Tag Archives: government

Campaign for National Parks on Fingleton Review: The worst averted — but still a backward step for national parks and nature

The Campaign for National Parks (CNP) welcomed Government’s decision to reject the most extreme recommendation in the Fingleton Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce Review – to repeal the Protected Landscapes duty – but warns that the planned legislation still represents a significant … Continue reading

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Campaign for National Parks on Fingleton Review: The worst averted — but still a backward step for national parks and nature

Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation

Government has announced a ‘major youth employment drive backed by £1 billion’ to ‘help create 200,000 jobs for young people’, alongside the ‘biggest transformation of apprenticeships in a decade’.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation

Rebecca Phillips appointed as Chief Planning Inspector

The Planning Inspectorate has announced the permanent appointment of Rebecca Phillips as Chief Planning Inspector, following a competitive recruitment process.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Rebecca Phillips appointed as Chief Planning Inspector

IHBC’s ‘Professional’ CPD Signpost: DB on ‘The New Plan Making System’

Designing Buildings (DB) has issued an update on the ‘New Plan Making System’

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on IHBC’s ‘Professional’ CPD Signpost: DB on ‘The New Plan Making System’

Government’s ‘Roadmap of resources and support’ for a new local plan-making system

Government UK has issued a new ‘roadmap’ to ‘set out when guidance, tools and funding will become available to support you in creating your new local plan’.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , | Comments Off on Government’s ‘Roadmap of resources and support’ for a new local plan-making system

IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: Reuters on halting of demolition of parts of Grenfell Tower after handprints found on walls

Britain’s government said on Tuesday it has paused the demolition of parts of Grenfell Tower after bereaved families warned they would take legal action if walls bearing handprints were not preserved, reports Reuters.

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Tagged , , | Comments Off on IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: Reuters on halting of demolition of parts of Grenfell Tower after handprints found on walls

MHCLG’s Building Safety Regulator (BSR) becomes standalone body in landmark step towards single construction regulator

The Building Safety Regulator, a new executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government MHCLG), will ‘put residents at the heart of everything it does and promote higher standards and culture change in the … Continue reading

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on MHCLG’s Building Safety Regulator (BSR) becomes standalone body in landmark step towards single construction regulator

HE Publishes Planning Bulletin Supplemental on NPPF

Historic England (HE) has published a Planning Bulletin Supplemental to the Historic England monthly Planning Bulletin, raising awareness of Historic England’s response to the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HE Publishes Planning Bulletin Supplemental on NPPF

National Trust for Scotland calls for VAT cuts to save heritage

image for illustration: High Street tenements, Glasgow by Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) is calling on all political parties in Scotland to commit to saving the nation’s built heritage as it … Continue reading

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on National Trust for Scotland calls for VAT cuts to save heritage

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

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Government calls for submissions to UK’s first national inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) – ‘living Heritage – open to 27/03

Planning appeals – procedural guide: For appeals relating to applications dated on or after 1 April 2026

A new planning appeals procedural guide for appeals outlines the new process for making an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate as a result of The Town and Country Planning (Appeals) (Written Representations Procedure) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Planning appeals – procedural guide: For appeals relating to applications dated on or after 1 April 2026

IHBC President’s ‘Members only’ Invitation to next Virtual Council: Online, 8 April 2026, from 4.30pm – Scoping ‘Investigation’ of conservation in local government, with a call for suggestions etc.

IHBC members should have received their invitation from our President, Rebecca Thompson, to join in our new-style and ‘members-only’ online Council from 4.30pm on 8 April, when, as well as Charters & much more, we start to ‘investigate conservation roles … Continue reading

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on IHBC President’s ‘Members only’ Invitation to next Virtual Council: Online, 8 April 2026, from 4.30pm – Scoping ‘Investigation’ of conservation in local government, with a call for suggestions etc.

IHBC’s ‘Professional’ Signpost: Use of artificial intelligence in casework evidence – Planning Inspectorate guidance

Government guidance has been issued on use of artificial intelligence (AI) as part of any appeal, application or examination being dealt with by the Planning Inspectorate.

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on IHBC’s ‘Professional’ Signpost: Use of artificial intelligence in casework evidence – Planning Inspectorate guidance

LG etc. Ombudsman warns councils are ‘losing control’ of planning enforcement as complaints increasingly reveal years-long delays

Unlawful developments are being left permanently in place across England because under-resourced councils are running out of time to act, a new report from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman reveals.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on LG etc. Ombudsman warns councils are ‘losing control’ of planning enforcement as complaints increasingly reveal years-long delays

Protrade on ‘State of Construction Apprenticeships in 2026’

New analysis by Protrade reveals a 1.5% increase in new construction apprentices for 2024/25, representing the first year of growth since the 2021/22 peak.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Protrade on ‘State of Construction Apprenticeships in 2026’

NCT’s Fact Check: What we know about the new funding for churches and VAT changes – and … ‘write to your MP’

image for illustration: Ballidon Church, Derbyshire by Ralph Mills CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons On the 22 January 2026, the UK Government confirmed the end of Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, to be replaced by a £92 million four-year-fund … Continue reading

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on NCT’s Fact Check: What we know about the new funding for churches and VAT changes – and … ‘write to your MP’

DB on NPPF Plan making and national decision-making policies

Designing Buildings National Planning Policy Framework 2025 draft review in brief with indicative responses.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on DB on NPPF Plan making and national decision-making policies

DCMS Honours Team on New Year 2027 (NY27) ‘Invitation to nominate’, information sessions and nomination form (to 31/03)

The DCMS Honours Team has circulated its Honours Information Sessions to support nominations for the New Year 2027 Honours List.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on DCMS Honours Team on New Year 2027 (NY27) ‘Invitation to nominate’, information sessions and nomination form (to 31/03)

RTPI asks: Can England still build its utopian vision of a ‘new town’?

New research from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) argues that the utopian ambition behind new towns doesn’t need to be abandoned, but rediscovered.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on RTPI asks: Can England still build its utopian vision of a ‘new town’?

New design guidance to raise the bar for new build developments

The government has published updated new build design guidance ‘to focus on design quality’.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on New design guidance to raise the bar for new build developments

UK Research and Innovation launches creative industries strategy

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has launched a high-level?UKRI’s research and development (R&D) strategy for the creative and cultural economy will ensure research and innovation drives and sustains growth in the creative industries.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on UK Research and Innovation launches creative industries strategy

Pride in Place: 40 neighbourhoods join transformational programme

Thousands more people are being handed the power to ‘decide how millions are spent in their area’ as Government’s Pride in Place programme expands.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Pride in Place: 40 neighbourhoods join transformational programme

IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Preferred developer and development proposal for Egyptian Halls in Glasgow approved

image for illustration: Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s Egyptian Halls in Glasgow, 2005 by Maccoinnich, via Wikimedia Commons The restoration of Glasgow’s Egyptian Halls has taken another step forward with the selection of a preferred developer to progress plans for the A-listed … Continue reading

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Preferred developer and development proposal for Egyptian Halls in Glasgow approved

England’s cultural infrastructure: repair, maintenance and renewal reports from Purcell show £2 billion of unfunded repair and maintenance (R&M)

Reports for government, prepared by Purcell, into the repair, maintenance and renewal needed in the English cultural sector have been issued, estimating a backlog of £2 billion unfunded repair and maintenance (R&M) in the sector.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on England’s cultural infrastructure: repair, maintenance and renewal reports from Purcell show £2 billion of unfunded repair and maintenance (R&M)

Why City & Guilds says ‘Apprenticeships could be the only way out of the UK’s Housing Shortage’

When National Apprenticeship Week kicked off, global skills leader City & Guilds joined forces with Vistry, Travis Perkins, AMEY, and other major players in construction to spotlight a critical solution to one of the industry’s biggest challenges: the skills gap.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Why City & Guilds says ‘Apprenticeships could be the only way out of the UK’s Housing Shortage’