Monthly Archives: December 2014

The winners of the 2014 SURF Scotland’s independent regeneration network awards have been announced, alongside the launch of a publication showcasing the winners and nominees that gives examples of best practice in regeneration. SURF (Scotland’s independent regeneration network) writes: Each … Continue reading →

A new report on Skills in London and the South East says the areas is facing a major skills crisis as 20% more are workers required to meet the pipeline of around £96 billion of construction projects in 2014-17. The … Continue reading →

‘Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe’ (CHCFE) is a two-year project funded by the EU Culture Programme (2007-2013) that aims to raise greater awareness on the multiple benefits of cultural heritage and present policy recommendations for tapping into heritage’s full potential. … Continue reading →

BEFS have published a blog post on their website about the recent Cross Party Group on Architecture & the Built Environment group meeting, summarizing the key points and debates from the CEB. BEFS notes summarise the key points from presenters: … Continue reading →

The Galleries shopping centre in Wigan will be redeveloped after Wigan Council approved a £60m privately funded scheme to modernise the facility and re-establish the town’s old street pattern, moving Wigan Market back to its original location on Market Street. … Continue reading →

The Scottish Government (SG) has announced details of a £14 million boost for regeneration under capital grant funds, including £350,000 to the Uist Heritage Regeneration Programme and £1.8 million for a category B listed building   The Scottish Government writes: A … Continue reading →

The College of St George has been working in partnership with the City and Guilds of London Art School in establishing an imaginative carving programme which is producing exciting new grotesque sculptures for St George’s Chapel at Windsor. The replacement … Continue reading →

Edinburgh Castle has been named the UK’s Best Heritage Attraction for a record fourth year running at the 2014 British Travel Awards (BTAs). Historic Scotland writes: This year’s prestigious BTAs – the largest consumer voted awards in the UK – … Continue reading →

English Heritage (EH) has published a news report that outlines trends in policy and practice in historic towns and cities, as well as major developments anticipated in 50 settlements.  EH writes: The Sustainable Growth of Cathedral Cities and Historic Towns … Continue reading →

A documentary exploring the work of the Scottish Ten 3D digital scanning project has been released online. Mike Brooks writes: Mike Brooks, Historic Scotland’s photographer, followed the Scottish Ten team from Historic Scotland, the Digital Design Studio at The Glasgow … Continue reading →

The campaign to save Preston’s bus station from demolition and the project to rescue the derelict Howsham Mill, near York, have scooped joint wins at the Heritage Alliance Heroes Awards. In the fifth year of the Heritage Alliance Heroes Awards, … Continue reading →

Changes to section 106 negotiations, performance thresholds for major applications and new proposals for compulsory purchase have been put forward as part of Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement 2014. Section 1.141 of the HM Government budget report states: The government … Continue reading →

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced proposals to ‘clamp-down’ on landowners who pose a ‘barrier’ to development as part of land reform in a consultation that closes on 5 February 2015. She also said business rate exemptions for shooting … Continue reading →

A Planning Inspector has approved Council policy for banning basement alterations to Listed Buildings in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council writes: The Council has today (Tuesday 2 December) won its historic … Continue reading →

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced the provision of a locally-led garden town at Bicester, new targets for homes on publicly owned land and additional measures aimed at affordable housing. DCLG writes: Thousands of new homes will be provided following … Continue reading →

Leighton Andrews, Welsh Minister for Public Services has released a statement confirming those local authorities proposing to merge under new measures to change government structures.  Leighton Andrews, Minister for Public Services, said: ‘This is a unique opportunity for Local Authorities … Continue reading →

New research is to be commissioned by Department for the Environment Northern Ireland (DoENI) into economic impacts of developer contribution schemes, following a consultation that ran earlier this year.  The DoENI writes: Social Development Minister, Mervyn Storey MLA, and Environment … Continue reading →

Two UK cities have joined another 26 worldwide to form part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network; York is now UK City of Media Arts and Dundee is UK City of Design. UNESCO writes: UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, designated 28 … Continue reading →

New energy saving measures and renewable energy power will benefit Scotland’s Mar Lodge estate (including the house and stables) after the introduction of a new biomass system at the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) property.  The NTS writes: On Wednesday … Continue reading →

A stonemasonry company whose employee was crushed to death by a two-tonne limestone block has been ordered to pay more than £237,000 in fines and costs. David Evans, 23, was erecting a wall at the Well Barn Estate in Moulsford, … Continue reading →

Deputy Prime Minister (PM) Nick Clegg recently spoke about finding temporary uses for vacant buildings in Northern cities after seeing the Betahaus project in Berlin. The Deputy Prime Minister’s office writes: The Deputy Prime Minister wants to see abandoned buildings … Continue reading →