Monthly Archives: September 2013

The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) has joined the public cultural news and events web hub Culture24, a service supported by the Arts Council England and the Heritage lottery Fund. IHBC Director Sean O’Reilly said: ‘It’s great that the … Continue reading →

Ministers at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) have decided to determine a proposal that would see hundreds of homes demolished in Liverpool.  DCLG writes: After careful consideration ministers have decided that a planning application to tear down … Continue reading →

The National Trust has been named the 2013 RIBA Client of the Year, an award that honours the key role that a good client plays in the creation of fine architecture.  The RIBA writes: The judges consider clients of the … Continue reading →

The Heritage Alliance (THA) has provided an update on the success of England’s Heritage Open Days (HODs).  THA writes: The 12th-15th of September saw 4,560 properties open their doors– many welcoming an unprecedented number of visitors. In Liverpool a record … Continue reading →

Cherwell District Council is taking legal advice after four major planning applications were approved on appeal and in line with the recommendations of the inspector who held the linked inquiries.  Councillors had initially refused applications to develop 145 homes off … Continue reading →

Labour annnounced a raft of planning-related proposals at the Brighton Conference, many of which were trailed in the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP’s speech at the RTPI fringe and are responded on by the RTPI.  The RTPI writes The proposals include: A … Continue reading →

The Theatres Trust has published its Theatre Buildings At Risk register with its first ever public launch event.  Held in the historic Coronet Theatre in London’s Elephant & Castle, the day saw talks from Trust Director Mhora Samuel, Planning and Heritage Advisor … Continue reading →

She stepped in to help the Ghurkhas, now actress Joanna Lumley is backing a campaign to save the house that inspired JM Barrie to write Peter Pan, Moat Brae House and Garden, Dumfries built 1823 and designed by architect Walter … Continue reading →

RESCUE – The British Archaeological Trust, has responded to the most recent report documenting the continuing reduction in local authority capacity, prepared in partnership between the IHBC, English Heritage and ALGAO.  RESCUE writes: In July 2013 a report on local … Continue reading →

Proposals for a neighbourhood plan drawn up by amenity group the Norland Society for the conservation area of the same name, in Holland Park, west London, are the first in the capital to make it to the referendum stage.  The … Continue reading →

All students newly enrolled on courses related to towns and cities (urban design, planning, sustainability, urban engineering, landscape, regeneration etc) are warmly invited to attend a special welcome event hosted by the Urban Design Group (UDG).  UDG writes: Come along … Continue reading →

Organisations in the UK benefit by generating £90 million per year through the UK’s membership of UNESCO, the United Nation’s specialised agency for education, culture and the sciences.  UNSECO writes: These finances, which include investment, tourism revenue, and project grants, … Continue reading →

Controversial plans to redevelop a former library in north-west London have been refused partly as a result of the building’s listing as an asset of community value (ACV) under the Localism Act. Search Planning Resource: LINK

Preston Bus Station has been designated as a grade II listed building, making it a building of national importance and special interest. BlogPreston writes: Bus Station campaigners, who want to stop the building being demolished, have tweeted to say “It’s … Continue reading →

The Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance (STBA), of which the IHBC is a member, has announced that its ‘Guidance Wheel’ model for potential retrofit measures is undergoing testing. The STBA writes: The Wheel organises potential retrofit measures grouped by categories around … Continue reading →

The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and HM Treasury have announced ongoing help for listed places of worship with the cost of repairs and alterations. DCMS writes: Government has announced changes to the scope and operation of the … Continue reading →

The celebrated architectural critic, historian and writer Joseph Rykwert has been named today (Wednesday 18 September) as the recipient of the 2014 RIBA Royal Gold Medal, one of the world’s most prestigious architecture awards. Given in recognition of a lifetime’s … Continue reading →

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Defra, is asking for comments on the draft text of the National Implementation Report which outlines measures taken to implement the requirements of the Aarhus Convention to be returned by 25 October 2013. … Continue reading →

The latest round of the British Council’s UK China Connections through Culture development grant scheme has been announced. Grants are available to fund week-long trips to and from China, to enable UK  organisations to meet with Chinese contacts and develop … Continue reading →

CITB has issued a stark warning to the UK construction sector – that it faces a skills ‘time bomb’ if it fails to recruit new workers to replace more than 400,000 people set to retire in the next 5-10 years. … Continue reading →

Fears are growing that the government’s flagship neighbourhood planning policy may be undermined by new official draft planning guidance which for the first time provides detail on how much weight should be afforded to emerging neighbourhood plans. Search Planning Portal: … Continue reading →