Monthly Archives: August 2016

IHBC members working in Scotland and those who took the opportunity to visit Orkney with the Annual School will be interested to learn that the Scottish Government have announced that new legislation which is aiming to address the needs of … Continue reading →

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded the historic home of horticulture, the Royal Horticultural Society Wisley Garden, a project planning grant aiming towards the restoration of the garden as a learning garden, with works to the original laboratory and … Continue reading →

West Oxfordshire District Council may be developing a new garden village; it has submitted an expression of interest to DCLG relating to a site near Eynsham (which is not currently in the Local Plan). West Oxfordshire District Council writes: West … Continue reading →

A Grade II* listed building is the first temple to receive Grants for Places of Worship (PoW) scheme, the Taiwanese Fo Guang Shan temple is just off Oxford Street in London and will be using development funding to work towards … Continue reading →

The Stone Specialist reports that more gravestones have been pushed over by vandals as around 50 stones were knocked over in Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s cemetery at North Sheen in London on Saturday night, 13-14 August. In a statement on … Continue reading →

The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales has noted the work of Surrey’s Youth Support Service in helping young people to gain carpentry skills, which involves works at the historic Brooklands Museum in Weybridge and handcrafted items to benefit … Continue reading →

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has raised concerns over the proposed method of assessing infrastructure requirements in a response to the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) consultation. The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) writes: The ability to unlock large housing … Continue reading →

The helpful interactive tools published by Planning Portal in England which explain permitted development (PD) rights are to be relaunched, using new technology and fully responsive interfaces which mean they work on all devices. Planning Portal writes: The current Planning … Continue reading →

Additional properties and areas are to be covered by safeguarding regulations of the proposed HS2 route. HS2 writes: Safeguarding is an established part of the UK planning system and ensures that land identified for major infrastructure is protected from conflicting … Continue reading →

A former grammar school in Wrexham has been granted listed building status by the Welsh Government, following a spot listing request to Cadw. The Welsh Government writes: A former Girls’ Grammar School in Wrexham, known locally as Grove Park School, … Continue reading →

The Royal Society for Arts (RSA) is asking for help to update last year’s Heritage Index, including both thoughts on criteria (survey closing 7 September) and suggestions for new data. The RSA writes: In September 2015, we launched the first … Continue reading →

Civic Voice have stressed the need for all civic societies to respond to the parliamentary inquiry on parks (by 30 September), also highlighting the work of Reading Civic Society in lobbying on this area. Civic Voice writes: Reading Civic Society … Continue reading →

Wandsworth Council in London is potentially the most ‘pub friendly’ Local Authority, as it has introduced Article 4 Directions to restrict changes of use to public houses. Wandsworth Council writes: Wandsworth has cemented its reputation as the ‘most pub-friendly council’ … Continue reading →

The Stone Specialist reports that conservation contractor William Anelay, which recently featured on the BBC2 Hairy Builders programme, has announced it is having cash-flow problems in its masonry company and is asking creditors to help bail it out by accepting … Continue reading →

A castle in the Highlands of Scotland, believed to be the inspiration for ‘Castle Leoch’ in Outlander, is one of the recipients of the latest round of heritage repair grant funding from Historic Environment Scotland (HES). HES writes: Castle Leod … Continue reading →

A project which started in Shropshire, led by the charity Caring for God’s Acre, is aiming to go nationwide through a crowdsourced heritage map of burial grounds, helping to improve understanding of the importance of the heritage and biodiversity of … Continue reading →

The Women and Equalities Committee have launched an inquiry into the accessibility of homes, buildings and public spaces. The Women and Equalities Committee writes: The accessibility of our homes, buildings and public spaces is an issue not just for those … Continue reading →

Derbyshire County Council is to launch a judicial review challenge over a consultation on proposals to put a Sheffield City Region Mayor in charge of some council services in Chesterfield, after claiming the largest town in the county would no … Continue reading →