Monthly Archives: February 2012

  The IHBC’s jobs service has been extended to include notices on both the IHBC’s Linkedin Group and its twitter site, all while continuing the same competitive prices for users.   IHBC Director Sean O’Reilly said: ‘These developments represent perfectly … Continue reading →

    Wales’ Regeneration Minister Huw Lewis has announced a review of regeneration policy.   The review will consider the Welsh Government’s current policy, in particular the Regeneration Area approach, and a future direction for regeneration in Wales. Although the … Continue reading →

The European Forum for Architectural Policies (EFAP) has announced that its survey of architectural policies in Europe is available on-line. EFAP writes   In the last 30 years there has been a growing recognition of the importance of architectural quality … Continue reading →

    A potential new TV series is looking for historic homes to feature, and is asking IHBC members for assistance. Stephen McElroy, Researcher at Endemol UK, writes:   I am writing to you, hoping you can help with the … Continue reading →

  Television programme ‘Restoration Man’ is planning a third series and is again looking for new ‘old’ properties.   Tom Cullum, of tigeraspect productions writes:   I work on the Channel 4 series called The Restoration Man which follows families … Continue reading →

  Tanveer Bari of Ricochet productions is seeking participants in a new series ‘celebrating the people and organisations that conserve, restore and renovate empty and derelict buildings into beautiful homes.’   Tanveer Bari writes:   I’m a producer for Ricochet … Continue reading →

  HeritageSkillsHUB, the built heritage crafts skills initiative based at the East Midlands Centre for Constructing the Built Environment, is to become a trust, and seeks a team of enthusiastic, dedicated people with a variety of skills. Cathie Clarke at … Continue reading →

  The RTPI has drawn attention to the problems faced by planners in the US, who face ‘Tea Party’ activists challenging planning meetings for their un-American principles. The protests originate in the 1992 nonbinding resolution by the UN, ‘Agenda 21’, … Continue reading →

    English Heritage has secured the future of Harmondsworth Barn in west London – one of the great buildings of England – which will be run by and for the local community. Grade I listed, the barn ranks alongside … Continue reading →

  The first of 30 new apprentices to be appointed under Historic Scotland’s (HS) commitment to put traditional skills at the heart of the nation’s construction industry have been announced.   Michael Hogg from Inverness, and Iain McFadden from Stonehaven, … Continue reading →

The one millionth planning application has been processed by the Government’s planning resource website, a site that has now delivered savings of approximately £285 million to applicants and councils, England’s Planning Minister Bob Neill has announced.   Nearly 60 per … Continue reading →

  The British construction industry awards, which include conservation, regeneration, and environmental ‘pan categories’, have been launched with a deadline for submissions of Thursday 29 March.   BCI Awards: LINK

    The National Trust is offering subsidised rates to IHBC members on its sustainability event in Wales on 3-5 April, at £50 per day.   The event, ‘Fit for the Future? Sustainable Energy and the National Trust’, will take … Continue reading →

    Government chief construction advisor Paul Morrell is working on a practical plan to decarbonise industry and the built environment, including ‘development of a workable and transparent accounting standard for the embodied carbon of building projects’ and integration into … Continue reading →

    Tony Burton, Director of England’s Civic Voice, is to join the Design Council, as Director of Policy and Communications, helping it establish itself as a charity independent of Government.     Tony writes:   ‘This is to let … Continue reading →

The former Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment has undergone a rebrand to become the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community.   The Foundation aims to promote sustainable development placing community engagement at its heart. Over the last year its projects have included guiding communities … Continue reading →

Hospitals and other NHS buildings in Scotland are having to cope with a £1bn bill for repairs going back several years, a report has revealed.   The report said 69% of the NHS estate was in good physical condition.   … Continue reading →

    Historic Scotland (HS) has announced it will be offering £7.69m in City Heritage Trust grants over the next three years.     The grants further the agency’s function to safeguard the nation’s historic environment by aiming to safeguard … Continue reading →

The Greater Manchester Police has confirmed that five men held as part of an investigation into alleged corruption involving a residential planning permission in Bury have been bailed pending further inquiries.   Officers from GMP’s Serious Crime Division executed warrants … Continue reading →

    The Government has announced a £4.5 million fund for England’s biggest cities and colleges to work together to boost adult skills across the country.     The City Skills Fund will be available to the eight core cities … Continue reading →

    An ‘amphibious’ house that rises along with the water to avoid flooding has been granted planning permission by Wycombe District Council for a flood-prone site by the River Thames near Marlow.     The property, designed by BACA … Continue reading →

    Andrew Stunell, minister responsible for building regulations at the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) insists there will be no backing down on policy for home upgrades to include green measures.     The government is determined … Continue reading →

  A planning inspector is to hold a special hearing to determine whether a Somerset district council fulfilled a new obligation to cooperate with neighbouring authorities when preparing its local plan after legal action was threatened by a developer.   … Continue reading →

Social enterprises, charities and local enterprise partnerships have been invited to bid for more than £23.7m of funding available in 2012 from the government’s new Coastal Communities Fund, aimed at promoting regeneration in seaside towns.   Coastal communities across the … Continue reading →

    Cornwall Council has introduced charges for pre-application planning advice. The scheme came into force at the beginning of February.   The fixed charge fees range from £350 plus VAT for a major scheme like a residential development of … Continue reading →