England’s NPPF update: New consultation on proposed reforms and other changes to the planning system, to 10/03

Posted on 19/12/2025 by IHBC

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is consulting on a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), notably linked to data centres, onsite energy generation, viability assessments and site thresholds.

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AHRC PhD studentships on ‘barriers to creating healthier places’

Posted on 19/12/2025 by IHBC

The first applications are now open for studentships investigating the barriers to creating healthier places – for people and the planet – through a new consortium of academic and industry partners, with support from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

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£2.9m heritage investment for Waterfront regeneration

Posted on 19/12/2025 by IHBC

Funding from Historic Environment Scotland and the National Lottery Heritage Fund will protect the built heritage of Granton Waterfront in Edinburgh.

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Trowel and Error: A Public User Needs Survey for Archaeology

Posted on 19/12/2025 by IHBC

‘Trowel and Error: A Public User Needs Survey for Archaeology’ explores how people across the UK engage with, value, and access archaeological information.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: Costa Carras European Citizens Awards for the Safeguard of Endangered Heritage 2026, entries open to 16/01/2026

Posted on 19/12/2025 by IHBC

EUROPA NOSTRA and ELLINIKI ETAIRIA – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage – have launched the Call for Entries for the fourth edition of the Costa Carras European Citizens Awards for the Safeguard of Endangered Cultural and Natural Heritage.

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IHBC welcome SAHGB’s new Colvin Special Award 2025, celebrating editors of The Pevsner Architectural Guides

Posted on 16/12/2025 by IHBC

The Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain (SAHGB) new Colvin Special Award recognises exceptional works and series of reference volumes in architectural history, bestowed occasionally, and in 2025 it is awarded to the editors of The Pevsner Architectural Guides.

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IHBC issues formal notice for 2026 AGM, online on 7 January 2026, from 5.30pm (with special presentation!) for 6pm start

Posted on 16/12/2025 by IHBC

IHBC AGM WEDNESDAY 7 JANUARY 2026 ONLINE:
Presentation from 5.30pm and AGM from 6.00pm
AGM FOR IHBC MEMBERS ONLY

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IHBC updates on ‘5 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation’: Check out our web hub, with video & feedback, and help reduce damage to both health and heritage

Posted on 16/12/2025 by IHBC

IHBC’s 2025 Westminster launch of ‘5 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation… From Crafts in Crisis to Rubbish in Retrofit’, also boasts a web hub with the Briefing video and a ‘Feedback’ option, so please help us reduce damage to both health and heritage by letting us know your thoughts.

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IHBC warmly welcomes PCO approval to Petition for Charter

Posted on 16/12/2025 by IHBC

The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) has warmly welcomed the approval from the Privy Council Office (PCO) for the submission of a Petition for Charter following its review of our Memorandum.

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IHBC’s ‘Professional’ Signpost: How to get started in sharing knowledge and expertise on Designing Buildings

Posted on 16/12/2025 by IHBC

image for illustration: see below for video link

If you want to share your knowledge you can check out the host platform to the IHBC’s Conservation Wiki, Designing Buildings (DB) and its 2-minute tutorial to help you get started.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Hotspur Press will rise from the ashes as developers issue promise for fire-ravaged mill

Posted on 16/12/2025 by IHBC

image for illustration: Hotspur Press on Fire by Jotaht, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The developer indicates ‘We will ensure that The Hotspur Press building lives on as a major landmark in the city’, reports The Manchester Evening News.

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Videogame to help protect Nottingham Cathedral and other heritage buildings: ‘Pugin’s Revival’ despite ‘structural ‘monsters’’

Posted on 16/12/2025 by IHBC

Nottingham Cathedral and Nottingham Trent University (NTU) have created a videogame to educate young people about conservation challenges facing historic buildings, as ‘players save the Grade II* listed building from ruin at the hands of structural ‘monsters’’.

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UK Heritage Pulse Spotlight: Operational use of Artificial Intelligence

Posted on 16/12/2025 by IHBC

The latest UK Heritage Pulse survey reveals a growing confidence in artificial intelligence (AI) across the UK heritage sector. While challenges remain – particularly around training and ethics – more organisations are now seeing AI as a practical tool rather than a distant concept.

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Public appointment: Members appointed to Historic Environment Scotland

Posted on 16/12/2025 by IHBC

Public appointments news release published on 7 November announced appointments to historic Environment Scotland on an interim basis.

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HHBT to continue its work in the Highlands as part of SHBT

Posted on 16/12/2025 by IHBC

Highland Historic Buildings Trust to continue its work in the highlands as part of Scottish Historic Buildings Trust(SHBT)’.

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RIBA responds to Environmental Audit Committee report on sustainable housing growth

Posted on 16/12/2025 by IHBC

The Environmental Audit Committee report on environmental sustainability and housing growth response by the Royal Institute of British Architects(RIBA) urges the government to accelerate action on embodied carbon and skills.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the global doorstep’– WMF & EH receive grant for next phase of Coastal Connections Programme

Posted on 16/12/2025 by IHBC

image for illustration: Hurst Castle by Oast House Archive, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Established in 2023 as a joint initiative with English Heritage (with EH), Lloyd’s Register Foundation has granted £509,300 for the expansion of the World Monuments Fund (WMF) network of coastal heritage sites.

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IHBC issues formal notice to all IHBC Members for 2026 AGM, online on 7 January 2026, from 5.30pm (with special presentation!) for 6pm start

Posted on 13/12/2025 by IHBC

IHBC AGM WEDNESDAY 7 JANUARY 2026 ONLINE:
Presentation from 5.30pm and AGM from 6.00pm
AGM FOR IHBC MEMBERS ONLY

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IHBC welcomes Vice President Torsten Haak as Guest Judge for 2025 Student Award: Selecting next ‘Gus Astley’ winner, to receive £500 + Newcastle School place, 18-20 June 2026

Posted on 13/12/2025 by IHBC

The IHBC is delighted to welcome Torsten Haak, Executive Director of the Iona Community and IHBC’s Vice President as our guest judge for IHBC’s 2025 Gus Astley Student Award, supporting our student awards programme of certificates, cash prizes & free places at IHBC’s 2026 Annual School – #IHBCNewcastle2026 – 18-20 June.

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IHBC Toolbox’s latest Guidance Note update now out: ‘Local Planning Authorities in England on Consulting the National Amenity Societies’

Posted on 13/12/2025 by IHBC

The IHBC’s Toolbox resource has had its latest Guidance Note update, on ‘Local Planning Authorities in England on Consulting the National Amenity Societies’, issued as a reminder to ‘local planning authorities of their statutory duty under the 2015 Direction’.

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IHBC Signpost: DB the Construction Wiki Temporary Structures

Posted on 13/12/2025 by IHBC

image for illustration: Hyde Park : temporary pavilion, Serpentine Gallery photo by Jim Osley, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Designing Buildings (DB), host platform to the IHBC’s Conservation Wiki, features ‘Temporary Structures’ in its Wiki-based resources.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: AI-powered nimbyism could grind UK planning system to a halt

Posted on 13/12/2025 by IHBC

Tools that help people scan applications and find grounds for objection have potential to hit government’s housebuilding plans, warns The Guardian.

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Government launches call for submissions to UK’s first national inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) – ‘living Heritage – open to 27/03

Posted on 13/12/2025 by IHBC

The Government has launched a call for submissions to the UK’s first-ever national inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) – living heritage –  on foot of the UK’s ratification of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, open to 27 March 2026.

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UK Heritage Pulse: Spotlight on Heritage Crime

Posted on 13/12/2025 by IHBC

Pulse Monitor is the monthly health check on the heritage sector from the Heritage Fund, which measures its resilience, confidence and ambition, and there are some exceptional results from October that are out of step with recent trends.

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UK State of the Trades: a Report on the current UK Trade Landscape

Posted on 13/12/2025 by IHBC

The UK State of the Trades report 2026 has been issued, commissioned by Jackson Woodturners.

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