Monthly Archives: August 2014

A community group bidding to build a five-acre solar farm on Swansea’s Gower Peninsula, the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has failed. The BBC writes: Gower Power Cooperative had asked to install 4,000 panels on a 15-acre … Continue reading →

The most desirable postcodes in England, Scotland and Wales have been revealed by Royal Mail. The firm evaluated the employment opportunities, quality of health and education, crime rates and housing affordability of areas across Britain. The garrison town of Tidworth, … Continue reading →

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has vacancies for committee members across four of their regions and are seeking applications from suitable candidates.  HLF writes: Are you interested in making a lasting difference for the UK’s heritage and people? We are … Continue reading →

New funding has been made available from Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful to help communities carry out environmental improvement projects, with a deadline of 22 September for applications. Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful writes: A new grants scheme aimed at helping volunteers … Continue reading →

New Forest National Park Authority members have voted not to proceed with a project to develop the UK’s first rural public bike system within the New Forest. This self-service bike hire system would have comprised up to 250 bikes for … Continue reading →

The National Trust for Scotland’s school of heritage gardening celebrated another successful set of graduations last week, having gained practical hands on training and experience in the care of historic gardens and parklands. NTS writes: The National Trust for Scotland’s … Continue reading →

The National Trust (NT) has reported on the recovery of the community of Boscastle following devastating floods of 2004; a multi agency operation and community participation has seen historic buildings repaired, protective measures installed and works to the river valley … Continue reading →

An iconic Grade II* listed church in Liverpool has reached its initial target funding goal through a crowdsourcing initiative online. St Luke’s Church is known locally as the bombed out church as its shell has been preserved following second world … Continue reading →

English Heritage are asking people to vote for their favourite heritage project from the Heritage Angel awards shortlist, with a deadline for voting of 12 October 2014. EH writes: The Angel Awards were founded in 2011 by Andrew Lloyd Webber … Continue reading →

Visitors to the Black Mountains now have new interactive ways to explore the historic quarries and landscapes, through the use of an archaeological audio guide, mobile phone app and printed leaflets.  CADW writes: The CALCH trail, created by the Dyfed … Continue reading →

The most up to date figures show that home building in England has increased by over one fifth compared to last year. DCLG writes: More homes are being built thanks to the government’s action to help homebuyers and fix the … Continue reading →

An online tool to help communities decide if government property and land is being used effectively has gone live. Localgov writes: The Government Property Finder shows the locations of all public property so communities can decide if they wish to … Continue reading →

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is championing the opportunities available in construction at all levels, and reveals some dramatic statistics on misconceptions around training and employment in the industry and discussing action being taken for the varied employment routes. … Continue reading →

An Oxfordshire neighbourhood plan has become embroiled in local row over a campaign to remove a site allocated for development in the adopted strategy. Thame Town Council, which drew up the plan with the help of consultancy Tibbalds Planning and … Continue reading →

Seven new allocations of funding under the Historic Scotland (HS) Building Repairs Grants Scheme were announced this week. HS writes: More than £1.5 million has been awarded to help repair seven historic buildings across Scotland as part of Historic Scotland’s … Continue reading →

Have you been involved with the conservation of a Georgian property, as this year’s Georgian Group awards have seven categories, and a deadline of 26 September 2014. The Georgian Group writes: Entries are invited for the twelfth annual Georgian Group … Continue reading →

Rochdale Pioneers Museum running an exhibition of images of Co-operative movement buildings, and are seeking submission of photographs for their ‘Coopography’ project. Images can be close ups of architectural details, or photographs of entire buildings and can be summated by … Continue reading →

The merging of the Heritage Skills Hub with the National Heritage Training Group was announced this week, with the chief executive of Heritage Skills Hub being appointed as the general manager of NHTG. As part of its reorganisation the NHTG … Continue reading →

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has issued a notice allowing him more time to decide whether to call-in in controversial plans for the redevelopment of Brighton’s Grade 11 listed Hippodrome into an 8-screen Vue cinema and restaurant complex. The proposal for … Continue reading →