IHBC NewsBlogs

West Oxfordshire District Council has warned prospective purchasers of land advertised for sale on the popular classifieds website Gumtree that it has very limited development potential while part lies within a Conservation Area (CA).

The Council writes:

The Council were made aware of the advert by a local resident who spotted it had been placed online a few days ago.

Cllr Warwick Robinson, Cabinet Member for Planning at the Council, said: ‘The site is considered to be ‘greenfield land’ and is in attractive open countryside away from any major settlement. Steps were taken to protect this land back in 2005 when we found out that it was to be sub-divided into plots and sold off.’

‘We’re keen to make people fully aware of the planning limitations on the land and caution them that they should not invest in this site for development purposes.’

Situated partially within a conservation area and bordering ancient woodland, the site has very limited potential for any form of development and housing proposals are especially unlikely to be supported. Any permitted development rights on the land have also been removed, including:

• Putting up fences and other means of enclosure
• Creating access to the road
• Moving portable buildings and structures on to the land
• Using the land for any purposes for up to 28 days

Read more….

For more information about planning and permitted development rights, see the Council’s website: www.westoxon.gov.uk

The government has axed the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) in a major departmental shake-up.

The BBC writes

The brief will be folded into an expanded Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy under Greg Clark.

Ed Miliband, the former energy and climate secretary under Labour, called the move ‘plain stupid’.

It comes at a time when campaigners are urging the government to ratify the Paris climate change deal.

In his statement, Mr Clark appeared keen to calm concerns about the priority given to tackling global warming.

He said: ‘I am thrilled to have been appointed to lead this new department charged with delivering a comprehensive industrial strategy, leading Government’s relationship with business, furthering our world-class science base, delivering affordable, clean energy and tackling climate change.’

Meanwhile, Andrea Leadsom, who ran against Theresa May for the Conservative leadership, is the new Environment Secretary.

Read more….

UK Parliament news…

The successful shortlist of 6 in the prestigious 2016 RIBA Stirling Prize for the UK’s best new building has been announced, and includes two projects for designated buildings, Newport Street Gallery in Vauxhall and the Grade II listed Giles Gilbert Scott’s University of Oxford Weston Library, generating a strong sign that conservation through designation can underpin quality outcomes in new design. 

RIBA writes:

The six shortlisted buildings will now go head-to-head for architecture’s highest accolade, to be awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects on Thursday 6 October 2016. Now in its twenty-first year, the 2016 RIBA Stirling Prize is sponsored by Almacantar….

Newport Street Gallery in Vauxhall has involved the conversion of an extraordinary terrace of listed industrial buildings, that were formerly theatre carpentry and scenery painting workshops. The gallery forms the whole length of the street, with the three listed Victorian buildings flanked at either end by new buildings. The ground and upper floors within the five buildings are continuous, allowing them to be used flexibly in many combinations, to accommodate both large and small exhibitions. There are three large galleries on each of the two floors, stretching in a line from one end of the building to the other.

The brief for this historic and Grade II listed Giles Gilbert Scott building was, literally and metaphorically, to open the doors of the library to the public to enable them to embrace knowledge. This was combined with the technically challenging requirements of protecting the precious and very rare documents stored within the archive and ensuring their preservation for future generations.

Read more about the awards, Newport Street Gallery and Weston Library

High Streets Minister Marcus Jones called on communities across the country to enter their villages, towns and cities into the Great British High Street competition 2016, with prizes of up to £10000 and a deadline for entries of Friday, 9 September 2016.

Department for Communities and Local Government writes:

Now in its 3rd year, the competition celebrates the great work that is being done to revive, adapt and diversify the nation’s high streets and is an opportunity for councils, businesses, community groups and volunteers to learn from the very best.

Last year’s competition saw a record-breaking 230 entries and attracted over 200,000 public votes, with Bishy Road in York, a former finalist, crowned Britain’s best.

With new categories, new prizes, including the chance to win up to £10,000 each, the minister said he expected to see even more competition entries, this year.

The government is helping local business communities adapt to the changing face of high streets, with a £6.7 billion package of business rates support, to cut the rates for 900,000 businesses – with 600,000 now paying none at all.

Investment in the high street is up by 30%, the national vacancy rate has fallen to its lowest level since January 2009 and retail sales have increased year-on-year for the longest period on record.

Speaking on a launch visit to Camden High Street, Marcus Jones said: ‘With a record number of entries and 200,000 public votes cast, last year’s competition was a massive success.  This year’s Great British High Street competition is going to be even bigger and better, with new categories and a simplified entry form.

I’d urge everyone to get involved to showcase the hard work of your community, in keeping high streets the life and soul of our towns, villages and cities.’

As well as the cash prize, winners will also receive dedicated support and mentoring from industry experts which could range from one to one coaching to advice on digital marketing.

Internet giant, Google’s expert training taskforce will also provide category winners with training on how to make the most of their digital skills.

The 2016 Great British High Street competition is supported by great brands and companies who between them represent over 22,000 outlets.

The 9 competition categories for places are:

• Best City Centre High Street
• Best Town Centre High Street
• Best Market Town High Street (small)
• Best Market Town High Street (large)
• Best Coastal Community High Street
• Best Village High Street
• Best Local Centre – precinct or parade of shops
• Best London High Street
• Rising Star – to recognise towns who are turning fortunes around

The 4 competition categories for individuals are:

• Best Store Manager or Employee from a National Retailer / Organisation
• Best Store Manager or Employee from an Independent / Small Business
• Best Market Manager, Operator, Farmer or Trader
• Best under 25 year old, manager or employee from a high street business

Nominations are now open across England, Wales and Scotland. The top 3 shortlisted in each category will be announced in October.

They will then go through to a public online vote and be visited by the Future High Streets Forum judging panel made up of industry leaders from across retail, property and business.

The Great British High Street competition is run by the Department for Communities and Local Government and sponsored by Boots, the British Council of Shopping Centres, Ellandi, Holland and Barratt, Marks and Spencer, the Post Office and Wilko.

read more…. and find out how to enter the competition

BRE Trust has published its annual review of some of the latest built environment research online, as the report outlines research projects and activities across areas ranging from infrastructure sustainability and resilience to occupant wellbeing and energy.

BRE Trust writes:

The BRE Trust Review includes summaries of completed projects and their results including the three-year Future Cities research programme, which was delivered in collaboration with over 70 partner organisations and had a total project value of over £30 million.

‘With the global population and urban migration continuing to rise, this important programme was created to explore critical future cities issues and the complex challenges involved in 21st century urban development.’ said BRE Group research director Dr Deborah Pullen.

‘The programme has delivered tangible tools, guidance and standards, all of which will be of benefit to diverse stakeholders across the built environment. We will also be using the outputs to inform further research in this area.’

The review also addresses active projects including the Resilient Built Environment themed research programme, which began in April 2015. During the year, five research projects focusing on climate resilience were launched, with flooding, wind and overheating the priority areas. The programme has also developed to include research into community resilience, incorporating themes such as cyber security for smart homes and how to increase uptake of climate and flood resilience measures by building owners. 

New strategic research partnerships with Loughborough University, University of Hertfordshire and University College London feature in the report as well. This includes funding by BRE Trust for applied research in high performance buildings, sustainable construction, and resilient buildings and communities at Loughborough University’s Royal Academy of Engineering Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design.

The new strategic partnerships expand on the research and education activities at the five existing BRE Trust University Centres of Excellence – in Bath, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Strathclyde and Brasilia – which continue to carry out outstanding research. With 102 PhDs funded, the portfolio of active and completed research now topping £60 million and over 600 papers and conference proceedings published, the review highlights projects and their outcomes across all eight of its university partners. 

The report also outlines recent publications spanning a wide range of research, knowledge and guidance for sustainability, fire and security, energy, health, materials and future cities. One of the current bestsellers is the Lighting and Health report which reviews existing research on the health effects of lighting (including daylighting) typically found in buildings, offering expert guidance for lighting designers, and building occupiers and their managers. Equally, it details how the Trust is working to produce new and engaging dissemination formats to enable easier and more widespread uptake and learning.

read more…. and download the report

The Parliamentary Communities and Local Government (CLG) Committee launches an inquiry into public parks to examine the impact of reduced local authority budgets on these open spaces and consider concerns that their existence is under threat, with an online survey, web forums and a Twitter hashtag, #myparkmatters, and written submissions due by 30 September 2016.

The CLG Committee writes:

The Committee looks at how parks should be supported now and in the future. This includes studying alternative management and funding models, such as a mutual or a trust. 

The Committee invites submission of written evidence to its website on the following issues:

• Who uses parks and open spaces, how often and for what
• The contribution of parks to the health and well-being of communities
• The impact of reductions in local authority budgets on parks
• What the administrative status of parks should be in light of declining local authority resources for non-statutory services
• How new and existing parks can best be supported
• What additional or alternative funding is available and what scope is there for local authorities to generate revenue from park users
• What the advantages and disadvantages are of other management models, such as privatisation, outsourcing or mutualisation

The Committee would be grateful to receive written submissions by 30 September 2016.

Get involved

The Committee wants to encourage as many people as possible to contribute to the inquiry. In addition to a face-to-face survey in parks across the country, the Committee is organising an online survey, web forums and a Twitter hashtag, #myparkmatters, where people can let the Committee know why they value their local parks.

The Committee will also be working with the House of Commons Education Service’s network of Teacher Ambassadors to engage with children and young people. The 75 Teacher Ambassadors, representing schools from across the country, will be asked to encourage their classes to think about what their local parks mean to them and their communities, and to share their views with the Committee. 

Communities and Local Government Committee Chair, Clive Betts MP, said: ‘Whether it is kicking the ball about with friends, joining a parkrun, walking the dog or just relaxing with a paperback, people value their local parks.  But with councils under enormous financial pressures and with no legal obligation to fund and maintain public parks, these precious community resources may be at risk.’

‘The Committee will be asking what the future is for our open spaces and we want to explore the ways in which parks can be supported and secured for generations to come.  We will be keen to find out about innovative and successful approaches to managing and funding parks and what Government can do to support these.  We know people value their local spaces, and we want to develop a clear picture of the community benefits of public parks as well as who is using them, how often and for what?’ 

Key facts

• There are an estimated 27,000 public parks in Britain
• Local authorities have no statutory duty to fund and maintain public parks
• A 2014 report by the Heritage Lottery Fund found 86 per cent of parks managers had seen cuts to their budgets since 2010
• An estimated 2.6bn visits are made to public parks each year 

Complete the online survey

Read more at LocalGov and at UK Parliament

Campaigners are continuing a legal bid to save a row of undesignated port buildings that are set to be torn down, as SAVE Britain’s Heritage says North East Lincolnshire Council’s decision to approve the demolition of Grimsby’s Cosalt Buildings is ‘legally flawed’.

The BBC writes:

It claims the authority did not carry out the necessary consultations and has submitted an application for a judicial review of the decision.

A council spokesman said he believed ‘the necessary steps’ had been taken.

Henrietta Billings, director of Save Britain’s Heritage, said: ‘These buildings need urgent protection and rightful recognition and we are confident they can be retained and reused to regenerate this part of the docks, as part of a wider strategic approach to the site.

‘We have been advised that we have good grounds for a legal review, and are keen to ensure that the demolition is robustly challenged.’

She said the council had failed to consult Historic England, which has previously described the 19th and 20th Century buildings as ‘heritage assets’.

Save Britain’s Heritage says ‘stripping out’ work has already begun in preparation for demolition and, as a result, it has applied for an emergency injunction to prevent further work.

The buildings are not listed and are not in a Conservation Area.

An application by Associated British Ports (ABP) to demolish the buildings in Fish Dock Road was approved by the council in May.

ABP has said it wants to ensure the port is able to provide space for an expected expansion of the offshore wind industry.

Speaking in May, a spokesperson said: ‘The demolition of these buildings will allow clients to expand their businesses and in doing so create jobs and much-needed prosperity for the community.’

read more….

Arts & Business (A&B) Scotland is inviting nominations for its 30th Annual Awards, to celebrate outstanding collaborations between the business and cultural sectors, with a deadline for submitting nominations of midnight, Friday 30 September 2016.

The categories:

• People
• Placemaking
• Innovation
• Enterprise
• International
• Business Creativity
• Enterprising Museum

And new for our 30th Annual Awards…

• Fundraising Excellence

To enter go to the dedicated Awards page and download the nomination guidelines and form.

North Lincolnshire Council is planning on submitting a proposal to apply for Garden City status for Lincolnshire Lakes and surrounding areas and is consulting on the proposals.

North Lincolnshire Council writes:

The Garden City would cover over 10,000 homes across the whole of Lincolnshire Lakes and a number of nearby areas. It would help reposition and raise the profile of all North Lincolnshire has to offer – putting it firmly on the map as a place to live, work, invest and play….

A Garden City gives the powers of the New Towns Act to the council which will bring development forward faster. Extra resources and expert advice will be given to help speed up the delivery of schemes by transferring planning powers to the council.’

Read more….

Historic England (HE) has launched a new ‘Latest Research’ section on its website which incorporates Issue 3 of Historic England Research digital magazine and includes a crop of articles on the built historic environment.

HE writes:

There is a group of articles on understanding faith buildings in England: Buddhist Buildings in England; Understanding Sikh Places of Worship; Quaker Meeting Houses Assessed; The Church Interiors of John Loughborough Pearson; a case study of volunteer participation in finding hidden early building fabric and a look at a once ubiquitous set of retail buildings, now more vulnerable due to changing shopping habits: England’s Shopping Parades.

Read more…. and see Issue 3

London’s iconic museum of art and design was announced as the winner of the £100,000 Art Fund Museum of the Year prize by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge at a ceremony at the Natural History Museum.

ArtFund writes:

Stephen Deuchar, Art Fund director and chair of the judges, said: ‘The V&A experience is an unforgettable one. Its recent exhibitions, from Alexander McQueen to The Fabric of India, and the opening of its new Europe 1600–1815 galleries, were all exceptional accomplishments – at once entertaining and challenging, rooted in contemporary scholarship, and designed to reach and affect the lives of a large and diverse national audience. It was already one of the best-loved museums in the country: this year it has indisputably become one of the best museums in the world.’

BBC Writes:

The Victoria & Albert Museum has pledged to support smaller museums across the country after being named the Museum of the Year 2016. 

Martin Roth, the V&A’s director, said he was ‘totally overwhelmed’ at the win and that it was a compliment to the work of museum’s staff.

‘There are a lot of smaller museums that do any amazing job,’ he told the guests in the Natural History Museum’s Hintze Hall, home to the cast of the famous Diplodocus skeleton.

‘We thought it’s great to be there on the shortlist, but the other ones deserve the prize and the money.’

Find out more at BBC news and at ArtFund

The Communities Secretary has dismissed an appeal over a wind farm in Nottinghamshire, saying the proposals would harm the landscape, the setting of a church and visual amenity.

Planning Portal writes:

Communities Secretary Greg Clark has dismissed an appeal over a four-turbine wind farm in Nottinghamshire against the recommendation of the planning inspector who held the recovered appeal as the SoS said the proposals would result in harm to the landscape, to the setting of a church and to the visual amenity of neighbouring properties and that some of the planning impacts had not been addressed in accordance with the most recent written ministerial statement.

Read more….

Trevor Cooper, Chair of the Historic Religious Buildings Alliance (HRBA) asks: ‘What NEW ways are there to spend grant money to help secure the future of historic religious buildings?’

The Heritage Alliance writes:

At present, most grant money goes straight on repairs, or on toilets and such like, or on interpretation. This use of grant money is very important, and needs to continue. But there must be other good ways to spend money, whether its public money or from private charitable foundations.

HRBA invites ideas whether it’s for using public money or money from private charitable foundations: obvious and sensible ideas as well as also off-the-wall ideas which might stimulate further thought.

For example, how about brown signs to ancient churches and chapels? Or giving grants for widening the use of a religious building? Or subsidising a national organisation to support those who look after the buildings? Or setting up a help line for those running building projects in religious buildings? Or supporting a Youtube channel?  Or … what?

This is your opportunity to provide fresh thinking about using money in new ways to help secure the future of historic religious buildings.

Please email any suggestions to placesofworship@theheritagealliance.org.uk

Find out about the HRBA

Plans to build the tallest skyscraper in Manchester have been approved by the city council.

The BBC writes:

The apartment block, alongside three smaller ones, will be built in Owen Street, near Deansgate railway station, on land previously used as a car park.

The tallest will stand at 200m (656ft), 19 storeys bigger than the current highest building, Beetham Tower, which is 168m (551ft) over 47 storeys.

More than 100 nearby residents objected to the council about the building plan. They said the buildings would look out of place and do not provide affordable housing.

But Manchester City Council said it would be ‘a striking landmark development’ that would regenerate the area.

Read more….

Historic England (HE) has produced a study to review and develop best practice in the regeneration of West Riding of Yorkshire’s textile mills.

HE writes:

Textile mills have helped to define the identity of West Yorkshire for many generations. The first mills started to emerge in the late 18th century as the Industrial Revolution started to shape the landscape, economy and communities of the region. Few settlements in West Yorkshire are not influenced in some way by their relationship with ‘the mill’, and the same holds true for many rural landscapes. They were the original Northern Powerhouse.

Historic England engaged Cushman & Wakefield and Lathams Architects to produce a study to review and develop best practice in the regeneration of West Riding of Yorkshire’s textile mills. There were two key elements to the brief:

• A review of six ‘case study’ mills that have been successfully regenerated
• Assessments of the potential of eight ‘target’ mills that are currently underutilised/vacant.

The report highlights the opportunity for vacant and under-used mills in the region to act as a stimulus for regeneration activity and to contribute to growth in the local economy. 

Read more….

Part of South Tyneside’s maritime heritage has been preserved after the last remaining traditional boatyard in the North East was saved.

The yard, in South Shields, had been run by boat builder Fred Crowell for over 25 years, and has now been leased by the North East Maritime Trust (NEMT) following his retirement.

Read more…

The heritage of Milton Keynes is increasingly well recognised, and is a small but important thread in a report by a commission of independent experts which considered what sort of city Milton Keynes could become by 2050. 

The report suggests that by 2050 Milton Keynes could be home to 400,000 residents and be recognised internationally as a centre of learning and innovation at the heart of a cluster of high-performing universities in the Cambridge- Milton Keynes-Oxford Arc.

The report also urges that: ‘…future plans respect the city’s distinctive heritage – Milton Keynes’ landscape is a gift that keeps on giving – and ensure that future generations will enjoy the city’s beauty.’

The approach is best reflected in its ‘Project Six’, Milton Keynes – The Creative and Cultured City which states that Milton Keynes is ‘a uniquely created cultural artefact, with a priceless cultural, sport and leisure asset base, this will harness the creative energy and motivation of the city’s biggest assets, its people. Using the 50th anniversary as a platform and building from the Capital of Culture bid, this would start with an International Festival of Creative Urban Living linking to innovation as well as culture, with a festival of urban green space and architecture, designating a grid square of sport, and arts, music and dance programme and animating the city’s rich heritage.’

Read the summary or full report

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has published a policy statement that replaces the Scottish Historic Environment Policy (SHEP) for operational matters.

HES writes:

This policy statement, the Scottish Planning Policy, Historic Environment Circular 1 and Historic Environment Scotland’s Managing Change in the Historic Environment guidance note series are the documents to which planning authorities are directed in their consideration of applications for conservation area consent, listed building consent for buildings of all three categories and their consideration of planning applications affecting the historic environment and the setting of individual elements of the historic environment.

Read more….

The Heritage Alliance (THA) has announced that Lizzie Glithero-West is to be its new Chief Executive from September.

THA writes:

Lizzie brings a wealth of skills and experience to the position. She is currently adviser to Baroness Neville-Rolfe at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), where of late she has been helping to steer the Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill through its various Parliamentary stages.

Lizzie’s career to date has been mainly in the civil service, initially with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister but since 2004 with the DCMS. She has expert knowledge of a wide range of policy areas including archaeology, heritage protection, gambling and tourism. Lizzie has also spent time as Private Secretary to the Permanent Secretary, as Head of Logistics at DCMS at the time of the General Election, and on secondment to English Heritage and to the National Museum Directors’ Council.

Lizzie’s first love is history and heritage. She has a degree in Archaeology and Anthropology from Oxford, and an MA in History of Art from Birkbeck. In 2014 she was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. In her spare time, Lizzie runs her own influential cultural education website.

Loyd Grossman CBE FSA, Chairman of The Heritage Alliance, said: ‘We are thrilled that Lizzie will be our new Chief Executive. Kate Pugh will be a very hard act to follow. But Lizzie will bring a fresh perspective to bear on the Alliance’s important work representing the independent heritage sector to Government and opinion formers. Lizzie is that rare combination: a passionate enthusiast for heritage of all kinds, but someone with in-depth inside knowledge of how the corridors of power in Whitehall and Westminster work. We look forward to welcoming her to the Alliance and its family of over a hundred members’.

Lizzie starts on 20 September, and her main task will be implementing the Alliance’s new strategy for the next four years, Realising the Power of Heritage. She will do the role on a part-time (28 hours a week) basis, so that she can combine her Chief Executive responsibilities with being a parent to two young children.

http://www.theheritagealliance.org.uk/news/#p-11624