Monthly Archives: March 2011

The government has announced that the John Madin designed Birmingham Central Library will not be listed – which means that the building can now be demolished as part of Birmingham’s Big City Plan. Birmingham Conservation Trust continues: English Heritage has expressed … Continue reading →

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has insisted small seaside resorts should seize the opportunity presented by local enterprise partnerships to transform economic growth along the coast.   His comments came as he launched a new report by Sheffield Hallam University, which … Continue reading →

The Department for Communities and Local Government’s plan to increase accountability by reducing and reforming its quangos is on course to deliver around £170 million savings Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said today.   To coincide with the … Continue reading →

IHBC has been informed by CLG that ministers responsible for the Localism Bill are maintaining their original commitment, made in Committee discussion, to amend the Localism Bill so as to retain planning controls on listed buildings and conservation areas. CLG has confirmed that … Continue reading →

Councils and others are being asked about the ‘burdens’ they wish to relinquish with a survey form which can be filled in as many times as you like, available at : https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GP7BKKT   Government says: Government has announced the review of … Continue reading →

CIC, in association with ConstructionSkills (CSkills), are tasked with supporting the development of Technical Advanced and Higher Level Apprenticeships within the Construction and Built Environment industry across England and Wales, and are seeking web consultation responses to a deadline of … Continue reading →

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has put power firmly in residents’ hands by giving the green light for the iconic Byker Estate in Newcastle to be put into community control. Visiting the Grade II listed estate, Mr Shapps applauded the efforts of tenants … Continue reading →

Growth and Innovation Fund will boost investment in training and help businesses grow. Secretary of State for Business, Vince Cable, and Minister for Skills, John Hayes, launched a £50 million a year fund to help businesses develop the skills they need to … Continue reading →

At its meeting on 23 February, the Committee for British Academy Sponsored Institutes and Societies (BASIS) confirmed the decision to wind down the annual grant to the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) from a total of £306,000 in the current 2010-11 financial … Continue reading →

Sir Michael Pitt, currently chair of the soon-to-be axed fast-track planning body the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), is to become chief executive of the Planning Inspectorate. Search Planning Portal: LINK

The DCMS has cut its quango without taking into consideration the cost implications for doing so, a National Audit Office investigation has revealed. Last year, the Chancellor George Osborne made it abundantly clear that all decisions in government must be made after understanding the … Continue reading →

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has announced that some £1m of funding for advice and expertise will be available to groups that want to take on community assets such as youth centres, museums and former town halls. … Continue reading →

ConstructionSkills has received approval from the national regulatory bodies for the review of National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the existing Built Environment Development and Control Levels 4 and NVQ/SVQs structures. Contact Seán O’Reilly IHBC Director if you have an interest … Continue reading →

Communities and Local Government have produced a note to help to explain the new Localism Bill requirement for developers to consult with local communities prior to submitting certain planning applications, entitled ‘Pre-application consultation with communities: a basic guide’ Download the … Continue reading →

David Cameron has included local government planners among the ‘enemies of entrprise’. In the speech to the party conference on 6 March he said: ‘So I can announce today that we are taking on the enemies of enterprise. The bureaucrats … Continue reading →

Planning minister Bob Neill has told Parliament that the Government is looking at greater protection for pubs and other community facilities from the threat of demolition. He told the Commons that ministers were prepared to look carefully at “whether there … Continue reading →

The EU are consulting on the future of research and innovation funding in Europe, with a closing date of Friday 20 May 2011. On 9th February 2011, the European Commission presented a Green Paper which proposes major changes to EU … Continue reading →

The European Commission has launched its annual call for proposals to be funded under the LIFE+ programme, the European fund for the environment, with the call open until 15 July 2011. Proposals are welcome under one of the programme’s three … Continue reading →

The 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day on 8th March 2011 is a day for celebration and reflection, informed by English Heritage’s web resource. While the first International Women’s Day wasn’t recognised in England, it was a time when many … Continue reading →

ABK’s Redcar Central Library faces demolition and Basil Spence’s Swiss Cottage library may close. BD Online: LINK

Government has expressed sympathy with the heritage sector’s concerns over a key part of the Localism Bill, and committed to adjusting it to reflect the ‘intention’ of Amendment 149, which opposed the Bill’s explicit relaxation of statutory protection for England’s … Continue reading →

Online booking for the IHBC’s 2011 Annual School in Llandudno (16th to 18th June ) has opened. Lead organiser and IHBC Trustee Nathan Blanchard said: “The Day School is designed to provide first-rate practitioner’s CPD for all our inter-disciplinary membership, with … Continue reading →

There are reports that the UK could withdraw its support from United Nations body Unesco after a government review questioned how effectively it is spending taxpayers’ money. BBC News: LINK eGovmonitor: LINK BD Online News: LINK Planning Resource: LINK

The Institute of Conservation (Icon) has drafted a strategy and action plan on strengthening conservation education and skills in the UK, for consultation, with a closing date of 31 March 2011. Icon is now inviting the views of a wider group of stakeholders … Continue reading →