Monthly Archives: May 2015

More than 20 new bills are proposed in the latest Queen’s Speech, with many relating to issues that may affect the work of IHBC members.  The Gov.uk website writes: Housing Bill The purpose of the Bill is to: help give … Continue reading →

Two historic parks in London with origins in the 15th century are the latest designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): Bushy Park and Home Park in the London Borough of Richmond. Natural England writes: Two of London’s much-loved parks … Continue reading →

Members who attended the IHBC 2014 Annual School in Edinburgh will recall that one of the tours offered was the Forth Bridge and this week UNESCO progressed its potential inscription, describing it as a ‘masterpiece of creative genius’ and recommending … Continue reading →

The Criminal Justice Inspectorate has recently completed a review of the operation of the Northern Ireland (NI) Environment Agency’s Environmental Crime Unit, noting issues relating to enforcement and assessing how the unit works strategically.  As the focus of the report … Continue reading →

The Welsh Government has introduced a new programme to tackle issues in areas of socio-economic deprivation, using arts and cultural activities that are also linked to a national education plan, initially through six pioneer areas across the country.  The 2014 … Continue reading →

A planning inspector has backed Wiltshire Council and dismissed an appeal by solar farm developer Sun Edison for a 12-megawatt array on land at Little Chatfield close to listed buildings. The proposed scheme is a mile from the Norrington Solar … Continue reading →

CPRE has launched a new interactive map which is designed to show the level of tranquility across the UK, mapping places where you can ‘get away from it all’ and also helping Councils to develop national tranquility policies. CPRE writes: … Continue reading →

A piece in the current issue of New Statesman calls for the reinstatement of the Ministry for Tourism and Heritage, making links between planning policy of the NPPF and the economic benefits of a vital and flourishing tourism industry, as … Continue reading →

A church in Derbyshire has had £20,000 of lead stolen from its roof, and in the same week Historic England offered training for Hertfordshire Constabulary Police Rural Operational Support Team on heritage crime, highlighting this serous threat to our architectural … Continue reading →

BBC news reported this week on the news that the Dounreay nuclear reactor is to be demolished, which was previously considered by Historic Scotland for listed building status and had a number of inventive proposals for re-use. The Nuclear Decommissioning … Continue reading →

Office workers in east London could soon be hanging out among the trees now Hackney Council is providing temporary office space for up to eight people in the canopy of a tree in Hoxton Square from June. The council said … Continue reading →

The Welsh Government (WG) has launched a consultation on the development of a new law to give power to communities to run their own community assets, with the closing date for responses set as 11 September 2015.  The Welsh Government … Continue reading →

In response to the expected Queen’s Speech inclusion of a Cities Devolution Bill the Local Government Association (LGA) has proposed radical reforms which could lead to up to £20.6 billion in potential public sector savings. The LGA writes: Devolution must … Continue reading →

The future of a turf-roofed roundhouse in Pembrokeshire, dubbed the ‘hobbit house’, has been considered by a planning inspector who will determine whether the scheme should enjoy retrospective planning permission as a development that meets government guidelines on sustainable development … Continue reading →

The Royal Horticultural Society have launched a campaign aiming to reduce the impact of the loss of garden space to driveways and paving, following the publication of its report which analyses the plant coverage of garden spaces and concerns relating … Continue reading →

Neighbours of the Kensington town house painted in red and white stripes to annoy opponents of plans to demolish it and replace with a new house plus a basement are mounting a legal challenge over consent for the scheme, won … Continue reading →

SAVE have issued a statement welcoming a holding direction that suspends planning permission for Kings College’s plans while ministers consider whether to call in the application for public inquiry, and Historic England’s change of position on its assessment of the … Continue reading →

The National Assembly for Wales has now passed the Planning (Wales) Bill, and the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee (CELGC) have invited submissions of written evidence to assist in its consideration of the Bill (closing date 19 June)  The … Continue reading →