Monthly Archives: October 2012

The Victorian Society has named its Top Ten Most Endangered Victorian Buildings. A rare early Victorian railway station in Derbyshire, Ipswich’s abandoned former City Hall and an unusual spillway of natural stone in the West Yorkshire hills are just some … Continue reading →

English Heritage have launched a comprehensive one-stop guide to heritage protection law, policy and guidance – A Guide to Heritage Protection in England – aimed at helping policy-makers, owners and developers understand the challenges of heritage conservation. It covers everything … Continue reading →

A good practice guidance on sustainable design and construction has been compiled in a project led by BRE and supported by the TCPA and others. The guidance document has been produced as an aid for local planning authorities in England, … Continue reading →

The Cambridgeshire district council renowned in heritage circles for its attack on ‘heritage bunny-huggers’ has disbanded its entire planning committee. It has also set aside decisions made in relation to two proposed supermarket developments following concern over judicial reviews. The … Continue reading →

A new report on England’s local government conservation capacity confirms that the drop in capacity is now at crisis levels, with service standards and statutory roles necessarily compromised, as conservation services see a fall of 6% in one year, and … Continue reading →

The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) has welcomed government’s conclusion not to pursue private ‘self-certification’ of public interest in heritage works in England following a time-constrained and poorly received consultation on changes to listed building consent (LBC) from the … Continue reading →

Booking closes at midday on Monday 15th October for the IHBC’s Northwest (NW) Branch 2012 Conference, Heritage and the High Street, which will take place in Liverpool on Wednesday 17 October. This year’s conference looks at how successful heritage regeneration … Continue reading →

Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) has provided an update on the ongoing policy and management review of historic environment operations currently under way at Historic Scotland (HS), a process that includes contributions from a number of BEFS’ members including IHBC … Continue reading →

An independent Berkshire school has been forced to demolish a dwelling built in its grounds without planning permission for reasons including that ‘the buildings were not considered to be of architectural merit and were harmful to the character and quality … Continue reading →

Communities secretary Eric Pickles has appointed Liberal Democrat peer and National Housing Federation chair Lord Taylor of Goss Moor to review planning guidance to support the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Lord Taylor will be leading the review which will … Continue reading →

SE now operates a Fee for Intervention (FFI) cost recovery scheme, which came into effect on 1 October 2012. Under The Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2012, those who break health and safety laws are liable for recovery of HSE’s … Continue reading →

The Government has stepped in to save one of Britain’s most famous vistas – the world heritage site at Ironbridge Gorge – by committing a £12m ‘keystone’ to conserve and protect it, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced. Funding will … Continue reading →

English Heritage (EH) has launched the Heritage at Risk Register 2012 and announced an ambitious programme to find out how the one major element of our heritage not already covered by the Register – the nation’s Grade II listed buildings … Continue reading →

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee launches a new inquiry into support for the creative economy, including ‘design’ with submissions to be received no later than Friday 2 November 2012. The Committee is inviting written submissions and requesting views on … Continue reading →

A Conservative member of the communities and local government select committee has added his voice to the growing criticism of the government’s plan to allow larger extensions without the need for planning permission. Search Planning Resource: LINK  

Terry Levinthal, Director of Conservation Services and Projects at the National Trust for Scotland has been announced as the judge for the 2012 IHBC Annual Gus Astley Student Award. Terry Levinthal said: ‘I am, on behalf of the National Trust … Continue reading →

The IHBC has warmly welcomed recent research that pins down public endorsement and appreciation of the quality and value of conservation services by communities in Wales. The report, entitled ‘Public Attitudes towards the Planning System in Wales’, was produced as … Continue reading →

The National Heritage Training Group (NHTG) will detail the new arrangements for the operations there at its forthcoming 2012 conference ‘Making it happen’ on 18 October, and interested delegates and sponsors should follow up the contacts below if they would … Continue reading →

Communities minister Don Foster has said that recently-announced proposals to streamline the planning system are ‘not a done deal’ as Liberal Democrat members backed an emergency motion opposing the measures. Lib Dem delegates at their autumn conference in Brighton have … Continue reading →

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is advocating a new approach to the retrofit of traditional buildings following new research collated and published by the Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance (STBA), whose members include historic buildings interests such as … Continue reading →

Scotland’s older, cold houses will be transformed into environmentally friendly homes which are easier and cheaper to heat thanks to new Scottish Government funding. The Scottish Government writes: Homes across Scotland will receive measures such as solid wall insulation, double … Continue reading →

The Construction Youth Trust (CYT) scheme is intended to promote the construction industry to young people of all social backgrounds and, as a result, increase the number and diversity of entrants into the sector, with the closing date for entries … Continue reading →

A landlord has been fined a record £1.4 million for turning a house in north-west London into 12 flats without planning permission. Salah Ali, 52, of Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, was prosecuted this week following a two-year investigation by the … Continue reading →

Change to Building Regulations that could drive take-up of Green Deal still being considered. Building Co UK News: LINK

Liverpool’s Art & Design Academy at John Moores University is playing host to a collection of photographs celebrating the successes of Alliance member the Victorian Society since its foundation in 1957. Running throughout October, the exhibition showcases successful campaigns and … Continue reading →