IHBC NewsBlogs

The new design for the UK was launched this week with the theme of ‘Creative United Kingdom’ and features many historic buildings and elements of industrial heritage as well as architects Elisabeth Scott and Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.

HM Passport Office writes:
The latest design of the UK passport was unveiled today (Tuesday 3 November) by the Minister for Immigration, James Brokenshire, at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.  A new passport is launched every five years and the theme for the latest version is ‘Creative United Kingdom’.

The latest design features British cultural icons such as William Shakespeare, Charles Babbage, Ada Lovelace, and Anish Kapoor, as well as landmark structures like the Angel of the North and the Titanic Belfast.

Representing all 4 countries in the UK, the new designs also incorporate the latest in printing technology to ensure the security of the document remains the top priority.

Home Office Minister for Immigration, James Brokenshire, said:  ‘The UK passport has an international reputation as a trusted and secure travel document, and we work tirelessly to stay one step ahead of the criminals who attempt to abuse the UK’s immigration laws.  By using some of the most advanced technology and security measures around, the latest passport design is the most secure that the UK has ever issued.’

The latest passport is the most secure ever produced in the UK and contains brand new security features to make it more difficult than ever for fraudsters to forge copies, these include:

• advances in the use of security printing using UV and infrared light, inks and watermarks
• the use of single sheet of paper for the personal details page through to the page adjoined to the back cover to prevent the passport from being tampered with.

Her Majesty’s Passport Office Director General, Mark Thomson, said: ‘I am proud to launch the new United Kingdom passport which celebrates the creativity of Great Britain and Northern Ireland over the past 500 years to the present day.  HM Passport Office is committed to ensuring the integrity of the passport, and the chosen designs have allowed us to make use of evolving technology to further enhance its security. Not only are we constantly striving to stay one step ahead of those who seek to undermine the passport, but we have created a document that marks just some of the greatest creative achievements in the UK.’

The new passport will be rolled out in a phased approach with the first due to be in circulation from December 2015.

View the press release on the new design

View more information on the new passport design from the Passport Office

The Think Tank ‘Centre for Cities’ has published research which reveals information on why people choose to live in particular places, showing that young professionals tend to prefer city life (recommendations are also made on how to improve urban environments to continue the encouragement of city centre living).

The Centre for Cities writes:
A new report published today by the think tank Centre for Cities investigates where people in Britain choose to live and why, and the trade-offs they make in taking that decision.

Based on new analysis, and national YouGov polling, the report, ‘Urban Demographics – why people live where they do’, shows that despite concerns about high rents, poor air quality and a lack of green space, young professionals are increasingly choosing to live in UK city centres – with the number of residents aged 20-29 in large-city centres nearly tripling between 2001-2011.

The report, sponsored by leading law firm DAC Beachcroft, reveals that young people are being attracted to urban areas because of the amenities and convenience they offer, and the prospect of living close to their work-place. Over a third (39 per cent) of city centre residents surveyed in the report said that the availability of nearby restaurants, leisure and cultural facilities is a primary attraction of living in urban areas, while more than a quarter (27 per cent) said that proximity to their work-place is one of the main appeals of living in the city-centre.

In order to enjoy these benefits, the report shows that people living in UK city centres are willing to put up with what they see as excessive rents, poor air quality and a lack of green spaces. Around 31 per cent of city centre residents highlighted the cost of housing as one of the main drawbacks about their neighbourhood, while a quarter said that pollution and poor quality of environment are some of the factors they most dislike about living in urban areas.

The research shows that the growth in city-centre living highlighted in the report has been driven in part by the expansion of universities, with students now accounting for 44 per cent of the total population of large city centres.

However, this resurgence also reflects the growth of the knowledge economy in UK, and the increasing number of jobs available in city centres – with more and more businesses preferring to locate within dense urban areas where they can be close to customers, clients and competitors. For example, in cities such as Manchester, where a large number of highly-skilled jobs are based in the city centre, many students are choosing to remain living in urban areas after graduating – boosting demand and footfall for retail and leisure, and strengthening the city economy further.

The report argues that the boom in city-centre living creates big opportunities for economic growth in these cities, as well as having significant implications for how cities need to respond to people’s changing preferences. It makes a number of recommendations on how local leaders can sustain this growth in city centre living and local economies, including:

• Creating a better environment for businesses in urban areas, and making city centres a priority in efforts to attract firms and jobs – e.g. by choosing to locate enterprise zones in city centres, rather than in the outskirts
• Strategically planning housing and transport, to ensure that both are built in the right place for the right people – e.g. by building appropriate accommodation in city centres for young professionals
• Ensuring that regeneration projects include investment in skills and business growth, rather than simply focusing on physical and cultural regeneration
• Addressing the concerns of city centre residents about poor environment and lack of green spaces, by making these issues a priority in proactive planning decisions 

Commenting on the findings, Alexandra Jones, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities said: ‘This research shows how the face of UK cities has changed dramatically over the last fifteen years – with city-centres transforming from often deprived and crime-ridden areas into places where young professionals across the country increasingly want to live and work.

View the press release and download the report

The Welsh Religious Buildings Trust working with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW) has published a new website that provides a virtual museum telling the story of Welsh chapels in terms of religion, architecture, culture and society.

The website provides a range of practical information and advice for congregations and chapel owners on conservation, planning, grants and funding, and includes useful contacts and links, as well as information about supporting the Trust through volunteering and its Friend Scheme.

On the resource you can also learn about the The Welsh Religious Building Trust’s six chapels.

An important aspect of the website is the ability, for the first time, to search the RCAHMW’s Chapels Database in its entirety. Individual records containing information on history, architecture, dates, people, cost and the chapels’ current status can then be viewed alongside any digital images.

On the resource there is also a user forum which allows people to add their own images, comments and information, which will build up an archive of photographs, memories and discussions about each chapel.

For more information background see the IHBC NewsBlogs  and the website at www.welshchapels.org

The demand for industrial heritage office space in Leeds is increasing sharply according to leading global property consultancy Knight Frank.

Leeds Chamber of Commerce writes:
The example of the pioneering Round Foundry, which transformed a historic, but derelict area of the city into a thriving 21st century business location, has fuelled the desire for cutting edge office space, combining a heritage setting with modern technology, says Knight Frank.

Eamon Fox, partner and head of office agency at Knight Frank in Leeds, commented: ‘Recruitment and retention of talented staff is not just about the benefits package. Having an office that is both an inspiring and enjoyable place to work is now a critical, cost-effective way to successfully attract the most talented employees.

‘Our future offices must break the mould of the past two decades. If organisations want to attract the best and keep their workforce, they need to create spaces that their staff will want to work in. The Round Foundry, with its ground-breaking mix of the ancient and modern, has led the way in Leeds.

‘The newest generation of workers expect their office to be an inspiring and enjoyable place to work. Historically the preserve of technology and media firms, the new ideal office combines collaborative spaces with individual work areas, as well as providing amenities that encourage people to think of work as an extension of home,’ he explained.

Mr Fox cites the £1.5 million on-going refurbishment of Concordia Works in Sovereign Street, close to the Round Foundry on the banks of the River Aire, as a solution to the increasing demand for trendy office space in Leeds.

He commented: ‘The 13,922 sq ft Concordia Works is a unique and striking property, set over five floors and situated just a short walk from Leeds City Station and the main retail heart of the city. Built in the early 20th century, this former yarn and cord warehouse is being refurbished by London-based developers Boultbee Brooks with modern businesses in mind, whilst maintaining its existing structure and original period features.

‘The refurbishment, which will be completed by May next year, is a fusion of original features and modern design, creating a dynamic hi-spec loft-style workspace. The interior design respects the integrity of the warehouse’s industrial past. Exposed brickwork, trusses and cast iron columns will play a major part in the building’s new look. The result is five floors, ranging from 2,132 sq ft to 3,040 sq ft, of exceptional and adaptable open plan office space, offering a contemporary working environment for dynamic and creative businesses.

‘Concordia Works has excellent transport links with the property just moments away from Leeds City Station and with the new southern entrance set to be complete by the end of 2015, commuting in and out of the city will be even more convenient. The M1 and M621 motorways are only a 5 minute drive away and 2 large multi-storey car parks are located 100 yards from the building’s front door. For those who prefer a greener mode of travel, riverside cycle paths run close to Concordia Works,’ explained Mr Fox.

‘The impact of advancements in technology on the property market is likely to be significant as the requirements of a multitude of sectors including logistics, retail, healthcare and more shift as innovative, ‘smart’ ways of working and living are embraced,’ commented Mr Fox.

‘The challenge for the property market is to keep pace with the changing face of technology; the latter is, on occasions, moving faster than the built environment can adapt to.

‘However, the pioneering redevelopment of Concordia Works addresses this challenge head on. By creating cutting-edge workspace in an attractive, historic setting, Boultbee Brooks are satisfying a pent-up need for trendy office space in the centre of Leeds. We are already experiencing significant interest in the building,’ he added.

Read more on the Leeds Chamber website

The Heritage Alliance (THA) have made a recording of their latest debate available online, along with slides from speakers exploring connotations of the word ‘heritage’, together with research from ComRes exploring what heritage means to the general public. 

The Heritage Alliance (THA) writes:
This seventh Heritage Alliance Heritage Debate explored perceptions of the word ‘Heritage’. Is it a help or hindrance in attracting political recognition or private investment or do outdated connotations perpetuate the myths that heritage is a brake on growth or just a warm bathe in nostalgia?

ComRes, the leading research consultancy, launched a new snapshot of public perceptions of the word ‘heritage’. Speakers from the media and development industry discussed perceptions and misconceptions from their own experience. The aim, with the help of the audience, was to find ways to bring the wider public understanding in line with contemporary thinking of our heritage as a dynamic, strategic resource of benefit to government, industry, communities and individuals. 

ComRes writes:
What does the ‘h’ word mean for British adults?

• Three quarters of GB adults agree the government has a moral obligation to protect our heritage (74%). A slightly larger proportion agree the UK’s heritage needs to be protected (79%).
• Four in five say the UK’s heritage is important in attracting tourists from over the world (81%).
• Only one in five British adults agree that Heritage is obstructive to future housing developments (18%).
• Similarly, only one in ten (10%) think the UK’s heritage does not contribute anything to the country.
• A majority of Britons say heritage is important to them personally (59%).
• Three in five agree that the Heritage sector makes an important contribution to the creative industries (61%), and three quarters say the UK’s heritage is important for the economy (73%).

View more about the poll and read the full research

View information on the debate and listen to the recording

The District Councils’ Network (DCN) has made a submission to the government Local Plan expert group which suggests incentivising the production of plans and simplifying the system.

The District Councils’ Network (DCN) writes:
District councils have outlined a series of reforms aimed at simplifying the planning system and helping to realise Government ambitions for economic growth.

Recent proposals submitted in evidence by the District Councils’ Network (DCN) to the Local Plans Expert Group contain a raft of measures for improving the local plan system, including:

• a staged-plan examination;
• strategic plans across housing market areas;
• slimmed-down plans and more protection to councils with well advanced plans from ‘5-year supply’ appeals. 

Cllr Gillian Brown, District Councils’ Network lead for planning, and leader of Arun District Council, said: ‘There is a clear common interest in successful reform of current planning arrangements, and the DCN hopes ministers and officials will take note of the submission.  From a DCN perspective, our members require a clear explanation from Government as to what the early 2017 deadline for producing local plans will actually entail.  And on a more fundamental level, the Government should review how they envisage resourcing the large number of plans that will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate at around the same time.  Otherwise we risk creating a frustrating scenario, where districts which have compiled their plans according to the timetable find themselves sat in a long queue, waiting for an inspector to call,’ Cllr Brown added. 

The DCN’s evidence submission to the Local Plans Expert Group supports:

• the delivery of quicker and cheaper Local Plans;
• improved strategic planning across functional economic/ strategic housing market areas;
• incentivising plan-making;
• improving links between local growth and infrastructure;
• making plans shorter and easier to understand;
• reducing risks and costs for communities, developers and all tiers of government.

The submission acknowledges that addressing the need for growth is a long-term issue, but argues the present regime has become too characterised by what is termed ‘planning by appeal’. The DCN believes it is in the interests of all parties to provide councils with a better framework to shift the emphasis towards ‘plan-led’ development – which would lead to more coordinated growth with better supporting infrastructure.

Cllr Neil Clarke MBE, chairman of the DCN said: ‘District councils work hard to deliver the growth our communities need – but need better tools so planning can be carried out more efficiently and effectively than at present.  This submission to the Local Plans Expert Group sets out a very pragmatic and flexible way for delivering housing and economic growth.  This proposal is also fully in line with the broader devolution and national economic agendas and would support cross-boundary strategic planning across functional economic and strategic housing market areas, incentivise plan-making and firmly link local growth with strategic infrastructure.  The DCN agrees with the need for strong planning performance, but district councils must be fully resourced to deliver local planning. For this to happen the Government must address changes to the planning fees regime to enable full cost recovery.’

View the press release

The Local Government Association (LGA) has assessed that covering the cost of planning applications has cost local communities £450 million in the last three years, and calls for Local Authorities (LAs) to be able to have the right to set their own planning fees.

The LGA writes:
Local communities have been forced to spend £450 million covering the cost of planning applications in the past three years, new analysis reveals today.  Nationally-set planning fees prevent councils from being able to recover the full cost of processing the 467,000 planning applications submitted on average each year.  The Local Government Association estimates this has left local taxpayers covering the third of the cost of all planning applications since 2012, when new legislation covering fees came into force.

The LGA, which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, is urging government to free them from having to divert limited resources away from vital services by allowing councils to set their own planning fees as part of the Spending Review.

The call follows a British Property Federation survey which found two thirds of its private sector respondents would be willing to pay increased fees to help under-resourced planning departments keep providing an effective service.  The LGA and BPF are calling for the Government to conduct a review of planning fees as part of the Spending Review.

Analysis by the LGA ahead of the Spending Review reveals covering the cost of planning applications is growing at a rate of around £150 million a year and will pass £1 billion by 2020. It would already have paid for either:

Training up 115,000 young people with construction skills – there were 58 per cent fewer completed construction apprenticeships last year than in 2009 and 10,000 fewer construction qualifications being awarded by colleges, apprenticeships and universities since 2013.

• Filling almost 8.5 million potholes – current funding levels mean councils are only able to keep pace with patching up our roads and face a £12 billion roads repair backlog which would already take more than a decade to clear.
• Providing 27 million hours of homecare – the funding gap in adult social care is growing by a minimum of just over £700 million a year and is placing enormous pressure on vital services and providers supporting the elderly and disabled.

Cllr Peter Box, LGA Housing Spokesman, said:  ‘It is unacceptable for communities to keep being forced to spend hundreds of millions each year to cover a third of the cost of all planning applications.  Government should recognise the huge pressure this is placing on already stretched planning departments that are crucial to building the homes and roads that local communities need but which have seen 46 per cent reductions in funding over the past five years.

‘The Spending Review should allow local authorities to recover the actual cost of applications and end such a needless waste of taxpayers’ money when developers are willing to pay more.  The number of planning applications being submitted is on the rise but councils are working flat-out to approve almost nine in every 10 planning applications. Locally-set fees would also allow councils to protect residents from hiked fees while developers and housebuilders could pay more to improve the ability of councils to speed up the planning process and maintain high-quality planning decisions.’

Melanie Leech, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation, said:  ‘Both the public and private sectors are very clear that the current lack of resources for local authority planning departments is a problem, and that it is hindering development that can bring about much needed regeneration across the UK.

‘The Government has talked a lot about how much it wants to get Britain building again, and ahead of the Spending Review we would strongly advise against further national cuts to planning departments if it wants to make this a reality. Instead, we would like to see Government undertake a review looking at how the private sector might be able to make additional payments to planning departments in return for a quality service.’

View the press release

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has hailed the success of neighbourhood plans in contributing to housebuilding, noting that ‘plans for housebuilding are more than 10% higher in the first areas with a neighbourhood plan as opposed to only the council’s local plan’.

DCLG writes:
New neighbourhood planning powers are boosting plans for housebuilding by more than 10%, Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis said.  Neighbourhood plans allow people to decide the future development of their area, including where new homes and businesses should be built, what they should look like and what local infrastructure is needed. 

Putting planning power in the hands of local people involves the whole community, from plan drafting to referendum stages.  So far more than 100 areas have voted yes in neighbourhood planning referendums, with more than 8 million people living in areas involved in neighbourhood planning.  And latest figures show that plans for housebuilding are more than 10% higher in the first areas with a neighbourhood plan as opposed to only the council’s local plan.

Nationally planning permissions were granted on almost 250,000 new homes in the last year, with more than one million permissions granted for new homes since 2010 and the National House Building Council saying the number of new homes being registered with it so far this year is 9% higher than a year ago.

Speaking about the second reading of the Housing and Planning Bill, Brandon Lewis said:  This government is continuing the huge shift of power from Whitehall to the town hall and to local people. More than 8 million people now live in areas that have had or will have their say on planning in their neighbourhood, and more areas are coming forward every day.

We are scrapping the broken old planning system that pitted neighbours and developers against each other, and cornered people into opposing any development in their back yard. The 100 neighbourhood planning referendums show how our approach of getting the whole community working together is paying off, and breaking through local opposition.

Earlier this year the government opened a neighbourhood planning support programme, including a fund allowing groups to apply for grants of up to £8,000 to help write their plans, pay for events to engage the local community, develop websites and pay for specialist planning expertise. Areas facing more complex issues may be eligible for up to £14,000.

Local people can draw up neighbourhood plans which, once approved, councils are bound to consider as part of the planning process alongside the council’s own local plan for the area.  Separately, neighbourhood development orders can grant planning permission for specific types of development in a particular neighbourhood. Both require support of 50% of voters in a local referendum.  Every one of the more than 100 neighbourhood plans submitted to a local referendum has been approved by local people.

View the press release

IHBC NewsBlogs on neighbourhood plans

A new offshore wind farm development has been approved by the Scottish Government, and will be the UK’s first such structure, and the world’s largest.

The Scottish Government writes:
The world’s largest floating offshore wind development will be installed off the coast of Peterhead after the application has been granted a marine licence by the Scottish Government. 

Statoil propose developing a pilot park of five floating 6 MW turbines which is to be located approximately 25km off the coast of Peterhead with a generating capacity of 135GWh of electricity each year. It is expected that the Hywind Scotland development could power up to 19,900 houses.

Unlike conventional turbines, Hywind turbines will be attached to the seabed by a three-point mooring spread and anchoring system.  The turbines will be connected by an inter-array of cables and an export cable will transport electricity from the pilot park to shore at Peterhead.

The Carbon Trust believe that floating wind concepts have the potential to reduce generating costs to below £100/MWh in commercial deployments, with the leading concepts such as Hywind, with even lower costs of £85-£95MWh.

Welcoming Statoil’s Hywind development after granting consent, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said:  ‘Hywind is a hugely exciting project – in terms of electricity generation and technology innovation – and it’s a real testament to our energy sector expertise and skilled workforce that Statoil chose Scotland for the world’s largest floating wind farm.  The momentum is building around the potential for floating offshore wind technology to unlock deeper water sites. The ability to leverage existing infrastructure and supply chain capabilities from the offshore oil and gas industry create the ideal conditions to position Scotland as a world leader in floating wind technology.’

View the press release

IHBC NewsBlogs on energy

IHBC NewsBlogs on marine planning issues

The Welsh Government has welcomed the publishing of an independent review into the designation of natural landscapes, which recommends the creation of a National Landscape Committee, but no changes to the legal status of National Parks or AONBs.

The Welsh Government writes:
A wide-ranging review about the future of Wales’s national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) has been presented to Natural Resources Minister Carl Sargeant.

Chaired by Professor Terry Marsden, Director of the Sustainable Places Research Institute at Cardiff University, the Independent Review of Designated Landscapes in Wales makes 69 recommendations covering a raft of proposals and observations on purposes, principles, vision, governance models, planning, and funding.

The recommendations include:

• making no change to the name or legal status of national parks or AONB,
• strengthening the support and delivery role of other bodies,
• the creation of a National Landscape Committee.

The Minister said that due to the considerable scale and scope of the recommendations, further work is now needed to understand their potential benefit and their consequences.  He has asked Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM to lead a Future Landscapes Working Group and that he invites representatives of the national parks, AONBs, interest groups, business, and local government to participate.  The group will explore these recommendations and the case for reform which is aligned to the priorities for public service reform in Wales, and report their findings next year.

Carl Sargeant said: ‘I want these areas which are valued for their natural beauty to be thriving living landscapes containing vibrant, resilient communities, opportunities for outdoor recreation and rich ecosystems.  I am pleased that the report has sought to reflect the demands of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act and Environment Bill to connect and increase social, economic and environmental benefits in these important areas.  The Panel have endorsed my view that a fresh approach to the national parks and AONBs is long overdue, and I agree with their summary that this is necessary to better respond to increasingly complex environmental challenges, inequalities in well-being and health, and to deliver more vibrant rural communities.’

Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas added:  ‘I appreciate the unique opportunity to be the Independent chair of the Future Landscapes Working Group. I am very aware of the responsibility of working with the Minister for Natural Resources and the opportunity to serve these unique areas of our country.’

View the press release

View more information about the report and download it

The case of the Surrey farmer who constructed a four-bedroom home behind hay bales has been heard at the High Court in London this week, with several media reports on the proceedings.

• BBC News– ‘Council ‘wants to destroy’ hidden castle builder’
• Get Surrey– ‘Redhill farmer facing jail over ‘hidden castle’ claims council wants to ‘destroy his life’’
• Evening Standard – ‘Surrey farmer accuses council of being out to ‘destroy’ his life over battle to demolish Tudor castle’

The most up to date statement from Reigate and Banstead Borough Council (dated 23 October) states:

Following Mr Fidler’s failure to comply with the outstanding enforcement notices and Injunction Order in effect as a result of the Secretary of State’s decision effectively requiring demolition of the unauthorised house and associated structures, the Council lodged a claim for contempt of court proceedings which was due to be heard at the High Court today (Thursday 22 October 2015), along with an application by Mr Fidler to amend the original Injunction Order.

As Mr Fidler failed to attend court, the Judge adjourned the hearing until 2 November 2015 at 2pm to enable Mr Fidler to be present to answer the allegations that he is in breach of the Injunction Order and in contempt of court.

A spokesperson for the council said: ‘We accept the Court’s decision to adjourn the hearing to allow for Mr Fidler to be present and due process to be followed. The Judge was satisfied that Mr Fidler knew about today’s proceedings because he was twice served with Court papers and has himself made an application that was due to be heard today, but he has failed to attend.

Due to the serious consequences of these proceedings the Judge has afforded Mr Fidler a final opportunity to attend court. A warrant has been issued by the Judge to apprehend Mr Fidler to ensure he is present on 2 November. The Council has been awarded costs in full.

We cannot comment further until the conclusion of the hearing on 2 November.’

View the press release from Reigate and Banstead Borough Council

The RTPI have given evidence at the House of Lords regarding the need for proper resourcing of planning departments, as part of the inquiry into National Policy for the Built Environment

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) writes:
Richard Blyth, the RTPI’s Head of Policy, Practice and Practice. made a powerful case for extra resources for planning departments in oral evidence to the House of Lords this morning. Their Lordships are conducting an inquiry into National Policy for the Built Environment.

Richard quoted our recent research into planning cuts, which the committee asked to see. He also raised the issue of increasing planning fees and how planners have been earning local authorities considerable sums through measures such as the New Homes Bonus.

Their Lordships were very interested to hear about the RTPI’s Bursary Scheme, our Future Planners initiative and Birmingham Council’s new graduate hub. Richard highlighted the value of employing chartered planners and explained our code of conduct and the value of ongoing professional development provided by the Institute.

Richard was also quizzed on the loss of experienced planners, the role of planning in contributing to the health and well being of an ageing population, and the value of a good local plan. He also made a plea for government as a whole to stop talking about planning as being a drag on development.

Watch Richard Blyth giving evidence (session starts at 10.13)

The full membership of the National Infrastructure Commission has now been announced, with commissioners named and a government commitment to £100 billion of spend on infrastructure in this parliament made.

HM Treasury writes:
Chancellor George Osborne will today insist better infrastructure is vital to improve the lives of British people as he commits to £100 billion of spending in this Parliament for new roads, rail, flood defences and other vital projects.

Launching the new National Infrastructure Commission, led by former Cabinet Minister Lord Adonis, the Chancellor will set out plans to ‘get Britain building’, saying that infrastructure will be at the heart of next month’s Spending Review.  In his statement, he will pledge £100 billion in infrastructure spending by 2020 – including full funding for the £15 billion Roads Investment Strategy.  A suite of asset sales which the Treasury expects to raise billions of pounds is being identified to be ploughed back into infrastructure projects, with more details to be announced at the Spending Review.

Speaking at the National Railway Museum in York alongside Lord Adonis, the Chancellor will also confirm the hugely experienced group who will make up the independent National Infrastructure Commission – the new independent body that has been set up to determine Britain’s infrastructure priorities and hold governments to account for their delivery.

The commissioners are:

• Lord Heseltine – the former deputy prime minister who has long championed the regeneration of Britain’s inner cities through infrastructure investment
• Sir John Armitt – the former chair of the Olympic Delivery Authority, and next year’s President of the Institute of Civil Engineers
• Professor Tim Besley – a former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee and the LSE’s Growth Commission, which recommended an independent infrastructure body
• Demis Hassabis – artificial intelligence researcher, neuroscientist and head of DeepMind Technologies
• Sadie Morgan – a founding director of dRMM Architects and Design Panel Chair of HS2
• Bridget Rosewell – a senior adviser at Volterra and former Chief Economist and Chief Economic Adviser to the Greater London Authority
• Sir Paul Ruddock – chairman of the Victoria & Albert Museum and the University of Oxford Endowment

The commission will produce a report at the start of each five-year Parliament, offering recommendations for priority infrastructure projects.Its initial focus will be in three key areas. These are:

• Northern connectivity, particularly identifying priorities for future investment in the North’s strategic transport infrastructure to improve connectivity between cities, especially east-west across the Pennines
• London’s transport system, particularly reviewing strategic options and identifying priorities for future investment in large scale transport improvements – on road, rail and underground – including Crossrail 2
• Energy, particularly exploring how the UK can better balance supply and demand, aiming for an energy market where prices are reflective of costs to the overall system

View the press release

IHBC NewsBlogs on infrastructure

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is planning some changes to their current grant schemes to allow for greater flexibility, and also plan a new programme to support heritage skills among young people.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) writes:
HLF’s Chair Sir Peter Luff has announced a series of measures to boost skills, support organisations through change and give young people a key role in shaping the UK’s heritage.

Speaking at the Museum’s Association annual conference in Birmingham, Sir Peter announced that the current Transition funding, Start Up grants and Catalyst small grants will be combined in a new programme, with an increased upper limit of more than £100,000 and more time for the money to be spent.

This will help new projects get off the ground, build the capacity of existing organisations and help others make any structural changes necessary to meet future challenges.  To support long-term financial resilience, there will be a new opportunity to apply for funding to build endowments, with enough flexibility to support small and large organisations.

Sir Peter also announced:

• a third round of the popular Skills for the Future programme. HLF has previously invested £47million creating thousands of paid, practical training opportunities to bring new people into the workforce
• a new initiative offering substantial grants for projects that seek to make a real difference for young people
• recruitment of young people by HLF to help make decisions on applications

These plans are at an early stage, with more details to be announced ahead of expected launch in 2016.

View the press release

The second reading of the Housing and Planning Bill was given in Parliament on 2 November, and attracted much debate with over 55 MP’s wishing to contribute, and which passed the second reading with a majority of 91. 

The issues discussed include:

• Views on home ownership and social housing
• Private rental issues
• Volume house builders and their contribution to housing stock and land
• Comparisons of the housing situation in the England with attitudes elsewhere in Europe
• Rural housing provision
• Specific issues on housing provision in London

View the full Hansard record of the debate

View information on the progress of the Housing and Planning Bill

View ‘The Planner’ analysis of the debate

The ICON Award winners for 2015 have been announced, with conservation achievements across the UK being recognised and celebrated including The Icon Award for Conservation in the Community, which went to ‘Resurrecting the Coffin Works: Sharing Skills, Building a Legacy’, led by Deborah Magnoler, Sarah Hayes and Dawn Holland, also of Birmingham Conservation Trust. 

ICON writes:
Six conservation projects have won prizes at the 2015 Icon Conservation Awards, held in London on the evening of Thursday 22 October.  The awards were presented at a glittering ceremony at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in London, hosted by the Royal Academy of Art’s Artistic Director Tim Marlow.

The first award of the night went to the Rothko Conservation Project, Tate, which received The Anna Plowden Trust Award for Research and Innovation in Conservation. The judges said it ‘showed a strong application of fundamental research and considered, thoughtful conservation treatment to a high-profile object through an unusually close collaboration between conservators, scientists, curators and the artist’s family.’

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers Award for the Conservation of an Industrial Heritage Artefact went to the Grand Fountain Restoration, Paisley. The panel said: ‘It encapsulates the concept of engineering as both science and art, and provides a sense of pride and a feel-good factor.’

The Steam Pinnace 199 received the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Award for Volunteering in the Conservation of an Industrial Heritage Artefact, with judges praising ‘the outstanding outreach potential, high aesthetic appeal’ of the project and ‘the opportunity to sustain traditional skills’.

‘The project speaks to the power of conservation not only to improve the condition and appearance of an object but also to establish its significance’

Cardiff University’s Gemma McBader was awarded The Pilgrim Trust Student Conservator of the Year Award for her work on a 19th-century Ethiopian emperor’s shield. The judges said it was ‘an impressive and complex project’ that ‘speaks to the power of conservation not only to improve the condition and appearance of an object but also to establish its significance’.

The Staffordshire Hoard Conservation Programme picked up the Pilgrim Trust Award for Conservation. Lead by Pieta Greaves ACR and Deborah Cane ACR, Birmingham Museums Trust, the project was described by judges as ‘the poster project of the sector’.

‘There was a grand vision of making the public say ‘wow’ about conservation’  They said: ‘[We] were particularly impressed by the winning project’s grand vision of making the public say ‘wow’ about conservation.’

The final award of the night was The Icon Award for Conservation in the Community, which went to Resurrecting the Coffin Works: Sharing Skills, Building a Legacy, lead by Deborah Magnoler, Sarah Hayes and Dawn Holland, also of Birmingham Conservation Trust.  The judges said: ‘A skilled conservation team combined high conservation standards with excellent community engagement, allowing public access where it was not previously possible.’  They added: ‘The team actively searched for unemployed and disadvantaged people who were taught new skills, and given roles which matched their individual talents.’

View the press release and a video of the event

This statement by Robert Jenrick MP (Conservative, Newark) offers a commentary on the new five year and £3m Iraqi Emergency Heritage Management Project announced this week, to be run by the British Museum assisting in survey and consolidation of cultural artefacts in Iraq. 

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office writes:
The £3m Iraqi Emergency Heritage Management Project – run by the British Museum over five years – will be launched at a seminal cultural summit in central London, co-hosted by DCMS and the FCO.  It will create a team of local experts to assess, document and stabilise afflicted sites in Iraq, and help begin the process of reconstruction and preservation of some of the world’s most precious cultural artefacts.

Leading archaeological and political figures including Neil MacGregor from the British Museum and Mechtild Rössler from UNESCO will attend the event and debate the shape of a dedicated Cultural Protection Fund, announced by the Chancellor earlier this year.  At the event, Mr Whittingdale will also reaffirm the government’s commitment to ratifying the Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict – with a plan to get it onto the statute books at the first opportunity.

Today’s announcements form part of a comprehensive Government plan to rescue ancient sites and objects from destruction by terrorists, wars or natural disasters across the world.

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said: ‘Civilisations tell their stories through their art, which is why people who are hell-bent on destruction, target it. Removing places and things that have helped to give people a shared sense of history and identity helps to undermine social cohesion and makes reconciliation less likely.  Many heritage sites are used for military purposes to shield and conceal soldiers and weapons, and valuable objects are trafficked to finance warmongering. It must be tackled head on.’

View the press release

ChurchCare, the buildings division of the Church of England, would like to hear from experienced professionals with an interest in cathedrals and the time and specialist skills to serve on their voluntary Fabric Advisory Committees (FACs), with a closing date of 30 November. 

ChurchCare writes:
ChurchCare, the buildings division of the Church of England, would like to hear from experienced professionals with an interest in cathedrals and the time and specialist skills to serve on their voluntary Fabric Advisory Committees (FACs).

Works on and around the Church of England’s cathedrals are controlled by a statutory planning system, of which FACs form a critical part. Each cathedral has its own FAC: a committee of 8-10 expert members that provides the cathedral with advice on the care, conservation and development of the cathedral buildings and setting, and deals directly with some classes of planning application. Each FAC is carefully constituted to contain expertise relevant to the cathedral’s plans for its buildings. We wish to build up a list of suitable candidates to fill various roles nationwide.

Serving on an FAC offers a unique chance to form a special bond with one of England’s great buildings and with the people who operate it day to day. These roles are voluntary but reasonable expenses will be paid. The commitment includes an average of four meetings a year plus time to read and respond to application documents and advice requests. There is no requirement to be a Christian, but as cathedrals exist to proclaim the Christian faith, appointees must be able to develop an understanding of the ethos, structures and mission of the Church of England, work comfortably and in sympathy with the worship and mission of their Dean and Chapter, and be willing to engage in all aspects of their cathedral’s life.

Expressions of interest are invited from competent and experienced specialists in the following areas:

• Accessibility in historic buildings
• Archaeology
• Architecture
• Architectural history
• Art, stained glass and sculpture – history, theory and practice
• Church history
• Conservation – buildings and objects
• Engineering – structural, mechanical and electrical
• Environmental conservation and management
• Lighting and sound systems – design and installation
• Liturgy and church organisation
• Museums and collections management
• Public realm
• Town planning
• Visitor and heritage management

To express interest please send a CV and covering letter (no more than two sides of A4) indicating your relevant area of expertise and experience, and the geographical area(s) or specific cathedrals you are interested in. All submissions should be emailed as PDF or Word documents to becky.clark@churchofengland.org by 30 November 2015.

more….

Churchcare news article

A team led by Dr Anna Barker, University of Bradford, has been awarded a research grant by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) of over £275,000, with the funding to support research into the life, times and social order of Victorian public parks.

University of Bradford writes:
A team led by Dr Anna Barker, University of Bradford, has been awarded a research grant by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The total value of the funding is over £275,000 to support innovative research into the life, times and social order of Victorian public parks.

The team, including Professor Adam Crawford and Dr David Churchill, both of the University of Leeds, will explore the future prospects and lived experiences of city parks as public meeting places, in both the Victorian period and the present day. The project is being supported by and conducted in collaboration with Leeds City Council Parks and Countryside Department.

The project advances the AHRC priority research theme of ‘Care for the Future’ and its central ambition of ‘thinking forward through the past’ by investigating the heritage, social purpose, expectations and lived experiences of public parks. The project will contribute to a reinterpretation and reinvigoration of the vision, governance and sustainability of urban parks in cities of the future.

On receiving the award Dr Barker, Lecturer in Sociology from the Faculty of Social Sciences, said: ‘We are delighted that this funding will enable us to conduct this exciting research in collaboration with Leeds City Council. We hope the study will inform and influence public policies and practices at a local, regional and national level on the significance, role and place of urban parks in cities of the future, supporting safe, sustainable and inclusive societies’.

Professor Adam Crawford commented: ‘By connecting the arts and humanities with the social sciences, this research will allow us to develop new insights into the past, present and future role of public parks as places of social mixing. It will help us use experiences and expectations forged in the past to think through the place and possibilities for urban parks of the future’.

Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities Councillor Debra Coupar said: ‘We are delighted to be working with a research team led by Dr Barker to explore both the heritage and future prospects for public parks in Leeds. The findings of this research will be invaluable in helping us to assess how the lessons and experiences of the past can play an important part in how we approach our future work in the city’s parks.’

The project aims to have a number of societal impacts, including advancing public understandings of the historical experiences and social role that city parks play (or might play) in communities of the past, the present and the future and, in doing so, contribute to public knowledge about the social and cultural heritage of parks. The project will engage public audiences through a public exhibition and a free-to-access digital collection of photographs of Victorian parks in Leeds.

Bradford University press release

DCLG has released new guidance on compulsory purchase orders (CPOs).

The six stages of CPO are identified and explained:

• Stage 1: choosing the right compulsory purchase power
• Stage 2: justifying a compulsory purchase order
• Stage 3: preparing and making a compulsory purchase order
• Stage 4: consideration of the compulsory purchase order
• Stage 5: implementing a compulsory purchase order
• Stage 6: compensation

DCLG writes:
This guidance on the compulsory purchase process and the Crichel Down Rules has been revised to reflect legislative changes and case law since 2004. The guidance is intended to make it easier for people to access the information they need to understand how the compulsory purchase system works. It replaces Circular 06/2004 ‘Compulsory purchase and the Crichel Down Rules’ and 13 other circulars and government guidance documents. It applies to England only.

View the guidance note