IHBC NewsBlogs

Sixteen organisations are set to receive assistance from Arts Council England under the Large Capital Grants programme which covers works to buildings, including the Writers’ Centre Norwich (Grade I listed) which is building a new wing and developing the existing space, and Derby Museums which plans to transform the world’s first factory site into a ‘creative and inspirational 21st century space’.

Arts Council England writes:
Today we are announcing that 16 organisations across the country have been invited to apply for the second stage of our Large Capital Grants programme.  The programme supports organisations to improve existing buildings to make them more economically and environmentally sustainable and gives organisations the right buildings and equipment to support their work. 

Most of these 16 projects focus on the refurbishment or extension of existing arts buildings. They range from upgrades of spaces to large scale renovations.  The successful applicants will now be invited to complete a stage two application within the next 18 months, showing plans at a detailed stage of design and development.  Projects will then be assessed on long-term sustainability and resilience, the potential for partnership funding, and ability to manage and deliver the work proposed. Funding of £57 million will be available should they be successful at this stage. 

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England said:  ‘This programme is about backing a wide range of really exciting proposals to allow our arts and cultural organisations to thrive, for the benefit of artists and audiences across the country.  We look forward to seeing the second stages of these applications so that we can help to get these projects off the ground, to help enhance the arts and cultural infrastructure around the country.’

‘We plan to run one further capital round for large grants during the 2015-2018 period with a budget of £43 million and this is most likely to be launched in the second quarter of 16/17’

View the press release

View the full list of successful projects

Scottish government and energy company SSE have confirmed that they intend to appeal against a legal ruling on a planned 67-turbine wind farm as, earlier this month, a judge said the government’s decision to approve Stronelairg Wind Farm was ‘defective’ after the landscape charity, the John Muir Trust (JMT), sought the review.

Following a judicial review at the Court of Session, Lord Jones said ministers reached their decision in breach of environmental obligations.

The Scottish government has now said: ‘Scottish ministers have considered the judgement of Lord Jones in relation to the petition lodged by the John Muir Trust for the judicial review of the Scottish ministers’ decision to grant consent to construct and operate the Stronelairg Wind Farm… Scottish ministers are appealing the decision.’

BBC News Item 1 & Item 2

The guidance on dealing with tree preservation orders (TPO’s) has been revised, affecting appeal guidance for applications for consent to cut down or carry out work on a tree protected by a tree preservation order. 

The Planning Inspectorate writes:
The appeal guidance has been amended, in the main, to take out references to the spirit of the Town and Country Planning Rules for Hearings and Inquiries and updates to section 20 in the guidance – ‘How We Use Personal Information’. 

View the new updated guidance

IHBC NewsBlogs on trees

On 1 January the new Infrastructure and Projects Authority was launched, provide expertise, knowledge and skills at managing and delivering major economic projects for the government. 

The Infrastructure and Projects Authority writes:
The new Infrastructure and Projects Authority starts today and will provide expert support for the government’s major economic projects.

A new organisation comes into existence today to provide expertise, knowledge and skills at managing and delivering major economic projects for the government.

The new Infrastructure and Projects Authority, brings together the 2 existing bodies, Infrastructure UK (IUK) and the Major Projects Authority (MPA). It brings together under one roof for the first time, financing, delivery and assurance of projects. These range from large scale infrastructure projects such as Crossrail and the Thames Tideway Tunnel to major transformation programmes such as Universal Credit.

The new organisation reports jointly to the Chancellor and Minister for the Cabinet Office. Its Chief Executive is Tony Meggs, who was previously the current Chief Executive of the MPA.

The Chancellor George Osborne said: Bringing together Infrastructure UK and the Major Projects Authority and creating the new National Infrastructure Commission is the next step in our plan to make sure we no longer trail our rivals when it comes to building the vital infrastructure our economy needs.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office, Matt Hancock said: Having one organisation to ensure the effective delivery of such vital Government projects makes perfect sense. It will bring together project expertise, with funding authority, to challenge and support projects that will benefit the British economy and benefit taxpayers.

View the press release

Historic England have launched a consultation on new guidance relating to historic graffiti, with a closing date of 5 February. 

Historic England writes:
The aim of Recording Historic Graffiti: Advice and Guidance is to provide anyone working in the historic environment with basic advice and guidance for the systematic recording of graffiti of all types and ages. It aims to introduce:

• the range and types of graffiti
• provide practical advice on recording techniques
• give some indication as to the range of information that can be learnt

We’d like to get your views on all elements of the guidance. We’ve created a comments form to help capture your thoughts. Please send your feedback by Friday 5 February 2016, using this form (linked below)

View the consultation and comments form

The benefits of a HLF Skills for the Future programme for traditional building skills in Wales, the Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme, have been highlighted recently by Cadw. 

CADW writes:
Traditional skills in Wales are being safeguarded with the announcement of a third year of funding for the successful Skills for the Future programme from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  The Skills for the Future programme provides much needed financial support for bursary schemes to deliver training and qualifications in traditional building skills.

One of the courses that has benefited in this programme is the Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme for Displaced Apprentices (TBSBS) which has offered apprenticeships to learners part-way through their training in a traditional building skill.

Placements allow the apprentice to complete their vocational qualification to become fully qualified in their trade. At the same time they develop the understanding and skills required to work on historic buildings. The scheme is run by the National Trust and supported by Cadw, Historic England and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

Lime plastering, stonemasonry and carpentry are just some of the skills which can be learned on another traditional building skills scheme that Cadw supports – the Building our Heritage Bursary Scheme, run by the Tywi Centre.  This course offers opportunities to work alongside skilled heritage builders and to achieve NVQ level 3 in Heritage Skills (construction) in Wales.

Jill Fairweather, Inspector of Historic Buildings, said: ‘These schemes are helping to ensure that there is a pool of craftsmen and women with the right skills to look after the high percentage of buildings in Wales that are of traditional construction.’  She added: ‘The bursary schemes and the students, past and present, also play an important role in raising public awareness of the need to maintain their buildings using appropriate building materials and techniques. This is contributing towards the Welsh Government priorities on skills and job creation, as well as helping to ensure that we have a well cared for built historic environment.’

The Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme created 41 apprenticeships across England and Wales in the last phase of the programme. The Tywi Centre has also trained 55 students on its Foundations in Heritage Bursary Scheme, 30 students on the Building our Heritage Bursary Scheme and 10 on its Women into Construction course. These apprentices have all been trained in Wales and the majority are now working in the heritage construction industry in Wales.

Helena Burke, Heritage Bursary Officer at the Tywi Centre said ‘Many of our students have benefitted from working on Cadw funded projects for example Yr Hen Gapel, Leighton Farm, Insole Court, Cardigan Castle and Llanelly House. Such projects provide valuable insight into the complexities of repairing and restoring old buildings and fantastic opportunities to learn skills from experienced trades’ people’

Nell Hellier, Tywi Centre Manager said: ‘‘The Tywi Centre Bursary Schemes have developed a pool of qualified craftsmen and women who understand appropriate repair and maintenance of old buildings, working in the construction industry in Wales.  Our aim is to have a fully functioning heritage construction market place and over the next few years work on developing demand for these much needed skills.’

For more information about the scheme and to view the press release  go to the Cadw website

For more information on these schemes and how to apply for a work placement opportunity in traditional buildings, visit the Heritage Bursary Scheme page on the Tywi Centre website

With the turning of the year, new archive information is made available across the UK, below we have selected a few which may be of interest to IHBC members.

• Scottish Executive papers from 2000
• 1986- 1988 Prime Minister’s Office records in the National Archives
• Records from Central Secretariat and Northern Ireland Office files 
• Family history records from Scotland with the introduction of 1940’s civil marriage laws
• World War One hospital diaries 
• 1939 census records, including maps

IHBC NewsBlogs on archives

Developers who clear-felled trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) at Blacknest Park near Ascot will have to replace the woodland, as required by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM), following an unsuccessful challenge in the Court of Appeal.

RBWM writes:
The owners of Blacknest Park in Ascot will have to replace the trees they cut down at the woodland site following an unsuccessful appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Distinctive Properties (Ascot) Limited, a development company, bought the 6.4 hectare site close to Virginia Water in 2010. In about April or May 2012 an area of about 0.8 hectares was clear-felled, despite there being a tree preservation order (TPO) in place. This TPO expressly requires the consent of the Royal Borough before any tree removal can take place.

As a result the Royal Borough issued a tree replacement notice (TRN) on 15 January 2014 to secure the reinstatement of the woodland in the area concerned. This required the landowner to plant 1,280 trees in total including alder, willow, English oak and beech.

On 15 August 2014 the planning inspector upheld the council’s decision to issue the TRN.

Distinctive Properties appealed to the High Court and then the Court of Appeal but both appeals have now been dismissed.

This final hearing at the Court of Appeal took place on Tuesday 17 November and the judgment was delivered on Tuesday 8 December.

Distinctive Properties’ appeal was based on their disputation of the number, as there were only 27 tree stumps visible. The Royal Borough countered that the area had been clear-felled with much of the woodland burnt or disposed of and the figure of 1,280 was a reasonable estimate.

The company’s appeal to the court was based on the inclusion of saplings in this number, but Lord Justice Jackson, Lady Justice Gloster and Sir David Keene agreed that woodland includes saplings and small trees and the council was correct to include them in the count.

The owners now have to comply with the terms of the TRN.

Cllr Christine Bateson, cabinet member for Ascot and the Sunnings, said: ‘This verdict is wonderful news. Residents will be delighted to hear that trees will be reinstated at this cherished woodland site.’

Cllr Derek Wilson, cabinet member for planning, said: ‘Well done to our tree and legal teams for the excellent work they have carried out in this long-running case.’ 

RBWM news release 

New legislation has been introduced to ensure that planning takes due account of the potential effect of policies and site allocations on the use of Welsh, with a revised technical advice note being issued

The Welsh Government writes:
Under section 11 of the Planning Act, it is now a requirement that every planning authority when preparing or revising the local development plan gives consideration to how the policies and site allocations are likely to impact on use of the Welsh language in their area.

Section 31 clarifies that the language may be considered in decisions where it is material to the application. Putting this into legislation will give planning officers and elected officials the clarity and certainty to consider the language in their decision making where it is appropriate to do so.To coincide with this, the Welsh Government has issued a revised Technical Advice Note 20: Planning and the Welsh Language for a 3-month public consultation.

Planning Minister Carl Sargeant said the commencement of the provisions is an important milestone which establishes the consideration given to the Welsh language in the planning system, and will ensure consistency across Wales.

Carl Sargeant said: ‘TAN 20 has been revised to give more detail to planning authorities on how to build Welsh language considerations into the Local Development Plan strategy and policies.  Local planning authorities can define areas where the language is particularly sensitive or significant in their Local Development Plans, and there will be a role for stakeholders to assist with that work.  Updating our planning policies and guidance on the Welsh language complements the aspirations and goals of the Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015, which includes ‘A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language.’

Welsh Gov news

View the TAN

Following some controversies over timing for consultation on its proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – after Clive Betts wrote to communities secretary Greg Clark to protest at the short deadline for responses to its consultation (of just six weeks including the Christmas period) – the Government has bowed to that pressure and extended the period, as the new deadline for comments is 22 February.

Read more at brownfieldbriefing

UK Gov Consultations

New research from the Local Government Association (LGA) has revealed the extent of land banking in England, with 475,647 homes in England being given planning permission but have yet to be built. 

The Local Government Association (LGA) writes:
New research published today reveals there are a record 475,647 homes in England which have been given planning permission but have yet to be built.  The study, commissioned by the Local Government Association and carried out by industry experts Glenigan, shows this bumper backlog has grown at a rapid pace over the past few years.  In 2012/13, the total of unimplemented planning permissions was 381,390 and in 2013/14 it was 443,265.

The LGA said that the figures underline the need for councils to be able to invest in building more homes and also for the skills shortage affecting the construction industry to be addressed.  Council leaders also want powers to charge developers full council tax for every unbuilt development from the point that the original planning permission expires.

The LGA, which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, also said:

• developers are taking longer to complete work on site. It now takes 32 months, on average, from sites receiving planning permission to building work being completed – 12 months longer than in 2007/8
• the number of planning applications being granted planning permission in 2014/15 was 212,468 – this is up from 187,605 in 2007/08 and is higher than all previous years
• councils still approve nine in every 10 applications
• while the construction industry’s forecasted annual recruitment need is up 54 per cent from 2013, there are 10,000 fewer construction qualifications being awarded by colleges, apprenticeships and universities
• there were 58 per cent fewer completed construction apprenticeships last year than in 2009.

Cllr Peter Box, LGA Housing spokesman, said: ‘These figures conclusively prove that the planning system is not a barrier to house building. In fact the opposite is true, councils are approving almost half a million more houses than are being built, and this gap is increasing.  While private developers have a key role in solving our chronic housing shortage, they cannot build the 230,000 needed each year on their own. To tackle the new homes backlog and to get Britain building again, councils must have the power to invest in building new homes and to force developers to build homes more quickly.  Skills is the greatest barrier to building, not planning. If we are to see the homes desperately needed across the country built and jobs and apprenticeships created, councils must be given a leading role to tackle our growing construction skills shortage, which the industry says is one of the greatest barriers to building.

‘Devolving careers advice, post-16 and adult skills budgets and powers to local areas would allow councils, schools, colleges and employers to work together to help unemployed residents and young people develop the vital skills to build.  New homes are badly-needed and councils want to get on with the job of building them. If we are to see a genuine end to our housing crisis we have to be given the powers to get on with it.’

Read more at WiredGov

Helen Hayes, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood (Labour Party) introduced a debate on the planning aspects of the Housing Bill in a Commons session on 5 January, stating that ‘this Bill has no vision for planning… It weakens our plan-led system and erodes the ability of the planning system to deliver high-quality, beautiful, sustainable places’.

Of particular interest to members may be the example given of the potential issues with the use of planning permission in principle, citing the example of considerations within a historic town centre: 

Let us take, for example, a brownfield site in a historic town centre. It might be possible to judge without too much detailed information that 10 housing units could be developed on the site, and permission in principle could therefore be given, but there may be archaeological remains below the ground, and issues such as the massing of development and the style of the architecture might be absolutely critical in determining whether development on the site is acceptable. (Hansard 5 Jan 2016, Column 221)

View the full text of the debate

View the Parliament TV showing of the debate

The Princes Regeneration Trust (PRT) are working on the Wedgwood Institute in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent (one of England’s most ‘at risk’ Victorian buildings) and have managed to secure an initial development grant of £420,000 from HLF, with £130,000 from Stoke City Council, and a further a further £4.2million is to be raised by the PRT.

The Prince’s Regeneration Trust (PRT) writes:
The restoration of one of England’s most ‘at risk’ Victorian buildings, the Wedgwood Institute in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, has been given a huge boost after the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) pledged almost £2.6 million of funding towards the project.

The Prince’s Regeneration Trust (PRT) is delighted to announce that the HLF has provisionally approved our funding bid to restore the Wedgwood Institute and has agreed to provide a £420,000 initial development grant towards design and project development work.  The Grade II* listed building is being brought back to life by PRT and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.  We are seeking funding for the main phase of works, which is expected to cost about £6.9 million in total and will transform the building into an enterprise hub and centre for start-up businesses.

The HLF expression of support is a massive step forward for this ambitious regeneration project to save the Institute from dereliction. On top of £130,000 already provided by Stoke City Council, it means about 40% of the cash is now in place, leaving a further £4.2million to be raised by PRT.  Subject to further funding being secured, work on the main phase of the project is expected to start in spring 2017, with the fully redeveloped Institute due to open in 2018-19. PRT estimates that the Institute could provide space for around 20 to 25 businesses, creating up to 150 jobs for local people, as well as room for business meetings, professional training and mentoring and community facilities.

Early next year, PRT and Stoke Council will start consulting with the local community in Burslem on their plans for the building. We will take all views into account before deciding how best to redevelop the building for modern use.

The £420,000 of development funding will go towards design and planning work up to the point that the project is ready to be delivered as well as surveys into the state of the building. It will also pay for a Burslem-based project officer who, up until the main phase of work begins, will lead the delivery of community engagement and education activities and will manage the interim uses of the building. 

View the press release

Candidates are sought for four places on the Church Buildings Council to be vacant from 1 May, with a closing date of Friday 22 January 2016 at 5pm.

ChurchCare, writes:
The Secretary of State at the DCMS nominates four members of the Church Buildings Council. There are four vacancies from 1 June 2016.

The Cathedral and Church Buildings Division (ChurchCare) supports the preservation and development of the Church of England’s 16,000 church buildings (12,500 of which are listed) for worship, mission and community engagement.

The Secretary of State’s nominees are expected to have, between them, special knowledge of or expertise in history, architecture, archaeology and aesthetics.

The Secretary of State’s nominees form half of the Statutory Advisory Committee which gives formal advice to the Church Commissioners over churches being considered for closure and that are closed for regular worship.

It is important that nominees should also play a full part in the work of the Council as a whole and this will include working on wider policy issues related to church buildings. 

DCMS writes;
Under the Dioceses, Pastoral, and Mission Measure (see Annex i for further details), the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport nominates 4 suitably qualified individuals for appointment to the Church Buildings Council by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. Four places will be vacant from 1 May 2016. 

The Secretary of State’s nominees are expected to include four people who, between them, have special knowledge of or expertise in history, architecture, archaeology and aesthetics.

The Secretary of State’s nominees form half of the Statutory Advisory Committee which gives formal advice to the Church Commissioners over churches being considered for closure and that are closed for regular worship. It is important that nominees should also play a full part in the work of the Council as a whole.

Person Specification
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport will nominate four individuals to sit on the Council, and on the Statutory Advisory Committee. Nominees will be able to demonstrate the following competences:

• policy work relating to managing a large collection of buildings;
• the liturgical use of church buildings;
• the wider use and development of church buildings;
• the future of church buildings not regularly needed for worship;
• raising and granting funds for the conservation and development of church buildings and furnishings;
• technical or specialist issues relevant to the care of church buildings and furnishings.

And an understanding of:

• architectural or art history;
• the wider built heritage sector 

How to Apply
Candidates should submit a letter of application demonstrating how they meet the requirements for the role, together with a CV and completed additional forms (attached) by email or hard copy to:

David Knight
Church Buildings Council
Church House
Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3AZ

David.knight@churchofengland.org

See more at http://www.churchcare.co.uk/about-us/campaigns/news/945-join-church-buildings-councl#sthash.6UVlcixE.dpuf

For appointments details see http://publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/appointment/church-buildings-council-members/

http://www.churchcare.co.uk/about-us/campaigns/news/945-join-church-buildings-councl

A deal to buy a Banksy mural on a house near GCHQ and place it in ‘safe hands’, is being negotiated by a local council after the ‘Spy Booth’ artwork, showing three figures ‘snooping’ on a telephone box, appeared in Cheltenham last year. 

The BBC writes:
The ‘unauthorised’ mural was granted retrospective planning permission but has been repeatedly vandalised and with ‘apparent’ attempts made to remove it.

The council said: ‘The first task is to achieve a value for the transfer which can be agreed by all parties.’

The artwork appeared on the side of an end-of-terrace house in Fairview Road, three miles from government listening post GCHQ, in April 2014.

Since then it has been daubed with white paint, sprayed with silver and red graffiti, had people trying to steal it and businesses and communities fighting over ownership.

Last September in a bid to fix the damage ‘apparently’ done in an ‘abortive attempt’ to remove the Banksy, the property’s owners were served a notice by Cheltenham Borough Council.

But with the authority now in ‘on-going negotiations’ to transfer ownership of the property ‘into safe hands’, councillor Andrew McKinlay said it had ‘postponed’ further action.

‘If this proves possible, the council will more easily be able to ensure the restoration and longer term protection of the Banksy,’ he said.

‘It is not proposed for this transfer to be at the council’s cost but the first task is to achieve a value for the transfer which can be agreed by all parties.’

So far, the council has been unable to find a ‘reliable and realistic’ price for the property but Mr McKinlay said if negotiations fail it would be taking ‘further enforcement action’. 

BBC News item 1 and News item 2

ITV News item

UK Local Gov article

IHBC members are reminded that on 1 January 2016 the new simplified Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2015 come into force, as ChurchCare, the Church of England’s national resource, has recently reported.

IHBC Policy Secretary David Kincaid said: ‘The changes to the faculty Jurisdiction Rules seem to be sensible – a simplification of the existing process that should allow minor works of repair and maintenance to go ahead without a faculty.’

‘There is a new national list of works that do not require a faculty – List A – and a schedule of works that can be carried with the archdeacon’s approval but do not need a faculty – List B.

The various works are generally minor and should not affect ‘special interest’. List B does include treatment against woodworm and fungal attack which can be destructive of historic fabric, so hopefully the archdeacon in consultation with the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) will keep the excesses of woodworm treatment in check.’

ChurchCare writes:
There is a new national ‘A List’ of works which can be carried out on your church without a Faculty. This replaces all Diocesan De Minimus and Minor Works lists.

There is a new national ‘B List’ of works which can be carried out once the written permission of the Archdeacon has been obtained. Most of these will be repairs and routine maintenance or small works identified in the QI report. The Archdeacon must consult the DAC (usually via the Secretary) for informed informal advice, but this should be a speedy and simple process enabling parishes to get on with the work without delay. The Archdeacon may set conditions on the way the works are carried out.

All other works will still require a Faculty, although the process has been simplified in a number of respects. Your DAC Secretary will be able to advise you about the best way forward.

Further background on the new Rules is available as follows:

– A note from the Dean of Arches and Auditor which summarises the changes made by the Rules

– An explanatory memorandum that sets out the aspects of the 2013 Rules to be replaced by the 2015 Rules

See the full Rules

The A List can be found in Schedule I, Table 1 of the Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2015

The B List can be found in Schedule I, Table 2 of the Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2015

A list of DAC Secretaries …

To help you work with the new Lists A and B we have produced a list of Frequently Asked Questions

Churchcare article

Towns in England are being left behind their neighbouring cities, with many under-performing in terms of health, education and employment, new analysis by Demos consultants, ‘Talk of the Town’, has revealed as it found three in five of satellite towns are lagging behind their urban neighbours and warns of a ‘concerning’ gulf between the socio-economic performance of towns and cities, calling for a more balanced level of regional economic growth.

Demos writes:
The ‘Talk of the Town’ report was undertaken to map the fortunes of the satellite towns orbiting 21 of England’s largest cities, and to better understand their distinct characteristics. With cross-party agreement on the need for a more balanced level of regional economic growth throughout the UK, the report seeks to capture the unique local profiles and needs of both towns and cities – and identify where they could most benefit from targeted support. 

As part of this project, Demos has built an interactive dashboard mapping the socio-economic performance of towns and cities across England…

See the Demos summary

UK Local Gov article