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The House of Lords Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability has concluded that the accessibility of services, facilities and buildings is still challenging for disabled people, with government failing to make reasonable adjustments (affecting over 11.6 million people) 

Expert knowledge was presented to the committee by the British Deaf Association (BDA), who highlighted debates around intangible heritage, urging the government to ratify the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage; BSL (British Sign Language) is the fourth most used indigenous language in the UK and there is a distinct deaf culture.

The House of Lords Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability writes:
The House of Lords Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability investigating the Act’s impact on disabled people has concluded that the Government is failing in its duty of care to disabled people. From taxi drivers refusing to take disabled people, to ‘disgraceful’ accessibility at sports grounds, to pubs and clubs failing to provide disabled toilets, the report, entitled ‘The Equality Act 2010: the impact on disabled people’, says practice in all areas must be improved.

Comment of Baroness Deech, Chairman: ‘Over the course of our inquiry we have been struck by how disabled people are let down across the whole spectrum of life.  Access to public buildings remains an unnecessary challenge to disabled people. Public authorities can easily side-step their legal obligations to disabled people, and recent changes in the courts have led to disabled people finding it harder to fight discrimination.

‘When it comes to the law requiring reasonable adjustments to prevent discrimination, we found that there are problems in almost every part of society, from disabled toilets in restaurants being used for storage, to schools refusing interpreters for deaf parents, to reasonable adjustments simply not being made.  In the field of transport alone, we heard of an urgent need to meet disabled people’s requirements – whether it’s training for staff or implementing improvements to trains and buses – and we’re calling for all new rail infrastructure to incorporate step-free access in its design from the outset.

‘The Government bears the ultimate responsibility for enabling disabled people to participate in society on equal terms, and we believe it is simply not discharging that responsibility. Not only has the Government dragged its heels in bringing long-standing provisions of the Act into force, such as those requiring taxi drivers to take passengers in wheelchairs, but has in fact repealed some provisions which had protected disabled people. Intended to reduce the regulatory burden on business, the reality has been an increase in the burden on disabled people.  The Committee would like to see changes right at the top of Government and is calling for the Minister for Disabled People to be given a place on the Cabinet’s Social Justice Committee. It’s time to reverse the attitude that disabled people are an afterthought. Many of the changes we suggest are simple and do not require legislation. We hope the Government will implement them quickly.’

Findings in the report include:

• Transport- The Government should bring into force immediately provisions in the Act obliging taxi drivers to take passengers with wheelchairs. In cases where taxi drivers fail to comply with the Act local authorities should withhold the licences of drivers.  All new rail infrastructure must build into its design step-free access; retrofitting of stock with audio/visual annunciators must be prioritised; training for all rail, bus and coach staff must be made a legal requirement.
• Sports grounds- These have been described as ‘disgraceful’ by the Minster for Disabled People and new measures are needed. Ministers must report on the progress made on stadia, following the Premier League’s promise to upgrade all their stadia by August 2017.
• Housing and public spaces- Many restaurants, pubs and clubs are difficult to access, with many not providing basic facilities such as a disabled toilet. Local authorities should be allowed to refuse to grant or renew these premises’ licences until they make the necessary changes.  The design of new buildings is another area where local authorities could require new buildings to be wheelchair accessible or adaptable, simply by revising their planning policies.
• Communications- Communications is an area where disabled people are still being failed. We recommend that all Government departments, local authorities and public bodies review how they communicate with disabled people, and that disabled people must be involved in this process.
• The law and enforcement- Developments in recent years have made fighting discrimination more difficult for disabled people. New tribunal fees, less access to legal aid, and procedural changes have combined to create barriers to the effective enforcement of disabled people’s rights. Changes are recommended to combat this.

View the press release

View the evidence volume (with discussions on intangible heritage from page 213)

BDA on Deaf Culture

Information on BSL, including a fingerspelling card

A new National Infrastructure Delivery Plan has been launched which describes the intended government priorities for infrastructure development for the next five years, including regeneration works and property investment and a new Government Construction Strategy has also been launched which promises 20,000 apprenticeships and ‘£1.7 billion efficiencies’. 

HM Treasury writes:
A plan that brings together all of the government’s infrastructure priorities over the next five years has been published today (23 March 2016).  For the first time, this new National Infrastructure Delivery Plan brings together the government’s plans for this Parliament to support large-scale housing and regeneration, as well as investment in new local schools, hospitals and prisons.

These plans are underpinned by the government’s commitment to invest over £100 billion in infrastructure by 2020-21, together with significant investment by the private sector, to deliver important projects that are vital to grow the economy and improve people’s lives.

More of this investment is now being targeted to bring benefits to the local economy and community. The plan also highlights the government’s commitment to build a Northern Powerhouse, by connecting up the great towns and cities of the North.

The plan incorporates the latest version of the National infrastructure Pipeline which highlights over £425 billion worth of planned investment in over 600 major projects and programmes across the UK to 2020-21 and beyond. In addition the plan sets out £58 billion of public investment for housing and regeneration, education, health and justice.

The government’s infrastructure plans are already making a real difference on the ground. Since 2010 around 3,000 individual infrastructure projects have been completed across the UK including major new road improvements and local transport schemes, improvements to hundreds of rail stations and more than 20GW of new electricity generating capacity. This is in addition to transformational projects such as Crossrail and the Mersey Gateway Bridge that are now well underway.

Speaking at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Commercial Secretary to the Treasury Lord O’Neill said:  From more modern transport links, to faster broadband, better infrastructure is at the heart of our plans to build a more productive economy and improve people’s everyday lives.  That is why we are stepping up with the private sector to invest in some of this country’s most ambitious projects to create a more secure future for the next generation.  This government is determined, even at a time of global uncertainty, to invest in the long-term projects that will make our economy and our country fit for the future.

Chief Executive of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, Tony Meggs said:  This plan sets out details of infrastructure investment by government and the private sector across all sectors and regions. It describes not only what we are going to build, but also how we will prioritise investment and work with industry to improve delivery.  Through the new IPA we will continue to support delivery of the government’s priority projects and ensure we remain on track to deliver.

Nick Baveystock, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Director General, said:  The National Infrastructure Plan has evolved steadily since 2010, and this new iteration of the plan and pipeline builds on the progress made, improving visibility for the supply chain and investor community. The shift in focus to delivery over five years sets a fresh tone – one of ‘spades in the ground’ – and we welcome the recognition that this must be complemented by a vision for the longer term. This brings to the fore the role of the National Infrastructure Commission in setting out the UK’s priorities up to 2050, and the importance of a robust needs assessment to underpin the vision.

Key report highlights:

• a forward look for £483 billion of infrastructure investment in economic and social infrastructure including over £297 billion to 2020-21
• £483 billion includes economic infrastructure investment of £425 billion with an additional £58 billion of public investment in social infrastructure (part of the government’s commitment to spend over £100 billion in infrastructure by 2020-21)
• setting out a major roads and rail investment package including £15 billion to support Highways England in transforming the Strategic Road Network with over 100 major schemes completed or in construction by the end of 2020-21, and supporting the largest rail modernisation since Victorian times, including getting High Speed 2 into construction, completing Crossrail, and giving the green light to Crossrail 2 to proceed and significant investment in projects in the Northern Powerhouse
• over £100 billion invested by the private sector in energy projects across electricity generation, transmission and in the North Sea
• facilitating private sector rollout of improved broadband and mobile networks through targeted investment, legislative and regulatory reform and increasing the amount of spectrum available to mobile operators

The establishment of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, alongside the independent National Infrastructure Commission, lays the foundations to improve our ability to make better decisions on future infrastructure; support and improve project delivery; and provide the confidence needed by industry and investors.

It brings together the expertise of Infrastructure UK and the Major Projects Authority to improve delivery of major government projects. It will report back every year on progress that has been made in delivering these plans.  Average annual infrastructure investment (public and private combined) rose by 17% in real terms in the last Parliament, when compared to the preceding one.

The government has also today published a new Construction Strategy that commits to reducing the cost of projects by £1.7 billion during this parliament through the use of innovation and efficiency.

View the press release

View the NIDP

View the Government Construction Strategy

The one year anniversary of English Heritage (EH) as a charity was celebrated on 1 April, and to mark this event a summary of activities and a video have been released.

English Heritage (EH) writes:
On April 1 we celebrate one year operating as a charity. As a charity we bring the story of England to life, and conserve and protect over 400 historic sites. 

The old English Heritage separated into two parts on 1 April 2015. As English Heritage, we are now a charity which looks after the national heritage collection of significant historic properties across England, including sites such as Stonehenge, Hadrian’s Wall and Dover Castle. Historic England remains a public body which champions the nation’s wider heritage, running the listing system, dealing with planning matters and giving grants.

Kate Mavor, our Chief Executive, joined English Heritage in May 2015. She said  ‘We’ve been delighted to have record visitor numbers of 5.7 million, we’ve recruited over 250,000 people to become members of English Heritage and we are well underway with the biggest conservation programme in the history of English Heritage.’

Over the last year we have continued to work on a variety of campaigns and projects across England. These include:

1. Redoubling our efforts to care for and preserve our heritage with a range of capital investment projects, launching the biggest conservation programme in our history. This includes a new visitor centre at Rievaulx Abbey which will open in May 2016, restoration of Ironbridge, and plans for a new bridge at Tintagel Castle.
2. Marking the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. Our 1066 hub tells the story of the battle and its significance, and there will be a series of Norman events throughout the year.
3. Appointing eight year old Thea Hunt to be our Child Executive Officer. Thea championed children’s wishes and helped us design our summer events programme.
4. Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the blue plaques scheme. Later this year we will launch a blue plaques app and a range of walks across London, while new plaques were announced for icons such as Freddie Mercury and Sir Bobby Moore.
5. Continuing to work with local communities and volunteers. From tending to gardens and running craft workshops to guiding visitors around sites, we couldn’t do the work we do without the help and support of our volunteers. Find out more about volunteering at English Heritage.
6. Staying open more over the festive period, with 22 sites open between Christmas and New Year.

View the press release and further information on the highlights above

Members with an interest in construction and procurement will be interested to learn of a new online resource to support Building Information Modelling (BIM) Level 2 which has been launched by BSI this week which features downloadable standards and modelling tools.

The British Standards Institution (BSI) writes:
The successful delivery of the Government Construction Strategy (GCS) Level 2 BIM objectives represents ‘an internationally unparalleled achievement on the journey towards the digitalisation of the built environment sector’, says BIM Task Group chairman Mark Bew MBE.  Published by the Cabinet Office on 31 May 2011, the GCS – as well as the Low Carbon Construction Innovation & Growth Team: Final Report by Paul Morrell – outlined the key target of reducing the cost of Government construction projects by 15-20%.  Critical to reaching these targets ahead of the 4 April 2016 deadline was that all central Government departments achieved the milestone and now require tendering suppliers to demonstrate collaborative 3D Level 2 BIM maturity through defined and compliant information and data on projects.  This has been supported in the recent Budget which announced the development of the next generation of digital standards for the construction sector – Level 3 BIM – under the ‘Digital Built Britain’ Programme.

The £15m investment over three years is designed to maintain the UK’s global leadership in the use of this technology and will save owners of built assets billions of pounds per year in unnecessary costs as well as setting the infrastructure for the Smart Built economy.  Reflecting the industry’s ongoing transition from mobilisation for Level 2 BIM to creating ‘business as usual’, the BIM Task Group will unveil a new online website on 4 April.

Hosted and developed by BSI, the site will continue to evolve from launch, providing a common and clear point of reference for BIM documentation, standards and guidance created in partnership with the BIM Task Group.  These documents will continue to be available free of charge in order to encourage all businesses however large or small to take part.

Mark Bew MBE commented: ‘To look at how far we have come in four short years is to understand how far we can and need to go in the next four and beyond.  From a standing start, the UK is now leading the global race towards digitalisation of the construction industry and we will not let it slip. The hard work starts here.  BIM is now very much business as usual. Our Level 2 programme is driving efficiency and creating a competitive supply sector with our businesses in demand internationally.  BIM will become a required UK standard across the entire built environment and our message to all stakeholders is: join us and grasp this incredible opportunity to reduce cost and waste while driving productivity and competitiveness. We have demonstrated that a partnership between Government and industry can deliver dramatic changes in the sector. This has been made possible by having a clear shared plan and commitment – the challenge now is to embed these techniques across the whole of the market to grow capacity and become business as usual.  We have, at Level 2, improved the industry. Level 3 BIM and the realisation of Digital Built Britain will create a new industry to service the challenges of the future.’

Visit the BIM Level 2 website

View information on the BIM Task Group

A Statement of Community Involvement has been published by the DoENI, showing how it intends to increase community involvement in planning.

DoENI writes:
The Department today published a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) which sets out how the Department will effectively engage with the community in the delivery of its planning functions, improving access to, and increasing participation in, the planning process.

This SCI clearly sets out, in one document, the Department’s commitment to involving the community in each of its planning functions. It provides a more structured approach to community engagement, sets out the Department’s standards for consultation on planning matters, and promotes active and continuous participation in the planning process.

Involving communities is an essential element of a responsible, inclusive and democratic planning system. Effective engagement depends upon communities having access, at the earliest opportunity, to as much information about a development proposal and its likely impact.  An important element of this engagement is providing opportunities for the community to provide feedback about proposals. In this way communities can help shape developments that affect them as well as minimise or mitigate any negative impacts.

Section 2 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 requires the Department to prepare and publish a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) covering aspects of planning control that the Department has responsibility for (contained in Part 3 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011).  This Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) is a document which sets out how the Department will engage with the community in the delivery of its planning functions.

Access the SCI

If you know a potential historic building conservation architect about to do their RIBA part 2 who deserves recognition, then the 2016 RIBA Wren Insurance Association Scholarships may be of interest, which is now open for nominations, offers £5000 awards, and has a closing date of 9 May.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) writes:
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the architects’ professional indemnity insurance mutual, The Wren Insurance Association Limited (the Wren), have today announced the launch of the 2016 RIBA Wren Insurance Association Scholarships to support talented students during the final year of their RIBA Part 2. 

This year’s scholarships will be awarded at the start of the 2016/17 academic session and will comprise five generous awards, each of £5,000. The deadline for applications is Monday 9 May 2016.

The RIBA Wren Insurance Association Scholarships were set up in 2013 by the Wren who decided to mark their 25th anniversary as PII mutual with a £125,000 commitment to help educate young architects of the future. The awards will be awarded annually to Part 2 students enrolled in RIBA-validated schools of architecture in the UK.

RIBA President Jane Duncan said:  ‘I would like to thank the Wren Insurance Association for their commitment and generosity to this scheme. Now in its fourth year, we are able to see the difference that this scheme makes to winning recipients in propelling them forwards in their careers. I am excited to see which talented students secure the scholarships this year, and wish all applicants luck with their applications.’

Richard Pullen, Chairman of Wren, said:  ‘The impact of scholarships awarded over the past three years has well exceeded our expectations and we are anticipating even greater interest this fourth year as the Wren looks forward to helping a further five Part 2 students with this year’s scholarships. Having helped each other for nearly 30 years, the Members of the Wren feel that it is appropriate to assist and encourage the next generation of talented architects who have the potential to make a significant contribution to the field of architecture. We are grateful to the RIBA for their support in the ongoing success of these scholarships.’

Applicants can find more information about last year’s award winners and how to apply for this year’s awards at www.architecture.com/wrenscholarships

View the news release

A research blog detailing the influence of Buddhist architecture in England has been updated with the results of the research project, while a new Hindu, Jain, Zoroastrian and Bahá’í buildings blog has been launched (Building Hinduism), while both projects, funded through assistance from Historic England, are seeking contributions to an open online survey. 

The blog authors Dr Emma Tomalin and Dr Caroline Starkey from the University of Leeds are asking interested parties to get involved:

• Know a great Hindu building in England we should visit? Suggest it to us! Just send a message through the blog, email or Twitter @caro_starkey or @EnglishHeritage. You can also email Emma at e.tomalin@leeds.ac.uk or Caroline at c.starkey@leeds.ac.uk

• Part of a Hindu community? Got something to say about your building? We are running an open online survey – please feel free to complete it, or suggest it to a group who should…

View the Building Hinduism blog

A website ranking of the top universities worldwide to study architecture and built environment reveals three universities in the UK are within the top 10, and nine feature in the top 100. 

The website ‘QS Top Universities’ (compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds Limited) contains information on different courses, subjects and institutions around the world.

View the architecture and built environment rankings

View information about the website

BBC news reports that the demolition of the home which was ‘a hidden castle’ in haybales has now begun, following enforcement action taking effect. 

View the BBC news article ‘Surrey farmer starts ‘hidden castle’ demolition’

The Heritage Alliance (THA) have been granted a further award of £250,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to extend the ‘Giving to Heritage’ project. 

The Heritage Alliance (THA) writes:
The Heritage Alliance is delighted to announce that it has been awarded £250,000 under the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Catalyst Umbrella programme to extend Giving to Heritage for another 12 months from June 2016.  This is on top of the initial grant of £500,000.

Due to the strong demand in the independent heritage sector for continuing fundraising training, there will be a series of workshops, webinars, coaching and other training events at locations across England for both inexperienced and experienced fundraisers.

In its initial two years, Giving to Heritage training has supported over 1,100 heritage staff and volunteers, from nearly 600 different organisations. Confidence levels in heritage fundraising and capacity building have increased substantially and there have been several examples of real successes including major sums raised from new approaches donors.

Loyd Grossman, Chairman of The Heritage Alliance said: ‘Giving to Heritage has been the largest project The Heritage Alliance has managed to date and it has been an overwhelming success, bringing new confidence and new funds to the independent heritage sector. Never has the need to search for private sources of funds been more important, and Giving to Heritage has been delivering the much-needed training to develop the skills the sector has been asking for. I am delighted that the HLF has allowed us to continue to deliver this exciting programme, in partnership with the Institute of Fundraising’.

The extended programme will include a series of workshops, webinars, one-to-one consultancy and support sessions and executive coaching across the country, delivered in partnership with the Institute of Fundraising. Subjects will include popular fundraising training topics such as Using Digital and Social Media and Legacy Marketing, which potential delegates may have missed the first time around, plus enhanced training for those wishing to move to their skill set to the next level. There will also be new subjects such as ‘Structuring your Organisation for Fundraising’ and ‘How to Organise a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign’. In addition, there will be a small number of exciting new workshops on how to apply for social investment funds and how to set up a community shares project.

Further details will be announced shortly, and regular updates will appear on the Giving to Heritage website

View more information about THA

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) will be employing four more Support Officers, extend its advice service and launch a new grants scheme following the announcement of £3 million of new funding under the newly published Culture White Paper.

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) writes:
The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) welcomes the announcement in the Culture White Paper of over £3 million of new funding for its grant programmes and advice services. This investment will allow the AHF to support many more communities across the country as they seek to take ownership and find enterprising new uses for much loved historic buildings.

For nearly 40 years the AHF has helped communities repair and reuse this country’s unique and irreplaceable architectural heritage. In the last 11 years alone, £3 million of AHF grants has levered in over £308 million of additional money to rescue 210 listed historic buildings that might otherwise have been lost. Projects such as the recently opened Cromford Creative and Gateway Centre have been successfully delivered, thanks in part to AHF’s early support. Here an AHF project development grant of £25,000 helped the Arkwright Society draw up designs and prepare capital funding bids to repair and convert the Grade I listed cotton mill, one of the earliest factory buildings in the world, into a creative business hub and visitor centre for the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. The £6.7 million scheme will provide new jobs and attract new visitors to Cromford.

Ian Morrison, AHF’s Chief Executive commented: ‘This is fantastic news for the AHF and for the communities we work closely with. The Government’s generous investment comes just at the right time as the demand for our advice and grants is at a record high. The vast majority of this funding will be directly passed on to communities in the form of early project grants to help them develop their plans for the rescue and reuse of historic buildings. Together we will be able to save far more of our architectural heritage for public benefit’.

The additional funding will also allow the AHF to employ four more Support Officers with experience in project management, business planning, property, fundraising and marketing. AHF’s Chairman, Liz Peace CBE added: ‘Expanding the range of advice we can provide, especially in areas of commercial enterprise, is particularly important at a time when communities increasingly aspire to take ownership of the historic buildings they value. This is very welcome news indeed.’

The AHF will announce details of its new grant programmes and advice services later this Spring.

View the news release

The Communities & Local Government (CLG) Committee has released its report into the government consultation on changes to national planning policy, calling for a review of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) before the conclusion of this Parliament.

The Communities & Local Government (CLG) Committee writes:
A comprehensive review of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) should be carried out before the end of this Parliament, says the Communities & Local Government (CLG) Committee in its report, ‘Department for Communities and Local Government’s consultation on national planning policy’.

The Committee’s inquiry into the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Consultation on proposed changes to national planning policy found that there has not been sufficient robust, objective and evidence-based monitoring, evaluation or review of the National Planning Policy Framework since its publication in 2012. The Committee calls for an overall review of the operation of national planning policy to pull together the various significant pieces of work in this area, including the Local Plans Expert Group report, the Housing and Planning Bill, and the technical consultation on the implementation planning changes.

Clive Betts MP, Chair of the Communities and Local Government Committee, said: ‘We welcome many of the proposals in the Government’s consultation. However, particularly at a time of significant change for the planning and housing sectors, it’s important that people are reassured that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) works effectively and that it supports sustainable development in their communities. The Government needs to ensure there is confidence in the planning system by carrying out a comprehensive review of the NPPF by the end of this Parliament’.

The Committee is clear that communities will not benefit fully from the NPPF unless their local authorities properly fulfil their responsibilities to publish and adopt Local Plans. The CLG Committee expresses disappointment that, four years on from the publication of the National Planning Policy, 17 per cent of local authorities still have not published Local Plans and 34 per cent have not yet adopted Plans.

Clive Betts MP, Chair of the Communities and Local Government Committee, said: ‘Councils need to do more to identify suitable brownfield sites and to protect their communities against the threat of undesirable development by getting an adopted Local Plan in place. The NPPF is designed to work side by side with local plans. It’s simply not good enough that 34 per cent of local authorities don’t have an adopted plan. The Government needs to act to put an end to dawdling local authorities and indicate whether they will take up the recommendation by the Minister’s own Local Plans Expert Group, and we call on him to reconsider the recommendation made by our predecessor Committee that a statutory duty should be placed on local authorities to produce and maintain Local Plans’.

The Committee welcomes the proposed housing delivery test to provide clarity about whether housing delivery in a local area is meeting identified housing need. However, the Committee believes that the proposed consequence of under-delivery – requiring local authorities to allocate more land for development – may not, by itself, mean that more houses will be built. The Committee calls for the Department to review the proposals, and identify the powers local authorities ought to have in order to require or encourage developers to build out sites in their areas.

The Committee supports the development of brownfield sites for housing where it contributes to meeting local housing needs, but asks for greater clarity about the definition of a ‘brownfield sites’ and about how a presumption in favour of development will operate alongside brownfield site registers and permission in principle arrangements.

View the press release

The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) is offering a travel bursary opportunity for young craftspeople to help with the costs of travelling to conferences, study tours, internships and seminars, with a closing date of 16 May.

The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) writes:
This grant award scheme is for young craftspeople with an interest in religious heritage conservation wanting to travel to increase their expertise and knowledge, ultimately benefitting heritage skills in the UK.

Up to two awards of between £500 and £1000 will be granted in June each year to young craftspeople showing the most innovative and enthusiastic approach to learning heritage skills, and those with the clearest idea of how the development of their knowledge and future career in heritage will benefit from the award.

The grant will cover the following:

• Attendance at conferences or seminars
• Study tours
• Short-term internships

To be eligible, applicants must be:

• Under 30 years of age on April 1st of the year in which they are applying
• Studying for a relevant craft or traditional building skill*, or recently qualified in one
• Able to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to religious built heritage through a track record of relevant volunteering and/ or study
• Prepared to disseminate what they learn through social media and provide photographs and a report to the trustees

To apply, please download and read the full Criteria document, then complete an Application Form and email it to foundation@thecct.org.uk

Deadline for applications: Monday 16th May 2016

Find out more about the award opportunity and download the criteria documents

The new single official UK House Price Index will be launched in June 2016, however ONS (The Office for National Statistics) has published some early estimates for England and Wales. 

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) writes:
ONS has today published early historic England & Wales estimates for the new single official UK House Price Index, which will be first published in its entirety in June 2016. 

The new improved Index, developed jointly with other official producers of house price statistics following a review by the National Statistician, uses data from, amongst others, the Land Registry and Council of Mortgage Lenders. By using these comprehensive datasets together, as well as by employing the best internationally agreed methods, the new UK HPI will give the best and most detailed picture of the UK housing market.

For the most recent period published (from December 2011), the new UK HPI shows an average price level of £185,000 for England & Wales. This is lower than the price recorded by the current ONS HPI for England (£222,000) for the same period but still above the equivalent price levels recorded by the Land Registry for England & Wales (£157,000), the Halifax for the UK (£157,000) and Nationwide for the UK (£163,000).

The main reason for the decrease in price levels from the ONS HPI to the new UK HPI is the use of the geometric mean, which reduces the impact of very high value properties on the headline data.

Over the period 2003-2011, which is the longest comparable period available, the average annual growth is 5.2% for the ONS HPI for England, 4.6% for the Land Registry HPI for England & Wales, 4.7% for the Halifax for the UK, 5.3% for Nationwide for the UK and 6.1% for the new UK HPI for England & Wales. The inclusion of cash sales and improved weights are both contributing to the increased growth seen in the new UK HPI.

Commenting, ONS statistician Chris Jenkins said:  ‘By combing different data sets and using the best internationally agreed methods, the new UK HPI will give the best possible picture of the changing UK property market.  For the first time, consistent high quality data will be available for both national and local areas, helping policy makers to make better decisions.’

View the press release 

View a more detailed ONS article about the new single official house price index

Thirty three new listed buildings have been designated in the Belfast area, including 8 churches, and a stableyard connected to a former Grand National winner.

DoENI writes:
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan today announced 33 new listed buildings within Belfast City Council area.  These include eight Churches, a stableyard and part of the outbuildings that once housed ‘Tipperary Tim’, winner of the 1928 Aintree Grand National. Two pairs of semi-detached houses known as ‘Plevna Villas’ which are built on Cyprus Avenue, Beersbridge Road and the Upper Newtownards Road are also included.

Commenting on the latest designations, Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said: ‘This is a real boost for Belfast. The listing of these buildings recognises the architectural and historic interest of a wide range of structures spanning over a century of the City’s development.’

‘The variety of buildings listed reflects the City’s diverse and varied history. From older and modern churches, graveyard monuments, pillar boxes and boundary posts, to a stableyard which is part of the outbuildings that once housed a Grand National winner and which was a community museum; they all have fascinating stories to tell. Listing these structures will ensure these important cultural assets are preserved and protected.  The name of Cyprus Avenue may strike a chord with music fans but these buildings are listed purely due to their architectural and historic interest. This group of four houses were erected following the industrial expansion of the Belfast and the County Down Railway. They were designed by well known local architects Young and MacKenzie, best known for their work on buildings such as the former Robinson and Cleaver, and Anderson and McAuley department stores.’

Other buildings listed are former estate workers cottages and two pavilion buildings on the Stormont Estate, and Fernhill House in Glencairn Park.

The eight churches are of various dates and styles, ranging from the more traditional Gothic Revival examples at Ballysillan Presbyterian and Cavehill Methodist Churches in North Belfast to the modernist design of Orangefield Baptist Church built in 1968. North Belfast has its own modernist example dating from 1964, the chapel at Dominican College, Fortwilliam Park which was influenced by Le Corbusier’s Chapel at Ronchamps in France.

Three Parliamentary Boundary posts dated 1918 in Gilnahirk Road and King’s Road have been listed. These mark the outer extent of the Belfast Corporation and Pottinger Electoral ward Division, and are of historical significance as a remnant of the first election in Britain and Ireland when nearly everyone – bar women under 30 – had the right to vote.

Mark H Durkan said: ‘Our built heritage is a precious and finite resource. It is important that we work together to ensure that it is valued and enjoyed into the future and that its potential to contribute to our economic and social wellbeing and regeneration is fully realised.’

These changes bring the total number of listed buildings in Belfast to 1,154.

View the press release

The Charity 100 Index which details the UK’s biggest charities has been released, while this year the Canal & River Trust is included for the first time, while the National Trust (NT) ranks at number 3.

Civil Society News writes:
There were eight new entrants to the Charity 100 Index this year, including the Canal & River Trust at 23 in the first year that the charity was eligible. The Canal & River Trust was formed in 2012 when the government abolished the quango British Waterways, which previously managed canals and rivers, and transferred the assets to the new charity.

The Charity 100 Index is produced by Civil Society News in partnership with Charity Finance magazine. It ranks the UK’s biggest charities by their average total income over the last three years. It excludes charities which are government-controlled.  The minimum income requirement for admission to the Index rose by 10 per cent this year to £57m. Last year the minimum income rise was 3 per cent.

Other new entrants include the Orders of St John Care Trust, a residential nursing home (45), the International Rescue Committee UK (56), the Grace Trust, (60), and the Pirbright Institute (80).  City Bridge Trust and Motability were promoted from the 250 Index.

There was little change at the top with those ranked one to seven remaining unchanged. The Wellcome Trust moved from 11th to eighth place and Marie Stopes jumped from 21st to 14th.

The top ten are:

1. Nuffield Health – £670m
2. Cancer Research UK – £582m
3. National Trust – £469m
4. CAF – £401m
5. Oxfam – £381m
6. United Church Schools Foundation – £328m
7. Save the Children – £322m
8. Wellcome Trust – £287m
9. Salvation Army – £287m
10. British Heart Foundation – £276m

View the news release

Find out more about the historic building and monuments work of the Canal and River Trust

A £20 million investment project for York Minster involving over 16 miles of scaffolding, 157 stained glass window repairs and 11 conservation apprenticeships has been concluded, marking the end of ‘one of the largest conservation and restoration projects of its kind in Europe’.

York Minster writes:
A five year project which has seen a £20million investment in York Minster and one of the largest conservation and restoration projects of its kind in Europe has come to an end. To celebrate the completion of York Minster Revealed, a traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony took place at the cathedral on yesterday, 31 March, with hundreds of people who have been involved with the project gathering outside the cathedral’s newly unveil East Front to toast its completion.  The project, which has been supported by a generous £10.5m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), has included work to restore and conserve the cathedral’s 600-year-old East Front and Great East Window, which is the largest single expanse of medieval stained glass in the country.

Other activity has included the creation of a new state-of the-art visitor attraction, Revealing York Minster in the Undercroft, investment in stonemason and glazier apprenticeships, the development of an adult learning programme and outreach work to engage with new communities.

The Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, the Dean of York, said: ‘York Minster Revealed has seen a huge investment in the cathedral which has not only preserved irreplaceable medieval stonework and stained glass for generations to come, but changed the culture of the cathedral.  As well as helping to transform the experience of visiting the cathedral, the project has enabled us to become more outward facing and forge new relationships across the region, and it is these relationships which will help us to continue to develop York Minster for the future.  We are extremely grateful to both the Heritage Lottery Fund and the York Minster Fund who we have worked in partnership with throughout the project – without their support we wouldn’t have been able to achieve all that has been done over the last five years.’

Carole Souter, Chief Executive of HLF, said: ‘York Minster never fails to impress: centuries of history and craftsmanship, brought together in one spectacular building.  Today we’re celebrating the achievements of the York Minster team: a wide-ranging group of skilled people, from stonemasons and glaziers to curators and learning specialists, who have both restored and opened up one of our finest cathedrals.  I hope National Lottery players will be proud of what their contribution has achieved; our thanks go to them and the many supporters of this great project.’

Charles Dent, chairman of the Trustees of the York Minster Fund, said: ‘It has been a great privilege to work in partnership with the Chapter of York on the York Minster Revealed project and to have helped to bring it to a successful conclusion. What has been achieved is a remarkable testament to the skill and professionalism of all who have been involved’.

Key highlights from the project have included:

• Restoration and Conservation:
  • The work to conserve and restore York Minster’s East Front and Great East Window has been one of the largest projects of its kind in Europe.
  • For nearly 12 years, the cathedral’s East Front has been covered in around 16 miles of scaffolding, while nearly 2500 stones have been cut or repaired by York Minster’s stonemasons.
  • The project has involved conserving and restoring panels from the 600-year-old Great East Window, which is the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the country and of international importance.
  • The window’s conservation has involved using groundbreaking new material, with the Minster being the first building in the UK to use a revolutionary new UV resistant glass in its external protective glazing.
  • In total, 157 stained glass panels from the Great East Window have been completed and returned to the window as part of the five year project. The remaining 154 panels are currently being painstakingly conserved and restored by York Glaziers Trust and will be returned to the window in early 2018.
• Revealing York Minster in the Undercroft:
  • A new state-of-the-art attraction developed beneath the cathedral allows visitors to explore 2000 years of history through interactive underground chambers.
  • The Undercroft remains the only accredited museum in a cathedral in the country.
• Apprenticeships: the project has transformed the lives and career prospects of 11 young people by creating apprenticeships in stonemasonry and stained glass conservation.

View the press release