The IHBC and Historic Towns Forum seek your views on conservation practice today, and how it fits in with wider planning, place-making and management of the built environment throughout the UK, with a survey questionnaire closing on Friday 19 February’.
For more background see IHBC NewsBlogs
Three Victorian towns are among the coastal communities have been granted a share of £4.7million from the Heritage Lottery Fund under the Townscape Heritage Initiative Scheme (THI), with £14m in total being shared among applicant towns in the UK.
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) writes:
Three Victorian towns have joined an ever-growing tally of coastal communities refurbished with money from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Cleethorpes, Rothesay and St Austell will share £4.7million to renovate buildings, create jobs and training and help secure their long-term future as thriving tourist destinations.
The money for these coastal towns is part of a £14m pot announced today for nine Townscape Heritage projects spread across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, creating 14 jobs, more than 2,000 training places and hundreds of volunteering opportunities.
HLF Chair, Sir Peter Luff, said: ’Historic town centres are the beating heart of communities, so where they fall into disrepair, the community pays a heavy price. Research* shows that this can be changed and that even small changes – improving shop fronts or restoring architectural features – can make a real difference. That’s what the Townscape Heritage scheme does so successfully, providing a boost for local economies, with vital employment and training opportunities, start-up spaces for small businesses and enhanced public places for residents and visitors. Townscape Heritage funding has made a huge difference to communities across the UK and this is only possible thanks to National Lottery players.’
HLF’s Townscape Heritage programme has awarded £274m to 300 townscape-focused projects over the past 20 years, funding partnerships between local authorities, businesses and community groups and helping to halt and reverse the decline of some of our best-loved historic townscapes.
In Cleethorpes the funding will be used to ensure that the distinctive architecture is preserved on two important streets connecting the town and the seafront. In Rothesay, the grant will help revitalise some of the properties which visitors first see when arriving by ferry, including the historic Winter Gardens, buildings on the main seafront road and the Victorian public conveniences on the West Pier.
Meanwhile, the St Austell project will rejuvenate the town centre by improving historic buildings and public areas, creating opportunities to deliver skills training to local people.
The full list of projects to be funded
View the press release
IHBC NewsBlogs on funding
The re-appointment of five existing members of the Historic Buildings Council has been announced by Northern Ireland Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan.
DoENI writes:
Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan, today announced the re-appointment of five existing members of the Historic Buildings Council for a three year term, effective from 1 March 2016. In addition, to facilitate the recruitment of new members and ensure continuity, the terms of seven members who have already served two terms have been extended by three months until 31 May 2016.
Welcoming the re-appointments, Mark H Durkan said: ‘Our built heritage is not only an important part of our lives and communities but is a major element in economic growth, tourist numbers and spend. ’The Historic Buildings Council can help inform government how best to maintain built heritage for future generations and positively develop our assets to realise their full and true potential. I would like to thank all members for their valuable service on the council to date.’
Established in 1973, the Council is an Advisory Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department of the Environment and provides independent advice to the Department on the listing of buildings, the general state of listed buildings and other matters relating to their preservation and the contribution they make to our communities and economy.
View the press release
Proposals for works to Liverpool Lime Street area within the World Heritage Site Buffer Zone are being challenged by SAVE in the Court Of Appeal, while an appeal has been set up to help fund the costs.
SAVE writes:
SAVE applies to the Court of Appeal to save Liverpool Lime Street and the Futurist Cinema, all of which are in the World Heritage Site Buffer Zone. SAVE considers it too important a site to be demolished for student housing and a shopping mall.
Today SAVE will file an appeal with the Court of Appeal over Liverpool City Council (‘LCC’) and Neptune Developments’ proposals to demolish more than ten buildings on Liverpool Lime Street, which is located in the World Heritage Site Buffer Zone. We consider that insufficient consultation took place before the Council determined the future of Liverpool’s gateway street from which the famous railway station takes its name.
SAVE is applying for Permission to Appeal on three grounds, that can be broken down into several points. These include:
SAVE also considers that the issue of how LCC consults with the UK’s World Heritage Committee and DCMS is crucial in order to protect Liverpool’s World Heritage Site in the future. This also has wider importance for other World Heritage Sites in England and Wales. The current system of consultation is not clear and is not achieving the necessary level of protection.
SAVE challenged LCC’s decision to grant planning permission in the High Court on the grounds that they had failed to notify DCMS (who would then decide whether to notify the WHC) about the application, before permission was granted, even though the development may have impacted upon the OUV of the WHS.
In turn, DCMS did inform the WHC about the plans but only after they had been approved. This meant proper consultation could not take place.
Mrs Justice Patterson who presided over the hearing in Manchester’s High Court in December dismissed SAVE’s challenge. SAVE does not agree with her decision and considers that there are strong grounds for an Appeal.
SAVE is fundraising to help cover its legal costs and is heartened by the response to our fundraising appeal over the last three weeks, to which over 60 people have contributed over £3,000, including contributions from the Merseyside Civic Society, the Cinema and Theatres Association, Professor John Belchem, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool University, Paula Ridley CBE, former chairman of Civic Voice and former chair of the V&A Museum, and British screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce, writer of the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.
We will continue to fundraise: the Fundraising Appeal has allowed support for the retention and repair of Lime Street to be galvanised.
SAVE Director Clem Cecil says: ‘We are heartened by the response to our Fundraising Appeal. It is important to remember that despite Lime Street’s present dilapidated appearance, repairing the street could lead to a significant uplift, improving the economy of the area and creating a place where people want to spend time.
‘Liverpool’s WHS is at risk due to inappropriate development, of which this is a continuation. This is something that DCMS and Secretary of State John Whittingdale should be taking seriously.’
SAVE is being represented by Susan Ring and Harry Campbell of Richard Buxton Environmental and Public Law and QC Richard Harwood of 39 Essex Chambers.
View the press release and more information on the campaign
Hays Recruitment have issued a report into salaries and working trends in the construction and property professions over 2015, revealing an upturn towards pre-recession levels.
Hays Recruitment writes:
The construction recruitment market is now operating close to pre-recession levels, with all site-based staff experiencing heavy demands for their services. The improving conditions are squeezing an already limited supply of talent, forcing employers to move faster and look further in order to fill vacancies.
View the news release
View the full survey and interactive results by area
The Intercultural Cities network has published new guidance and revised its website, offering opportunities relating to cultural diversity in cities throughout Europe.
The Council of Europe writes:
The Intercultural Cities programme is launching its new website. The website has been entirely updated to make a wider audience aware of the programme’s approach to the management of cultural diversity in cities. The new web site has an improved navigation and better structured information. You will find information about activities organised by the Intercultural Cities programme, city profiles and Intercultural cities INDEX reports, good practice examples of intercultural approach in a range of policy fields which could facilitate the development of intercultural strategies, as well as the modalities for joining the Intercultural Cities network.
View the news release
View the Intercultural Cities website
New best practice guidelines have been released for the ‘Considerate Constructor’ scheme, which come into force in May, including provisions on addressing skills shortages, and checking the training of staff
CITB writes:
An updated set of best-practice criteria has been put together to support the construction sector in doing its utmost to boost the image of the industry. The Monitors’ Checklist is part of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, launched with the aim of supporting the building trade to show itself in the best possible light. It will be used during visits to construction sites, companies and suppliers to assess the performance of industry stakeholders against the Code of Considerate Practice.
Among the latest additions to the checklist are questions designed to determine whether the sector is doing enough to tackle problems caused by the shortfall in skilled labour. One question asks what sites are doing to improve the overall image of the industry and to attract and retain the workforce of the future. Further new sections seek to root out illegal workers and modern slavery, asking how sites are monitoring the legitimacy and competency of their staff.
Members of the scheme now have until May 1 to familiarise themselves with the updated checklist before it is put into practice during assessments. Some 18,000 visits to sites, companies and suppliers are carried out each year, with the results used to paint a general picture of the state of the sector.
The Considerate Constructors Scheme was set up in 1997 and is backed by both the Government and the industry. Its aim is to promote competent management, efficiency, awareness of environmental issues and positive values such as neighbourliness. Participants in the scheme are encouraged to respect their community, protect the environment, ensure safety and value their workforce.
View the press release
Following the recent devastation in flood and storm affected areas, it has been announced that the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is to launch an inquiry into future flood prevention in England.
The Commons Select Committee writes:
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee launches an inquiry into future flood prevention in England following severe flooding this winter.
Flooding has affected many areas this winter, costing communities more than £5 billion to date and disrupting thousands of peoples’ lives and businesses. Record rainfall fell in many areas and the consequent floods overwhelmed defences in some places.
Neil Parish MP, Chair of the Committee, says: ‘Flood damage of the sort suffered by communities across the UK this winter is becoming all-too-frequent an occurrence. I know from personal experience how flooding can damage not only buildings, land and infrastructure, but how it can also devastate lives. Questions need to be answered about whether there are adequate measures in place to plan for frequent, extreme flood events. We want to see how effectively the Environment Agency predicts and prepares for floods in a changing climate. We will also be asking how far Defra policies protect communities in high risk areas from future devastation.’
Terms of reference
The Committee invites written evidence on four key topics:
As part of this inquiry, the Committee will look at flood insurance. With the new Flood Re scheme coming into operation in April, written evidence is also welcome on how accessible and affordable flood insurance will be for businesses as well as householders covered by the scheme.
The inquiry will focus on the prediction and prevention of floods in England as flood issues are devolved but comparative information on policies and practices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are welcome.
View the news release and information on how to take part
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has commented on new research into procurement by the Electrical Contractors’ Association, claiming that ‘over two thirds of councils’ may be causing smaller contractors to miss out on work.
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) writes:
Local authorities are blocking smaller businesses from competing for public sector contracts, the Federation of Master Builders has warned, in the light of new research from the Electrical Contractors’ Association that shows over two thirds of councils are neglecting to use a simplified procurement tool recommended for use across the public sector.
Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, commented: ‘It’s no wonder that construction SMEs struggle to win public contracts, when even at the first hurdle, local authorities are failing them. Using standardised pre-qualification questionnaires like PAS 91 is crucial for reducing costs and ensuring that smaller companies have a level playing field in bidding for public sector contracts. This is why Central Government has mandated the use of this system and the Local Government Association has backed its use by local authorities. Without a consistent template, even the preliminary stages of a bid become resource intensive, lending an unfair advantage to the larger contractors who have the capacity to absorb paperwork. For smaller construction companies – 40% of whom fail to win 9 out of 10 public sector contracts – it creates another unnecessary barrier to what used to be an important market for them.’
View the press release
IHBC NewsBlogs on procurement
The Environment Agency has been using laser mapping technology to help find ‘lost’ Roman Roads in England.
The Environment Agency writes:
Archaeologists are using Environment Agency laser mapping data to rediscover hundreds of kilometres of ‘lost’ Roman roads. Since 1998 the Environment Agency has used lasers to scan and map the English landscape from above to help with work such as flood modelling and tracking changing coastlines. But these LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data are also publically available and have been used to help with everything from building virtual worlds to managing forests.
This LIDAR data bonanza has proved particularly helpful to archaeologists seeking to map Roman roads that have been ‘lost’, some for thousands of years. Their discoveries are giving clues to a neglected chapter in the history of Roman Britain: the roads built to help Rome’s legions conquer and control northern England.
For decades after the 43AD invasion, a large region of the North (including Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cumbria) was controlled by a Celtic tribe known as the Brigantes. Tacitus writes that it was the collapse of the marriage between Queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes, a Roman ally, and her husband Venetius that led to a showdown with Rome. Following their divorce, Venetius organised a revolt in 69AD and Cartimandua fled. The Emperor Vespasian then sent a force under Britain’s new governor, Quintus Petilius Cerialis, to put down the rebellion and conquer northern England. Building roads to link up forts and settlements across this rugged landscape was a vital part of this decades-long conquest of the North.
David Ratledge has been researching Lancashire’s Roman roads for more than 45 years and recently used Environment Agency LIDAR data to discover 17km of a ‘lost’ Roman road from Ribchester to Lancaster.
David Ratledge said: These were the county’s most important Roman sites so good communications between them must have been essential. Rather than following the Ordnance Survey route, it took a very sensible and economical route via Longridge and Inglewhite to Catterall, near Garstang. Here it joined the main Roman road from the south heading to Lancaster. Previously in Lancashire we only had aerial photographs from the 1940s and 1960s to go on, but with photographs features only show up after a drought and we don’t get many of those! With LIDAR, once you know what to look for, it’s blindingly obvious – you just know you’ve found a road… It’s been revolutionary.
Roman roads were large structures, typically measuring 5-7 metres wide and reaching a height of around 0.5m in the centre. However, nearly two thousand years of weathering mean that they are often very difficult to spot at ground level.
David Ratledge said: The preservation of the remains varies massively. Parts of a road could still be half a metre high and easy to spot whilst in other parts it could be so subtle that you’d definitely miss it on the ground.
Experts Hugh Toller and Bryn Gethin have found at least 4 ‘lost’ Roman roads around the country using LIDAR with many more potential discoveries awaiting confirmation from fieldwork. In Cumbria, Hugh has used LIDAR data to prove the course of a road from the Roman fort at Low Borrowbridge, near Penrith, to Kirkby Thore, the site of a Roman cavalry camp. This is a missing part of a well known road called the Maiden Way that continues towards Whitley Castle and Carvoran Roman Fort, Northumbria, (near Hadrian’s Wall). LIDAR also provides evidence for a new section of this road past Kirkland.
Hugh Toller said: Often there are vague indicators of a route but not enough evidence to be sure. With LIDAR we can spot any ‘aggers’ – a Roman embankment or rampart – and if you find 2 or 3km of these running dead straight there is nothing it can be except a Roman road.
Hugh is currently working on 4 other Roman roads in northern England discovered from LIDAR that will help to reveal more about the history of Roman Britain. These run from Whitley Castle to Corbridge, from Bainbridge in Wensleydale northwards, from Ambleside to Papcastle and from Ambleside to Carlisle. There are several other ‘lost’ roads that he plans to put back on the map.
In the future there could be many more discoveries as the Environment Agency is making all 11 terabytes of its LIDAR surveys available as open data as part of the #OpenDefra initiative. These data are available for everyone to use for free through the new Survey Open Data portal.
Martin Whitworth, Deputy Director Data, Mapping, Modelling and Information at the Environment Agency, said: Archaeologists have been real pioneers in showing us what can be done with our LIDAR data. By making our LIDAR data open we hope not only to gain further insights into the past but also to inspire entrepreneurs, businesses, and communities to look to the future of how such data could be used to benefit the environment and our rural economy. From forest management to walking apps, building game worlds to deciding where to plant crops, the uses of LIDAR data are endless.
View the press release
View a LIDAR map of England and Wales
View Environment Agency Open Data
David McDonald, President of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC), was interviewed for an article on skills shortages within the Sunday Times Homes Section (31 January), while also carrying advice on sector employment from Cathie Clarke of the National Heritage Training Group (NHTG).
The IHBC related text of the article is as follows:
‘It’s as much a vocation as a job,’ says David McDonald, president of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC). If your heart races at the sight of a medieval newel post or evidence of a Tudor midden heap, then this is the job for you — and it could pay £32,000 for a local-authority conservation officer, rising to £60,000 for a director of a specialist consultancy.
‘A lot of conservation jobs were lost after the 2008 crash,’ McDonald says. ‘As the economy picks up, the absence of these skills is becoming more acute. This is only likely to get worse as infrastructure projects such as HS2 and Crossrail 2, which severely affect the historic environment, come online.’
If you have a background or qualification in planning, archaeology, surveying or cultural studies, then you are well poised to benefit from a course in conservation. A full list of IHBC-recognised courses, including diplomas, postgraduate certificates and master’s degrees, is available at ihbc.org.uk
View the full article on the NHTG website
IHBC members are reminded that 10% discounts are still available for the February 18 CPD event in Belfast covering the building conservation British Standard, BS 7913, while future events are scheduled for Belfast, on 18 February, and Bristol, on 24 March.
For the IHBC discount of 10% enter coupon code ‘IHESC415’
Buy your own IHBC-branded copy of BS7913
IHBC NewsBlogs on BS7913
The IHBC is delighted to announce CPD recognition for the day-long symposium on ‘Architecture for the contemporary church – imagining the new in the context…’ at Bristol’s St Mary Redcliffe on 23 February, with speakers to include Loyd Grossman – also keynote speaker at the IHBC’s forthcoming School in Worcester – and with tickets at only £20.29.
St Mary Redcliffe writes:
Speakers include:
Loyd Grossman: Journalist, Broadcaster and Chairman of the Churches Conservation Trust
The Right Reverend Nick Holtam: Bishop of Salisbury and former Vicar of St Martin in the Fields
Jon Cannon: Journalist, Author, Broadcaster and Architectural Historian
Andrew Kelly: Director of Bristol Cultural Development Partnership and Bristol Festival of Ideas
Benefits for attendees include:
Inform you own church project – listen to experts in church architecture and benefit from the experience of those with understand the issue facing churches in the 21st century
Rev Dan Tyndall – Vicar, St Mary Redcliffe. said:
‘All over the country churches and architects are working together on the same kind of projects – better facilities for visitors and better community use while maintaining the church as ‘a house of prayer for all nations’. This symposium brings together experts in their field. They will share their insights on heritage, culture and on spirituality. The event will help us think creatively about the challenge that is shared: inspiring architecture for the contemporary church.
We hope you will join us.’
The Historic Environment (Wales) Bill will progress to Stage 4 with the passing of the bill in plenary due on 9 February at the meeting of the National Assembly for Wales, and IHBC members and colleagues are encouraged to join in the progress by taking advantage of its strong presence across social media.
Full press releases on the outcome of stage 4 will be released following the meeting, you may wish to follow the Welsh Government Twitter account (@WG_CultureMin) for up to date information.
View the agenda and webcast for the meeting on 9 February
View information on the Bill on the Welsh Government website
View progress of the Bill to date on the National Assembly of Wales website
View information and supporting documents on the CADW website
The Scottish Government have launched an online platform where anyone can add their voice to opinions on the future of the planning system in Scotland; the Independent Review of Planning interactive site allows you to add your ideas, comment on others, vote for your favourites and see the highest rated ideas, with submissions are welcomed until 29 February.
The Scottish Government writes:
As a part of the on-going review of planning, the independent panel are keen to give anyone with a view on the Scottish planning system a further opportunity to feed in thoughts and recommendations on how the planning system can be improved.
Comments are welcomed on the six key themes, or on the wider planning system. The themes are;
Feedback gathered from this forum will be fed-back to the panel for consideration; supplementary to the formal call for written evidence.
Before posting your idea we would encourage you to search to see if somebody else has done so already. This will allow you to get involved with the conversation and interact with other users. You can do this through rating and commenting on other ideas posted.
Further information on this forum can be found on the Planning & Architecture blog. Questions to prompt discussion and thinking on the six themes can be found on the planning review webpage.
We would welcome all individuals, whether or not they submitted written evidence to the panel, to make use of this public forum to share ideas and recommendations, and to engage with those posted by others. Submissions are welcomed until 8th February 2016.
The secretariat and the independent panel will not be answering questions or responding directly to any of the comments. The forum provided is simply an open space where wider discussion can take place.
Members of the Planning Review Secretariat will moderate comments in accordance with the Scottish Government Moderation Policy.
View the Ideas page, submit your ideas and vote for your favourite or add comments on the website
View the planning and architecture blog
View the Planning Review webpage
The Law Commission has received news that conservation covenants are one step closer to becoming part of the management system for habitats and historic buildings.
The Law Commission writes:
‘We are delighted to have received the Government’s positive and encouraging response to our report on conservation covenants.
‘We recommended the introduction of a new statutory scheme of conservation covenants in June 2014. The scheme would, if implemented, allow landowners to ensure the long-term conservation of features such as habitats and historic buildings. In its formal response to these recommendations the Government says it ‘broadly agrees’ that such a scheme could contribute to the protection of England’s natural and historic assets. The response applies only to England but the position in Wales will be kept under review.
Sir David Bean, Chairman: ‘In her letter to me, Elizabeth Truss MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, thanks the Commission for our ‘excellent work’, ‘thorough analysis’ and ‘thoughtful recommendations’, and commits to exploring what part conservation covenants could play in her Department’s 25-Year Environment Plan. We remain very much of the view that conservation covenants are a versatile, effective tool that would enable charities, communities and private individuals to achieve their conservation aims for the long-term benefit of the public. We look forward to them becoming part of the fabric of conservation in England.’
View the press release
Further information on conservation covenants
IHBC NewsBlogs on conservation covenants
The Royal Borough of Greenwich has become the first planning authority to require fully public, unredacted viability assessments along with residential planning applications.
View the LocalGov website report ‘Local authority first to require developers to make viability assessments public’
View the Royal Borough of Greenwich consultation press release from last May
The Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) is now open for applications, which includes opportunities for boundary treatments under the hedgerows and boundaries capital grant, and an ideal opportunity for works involving traditional dry stone walls.
DEFRA writes:
The hedgerows and boundaries grant and woodland creation grant under the Countryside Stewardship scheme open for applications this month.
Thousands of hectares of England’s countryside are set to benefit from further protection thanks to 2 grants to be rolled out under the Countryside Stewardship scheme this month.
The new hedgerows and boundaries capital grant opens for applications today (1 February) and closes on 30 April 2016. It offers up to £5,000 for farmers who want to restore boundary features, such as hedges and stone walls, to protect their local wildlife or landscape.
The Forestry Commission’s woodland creation grant is also opening this month (16 February to 31 March 2016 for initial applications) and offers farmers and other land managers up to £6,800 per hectare to plant, weed, and protect young trees.
As well as improving the landscape, creating new woodland can support wildlife and improve water quality. It can also help to reduce flood risk as part of an integrated approach to catchment management. In the right place, woodland can play an important role in reducing flood waters, delaying their passage to watercourses, and decreasing siltation, increasing the capacity of river channels.
Farming Minister George Eustice welcomed the opening of the application rounds, saying: This Countryside Stewardship scheme has a crucial role to play in helping to restore habitats so we can see a recovery in wildlife populations like farmland birds and pollinators, while creating larger woodlands will also help reduce flood risk. Through our 25-year Environment Plan we will be looking at delivering benefits across wider landscapes and whole water catchment areas by bringing together Countryside Stewardship, flood protection and other environmental spending.
Natural England’s Chief Operating Officer, Guy Thompson, said: The new hedgerows and boundaries grant comes as we’re bringing in a whole raft of improvements – such as providing better guidance material, lengthening application windows, and introducing a new online tool – to Countryside Stewardship this year to ensure it continues to bring much-needed benefits to our natural environment. We’re seeing significant results through our agri-environment schemes, including farmers looking at ways they can improve their farming practices to reduce the risk of flooding – whether that’s through improving their crop management, creating new habitats, reducing soil erosion, or working together at a catchment-scale. We encourage farmers to apply for these grants so we can continue to make Countryside Stewardship better this year.
Richard Greenhous, Director of Forest Services for the Forestry Commission, said: We were particularly impressed by the good quality of applications we received last year to create woodlands. We want to build on that first year and look forward to working with farmers and other land managers in 2016 to help them create woodlands that are good for biodiversity and water.
The second round of the Countryside Stewardship facilitation fund, which brings together farmers, foresters and other land managers to improve their local natural environment, opened recently for submissions and will close on 18 March 2016.
Countryside Stewardship will commit around £900 million to benefitting the environment between now and 2020. This is on top of the £2 billion already committed for existing agri-environment schemes such as Environmental Stewardship.
View the press release
See the Countryside Stewardship page for more information about these grants and how to apply at UKGov
Liverpool City Council have issued a new plan for the Welsh Streets area.
Liverpool City Council news (Liverpool Express) writes:
A new plan which could lead to the regeneration of the Welsh Streets has been unveiled by Liverpool City Council.
The council’s Cabinet is being asked to approve plans to enter a six month exclusivity agreement with development company PlaceFirst, during which time they will carry out surveys and investigations before developing a new masterplan and submitting a planning application.
The firm is a specialist development company with a proven track record in converting 19th century housing into high quality homes that meet modern standards whilst retaining their original character and layout.
It is hoped a significant proportion of the 300 homes can be refurbished, with some knocked ‘three in to two’ to make them larger and appeal to families. Those in a really poor condition and too costly to repair will be demolished with the possibility of creating community open space and new properties in their place.
The move follows a decision in January 2015 by the then Secretary of State Eric Pickles to overturn his independent planning inspector’s approval for a scheme which would have seen 271 homes be replaced by 154 new houses, along with 37 refurbished terraced properties.
Mr Pickles also scrapped long standing planning and regeneration guidance which supported the need for large scale demolition, and replaced it with an approach that favours retention and refurbishment of older stock.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: ‘All we have ever done is try to do what the residents have told us and it’s important to remember 80 percent of them backed the original plans for this area. As a result of the prevarication over this scheme from different outside interest groups we have lost a £13 million Government grant. However, given that the Government has changed the planning rules we need to find a way forward in order to get this area sorted out as soon as possible and I am pleased we have been able to find a partner that is willing to look into taking on the Welsh Streets. The residents of the Welsh Streets have been in limbo for years after the Coalition Government axed the Housing Market Renewal Initiative. To add insult to injury, Eric Pickles then overturned his own planning inspector’s decision on a subsequent scheme despite it being supported by the vast majority of the local community.
‘PlaceFirst have a great track record in regenerating old houses and I know they are genuinely excited about what they can do in the Welsh Streets. I want them to crack on with the detailed survey as quickly as possible. We’ve demonstrated with the regeneration of Anfield and our Homes for a Pound scheme that we are leading the way in finding imaginative ways of retaining properties where it is viable to do so.’
Councillor Frank Hont, Cabinet member for housing, said: ‘We took some of the residents to Accrington to see some of the other projects that Place First are working on and the feedback we had from them was really positive. They are really focused on creating a new community for the area which has a long term future and I am really confident that we can come up with a scheme that delivers the best of the old and the new. I would like to thank residents for their patience, resilience and support over the last few years and sticking with the area when some of them are in poor health as a result of the conditions they are living in.’
David Smith-Milne, Managing Director and founder of PlaceFirst said ‘PlaceFirst is really excited about this project. The Welsh Streets are on the doorstep of one of Europe’s most exciting and culturally distinctive cities. They are also walking distance from two of England’s best public parks, and have the benefit of highly rated local schools within a short walk. Liverpool, like everywhere else, really needs good quality and expertly managed homes for private rent. Remodelling these Victorian properties creates an opportunity to deliver some of the most distinctive and exciting family rental homes in the city. We are looking forward to working alongside Liverpool City Council and local residents groups to develop and deliver this project’.
Irene Milson, Chair of the Welsh Streets Community Association, said: ‘This community has been waiting a long time for new homes and it is extremely frustrating that the previous scheme wasn’t approved by the Government We await with interest the details of this new set of proposals and will make our decision based on progress over the next few months.’
The report will be considered by the Cabinet on Friday 5 February
View the press release
Wentworth Woodhouse is to be purchased by Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT), under a £7 million acquisition plan as lead rescue body SAVE announces that ‘Agreement has been reached on the purchase of one of the finest houses in Britain.’
SAVE writes:
SAVE is delighted to announce that agreement has been reached with the Newbold family on the purchase of one of the finest and grandest historic houses in Britain, Wentworth Woodhouse.
The property will be purchased by the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) and will continue to be open to the public. The public opening of the property will be supported by the National Trust for the first five years. It is hoped completion of the sale will take place within two to three months.
The £7m pledged for the acquisition includes a £3.575m grant offer from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, and grants from the Monument Trust, the Art Fund, Sir Siegmund Warburg’s Voluntary Settlement and the John Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust. Pledges and donations have also been received from many individual members of the public. SAVE and the trustees of the WWPT extend their warmest thanks for all pledges and support received.
The long term strategy is for the public to visit and enjoy all the most interesting parts of the property while restoring the others for revenue-earning uses such as events and holiday lets with business units in the stables. Traditionally a historic house of this size would have required a vast endowment. This business model will provide a substantial income stream intended to cover both running costs and periodic bouts of repair.
Extensive repairs will be phased over 10 to 15 years allowing time for funds to be raised and the work to be carried out in phases while the property is opened to the public.
The Trust will build on the pioneering work of the Newbold family in opening the house to pre-booked visitors for the first time on a regular basis. An annual Clifford Newbold lecture will be held to mark the work of the Newbold family in opening the house to the public.
The trustees of the new WWPT are: The Duke of Devonshire, Lady Juliet Tadgell, Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland, Julie Kenny (Chair), Timothy Cooke, Martin Drury, and Merlin Waterson.
View the press release
See also www.savewentworth.co.uk
IHBC NewsBlogs on BPTs
A timber sculptural artwork which had attracted the attention of locals and planning officials at Purbeck District Council in the Dorset AONB has been given retrospective planning permission to be retained for up to two years.
The Dorset Post reports on the case (‘’Woodhenge‘ to be allowed to stay for two years’)
IHBC NewsBlogs on AONB issues
One of IHBC’s new members of ‘Council+’ Rachael Parry, offers a NewsBlog feature update on the Local Authority Building Control’ (LABC) Renovation day in December, in the Hotel Russell, London.
Rachael writes:
‘Local Authority Building Control’ or LABC is a privately run membership led organisation which can represent local authority building control teams in England and Wales. Their members work co-operatively with building owners, homeowners, architects, plan drawers, developers, building contractors and other professionals to ensure buildings are safe, healthy and efficient to meet the standards set by the building regulations.
LABC hold regular CPD training events to keep their members and other interested professionals up to date on changes of the regulations. This conference was predominately aimed at Planning, Building Control and Conservation Officers and professionals from across the private sector with an interest in historic buildings.
The venue, Hotel Russell, was perfectly suited to the the heritage-themes for the day. Completed in 1898, it was designed by Charles Fitxroy-Doll, who was famously known to have designed the interiors within the Titanic. The Hotel is also renowned for it being one of the first hotels in London to be built with ensuite bathrooms. It is beautifully clad in Doultons ‘The aut Lait’ architectural terracotta, with friezes of garlands and cherubs and four statutes of the Queens; Victoria, Elizabeth, Anne and Mary. The interior was equally as attractive with the foyer clad in sumptuous marble decoration with a palatial design and a Pryenean Marble staircase. Delegates enjoyed this even before the formal proceedings started!
Six speakers filled the day with diverse subjects, including IHBC Wales Branch trustee, John Edwards, consultant and lead author of one the key texts for the day, BS 7913, the British Standard on building care and conservation, and IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly.
Colin King opened the conference on a high, he brought up some interesting issues focusing on the document BS5250. He is Director of BRE Wales, and has been involved with some fascinating technical research in to traditional building performance. His recent studies have taken him to review the performance of existing walls along with existing literature and advice. He reported that there was strong evidence from observation to support lower u-values in sold walls following researching air cavities, density and moisture content.
John Edwards talked about the document (and was the lead author of) ‘Guide to the Conservation of Historic Buildings’ BS7913:2013. He stated that there were in England 22% of pre 1919 traditional buildings and highlighted that these perform differently to modern buildings, and how many professionals treat them the same without the understanding and competence of knowledge to apply different approaches. This BS document advises on philosophy, technicalities and the process of dealing with Historic buildings and highlights understanding the significance and applying a technical approach to undertaking works, it is seen to be the most authoritative UK wide building conservation guidance.
Dr Seán O’Reilly gave the audience an insight into the IHBC and the value and opportunities available of the organisation and information on the website.
It was especially useful to hear about the projects being undertaken in Bath from Philip Mansfield, the Building Control Manager at Bath and North East Somerset Council. His case studies showed a variety of systems being placed within listed buildings from Inert gas release systems, replacement glazing, fire curtains, damp proofing, new Equality Act compliant accesses and a fire safety test undertaken on a Georgian terrace. His main message was to ensure that good, practical cooperation between Building Control and Conservation Officers the good will of clients, architects and subsequently contractors results in keeping historic buildings in use and to be able to adapt them to our modern usage requirements whilst still maintaining their historic fabric, character and nature.
Other speakers included Barry Turner and Anna Thompson from the LABC, who led in the organisation of the whole event and rounded off the programme for the day most effectively.
Speakers also offered updates on exemptions and relaxation of Building Regulations when dealing with listed buildings and future working relationships and training for conservation and surveying professionals.
The day as a whole gave conservation professionals the opportunity to mix with the building control/surveying professionals and vice versa. It was especially useful to hear in some examples of where professionals were working together very successful specifically in local authorities, though there were also some surprising comments, questions and answers to the conservation professionals that highlighted the need for more understanding and cohesion between the two practice areas. Hopefully the day will ensure that both disciplines have better communication and working relationship to enable better outcomes and success stories when undertaking works to historic buildings.
NOTE ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rachael Parry is a member of the IHBC’s new UK-wide forum ‘Council+’. This forum meets twice yearly to help, advise, guide and inform the IHBC’s progress, nationally and locally. It is open to all categories of IHBC membership.
For more on the Council+ see background and links on the NewsBlog Archive and see more on the conference
For more on the LABC see the website
New information published for the first time by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has revealed that buildings deemed to have inadequate maintenance are an important factor in the refusal of insurance claims, highlighting the need to have appropriate proper and up to date insurance in place as well as keeping up to date with the care and repair of property.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) writes:
Figures published for the first time today by the ABI show pay-out rates for the most common insurance claims made during 2013 and 2014. The figures follow an analysis of claims made under motor, home and travel insurance.
The analysis was carried out to help identify where customers may need more help to understand what they are covered for, and reduce the level of declined claims. It is part of the ABI’s programme to improve customer trust and increase transparency announced by ABI Chairman Paul Evans at the ABI Biennial Conference last November. Part of this includes the recent publication of the Renewal Code for Vulnerable Customers, to help participating insurers and brokers identify and help those customers who may need extra guidance to get the best deal at the renewal of their motor and home insurance policies. The analysis covered 6.9 million claims handled by 19 insurers, split 4.3 million motor, 1.8 million home, and 800,000 travel.
Huw Evans, ABI’s Director General, said: ‘As insurers, we want our customers to have greater trust in us to pay claims when life gets difficult. We cannot earn that trust without being more transparent about how many claims are paid and why a minority of claims are usually declined. That is why the figures we are publishing today are so important. Contrary to popular belief, insurers want to pay honest claims. It helps nobody when customers have bought the wrong product or have not disclosed important information. So we will use the analysis we are publishing today to drive awareness campaigns to improve even further the acceptance rates for home and travel. Buying insurance should never just be about getting the cheapest price in the quickest time possible, it should be about ensuring you have the right product for your hour of need.’
Below is a breakdown of the claims data:
View the press release
A review of heritage provision in Wales relating to commercial/property issues is to be launched, with a feasibility study prepared by the end of March 2016 by Welsh Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords, Baroness Randerson
The Welsh Government writes:
The aim of the group will be to present Ministers with options that ensure heritage bodies across Wales deliver synergies, including:
The Task and Finish group will be asked to prepare a feasibility study by 31 March 2016.
The Deputy Minister said: ‘I’m delighted that Baroness Randerson has agreed to Chair the Task and Finish group. There is a real opportunity for the heritage sector in Wales to work better together to mutually benefit all parties involved, and Baroness Randerson will bring a wealth of experience and understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented by the sector. I’m looking forward to seeing the outcome of the group’s discussions in March.’
Commenting on her appointment, Baroness Randerson added: ‘I was delighted to be asked to lead this important review which has the potential to stimulate and expand the Welsh heritage sector. Wales is a small country, so it is vital that our heritage organisations work closely together to maximise our cultural influence and the success of our tourist industry.’
Baroness Randerson is a Welsh Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords. She is a former junior Minister in the Wales Office with specific responsibility for Culture and Heritage as well as Education. She is also a former Cardiff Councilor and was an AM from 1999 to 2011, when she was created a life peer. She was Minister for Culture, Sport and the Welsh Language in the Welsh Government from 2000 to 2003. In January 2011, she was created a life peer as Baroness Randerson, of Roath Park in the City of Cardiff and was introduced in the House of Lords on 31 January 2011, and sits on the Liberal Democrat benches. On 4 September 2012, she was appointed a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Wales Office.
View the press release
A new research briefing has been released by the House of Commons Library, outlining the similarities and differences in the planning system between different areas of the UK, offering especially useful insights into the approaches to, and the languages of, heritage management.
The House of Commons Library writes:
The differences between the way that planning legislation and policy operate in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland has changed rapidly over recent years. Find out what’s changed recently and on forthcoming changes in a January 2016 updated version of this paper.
This paper describes and compares aspects of the current land use planning systems operating in the four UK countries. In particular, given the changes introduced by the UK Coalition Government (2010-2015) and by the devolved administrations, it compares the extent to which the four planning systems now differ from each other. It also describes further changes for each country that are in the pipeline. This is an update of a previous version of this paper, of the same title, published in June 2013.
All four countries have a planning system that is ‘plan-led’. ‘Plan-led’ means that national and local planning policy is set out in formal development plans which describe what developments should and should not get planning permission, how land should be protected and seeks to ensure a balance between development and environmental protection in the public interest. Decisions on individual planning applications are made on the basis of the policies in these plans, unless there are other considerations that need to be taken into account. Each country also has definitions of types of development that are permitted without the need for a planning application and defines ‘use classes’ where change of use within a class is normally permitted. An appeal system to review decisions on applications also operates in each country. Each country also has a system in place to enforce breaches of planning consent.
Although the basic structures of the four systems are similar there are differences in the detail and in how each system works. Recent changes introduced by the UK Coalition Government (2010-2015) have seen a greater divergence between the system in England and the other three countries in the last couple of years.
England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales now each have their own primary planning legislation. The system in Northern Ireland has been changed significantly recently with passing of planning functions to local Councils. The Planning (Wales) Act 2015 received Royal Assent in July 2015, although not all of its provisions are yet in force.
This paper has been prepared as an initiative of the Inter-Parliamentary Research and Information Network (IPRIN) with contributions from research staff working for each of the four UK legislatures and is being published separately by each organisation.
View the news release and download the briefing
