Monthly Archives: October 2013

The Commons Culture Media and Sport Committee has reported, highlighting the extraordinary success of the UK’s creative industries, while also calling for reforms to the income tax and tax relief systems to adequately recognise the freelance nature of much creative … Continue reading →

England’s Planning Advisory Service (PAS) has developed a self-assessment tool to help planning services look systematically at the way the service is delivered.  PAS writes: This tool provides a self-assessment framework identifies approaches to maintaining or improving a council’s planning … Continue reading →

Councils in England are being asked to stop automatically using yellow lines to control parking and consider restricted zones instead by the transport minister. Localgov.co.uk writes: Local transport minister, Norman Baker, has asked councils to adopt restricted parking zones in … Continue reading →

The Scottish Parliament has a new Cross Party Group for ‘culture’.  The Scottish Parliament writes: The group is intended to serve as: another forum to discuss cultural matters and ideas (meeting quarterly) something different from other CPGs, by making use … Continue reading →

The Georgian Group is seeking a new Chair to succeed Lady Nutting OBE, who retires next year after nearly fifteen years in post, with a deadline of 15 January 2014. The Georgian Group writes: The Georgian Group, set up in … Continue reading →

RICS London and South East have launched calls for entries to their 2014 Awards. You can read about the 2013 judging considerations for Building Conservation at: LINK See the RICS awards page at: LINK

Six huge restoration projects will take place across Britain with a £47 million round of Heritage Lottery Fund awards for ‘existing and potential tourist attractions’. Culture24 writes: Winchester Cathedral, in Hampshire, will spend £10.5 million on urgent conservation works and … Continue reading →

The latest Government ministerial reshuffle has brought three new faces into the Department for Communities and Local Government. Housing Minister Mark Prisk has been replaced by Kris Hopkins, the Conservative MP for Keighley in Yorkshire. As well as housing he … Continue reading →

The RIBA is to run design competition for new London offices five doors down. RIBA writes: The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has taken a long lease on offices, just a couple of doors from its Art Deco landmark … Continue reading →

Sensitively-sited solar photovoltaic energy projects will be central to the growth of renewables in Britain, Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker has insisted. He said: ‘The Coalition is committed to delivering the clean and reliable energy supplies that the … Continue reading →

All the National Parks in England have decided to cooperate in a joint call to ministers to be exempt from new Government proposals to allow farm buildings to be converted to housing, schools or nurseries without planning permission. This modification … Continue reading →

On 4th October the Royal Institute of British Architects launches a captivating architecture exhibition at Somerset House, exploring imaginative uses for abandoned spaces across London. The exhibition will feature 26 of the best proposals from the hugely popular Forgotten Spaces … Continue reading →

Southwark Council has been awarded a commendation by English Heritage (EH) for work in rescuing and restoring a Grade ll listed building in Lordship Lane, south London, which was one of the UK’s first concrete private houses when built in … Continue reading →

Following extensive consultation across the construction industry, CSCS plans to introduce significant changes to its card scheme over the next year, including the opportunity for those with degree qualifications to be eligible to hold a CSCS Academically Qualified Person (AQP) … Continue reading →

English Heritage’s (EH) has announced the launch of the first crowd-sourcing project to tackle heritage at risk as its ‘volunteer surveys’ of Grade II buildings are proving a popular first step to getting involved in Heritage at Risk. EH writes: … Continue reading →

The designation of Kensal Rise Library as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) was cited as ‘material consideration’ by Brent Council when the north west London planning authority decided to refuse planning permission for the redevelopment of the building to … Continue reading →

Following the recent reopening of a leading project by Bath Preservation Trust, No 1 Royal Crescent, Culture24 has highlighted its history and resources. Culture24 writes: The first building block at No 1 Royal Crescent was set in 1756, and, after … Continue reading →

Changes to the village green designation regime have come into force which ministers hope will reduce the likelihood of people abusing the system by making spurious applications to block development. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) … Continue reading →

Leeds City Council’s attempts to protect the city’s historic canal-side from housing development have suffered a major setback after a High Court judge declared two council planning policies ‘unlawful’. Search Planning Resource: LINK  

The Canal & River Trust, which has IHBC past Chair John Yates as the institute’s nominated representative on its Board, has released its first Impact Report since its foundation in July 2012. In that time, the Trust has raised £7 … Continue reading →