Monthly Archives: December 2012

The IHBC has launched a new mobile app to complement its innovative conservation ‘Webstarter’ online resource, providing support for conservation learners and users of all ages as well as asking for feedback over the Christmas break. IHBC’s IT adviser Peter … Continue reading →

The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) has published the findings for its Wales local authority staff capacity in Historic Environment (HE) building conservation and archaeology, revealing a 12% cut in overall staffing levels since 2009, while also welcoming close … Continue reading →

The IHBC has welcomed the crackdown on heritage metal theft as six men have been sentenced after stealing lead from churches across three English counties. IHBC Projects officer Fional Newton said: ‘The recent conviction is part of Operation Brompton an … Continue reading →

The report from the Annual BEFS Congress for 2012, on ‘Small Towns’, co-sponsored by the IHBC and attended by the IHBC’s President Trefor Thorpe are now available. To see images of the Congress (courtesy Abigail Daly) click HERE Download the … Continue reading →

Historic Scotland has launched the Scotland’s Historic Environment Audit (SHEA 2012) online. Historic Scotland writes: SHEA 2012 provides an analysis of key trends in the historic environment sector. It shows that Scotland’s historic environment is a unique asset, attracting millions … Continue reading →

The World Heritage Centre, with support from the Flanders Government, has embarked on the development a comprehensive and integrated information system on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties. The World Heritage Centre writes: [The] information is now public … Continue reading →

A draft report from the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for History and Archives has criticised the way that history is taught in England, saying that too much emphasis is placed on a small number of topics with little to … Continue reading →

A significant new study for the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and English Heritage (EH) gives key statistics on the value of repair and maintenance (R&M) work, underpinning and endorsing existing work carried out for the National Heritage Training group (NHTG). … Continue reading →

CITB-ConstructionSkills (CITB-CSkills) has announced it will more than double the rate of grant available to employers for Training Plan and Short Duration training courses for one year only in a bid to boost the industry’s skills base. CITB-CSkills writes: The … Continue reading →

The Government’s plans to extend planning permission exemptions are based on an inadequate impact assessment, warns the CLG Committee in a report just published. By failing to take account of the social and environmental effects, the same proposals also ignore … Continue reading →

Nearly three-quarters of the councils that say they need to revise their local plans to bring them in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) do not expect to be able to do so before next spring when the … Continue reading →

Organisations behind industry skills card scheme work on new agreement as CITB and CSCS negotiate new contract. CSCS writes: Following disagreements over the strategic direction of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) in 2011, which led CITB-ConstructionSkills to serve notice … Continue reading →

The government has proposed that permitted development rights that allow changes of use may be made subject to prior approval in a new clause inserted into the growth and infrastructure bill. Search Planning Resource: LINK

CSCS, the Construction Skills Certification Scheme, is seeking feedback on its work, encouraging feedback before the closing date of 31 December by offering a chance to win a £250 Amazon voucher. CSCS writes: CSCS would like to gain a good … Continue reading →

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has provided an update on Cut the VAT Campaign. Beatrice Orchard at the FMB writes: It’s been a while since we have been in touch with you all and so I wanted to drop … Continue reading →

The Welsh Government has started consulting on new proposals designed to ensure consistency across Wales when householders and businesses want to make minor changes to development proposals that have already been approved. Currently the approach taken by local planning authorities … Continue reading →

The Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain (SAHGB) is pleased to announce that on 3 May 2013, it will run its first ever Graduate Student Forum, a student-led event, hosted by the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL. SAHGB writes … Continue reading →

A list of authorities that have yet to prepare up-to-date local planning strategies will be offered ‘extra special support’ from the New Year to help them get their local plans in place, planning minister Nick Boles has said. Search Planning … Continue reading →

HLF has produced a review of research undertaken by other organisations in the UK – the latest version, ‘Value and Benefits of Heritage’. Heritage Aliance writes: HLF has also published a recent survey of completed projects which provides aggregate results … Continue reading →

An international student competition which seeks to inspire a new generation of garden city pioneers has been launched as part of the centenary celebrations of the International Federation of Housing and Planning (IFHP) The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) … Continue reading →

The Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum is to become Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. The Museum writes: After nearly eight highly successful years as Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum, Tim Knox has been appointed to succeed Timothy … Continue reading →

Nominations are now open for the 2013 Octavia Hill Awards, founded this year to celebrate the life and legacy of legendary environmental champion and National Trust co-founder Octavia Hill, with a closing date of 28 February 2013. Organised by the … Continue reading →

Two paid placements are currently available for those interested in or studying towards qualifications in traditional building skills: a traditional carpenter and joiner in Sheffield, and for a trainee traditional slate maker and roofer in Derbyshire. The traditional Carpenter and … Continue reading →

The Citizens Advice Bureau volunteer who tried to take her legal claim for the same employment rights as an employee all the way to Europe, has been stopped by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court judgment handed down today effectively … Continue reading →

‘Cultural Heritage’ has been included as a priority in the European Union’s proposed €80 billion Horizon 2020 funding programme from 2014. Previously, cultural heritage had been omitted from the funding proposals, which remain subject to the agreement of the overall … Continue reading →