Monthly Archives: July 2015

If you enjoy spending some time by the sea, perhaps the latest National Trust, National Trust for Scotland and British Library project will be of interest: a crowd-sourced project inviting everyone to record and share the sounds of coastal areas … Continue reading →

In light of low take-up and concerns about industry standards there will be no further funding to the Green Deal Finance Company… DECC writes: The Government will work with the building industry and consumer groups on a new value-for-money approach, … Continue reading →

Updates on key questions to the Deputy Minister, Ken Sakes AM, arising in the National Assembly for Wales’ Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee deliberations on the Historic Environment (HE) Bill have been released.  Questions to the Deputy Minster include: … Continue reading →

The government recently unveiled a further package of radical planning reforms as part of a wide-ranging Productivity Plan drawn up by the Treasury and Chancellor George Osborne.  The Planning Portal writes: The planning measures include a threat of direct intervention … Continue reading →

Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) draft regulations have now been released, defining areas in which the activity would be prohibited, though the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has criticised the omission of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) from the protected … Continue reading →

The new House of Lords Committee on National Policy for the Built Environment (BE) has opened its inquiry and held its first public evidence session by taking evidence from experts specialising in planning and design.  The Committee, chaired by Baroness … Continue reading →

The members of the North East Combined Authority (NECA) have written to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government calling for the commencement of discussions into ‘radical devolution’.  The North East Combined Authority (NECA) writes: All leaders and … Continue reading →

BuildForce is a new project launched by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Construction Youth Trust aimed at helping people who have left the armed forces to move into construction, building on transferrable skills. CITB writes: Finding a new … Continue reading →

Up to 1,000 bridleways and footpaths in England and Wales could be reinstated more than 200 years after disappearing from maps. The change follows a Court of Appeal ruling that two paths near Crudwell in Wiltshire are legal rights of … Continue reading →

The Deputy Minister will launch Welsh Government (WG) Rural Communities – Wales’ new Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 – and open four new schemes, together worth close to £30m. Welsh Government Rural Communities will focus the significant investment from Welsh Government … Continue reading →

The first set of awards from the Northern Ireland (NI) carrier bag levy to be allocated to listed building works has been announced, together with further clarification on the prioritisation of funding.  The Department of the Environment Northern Ireland (DoENI) … Continue reading →

The couple who built a ‘hobbit-style’ roundhouse in Pembrokeshire without planning permission have finally saved their eco-friendly dwelling from the threat of demolition. A planning inspector allowed their appeal against Pembrokeshire Council’s refusal of retrospective planning permission for the building … Continue reading →

Leicester City Council is the latest local authority to be recognised for its commitment to sustainable construction, in an award from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) under the ‘What Wood You Choose’ scheme, and also recognised the role … Continue reading →

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has launched a competition designed to get people talking about how town planning shapes places, by nominating their favourite place in England, with submissions to be made via an online form or via social … Continue reading →

DBIS have announced that Peter Hansford’s role as Chief Construction Adviser will not be renewed following the end of his tenure position this year, and the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) is to have a new structure and focus on business. … Continue reading →

The RTPI have released their research on Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) concludes that LEPS have the potential for a key role in city region growth as part of the devolution agenda, but a lack of staffing and concerns over their … Continue reading →

The Northern Ireland Rural Proofing Bill is now passing the final draft stages, aiming to put rural needs higher up the policy agenda and make sure proper assessment of the effects of policies on rural areas are considered. The Northern … Continue reading →

Cornwall is to be designated the first rural Council to obtain devolved powers in new decentralisation plans announced by the Government this week. DCLG writes: An historic devolution deal for first time to give Cornwall new powers to control local … Continue reading →

The Chinatown community of Liverpool has been in the news recently due to concerns expressed over the future of the area, and also the news of new £200 million planned developments (which include the retention of listed buildings, together with … Continue reading →

The Mayor of London has launched the first ever cross authority and cross government department London-wide database of land available within the city, aiming to highlight available public land for housing development. The Mayor of London writes: Mayor of London … Continue reading →

The shortlist for the ICON conservation awards has been announced, with four projects being assessed by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Heritage Committee under the categories of ‘Conservation of an Industrial Artefact’ and ‘Volunteering in the Conservation of an Industrial … Continue reading →

The Arts & Business Scotland Awards are now open for entries, noteably a ‘Placemaking’ award is one of the categories available, the deadline for entries is 9 August. Arts & Business Scotland writes: Nominations are now open for the Arts … Continue reading →