Monthly Archives: January 2014

An £8m initiative designed to help reinvigorate UK high streets has been announced by Science Minister David Willetts. The initiative involves a competition run by the UK’s innovation agency (the Technology Strategy Board) to trial innovative ways of addressing the … Continue reading →

A new research programme focused on the impact the built environment has on wellbeing is being launched in partnership by BRE and publishers UBM Built Environment. The BRE writes: To initiate the programme, BRE and UBM have announced a research … Continue reading →

Despite improvements at the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO), further work must be done to restore public confidence, MPs have said. LocalGov writes: Over the past year the LGO has made a concerted effort to become more accountable, efficient and transparent, … Continue reading →

A near £11m programme of street light improvements in London will aim to cut energy use by 40% over the next three years. LocalGov writes: In the largest single investment to modernise main road street lighting in the capital, Transport … Continue reading →

A useful appeal decision against suburban expansion south of Hereford was won in part on matters of ‘setting’ (listed buildings & locally registered parkland). The appeal, concerned Home Farm, Belmont, Hereford. The inspector writes: ‘The appeal is dismissed… The proposed … Continue reading →

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee has announced a short inquiry into the work of Arts Council England. Arts Council England supports a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to … Continue reading →

Innovation Awards under the Science in Culture theme of the Arts and Humanities Research Council are now available. The AHRC writes: Successful proposals under the Innovation Awards call are expected to expand and explore the Science in Culture theme in … Continue reading →

Oxford City Council has agreed to changes in the way it handles consultation over planning applications following an independent review of what should have been an non-contentious development, but which found that the process had been rushed and arrangements flawed, … Continue reading →

The Museums + Heritage Awards for Excellence 2014 are open, and include categories covering all major aspects of the museums, galleries and heritage attractions sector, including Restoration & Conservation, with a closing date of 7 February. M+H writes: The Museums … Continue reading →

Half of the councils in England with Green Belt land are preparing to allocate some of it for development according to research published by the National Trust (NT). The NT writes: Our new research suggests that half of the councils … Continue reading →

The 2014 New Year Honours List includes an MBE to Peter Inskip, of Inskip + Jenkins Architects, for services to conservation architecture, while 51% women and a huge majority recommended for community services. The full New Year’s Honours list can … Continue reading →

Following reductions in core funding, the UK Association of Building Preservation Trusts (UKAPT) has issued a letter explaining the new organisational arrangements in place for 2014, as it reluctantly takes ‘the decision to bring to an end the (part-time) Director … Continue reading →

Proposals to demolish Perth City Hall are afoot again as the City’s Councillors again seek permission from the Scottish government to pull the building down, while some legal interests highlight the complex nature of the legislative arguments that might be … Continue reading →

Members of the public will be able to request the sale of state-owned land and buildings, the Cabinet Office and Treasury announced yesterday. Under the new Right to Contest, communities and businesses will be able to submit applications challenging the … Continue reading →

An adviser to Number 10 has warned that the government’s planning reforms have led to a planning ‘free for all’ and that the resulting ‘physical harm’ to the countryside could become the ‘defining legacy of this government’. Nadhim Zahawi, Tory … Continue reading →

Communities secretary Eric Pickles will not escape a public grilling from Twitter users after a session cancelled last year was rearranged for 22 January.  The original session in front of the communities and local government select committee on 9 December … Continue reading →

Colwyn Bay pier is to be demolished, councillors have decided bringing a five-year saga over its future to a close, the BBC reports. The BBC writes: A report said restoring the Grade II-listed pier would have cost more than £15m. … Continue reading →

Ed Miliband’s barrister wife is representing a wind farm company in a case which campaigners say could open the way to vast turbines blighting historic sites. Justine Thornton, who specialises in environmental law, is advising Barnwell Manor Wind Energy in … Continue reading →

The European Commission (EC) has for the first time presented calls for projects under Horizon 2020; worth more than €15 billion over the first two years, the funding is intended to help boost Europe’s knowledge-driven economy, and tackle issues that … Continue reading →

A new £1m fund has been launched to enable local to develop new delivery models to transform public services. The Delivering Differently programme will support ten local authorities to develop and implement new models such as mutuals, partnering and other … Continue reading →

Applications are being sought from artists / makers interested in becoming Artist in Residence at Kelmscott Manor. The residency is being funded by our Society with the generous help of Arts Council England, Fellow Geoffrey Bond, NADFAS, The Radcliffe Trust … Continue reading →