Daily Archives: 08/10/2010

Philip Davies of English Heritage has just highlighted the urgent need for local authorities to protect conservation office posts to secure the benefits of heritage for communities and the government’s own localism agenda. During the London celebrations marking the publication … Continue reading →

Edward Poots, Northern Ireland’s environment minister, is facing contempt of court proceedings following comments he made in the media about a John Lewis planning application for an out-of-town 500,000 sq ft department store at Sprucefield, near Lisburn, in County Antrim. … Continue reading →

Proposals to merge planning departments have been met with enthusiasm by consultants but with scepticism by officers. Speaking at the Conservative Party conference this week, communities secretary Eric Pickles told delegates that councils should share services and work across boundaries … Continue reading →

The government’s potential slashing of quangos could have an impact on services for a “public good”, planners have warned. A leaked document confirms that the Infrastructure Planning Commission, the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit, the eight regional development agencies … Continue reading →

The Scottish Government has launched a major consultation on proposals which would mean householders would no longer need planning permission for major home improvements and large extensions. Proposed changes to existing Householder Permitted Development Rights have been designed to simplify … Continue reading →

Launched on 6 October, Phase One of the Victorian Terrace retrofit project is the result of a BRE, Government and industry partnership aimed at generating best practice knowledge of the most effective ways of upgrading existing solid wall dwellings so … Continue reading →

The scope of the Listed Places of Worship (LPoW) grant scheme is to be amended in line with Government efficiency savings, Tourism and Heritage Minister John Penrose announced on 7 October 2010. At the moment listed places of worship, of … Continue reading →

The programme for the IHBC Yorkshire Branch event ‘Restoration Yorkshire’, on 5 November in York, has been launched. Download the programme HERE and the booking form HERE

Pat Ritchie has been appointed to the post of chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the Agency’s chairman Robert Napier announced. Currently the HCA’s director for the North East, Pat will now lead the Agency through a … Continue reading →