England’s new Planning Policy Statement 5 (PPS 5), Planning for the Historic Environment, in helping retain the locally listed Sandford Lido, Cheltenham, which was threatened by demolition under … Continue reading →

Parliament has decided to hold separate inquiries into aspects of the Government’s new-look planning regime. One inquiry will look at the decision to revoke and abolish regional spatial strategies (RSS) and the other will review the Coalition’s localism agenda. The … Continue reading →

CLG are launching an exercise to identify what changes are needed to ensure the Building Regulations continue to operate effectively in the future, and is inviting ordinary people, businesses and local authorities to submit their ideas about what needs to … Continue reading →

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced its continuing commitment to support major transformational projects (HLF grants of £5m and over) in the tough economic climate. This will be achieved in two ways: * By increasing HLF’s allocation for major … Continue reading →

The Heritage Alliance (THA) reports with further news on the future of the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme (LPWGS) as the Government has now responded to the online petition (closed at 9,100 signatures) set up to ask the Prime … Continue reading →

Comedian, actor, presenter, campaigner and author Griff Rhys Jones is announced as Civic Voice’s first President on Thursday 22nd July. Civic Voice is the new national charity for the civic movement and was supported by all three main party leaders … Continue reading →

The IHBC has added Grover Lewis Associates of Newark, an independent planning consultancy specialising in the historic environment, as the twentieth practice in the Institute’s list of recommended practices, HESPR, its ‘Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition’ scheme. Fiona Newton, IHBC … Continue reading →

English Heritage is initiating a consultation on a set of draft thematic research strategies (‘trs’), with responses invited by 30 September, covering the urban historic environment; the marine and maritime environment, and the prehistoric. All three are accessible through the … Continue reading →

Planners and countryside campaigners have voiced concern over the coalition Government’s plans to give communities the power to deliver new housing and development without the need for planning permission. Housing minister Grant Shapps has confirmed that ‘Community Right to build’ … Continue reading →

Councils and developers could be given much more flexibility to meet ambitious eco-standards to ensure all new homes are zero carbon from 2016, Housing Minister Grant Shapps said today. It comes as part of the Coalition Government’s ambition for an … Continue reading →

The UK’s first Local Development Order (LDO) – designed to help regenerate High Wycombe’s historic quarter – has been formally adopted by Wycombe District Council after receiving Government approval. The pioneering High Wycombe town centre LDO covers a 0.7-hectare block … Continue reading →

A student members on the RTPI General Assembly currently doing a dissertation is looking at health and planning and investigating local authority planner’s attitudes and interpretations of their role in delivering health. Rosanna Sterry is asking planners to complete a … Continue reading →

Blog by Rosie Niven, 13 July 2010: My local park brings back many happy childhood memories, but they were always tinged with a slight sadness because of the dilapidated Gothic building that overshadowed Saltwell Park. Back in the mid-1980s, us … Continue reading →

The Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) has called on Scottish Ministers for early guidance and transparency over the Scottish Governments proposals for dealing with the expected cut of £1bn from the block grant of £34bn. This follows recent announcements in … Continue reading →

VisitEngland has launched Green Start this summer – an online toolkit to help small to medium sized organisations become more sustainable. Green Start is available, at no cost, to all tourism organisations interested in understanding how they can embrace sustainable … Continue reading →

Visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bath will be able to use a free iPhone app for an expert tour of its architectural jewels thanks to an 800-year-old charity. St John’s Hospital has been providing care to elderly … Continue reading →

Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, and Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd, have today written an open letter to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors asking them to contribute their ideas to help reduce the deficit. They … Continue reading →