Monthly Archives: August 2011

Once again the IHBC will help sponsor the celebrated Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) congress to take place in Edinburgh on 8 September.   Working to the theme ‘Valuing places – old and new: why? what? how?’ BEFS, the link … Continue reading →

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has launched its International Building Conservation Conference 2011, entitled ‘Philosophies and Practicalities’, to take place in York on 5 & 6 October, supported by the IHBC and other partners, such as English Heritage and … Continue reading →

The First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, has called on the government to cut VAT on home improvements to boost the ailing housing market.   Salmond wants the rate on home improvement works to be cut from 20% to 5% … Continue reading →

Ruth Parsons, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland (HS), has provided an update on their Senior Management Team (SMT) and the agency’s performance, announcing also development of a new corporate plan, in which ‘creative’ approaches to conservation currently feature.   Ruth … Continue reading →

Fiona Reynolds, Director-General of the National Trust (NT) has written to staff there on the organisation’s concerns over the evolving planning reforms in England, represented by the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and noting the NT’s support for growth, … Continue reading →

The Welsh Government has clarified the changes it is proposing for the planning appeals system in Wales, now the subject of consultation with a closing date of 17 November.   The changes will simplify the appeals process and bring cost … Continue reading →

Entries to the 2011 Heritage Alliance Hero award, which is open to all Alliance member organisations and their members, will close on 15 September:   Heritage Alliance writes: 2011 is the second year of The Heritage Alliance’s new award scheme … Continue reading →

Arts & Business is encouraging heritage professionals to complete its annual survey, which charts private investment in culture. Arts & Business collects this information on how much investment the cultural sector receives from businesses, individuals and trusts & foundations on … Continue reading →

Europa Nostra members adopted the ‘Amsterdam Declaration on Volunteers as added-value for Europe’s cultural and natural heritage’ during their 2011 General Assembly (11 June, Hermitage Amsterdam).   The Declaration states that EU institutions – and national, regional and local governments … Continue reading →

The Law Commission has announced a review of the rights to light. This exercise will begin in earnest next year and will involve a consultation paper in 2013 and the possibility of a report and legislation in the shape of … Continue reading →

Eleven conservation projects have passed first round of Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) programme.   Morecambe Bay, the Glens of Antrim and the Lomond Hills are among spectacular UK landscapes earmarked for financial support.   The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) announced that £18.3 million … Continue reading →

Following a general appeal by the PM, England’s Chief Planning Officer Steve Quartermain has written to local planning authorities asking them to consider the ways in which their planning powers can be used to support businesses and shops to restore … Continue reading →

A new research report, commissioned by the Gloucestershire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, investigates how the new neighbourhood planning process will work in the light of earlier community planning initiatives.   Richard Lloyd, CPRE Gloucestershire vice chairman, … Continue reading →

RICS has welcomed the Government’s draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as a significant step forward in enabling the growth the UK requires.   RICS believes delivering sustainable economic growth is in everyone’s interest, whether it be badly needed employment … Continue reading →

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) will shortly be launching a nationwide myth-busting campaign in a bid to ensure a better informed debate about the role of planning and the planning profession. This initiative was highlighted in a response from … Continue reading →

A church in the Devon countryside built without planning permission has obtained a certificate of lawful development after the local planning authority failed to take enforcement action within the prescribed period.   Tree surgeon and landscaper Paul Knights, 57, bought … Continue reading →

The Heritage Lottery Fund has issues its conclusions on gthe recent consultation on its new strategy for 2013-19   HLF Chair Dame Jenny Abramsky and Chief Executive Carole Souter write:   Thank you very much for contributing to our recent … Continue reading →

Discussions on the Historic Environment Records (HER) Forum Summer Meeting for  2011,?held in Birmingham and focussing on English Heritage’s ‘HER 21 ‘ initiative, have been posted on the Heritage Gateway website.   The summer HER Forum, titled ‘HERs for the … Continue reading →

Local authorities are being urged by the Government to publish asset lists identifying land and buildings that could be managed more rationally, potentially saving millions of pounds.   The Department for Communities and Local Government has drawn up a ‘demo’ … Continue reading →

Natural England has launched a survey as apart of its Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE), the MENE User Engagement Survey.   Natural England writes: Please tell us what you think of MENE by completing our short survey. … Continue reading →

IHBC’s London Branch has announced the launch of its annual conference, to take place on 5 October 2011 at its usual impressive location, the Royal College of Physicians, and covering the theme ‘Challenging Conservation: Heritage at the Crossroads‘    IHBC … Continue reading →

Heritage Works, the celebrated Manchester-based Building Preservation Trust (BPT), has announced the closure of its office, noting that ‘If there is any issue that you might wish to pursue or steps that you consider could be taken to sustain Heritage … Continue reading →

The House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee has been invited by the Minister for Planning and Decentralisation to examine the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which was published on Monday 25 July and is seeking evidence to … Continue reading →

Civic Voice has announced that there are two vacancies on its Board of Trustees and has called on anyone wanting to get involved and shape the future of Civic Voice and the wider movement to put themselves forward, with a … Continue reading →

Hopes have been raised that Preston’s 1960s brutalist bus station could be saved after it emerged that talks are taking place about revising plans for the city’s Tithebarn redevelopment. BD Online Article: LINK