Daily Archives: 17/01/2014

A new report from the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) think tank, in association with the National Trust (NT), considers whether the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is delivering planning solutions that reflect the needs and concerns of local communities. … Continue reading →

England’s Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries, Ed Vaizey MP, has initiated a review to be undertaken by Lord Redesdale, secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group (APPAG), and John Howell MP, into the future of Local … Continue reading →

Somerset and Devon County Councils are seeking a chair and up to seven trustees to lead an important new charity, established to deliver the heritage services currently provided by the two councils, with open evening for potential candidates on Monday … Continue reading →

Councils have denied ‘sitting on’ millions of pounds of Section 106 money intended for social and community projects, contrary to reports from the BBC. Freedom of information requests to all 353 local authorities in England by the BBC found that … Continue reading →

Developers could be ‘allowed to destroy ancient woodland if they agree to plant 100 trees for every one felled’, according to reports attributed to Environment secretary Owen Paterson. Paterson has suggested that his proposed ‘biodiversity offsetting’ scheme could apply to … Continue reading →

England’s Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has announced that The Lake District can go forward as the UK’s World Heritage (WH) nomination in 2016. Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said: ‘The UK’s heritage is world renowned and the Lake District, England’s largest … Continue reading →

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 →