Tag Archives: nature

Parliamentary Committee: Nature not a ‘blocker’ to housing; needed for ‘resilient towns & neighbourhoods’, and calls for housebuilding target changes and reduced VAT (for retrofitting)

Nature is not a ‘blocker’ to delivering new housing, but rather a necessity for building resilient towns and neighbourhoods, MPs argue in a House of Commons committee report on ‘Environmental sustainability and housing growth’, with responses from government due in … Continue reading

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Housebuilding around train stations will be given default ‘yes’, including in Green Belt, as: ‘Builders Speechless’

Government says that housebuilding near well-connected train stations will receive a default ‘yes’ in future if they meet certain rules, ensuring more homes are built.

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New APPG for National Parks and National Landscapes launched

On Tuesday 21st October Barry Gardiner was nominated as Chair of the APPG for National Parks and National Landscapes, a new All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) championing access to and protection of National Parks and National Landscapes, which cover 25% … Continue reading

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IHBC’s new Context, No185, ‘lifts the lid on roofing’, from craft to carbon, with essential, accessible CPD for Conservation Professionals & colleagues

IHBC’s new edition of its members’ journal Context is out – No. 185 –  to ‘lift the lid on roofing’, from mill re-slating and pitching pitched roofs a Garden Suburb’s roofscape.

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IHBC’s Annual School ‘Save the Date’ notice & Home Page launch: IHBC’s 2026 Newcastle School, 18-20 June, on ‘Adaptive Reuse’ & up to 20 hours CPD – accessible, interdisciplinary, cost-effective

The IHBC is delighted to announce the launch of the Home Page of the 2026 Annual School, to take place in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 18-20 June, on ‘Adaptive Reuse’ and across up to 20 hours CPD.

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IHBC’s ‘Professional’ Parliamentary Signpost: Lords completes examination of Planning and Infrastructure Bill

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill had its third reading, ‘a chance for members to make sure the eventual law is effective, workable and without loopholes’, on Monday 10 November.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the (development) doorstep’: Ightham Mote’s new visitor & landscape works for the National Trust

image for illustration: Ightham Mote by Poliphilo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Reed Watts worked with Landscape Architects Colvin & Moggridge to design a new visitor reception, retail shop and associated landscape works for the National Trust’s Ightham Mote in Kent, … Continue reading

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IHBC warmly welcomes PCO approval to Petition for Charter

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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Landscape Institute opens Feasibility Study on ‘Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) Accreditation Scheme’

The Landscape Institute (LI) is exploring the possibility of creating a dedicated Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) Accreditation Scheme beginning with a Feasibility Study, looking at a formal route to address growing concerns from members on inconsistencies in standards … Continue reading

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IHBC’s Annual School ‘Save the Date’ notice & Home Page launch: IHBC’s 2026 Newcastle School, 18-20 June, on ‘Adaptive Reuse’ & up to 20 hours CPD – accessible, interdisciplinary, cost-effective

The IHBC is delighted to announce the launch of the Home Page of the 2026 Annual School, to take place in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 18-20 June, on ‘Adaptive Reuse’ and across up to 20 hours CPD.

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IHBC HESPR’s ‘News from the Sector’: Building on Adaptive Reuse and the ‘….Old War Office… historic elegance, modern air….’

IHBC’s heritage business register HESPR – our Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition quality assurance scheme for heritage services – emails members weekly ‘News and Tender Alerts’, and this week features Building on the ‘….Old War Office: historic elegance, modern air….‘.

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IHBC’s November ‘CPD Circular’ now out: Accessible, cost-conscious learning, events & resources, with Branch AGMs, CPD Partnerships, BS 40104 (Domestic Retrofit Assessment) & more

IHBC’s newest CPD Circular lists accessible, cost-effective ‘Continuing Professional Development’ (CPD), from priority Branch Partnership events to AGMs and our joint STBA/IHBC webinar on ‘BS 40104: Domestic Retrofit Assessment – implications for traditional and heritage buildings’.

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IHBC Director’s pick from HESPR’s £228K+ of weekly works: Council seeks team for Town Hall re-purposing, to 24/11 & £180K

The IHBC’s heritage business register HESPR – our Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition quality assurance service – emails members our exclusive ‘News and Tender Alerts’, with the IHBC Director’s ‘taster’ pick for NewsBlog readers this week a call by an … Continue reading

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1-Year extension for Countryside Stewardship Scheme, to support farming and nature

DEFRA has confirmed a one-year extension for over 5,000 Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier agreements, originally scheduled to end in December 2025, so thousands of farmers will receive extensions to continue restoring nature and farming sustainably, supporting long-term food security.

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IHBC’s ‘Intervention’ signpost from Designing Buildings: 35 Years of BREEAM (and latest V7 mandatory update)

image for illustration After many iterations and updates, and within an increasingly competitive market for alternative assessment methods, the latest BREEAM 7 is perhaps one of the most demanding, reports Designing Buildings (DB) and becomes the only option from September … Continue reading

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Wales’ Economic mission: Green skills review – Recommendations on how to improve training and support for green jobs in Wales

A new note provides a summary of the findings of the Green Skills Review into improving training and support for green jobs in Wales, one of four short turnaround reviews undertaken across Welsh Government during the first half of 2025.

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Context 184 under the spotlight: IHBC’s accessible CPD for Conservation Professionals, with Bob Kindred’s must-read review of heritage periodicals

image: Rob Cowan for IHBC Context IHBC’s members’ journal Context in June 2025 – No. 184 – focussed on ‘Leaders of conservation thought’, but it also included our must-read update on recent journals, ‘Periodically’, by Bob Kindred MBE.

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HES is Talking about Heritage, till December 7

People across Scotland are invited by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to take part in national conversation about heritage. image for illustration: Fiona Newton

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IHBC’s newest ‘Branch Committee Bulletin, from the IHBC’s Director’: National Office updates for Branch Officers

The IHBC’s new Branch Committee Bulletin has been issued, updating our Branch committees on strategic developments and current priorities, while if you want to find out more just check the NewsBlogs or contact your Branch Officers or the IHBC’s National … Continue reading

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Need a MATE? More free online Accreditation guidance and update sessions offered to guide IHBC applicants

As part of the IHBC’s evolving Membership Accreditation Training Events (MATE ) programme, we’re continuing to offer free webinars for applicants with CPD-certified advice on applying for IHBC accreditation (Full & Associate).

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IHBC’s ‘Director’s pick’ from HESPR’s £960K+ of weekly works: Nationally significant charity seeks design services for ‘transformational heritage project’, to 10/11

The IHBC’s heritage business register HESPR – our Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition quality assurance service – emails members regular ‘News and Tender Alerts’, and the IHBC Director’s pick this week comes from The IHBC Director’s pick this week comes … Continue reading

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Expert Taskforce recommends locations for new towns

The New Towns Taskforce has recommended locations for the next generation of new towns.

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Honouring the legacy of the Sycamore Gap tree: a new creative commission

Two years after the illegal felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, the National Trust is launching a major creative commission to mark its legacy and inspire a renewed connection with nature.

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£10Mn+ Water company fines fund local restoration projects

Over £10 million in water company fines directed to restore local waterways through 51 projects aimed at cleaning up rivers, lakes and seas.

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Career conscious & in conservation? IHBC’s ‘Jobs etc.’ reaches across disciplines, levels & sectors, from charities – led here by Scotland & CEOs – to Officers (LG) Inspectors (HE) & more

To connect employers’ needs and practitioners’ skills, the IHBC updates NewsBlog readers on the wide-ranging opportunities on our ‘IHBC Jobs etc.’ service, so sign up for free alerts, and tell your boss or team how our targeted subsidies for adverts, … Continue reading

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