Monthly Archives: July 2014

The Independent has featured an article on the pressures faced by archaeology in the public and private actors. The Independent writes: From Richard III, the king under the car park, to the Roman skulls and Venetian gold uncovered by London’s … Continue reading →

The winner of this year’s award is St George’s Church, Hinton St George, Somerset, while Lanercost Priory and Tewkesbury Abbey were highly commended by the judges. The SPAB writes: The John Betjeman award is given to celebrate excellence in the … Continue reading →

The Church Buildings Council has set up a national crime helpline for churches to use when a treasure is stolen. When a theft is reported it will trigger an alert to auctions houses, museums and crime prevention agencies and will … Continue reading →

Councils should make creative use of their powers to protect pubs from closure, a report from the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has urged. The report found pubs are closing at the rate … Continue reading →

English Heritage (EH) has updated the information for applicants to the The National Heritage Protection Commissions Programme (NHPCP), which funds projects that support the National Heritage Protection Plan (NHPP), the ongoing sector-wide plan for heritage. EH – further details

In keeping with the recent IHBC conference theme of ‘the art of conservation’ members may be interested to know that the ‘sharing heritage’ Heritage Lottery Fund award for Doncaster Cathedral will be used to showcase the art and craft of … Continue reading →

Two areas of government of particular relevance to many IHBC members (DCLG and DCMS) have recently been reorganised. The Government press release notes: Brandon Lewis is promoted to Minister of State for Housing and Planning at the Department for Communities … Continue reading →

This week the six shortlisted Stirling Prize nominees have been revealed, with new buildings in historic areas featuring among the potential winners. The nominees (together with a brief extract from their descriptions, as featured on the RIBA site) are: The … Continue reading →

The Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) is seeking a new Chair BEFS writes: As the current BEFS Chair, Professor Emeritus Cliff Hague, is stepping down at the next AGM and Annual Congress on 11 November, having served three years, we … Continue reading →

An archaeologist has lost his High Court skirmish over ‘the first battle of 1066’, after his challenge over the refusal by English Heritage to register Germany Beck at York as the site of the Battle of Fulford failed. Yorkshire Press … Continue reading →

An article in the Sunday Times by Charles Clover offers a personal perspective on the government’s rejection of the proposed redevelopment of Smithfield Market. Charles Clover writes: The popular and commonsense decision to save Smithfield, the finest family of Victorian market … Continue reading →

A new report from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has set out a number of recommendations for the next UK Government, including building on the green belt and to end local ‘NIMBY-fearing’ planning. The RIBA writes: A new … Continue reading →

The Guardian recently featured a news article by Richard Rogers arguing that ‘Cities are the engines of innovation and the heart of our culture. We will destroy their vitality if we build new towns while there is still space in … Continue reading →

Local press report that a theatre in Bradford’s Little Germany which had been listed as a community asset and was on the theatres at risk register until last year has now had its future secured as it has been purchased, … Continue reading →

The latest annual report for the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) reveals that outsourcing for projects in England was considered as an option, although rejected in favour of internal streamlining. PINS writes: ‘During 2013, the Inspectorate held initial fact finding meetings with … Continue reading →

There has been an increase in the success rate for planning appeals since the introduction of the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) two years ago with a particularly significant improvement for residential appeals determined after public inquiries, according to … Continue reading →

The Silver Jubilee Cup has been awarded to the Central Govan Action Plan at the RTPI Awards for Excellence, and the winners of all twelve awards for project schemes as well as individual and team excellence took place in London … Continue reading →

The Government has decided not to defend a High Court challenge to a planning inspector’s decision to allow on appeal a single wind turbine close to the Duddo stone circle, known as Northumberland’s answer to Stonehenge. Energy company 3R Energy … Continue reading →