Monthly Archives: August 2013

Planning Minister Nick Boles launches new national online planning guidance resource for public testing and comment, with a closing date of 9 October for feedback both on the site and the guidance.  New online national planning guidance will give much … Continue reading →

Former workers are being invited to the site of the world’s first iron-framed building before demolition work starts as Ditherington Flax Mill in Shrewsbury undergoes a three-year regeneration after securing £12.8m from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The project will adapt … Continue reading →

The school that Margaret Thatcher attended has been listed grade II following advice by English Heritage highlighting the school’s architectural and historic interest.  The Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School in Lincolnshire was built in 1910 and has remained relatively unchanged … Continue reading →

BRE along with partners Sustainable Development Capital Ltd have launched a new scheme to provide capital investment for non-domestic energy efficiency retrofit projects in the UK.  BRE writes: The new Green Retrofit Investment Programme has up to £100 million available for investment … Continue reading →

Surrey countryside campaigners have won their legal challenge against Mole Valley District Council over its decision to permit the building of a luxury golf and leisure complex at historic Cherkley Court near Leatherhead.  A High Court judge has quashed the … Continue reading →

An interview with Lord Rogers covering heritage, conservation and related architectural matters, is available for online viewing. na:wh article: LINK

Conservation group The John Muir Trust has decided to mount a legal challenge over a decision by Highland Council to raise no objection to a 67-turbine wind farm near Fort Augustus.  SSE Renewables had proposed a wind farm with up … Continue reading →

The 2013 Placemaking Awards recognise and publicise projects, plans, people and organisations that are making places better, and are open to individuals and organizations in planning, regeneration, economic development, urban design, sustainable development and community development, with an entry deadline … Continue reading →

Historic Scotland (HS) and Scottish Canals are to embark on a new project to evaluate the buildings along Scotland’s canals – eighty buildings will be assessed to see if they meet the criteria for listing.  Historic Scotland writes: Scotland’s network … Continue reading →

Northern Ireland Environment Minister Mark Durkan has launched what is claimed to be the UK’s first ever consultation on an urban stewardship and design guide. The document titled ‘Living Places’ treats urban stewardship and design as equally important.  The minister … Continue reading →

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has confirmed he wants to amend the Transparency of Lobbying Bill, currently before Parliament, to ensure lobbyists working for developers are required to publish their client lists.  The Bill proposes the introduction of a statutory register … Continue reading →

Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has confirmed that next year’s Coastal Communities Fund will be worth £29m, an increase of five per cent from last year.  The Coastal Communities Fund was launched in 2012 to invest in … Continue reading →

Funding to help local residents make their communities better places to live has been announced by Scottish Planning Minister Derek Mackay.  The Scottish Government writes: Funding to help local residents to make their communities better places to live has been … Continue reading →

A provisional map of open country and registered common land in Wales has been published, the first time the map has been reviewed since it was first introduced nearly 10 years ago.  Natural Resources Wales writes: This identifies the proposed … Continue reading →

Developers submitting planning applications for urban masterplans in Northern Ireland (NI) would have to demonstrate how they meet new criteria for long-term management, under proposals set out in a guide published yesterday by Northern Ireland’s environment minister Mark H Durkan. … Continue reading →

Nine councils in England propose to deliver greater economic growth through a new combined authority, with a consultation closes on 7 October. The 9 councils of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield, Bassetlaw, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales and North East Derbyshire want … Continue reading →

The number of English pubs listed as ‘assets of community value’ has reached 100 in just four months, the local government minister Brandon Lewis has announced. Search Planning Resource: LINK

Part of a15th-century Rood screen at Holy Trinity Church, Torbryan in Devon has been damaged and panels stolen. The Churches Conservation Trust writes: We are saddened to report the damage and theft of panels from a 15th-century oak screen at … Continue reading →

English Heritage’s Blue Plaque scheme – that recognises significant buildings in the lives of London’s famous residents – has been restarted after a private donation. Property developer David Pearl has pledged £80,000 to the scheme, which had been suspended due … Continue reading →