Monthly Archives: November 2014

Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company has received £439,800 under the community assets fund for works to repair Saltdean Lido, and five other awards were also announced this week – including one to purchase a grade II* Listed former bank. The … Continue reading →

BBC Newsnight reported on the building fabric repair needs of the Houses of Parliament (HoP) this week, estimating that repairs needed amount to £3 billion, while a Radio 4 documentary is currently available on BBC iPlayer, exploring the history of … Continue reading →

The SPAB has published its top 40 most frequently asked questions, ranging from technical questions on dealing with masonry bees and cement render, to the proper treatment for installing new electrics in a historic building. View the full list 

A new online mapping service has been launched by The British Geological Survey (BGS) which features archival geological maps from throughout the UK, including historical maps and more recent surveys.  The BGS writes: The British Geological Survey (BGS) has today … Continue reading →

Last month a new ‘backstage heritage project’ was launched aiming to record memories and physical artefacts used in the theatre production process, the organisers are looking for people to contact them with memories and are interested in compiling a database … Continue reading →

A canal bridge in Blackburn now has a unique and rather unusual appearance, having been adopted by the local community and being covered in wallpaper by a local manufacturer. The Canal and River Trust writes: A road bridge over the … Continue reading →

A new report has been published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) which assesses the effectiveness of using environmental stewardship agreements for managing historic parklands, with a series of recommendations as to how agri-environment schemes can … Continue reading →

The Greater Manchester area is to receive increased powers over planning and housing, and a directly elected mayor under new proposals announced by the Treasury.  HM Treasury writes: Greater Manchester is to get its own directly elected city wide mayor … Continue reading →

Autodesk (the makers of AutoCAD) are offering free software for students and educators. For a full list of all the architecture, engineering and construction software available visit Autodesk IHBC recognised conservation courses 

The winners of the ‘Great British High Street’ competition have been announced this week, with villages, towns and cities across the UK being recognised for their vitality,  viability and unique approaches to being a great place to live, work and … Continue reading →

The 2015 awards for digital accessibility in heritage attractions are now open for entries, with a closing date of 12 January. The Jodi Mattes Trust writes: The Jodi Awards celebrate practice that inspires locally, nationally or internationally. We welcome nominations … Continue reading →

The RTPI has called for better joined up decision making in order to improve the approaches taken to placemaking at community level, in a new report published last week. The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) writes: Policy-makers need to adopt … Continue reading →

A nationwide project run by the charity ‘Kids in Museums’ saw hundreds of historic sites and museums in England and Wales being ‘taken over’ by children for the day, offering them an insight into what it is like to be … Continue reading →

The independent report into housing needs commissioned by the Labour Party (undertaken by Sir Michael Lyons) is now available, and it makes a series of wide ranging recommendations on powers for planning and the provision of new towns. ‘Your Britain’ … Continue reading →

A consultation has been issued by the Welsh Government which seeks changes to the manner with which proposals are dealt with by Welsh ministers, with a closing date of 31 January.  The Welsh Government writes: This document proposes to: introduce … Continue reading →

The communities secretary has refused a request from two councils, North Yorkshire County Council and Richmondshire District Council, to block an order made by Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) that seeks to remove new permitted development rights allowing certain … Continue reading →

The first meeting of Scotland’s rural Parliament was held in Oban last week, and closed with a resolution to create a more empowered and connected rural Scotland, with ideas for bringing power to local communities. Scottish Rural Action writes: Scotland’s … Continue reading →

Six English war memorials have had their listing upgraded, in a review by English Heritage (EH) prior to Armistice Day.  English Heritage writes: Ed Vaizey Minister for Heritage, has upgraded the listed status of six of England’s most iconic war … Continue reading →

Fantastic opportunities for anyone aged over 16 interested in a heritage crafts career are available, through a scheme run by the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) and Allied Livery Companies, which is now seeking applications for support for apprenticeships in … Continue reading →

Construction apprentices from throughout the UK are taking part in a national showcase and competition of skill this week at ‘Skillbuild’, representing their colleges and employers, and at the same time a new study has revealed news of wages increases … Continue reading →

Architects’ Journal (AJ) are seeking help from all those who work or study architecture in their fourth annual survey, which closes at the end of November. Architects Journal (AJ) writes: The AJ is asking architects, technologists, clients and students to … Continue reading →