Monthly Archives: July 2011

The Heritage Crafts Association (HCA) and the Marsh Christian Trust have launched two new Awards for the heritage crafts sector, each with a deadline of 31 October 2011.   The Awards aim to recognise and celebrate the exceptional individuals that contribute so much to … Continue reading →

Ministers have moved to head off public concern over the visual impact of power lines on the countryside by stating that 50-year-old rules to guide the location of overhead wires would form the “basis for the approach” to routeing new … Continue reading →

RTPI and the Civic Voice have suggested an amendment to the Localism Bill to ensure a neighbourhood planning forum cannot focus solely on just one aspect – promoting business in an area. The amendment has the support of Baroness Whittaker.   Civic … Continue reading →

The Bournemouth BC Director of Planning & Transport, Mike Holmes, has become the President of the Planning Officers Society for 2011/12.   He was elected at the Society’s Annual General meeting held in Bristol on 17th June 2011. Planning Officers Society News: LINK  

  RICS has announced the inauguration of its new presidential team, with See Lian Ong replacing the outgoing Robert Peto as President for 2011-12.   Alan Collett will take office as President Elect, while Michael Newey has been appointed Senior … Continue reading →

Cornwall Council has approved a beachside residential development at Carlyon Bay, by Commercial Estates Group, using coalition Government planning policy to justify the harm to the landscape. http://www.planningresource.co.uk

Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) Director Craig Stirrat has provided an update on BEFS’ progress with promoting ‘Building MOTs’.   Craig Stirrat  writes: … BEFS has issued letters to the Cabinet Secretaries, Alex Neil MSP and Fiona Hyslop MSP.   … BEFS and … Continue reading →

  Call for Proposals for four Applied Research Projects, up to five Targeted Analyses, six Scientific Platform/Tools projects and Transnational Networking Activities will open on 24 August 2011, ESPON (European Observation Network for Territorial Development and Cohesion) has announced.   … Continue reading →

A new £55 million scheme, chaired by former Cabinet Minister Michael Portillo, will help arts and heritage organisations secure their future financial stability by building endowment funds, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced.   Organisations will be able to bid … Continue reading →

A brand new awards scheme, organised by Construction Youth Trust (CYT) with the support of its Patron, HRH The Duke of Gloucester, aims to identify and celebrate the success of exceptional young professionals through awards to be presented at a … Continue reading →

The Neues Museum in Berlin is the winner of the 2011 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture / Mies van der Rohe Award, where it has been described as ‘a reconstruction, blending old and new, by UK architect Sir David Chipperfield’.   … Continue reading →

The former president of the RTPI, Anne Skippers has been appointed a vice chairman of trade body the Construction Industry Council (CIC). RTPI Article: LINK    

The National Federation of Builders is to appoint the first woman Chair in its 150 year history.   Alison Perry, a former dental nurse and now managing director of family owned firm Triangle Builders Ltd, is set to take the … Continue reading →

The London Borough of Barnet intends to outsource its entire portfolio of built environment functions as part of a major reform of service delivery. Search Planning Resource: LINK

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has welcomed the appointment of Sir John Harman to a key group looking at reducing the complexity of home building standards and the impact regulations have on the industry, while this work will support the new … Continue reading →

Europa Nostra and Culture Action Europe are inviting all those who care about heritage and the arts in Europe to sign their petition, ‘We Are More’, which aims to highlight to policymakers the value of European cultural activities, in advance … Continue reading →

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has decided that plans to demolish nearly 200 homes as part of a Pathfinder clearance project in the Welsh Streets area of Liverpool should be subject to environmental impact assessment (EIA).   One of the properties … Continue reading →

The National Refurbishment Centre (NRC) has launched a new web portal that will for the first time make empirical evidence on energy efficiency in real homes available to industry in one place.   The portal, launched at Housing 2011 in … Continue reading →

The launch of a pioneering new Building History course, developed in a partnership between English Heritage, the University of Cambridge, and the Institute of Continuing Education, Madingley Hall, and led by IHBC member Dr Adam Menuge, has been warmly welcomed … Continue reading →

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) Health & Safety Panel has been working with Atkins, as the founding member of the Consultants Health and Safety Forum, the Construction Clients’ Group and the Health & Safety Executive to deliver guidelines which will … Continue reading →

The planning blog has reported on how Jeremy Clarkson continues his unique brand of support for heritage.   Michael Donnelly writes: Just when everyone appears to have turned against planners and planning you might be shocked to hear that Jeremy … Continue reading →

The Council for British Archaeology (CBA) has provided an update on reactions to the Fenland’s proposals to take archaeology out of planning provisions, as follows:   ‘Debate and further reaction has continued to last week’s announcement by Fenland District Council’s … Continue reading →

  The Scottish Government has reported that recent figures for its adopted national indicator for the historic environment, operated in partnership with The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) and the Scottish Civic Trust, registers an improved performance.   The … Continue reading →

A stunning eighteenth century National Trust mansion proved an inspiring setting as CITB-ConstructionSkills joined the Painting & Decorating Association (PDA) on 25th and 26th May to pilot an innovative training (Level 3) course on traditional maintenance and repair for conservation. … Continue reading →

The body formed through the merger of the Design Council and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) has announced £130,000 in funding to encourage communities to get involved in local building design For grants see: LINK Design … Continue reading →