IHBC NewsBlogs

Historic Environment Scotland has awarded £190,000 to war memorial repair projects and £1.7 million under the Building Repair Grants Scheme.

Historic Environment Scotland writes:
Scotland’s newly formed lead public body for heritage, Historic Environment Scotland, has announced grants of £1.7 million worth of funding to repair historically important buildings across the country.

The funds are being divided between five different projects as part of the body’s Building Repair Grants Scheme.

The is part of a wider commitment to invest around £14 million annually in the historic environment, through initiatives such as the successful Conservation Area Regeneration Schemes, Building Repair Grants, and archaeological excavations and surveys. In the preceding five-years of grants of £62 million have levered in a further £230 million of investment in Scotland’s historic environment sector.

Among the recipients announced today is the Edwardian Govan Hill Baths in Glasgow, which is to be refurbished in a phased scheme to facilitate full community usage for three pools, a steamie and Turkish Baths suite. That project received an award of £500,000 to pay for repairs to halt water ingress and refurbish the interior of the building.

A new use for the Old Achintore School in Fort William has also been found, following years of discussions around the building’s potential demolition. Following a grant award of £269,750 it will now be refurbished to act as a Civic Centre for the town, and offices for Highland Council staff.

The former Dumbarton Academy, which on completion will be utilised as the new West Dunbarton Council HQ, housing over 500 council staff, is expected to bring much needed additional trade to town-centre businesses. The former Davidson Cottage Hospital in Girvan will receive funding for conversion to an Enterprise Centre for business space, childcare facilities, and office accommodation. Finally, the former British Linen Bank is to get a major restoration, as part of a wider scheme to regenerate the surrounding area by the Southside Housing Association, and to provide additional social housing units.

This follows grants awarded in August 2015 through the same scheme, with grants at that time being awarded to high profile projects such as the renovation of Moat Brae House in Dumfries, where JM Barrie wrote the children’s classic Peter Pan; repairs to the Jewish Enclosure of the Glasgow Necropolis; the conversion of the Calton Hill Observatory in Edinburgh into a public arts space; and the restoration of one of Britain’s three surviving train turntables, to name just a few.

Historic Environment Scotland is the new lead public body established to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment. The organisation is a Non Departmental Public Body and a registered Scottish Charity which incorporates and will build on the strengths and expertise of Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) who have been managing and recording the historic environment for over a century.

View the press release on building repair grants, including a full list of recipients at http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/news/news_article.htm?articleid=47454

View the press release on war memorials at http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/news/news_article.htm?articleid=47476

The National Trust (NT) has marked the 50-year anniversary of their Neptune Coastline Campaign by a resurvey of the coast to investigate areas at most risk from development (with a comparison of 1965 to today revealing a 42 per cent increase in urban and built environments over the last 50 years).

The National Trust (NT) writes:
In 1965, concerned about the impact of development along the coast of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, we launched our Neptune Coastline Campaign to help us raise money to buy and protect further stretches of the coast.

That summer we commissioned the University of Reading to survey how land along the coast of England, Wales and Northern Ireland was being used and find out which areas were most at risk from development. Fifty years on, we’ve resurveyed the coast to see what’s changed.

The 1965 survey would prove to be an epic journey around our shores. Dr John Whittow, who was then a professor at the University of Reading, led a team of students to walk 8,000 miles around the coastline of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

‘For the National Trust to establish a programme of acquisition at the coast it was essential to identify which sites needed protecting,’ said Whittow. ‘Over three months the intrepid surveyors and I set forth to tramp thousands of miles generating more than 350 field survey maps.’

Half a century later, and coinciding with the 50th anniversary of our Neptune Coastline Campaign, we’ve resurveyed land use at the coast with the help of the University of Leicester.

Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of thousands of supporters our Neptune Coastline Campaign has raised more than £65 million since it was launched which means we now look after 775 miles of coastline – over 550 miles more than we did when the 1965 survey took place.

Our Mapping our Shores report shows that nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of the coast of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which is an important resource for people and nature, remains undeveloped. Much of the land that has remained undeveloped is now protected by landscape or nature conservation designations such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. In fact, of the 3,342 miles of coastline identified by our 1965 survey as ‘pristine’ and in need of protection, 94 per cent of this has some form of statutory protection.

The report also found that there has been a 42 per cent increase in urban and built environments over the last 50 years. While this is a significant increase, the fact nearly three quarters of the coast remains undeveloped suggests that new development hasn’t sprawled along the coast as it might have without good planning.

Industrial areas along the coast have increased by 39 per cent, with sites moving geographically as the type of industry has changed. Meanwhile the use of land along the coast for defence has decreased by nearly a quarter (24 per cent), showing a shift from the post-war era of 1965.

You can find out more about how land use has changed at coastal places you love and which matter to you via our interactive Mapping our Shores website. Both the 1965 and recent survey illustrate the importance of a robust and well-enforced planning process. We hope the findings will encourage partnership working within and between local communities, landowners and policy makers in order to maintain a sustainable and beautiful coast for the next 50 years.

‘We must also look out to sea where the challenges are much greater,’ said Peter Nixon, our director of land, landscapes and nature. ‘As the need for offshore development increases, the new marine planning process must be as effective and rigorous as the planning system on land has become.’ Along with helping to ensure the coastline is protected from inappropriate development we’ll remain dedicated to providing access to the coast by working with others, while caring for its wildlife and heritage.

View the report

IHBC NewsBlogs on coastal heritage

National Trust article

The National Archives has launched a new four year strategy which recognizes the increasing role of digital technology and the new ways in which heritage is accessed and curated, at its ‘Discovering Collections Discovering Communities’ conference.

The National Archives writes:
Archives Inspire 2015-19, The National Archives’ new four-year strategy, was officially launched by its chief executive and keeper, Jeff James, at the Discovering Collections Discovering Communities (#DCDC15) conference this week.

The conference, organised by The National Archives and Research Libraries UK (RLUK), was held at The Lowry in Salford Quays between Monday 12 October and Wednesday 14 October with a theme of ‘exploring new digital destinations for heritage and academia.’

More than 450 delegates from around 300 organisations spanning the academic, heritage and wider cultural sectors attended the conference and took part in discussion panels and workshops.

Keynote speakers included Simon Chaplin of the Wellcome Trust, Simon Tanner from King’s College London, Lucy Burgess of the University of Oxford, and The National Archives’ interim director of Research and Collections, Val Johnson.

In welcoming delegates to DCDC, Jeff said: ‘The last two decades have witnessed a flourishing of digital content across the heritage and academic sectors. Our audiences have gone from being consumers of heritage content to active creators and curators, helping us to contextualise and interpret our rich and diverse collections. The development of digital technologies has presented new opportunities for collaboration not only between our institutions, academics and sectors, but also new ways of collaborating with our users.’

Search the hashtag #DCDC15 on social media for more

View the new 4 year strategy

IHBC NewsBlogs on archives

National Archives entry

A proposal to develop the Harley brewery site in Ulverston, which is within a designated conservation area which was the subject of a legal challenge has been quashed.

Bob Kindred, IHBC’s Education Committee vice chair and Research consultant, writes:
The High Court (HHJ Waksman QC) has quashed planning permission and conservation area consent for the redevelopment of the Hartley’s brewery complex in Ulverston, South Lakeland (Hughes v South Lakeland DC [2014] EWHC 3979 (Admin), 28 November 2014).  The decision adds to the growing number of planning decisions overturned on the basis of a failure to have regard to the statutory priority for the protection of heritage assets in sections 66 and 72 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.  The brewery site was within, and considered to make a contribution towards, the Ulverston Conservation Area.

The Judge also considered that the local planning authority’s screening exercise was legally unsound, but would have refused to exercise his discretion to quash the permission on this point, concluding that the outcome of the screening opinion would have been the same (paragraph 45).  He dismissed the other grounds, notably on retail policy.  On the heritage ground, the Judge considered there to be ‘no conceivable basis’ for the Court not to exercise its discretion against quashing the decisions given the centrality of the issue of harm to heritage assets and the narrowness of the vote by the Planning Committee (paragraph 60).

Lakeland (Hughes v South Lakeland DC [2014] EWHC 3979 (Admin), 28 November 2014).

View ‘Keep Ulverston Special’ information

View ‘Ulverston Progress’ information

View South Lakeland District Council’s website

View an article on the North West evening mail website ‘Last legal hurdle cleared for Ulverston supermarket proposal’

Are you aware of a heritage group which would like to know more about the legal system in order to help their work? Civic Voice are holding outreach events as part of Parliament Week in London, Manchester and Birmingham so that communities can learn how to work with Parliament.

Civic Voice writes:
Civic Voice has announced a series of innovative parliamentary outreach workshops starting with a session at the Houses of Parliament. Civic Voice, the national body for civic societies, is one of the partners of Parliament Week, which takes place from 16-22 November. The workshops, which are free to attend, will help communities learn to engage with Parliament and will ensure that a greater voice is given to communities on local civic matters.

Speaker of the House, Rt Hon John Bercow MP, commented: ‘I often attend Civic Voice events in my Buckingham constituency, and I am delighted that they will be hosting workshops in the House of Commons. I am sure that this innovative venture will prove to be an excellent endeavour, and extremely useful to all those who take part.’

Chair of the APPG for Civic Societies, Craig Mackinlay MP stated: ‘In my own constituency I work closely with the Ramsgate Society who do some excellent work. Civic Societies provide the icing on the cake in improving the local environment and maintaining the bank of historical knowledge. He added: ‘It is great to see Civic Voice join forces with the Parliamentary Outreach team to deliver these workshops which will help give local communities new skills to work with Parliament.’

Funded in part by Civic Voice, the training sessions, delivered nationally by regional Parliamentary Outreach officers will comprise of topics including: Getting involved in Parliament, Legislation and Select Committees.

Ian Harvey, Executive Director of Civic Voice, championed ‘There is a real desire from our members to be less reactive and to shape the future. Our hope is that this series of workshops will begin a movement of like-minded supporters who can achieve this, bringing local communities and Parliament closer together.’

Alasdair Mackenzie, Parliament’s Outreach Officer for London and South East England, praised the initiative, saying: ‘Parliament’s outreach service is always mindful of the need to develop relationships with communities. We are thrilled to have been offered the opportunity to partner Civic Voice in this endeavour.’

For more information on the organisations involved; please visit their websites:

• Civic Voice – http://www.civicvoice.org.uk
• Parliamentary Outreach — http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/outreach-and-training/
• Parliament Week — https://www.parliamentweek.org/

View the press release including dates for the outreach events

View Civic Voice action day information including heritage related activities for communities (101 civic ideas)

A civil engineer who challenged the decision of a government planning inspector on the proposals for connecting two railway stations in Manchester for the reason that the proposed route which he argued for would cause less damage to historic buildings has lost his High Court challenge.

View the Manchester Evening News story on the review ‘Ordsall Chord: Why my route is better, by engineer going to court over planned Piccadilly and Victoria link’

View the Rail Technology Magazine article ‘Much-delayed Ordsall Chord legal challenge dismissed by judge’

View the BBC news article ‘Ordsall Chord: Rail link plans backed by High Court despite protest’

View the High Court website

View Ordsall Chord project information

The winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize 2015 is Burntwood School in Wandsworth, London by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, which responds to its strong heritage legacy as the ‘architects created six new faculty buildings and two large cultural buildings linking original buildings by renowned 1950s/1960s architect Sir Leslie Martin’, and thereby ‘demonstrates the full range of the skills that architects can offer to society’.

The RIBA writes:
Burntwood School, a large comprehensive girls’ school in Wandsworth, London by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) has won the coveted RIBA Stirling Prize 2015 for the UK’s best new building. Now in its 20th year, the RIBA Stirling Prize, sponsored by Almacantar, is the UK’s most prestigious architecture prize.

AHMM’s transformation of Burntwood School reimagines a 1950’s modernist secondary school campus for 2000 girls and 200 staff. The architects created six new faculty buildings and two large cultural buildings linking original buildings by renowned 1950s/1960s architect Sir Leslie Martin. Every building is full of light and air with double height spaces at the end of each corridor to increase natural daylight and create well-framed views. It offers a range of teaching spaces from conventional classrooms to interactive open spaces. Already a very sculptural building, AHMM worked closely with an artist to use large, colourful murals throughout the buildings – cleverly combining signposting with modern art.

Comments from the judges: ‘Burntwood School is the clear winner of the 2015 RIBA Stirling Prize. It is the most accomplished of the six shortlisted buildings because it demonstrates the full range of the skills that architects can offer to society. It encompasses great contemporary design and clever reuse of existing buildings as well as superb integration of artwork, landscaping and engineering. It is a genuine collaborative project. There was a wonderful working relationship between the head teacher and the architect: a true partnership of equals.

Speaking at the award ceremony, RIBA President Jane Duncan said: ‘Burntwood School shows us how superb school design can be at the heart of raising our children’s educational enjoyment and achievement. Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, experienced school architects, have created a stunning campus. They have produced delightful, resourceful and energy efficient buildings that will benefit the whole community in the long term. With the UK facing a huge shortage of school places, it is vital we learn lessons from Burntwood. I am delighted to present architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris with the 2015 RIBA Stirling Prize.’

Paul Monaghan, Director, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris said: ‘Schools can and should be more than just practical, functional buildings – they need to elevate the aspirations of children, teachers and the wider community. Good school design makes a difference to the way students value themselves and their education, and we hope that Burntwood winning the RIBA Stirling Prize shows that this is worth investing in.’

View the press release

Historic England’s (HE) ‘Heritage At Risk Register’ has been published this week, which offers national comparisons of building types which are most at risk for the first time as well as assessing the likely conservation deficit costs (which rises above £500,000 for the first time).

Historic England writes:
Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register is published today, an annual snapshot of the health of England’s historic environment.

Across England, fascinating places full of history have been added to the Register, as they’re in need of rescue:

• Naze Tower, Essex, grade II* – a lookout post during both the Napoleonic and First World Wars, and used as a Radar station during the Second World War
• Hidden in bushes to the side of the M40 the National Filling Factory in Northamptonshire, originally built to fill shells with high explosive and by 1918 converted to produce poison gas
• Church of St Thomas More, Birmingham, grade II – a 1968 Roman Catholic church built entirely from concrete, by nationally-important architect Richard Gilbert Scott
• The White Lion in Wandsworth, grade II – a sprawling Victorian pub that was a live music venue in late 70s and 80s. Punk bands played there regularly including ‘X Ray Spex’
• The Mausoleum of Joseph Hudson, grade II – one of Kensal Green cemeteries’ most ornate tombs, Joseph Hudson fought in one of the decisive naval battles of the Napoleonic war with France
• Old Pier lighthouse, Roker, Sunderland, grade II* – built around 1856 and used until 1903. It was moved in 1983 to a nearby park

An equally compelling collection of sites have been rescued in the past year and are now off the Register, they include:

• Cardington Airship Sheds, Bedfordshire, grade II* – built nearly 100 years ago, Shed No.1 is the only pre-1918 hanger to survive in Europe. Measuring 20,000 square metres and 50 meters high, it was on the first ever Heritage at Risk Register in 1998
• The Scenic Railway, at Dreamland, Margate, grade II* – Britain’s oldest surviving roller coaster, badly damaged by fire in 2008, it’s now one of the star attractions at the newly-opened amusement park
• Brown Bear Pit and kiosk, Dudley Zoo, grade II* – built 1935-7 by architects Lubetkin and Tecton, the Bear Pit is one of 27 innovative and daring structures in the zoo using reinforced concrete
  

For the first time, Historic England (formerly known as English Heritage), has compared all types of heritage on its Register to find out the types of heritage that appear the most; from domestic buildings, to protected wrecks, archaeological ruins to industrial sites and places of worship.

Barrows, the ancient burial mounds that cover the length and breadth of the country, are the most at-risk making up 15.6% of the Register (853). Nationally, much is being done to improve their fate.

The most common threat to barrows is farming through growing crops and ploughing the land they sit in. Overgrown plants and shrubs and animal burrowing can also cause problems. Since 2014, 150 barrows have been rescued and taken off the Register. Historic England has done this through working with owners, in particular Natural England, to find ways of restoring these ancient sites.

Residential buildings, anything from Roman Villas and Georgian town houses to individual prehistoric huts and roundhouses, are the second most common (6.6% 360).

Settlements, small concentrations of dwellings such as deserted medieval villages, are the third most common type on the Register (6.4% 352).

Historic England has also compared types of heritage across each region and found a different category is most at risk in each part of the country. Each category tells the story of that place, for example commercial sites – from shops, showrooms, marketplaces, warehouses to guildhalls – are the most commonly at risk in the North West, hinting at the region’s rich mercantile and industrial past. The South East’s coastal defence sites, once the last defence from invasion, are on the Register more than any other type of heritage. Castles are the sites that come up most on the West Midlands Register, reflecting a time when the England/Wales border was a less peaceful place. London’s most frequently at risk sites are commemorative monuments, a nod towards the capital’s role in public life.

Duncan Wilson, Historic England Chief Executive, said: ‘This year’s Register gives us the most complete assessment of the state of our nation’s heritage yet. It shows that we are making progress, but also that the challenge is still significant. We are committed to working with local authorities, civic societies and everyone who is passionate about and values our heritage across England. The very things that make our regions special, are the things most at risk. If they’re lost, then a sense of that region is lost too. Together we can safeguard our most precious places and buildings for future generations.’

A third of all sites on the 2010 register have been rescued, which means Historic England has beaten its target of getting 25% off the register over five years. Across the next three years, we aim to take a further 750 sites off the Register. The 2015 Register is the most comprehensive to date, with listed buildings, places of worship, industrial sites, scheduled monuments and archaeology, conservation areas, parks and gardens, protected wrecks and battlefields at risk and in need of rescue.

There are fewer listed buildings on the Register than ever before but it’s getting more expensive to save the remaining ones.

For the first time the conservation deficit, the difference in the cost of repair compared to the end value, has gone above £500,000. This is because the buildings left on the Register are the ones hardest to repair. Research also suggests the cost of materials for conservation jobs is also rising.

IHBC NewsBlogs on heritage at risk

HE news article

Landmarks across the world, including two in the UK, are to be illuminated in blue light to mark the 70 year anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN).

The United Nations (UN) writes:
The United Nations announced today that around 200 iconic monuments, buildings, museums, bridges and other landmarks in nearly 60 countries around the world will be lit up blue – the official colour of the Organization – as part of a global campaign to commemorate its 70th anniversary.

‘This is an initiative led by the [UN Department of Public Information] and has had tremendous support from governments, cities, mayors, and locally in many countries [from] information centres, to ensure this collaborative public awareness of the UN Day,’ Under-Secretary-General for Public Information Cristina Gallach told reporters at a press conference in New York.

Ms. Gallach said iconic landmarks – from Australia’s Sydney Opera House to the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and from the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro to the Empire State Building in New York – will be lit blue.

Other sites will include Russia’s Hermitage Museum, the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, Edinburgh Castle and Westminster Hall in the United Kingdom, Table Mountain in South Africa, Japan’s SkyTree Tower and the Alhambra in Spain, among many others.

‘I am grateful our Member States are showing such strong enthusiasm in marking 70 years of UN support for peace, development and human rights,’ said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a press release. By turning the world UN Blue for a day, we can light the way to a better tomorrow,’ he added.

The global celebration will kick off in New Zealand and then Australia with the lighting of the Sydney Opera House at dusk, and from there, a wave of UN blue will move across countries and continents as monuments around the world take part in the international event.

United Nations Headquarters in New York will light up for two nights, beginning on Friday when the annual UN Day concert will be held, sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea

The lead performers are the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) Symphony Orchestra; they will be joined on stage by UN Messenger of Peace Lang Lang, the Harlem Gospel Choir and K-Pop duo Davichi.

Meanwhile, on Saturday afternoon in New York City’s Central Park, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the President of the General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft will attend the unveiling of a new art installation dedicated to the United Nations.

Created by Spanish artist Cristóbal Gabarrón, Enlightened Universe features 70 life-size figures – representing the 70 years of the Organization – joined hand in hand around a huge globe. The figures are designed to represent a human chain of global citizens, joined in solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature and shared responsibility.

View the Central Hall, Westminster press release on the illumination for UN day

View the Scottish Government press release on Edinburgh Castle illumination

UN News Centre article

Two extensions to the Lake District national park and the Yorkshire Dales national park have been approved by DEFRA.

The Lake District National Park writes:
Defra has today announced an extension will be made to the boundary of the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks, following a recommendation from Natural England.

In the Lake District this will include an area in the east from Birkbeck Fells Common to Whinfell Common, and an area in the south from Helsington Barrows to Sizergh Fell, and part of the Lyth Valley. The total extension will account for around a three per cent increase in size in the park (Yorkshire Dales’ extension is around 24 per cent).

We are supportive of the extension to the Lake District National Park as we believe it will create a boundary line that is most appropriate for the landscape. We welcome the opportunity to maintain and improve the environment in these areas, particularly rights of ways, for the benefit of everyone who enjoys the Lake District and surrounding areas.

We consider the extension a long-overdue measure from when the boundaries were initially set in 1951, when the Lake District National Park was created. At that time, they were set to follow local political administrative boundaries, rather than the more natural geography of the landscape.

However, resources must be put in place to fund the management of this additional land, and we look forward to clarifying exactly how this will be implemented ahead of the extension coming into effect in 2016.

View the extension announcement maps

IHBC NewsBlogs on national parks

View the press release

Dover District Heritage Strategy has won the category of ‘Excellence in Planning for Built Heritage’ at the RTPI South East Awards for Planning Excellence 2015, as produced by the Heritage Conservation Group of Kent County Council, commissioned by Dover District Council and English Heritage.

The judge’s citation states:
This useful and thorough document has all the elements of a strategy (where are we now? where to we want to be? how do we get there?) with an action plan for monitoring. Planning and development are involved in all but three of 27 recommendations for action and the methodology of the Strategy is sound. Heritage significance is tabulated by degree and vulnerability covers planning related allocated sites; enterprise zones; permitted development; and land use changes. The Strategy articulates how the high level policy for the historic environment can be taken account of in the development of local plans and be used in local decision-making.

The tagline for the Local plan / Core Strategy is: ‘ambitious for the future, sensitive to the past’ and states that ‘Dover’s rich heritage should play a key role in any regeneration scheme in the District. The incorporation of heritage as a keystone in a holistic regeneration approach brings a number of benefits.’

There is strong argument for the role of heritage in regeneration and tourism growth, and its role ‘in the sustainable development agenda promoted by the Government in the NPPF and the positive improvements to people’s quality of life that this now requires planning to deliver…Conforming with Government policy for localism through neighbourhood planning, the Strategy promotes an agenda of further understanding of the historic environment, engagement and access where the public play a leading role in delivering the outcomes of the strategy and shaping where they live, work and visit.’

‘The role of the local authorities and their heritage professionals and advisors, town and parish councils wherever possible should be one of acting as a focus, facilitating, coordination and providing advice, information and support to the community to deliver the desired outcomes. The Dover District Heritage Strategy has the potential to be an exemplar of the ‘Big Society’ concept in action, delivering gains and benefits that would not otherwise be realised solely through public funding.’

The creation of a District-wide historic environment forum may help to take the Strategy forward. The work was undertaken by the Heritage Conservation Group of Kent County Council, commissioned by Dover District Council and English Heritage (now Historic England) to ensure that the heritage of the District plays a clear role in shaping any future regeneration, development and management decisions.

It is intended that the strategy provides a strategic and clear approach to dealing with Dover’s heritage and that the document might act as a pilot exemplar for similar schemes elsewhere in the country for planning authorities and all who are involved in decisions on Heritage Assets.

View the full list of award winners and the judges citation

The Norwich evening news has reported on concerns over cuts proposed to the Norfolk County Council historic environment service, in a bid to make £172,000 of savings.

Pages 51-62 of the Norfolk County Council environment, development and transport committee report outline proposals for savings and delivery issues and proposes to ‘Redesign the historic environment service to deliver only the statutory service elements’, saving £172,000 which is deemed to be a low risk action.

The Norwich Evening News writes:
The threat of the £172,000 cuts to the Historic Environment Service could mean:

• The end of the identification and recording service which logs archaeological finds made by members of the public;
• Advice would only be given on a reduced number of planning applications, meaning only statutory obligations would be met;
• The reduction or even ending of advice on historic buildings, other than those Norfolk County Council owns;
• The public archaeological database, known as the historic environment record, for Norfolk would no longer be updated;
• Public events such as archaeology days and school visits would stop.
  

View the committee report 

View Norfolk County Council historic environment pages

View the Norwich Evening News article ‘Fears over cuts to Norfolk heritage department’

A new enforcement campaign has been launched by the Home Office to endeavour to deal with illegal working in the construction sector.

The Home Office writes:
A Home Office enforcement campaign has been launched to root out illegal working in the construction industry, Immigration Minister James Brokenshire has announced.

‘Operation Magnify’ will involve Home Office enforcement officers carrying out operations specifically to target those businesses in the sector which are employing and exploiting illegal migrant workers.

The Immigration Minister hosted a meeting with construction industry leaders about plans to end illegal working in the sector. Mr Brokenshire said: Coming together with key employers and influencers in the construction industry is a chance for us to engage with those who are keen to maintain the integrity of the sector. Illegal working undermines legitimate employers, harms the reputation of the industry, drives down wages and denies employment to hard-working UK citizens and people who are working in the UK legally. Employers within the construction industry have a critical role to play in helping to combat this by ensuring they carry out the straightforward ‘Right to Work’ checks on potential employees that prevent illegal working in the UK.

IHBC NewsBlogs on construction

View the press release together with links to information on this issue

A BBC programme (DIY SOS) is carrying out a project in Manchester to create 62 renovated homes for ex-service personnel, working with the MOD and the charity ‘Walking With The Wounded’ who also help ex-service personnel in construction trades training.

The Ministry of Defence writes:
BBC’s DIY SOS is helping renovate an entire road in Manchester into 62 specially adapted and bespoke homes for ex-service personnel. On hand to help out the BBC DIY SOS team were 75 Engineer Regiment, who were onsite for two weeks, and Princes William and Harry who came to show their support. The renovation project is in partnership with Haig Housing, a provider of housing for ex-service personnel, and charity Walking with the Wounded.

Member of the Corp of Royal Engineers, both Regular and Reserve, are ‘triple traded’. They are trained firstly as soldiers, secondly as artisan tradesmen like bricklayers or electricians, and finally as combat engineers providing military engineering, such as building bridges and route clearance. The capability of the 11 individuals from 75 Engineer Regiment helping out with this project meant they were a welcome contribution to the DIY SOS team.

Reservist WO2 Jason Shawcross RE was one of the 11 individuals from 75 Engineer Regiment. As a site foreman in his civilian life, he combined his military and civilian roles to huge success. Due to his civilian qualifications, WO2 Shawcross was able to take charge of the large equipment needed for this project – the tipper truck and the fork lift – and offer official training to two of the DIY SOS team so that they can take charge of large equipment on future projects.

Veterans, with help from charity Walking With The Wounded, have also been re-trained in construction trades and will also be part of the building team.

In recent years the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), who are a strong supporter of the Armed Forces Covenant, has introduced a number of measures to ensure that members of the Armed Forces Community do not face disadvantage in housing. They have improved access to social housing, ensured that seriously injured personnel and veterans with urgent housing needs are always given high priority and introduced measures to provide support for specialist accommodation for veterans. DCLG also work with councils to prevent homelessness and introduced initiatives such as Streetlink and No Second Night Out which ensure that when veterans end up sleeping rough they are offered care and support from local services.

View the press release

IHBC NewsBlogs on housing

Recipients of new funding for ancient monuments in Wales have been announced, as part of the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill measures.

The Welsh Government writes:
Wales’ historic environment, which includes ancient monuments and historic buildings, as well as the landscapes that surround them, shapes our national identity and brings significant economic benefits, accounting for one-fifth of the tourism expenditure in Wales.

A total of £121,404 of funding will be used for projects which will safeguard the ancient monuments, from urgent repair work to changes that will increase public access to the sites and interpretation to help visitors understand its historic significance.

The approved projects include £7,683 for an investigation into whether the site of a crashed American long range fighter aircraft from World War II, the only known Lockheed P-38F Lightning in the world still surviving in substantially intact original condition, should be protected. The aircraft remains currently lie, buried in sand, at Harlech beach and are periodically exposed by storm events, making it vulnerable to damage, weathering and trophy hunting. Due to its intact condition, the aircraft is of international significance.

The funding will support an archaeological geophysical survey of the site, using magnetometry and Ground Penetrating Radar. The findings will not only provide more information on the aircraft but will inform whether it can be designated as a scheduled ancient monument, offering it protection in future.

Announcing the latest round of funding the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ken Skates said: ‘All over Wales our landscape is scattered with ancient monuments, they shape our communities, tell the story of our past and bring economic benefits through tourism. There are also significant social and educational benefits to these sites and I am pleased that we are continuing to support a range of projects both in and around Communities First areas. Early this year I introduced the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill which will legislate to better care and protect our important historic buildings and monuments. I am pleased that through these grants we are already supporting exciting conservation projects right across Wales, which will lead the way in protecting our past for the Wales of tomorrow.’

Other projects awarded grants include the installation of new interpretation boards at Ffynnon Beuno, a Holy Well in Gwynedd associated with Beuno and claimed to cure epilepsy and conservation work to the Medieval Pottery Kiln at Newport Memorial Hall, Pembrokeshire, which is the best preserved of its kind in Britain, giving it national importance.

IHBC NewsBlogs on funding

View the press release

A coalition of groups have written jointly to the Guardian to express the desire for more funding to go back into projects for the public good where land values increase as a result of gaining planning permission.

The RTPI writes:
The RTPI has urged the UK Government to put in place a mechanism whereby a proportion of the increase in land value associated with public investment in infrastructure or planning permission, is used to fund public goods. The call was made in a joint letter, published in The Guardian, signed by the RTPI and ten other natonal built environment organisations including the National Housing Federation and the Adam Smith Institute.

The letter reads:
The level of the annual shortfall in housing delivery suggests that a step change is needed in the very mechanisms whereby houses are delivered (Crisis, what housing crisis? We just need fresh thinking, 1 October). This, however, is not just about building houses; it’s about place creation, which means delivering social, environmental and physical infrastructure alongside housing.

In the present climate we cannot look only to public spending to do this. It is time to look for additional funding from the windfall in value which goes directly to private landowners when public  investment in infrastructure is made, or planning permission is granted on a piece of land. There needs to be a fairer way of sharing this land value uplift between landowners and the community, to fund the housing and infrastructure the country needs. As a coalition we are asking for the UK government to put in place a mechanism whereby a proportion of this increase in land value is used to fund public goods. It’s time to tap into this source of additional public funding. It’s time for a fair deal on land.

• Trudi Elliott Chief executive officer, Royal Town Planning Institute
• Tom Papworth Senior fellow, Adam Smith Institute
• Campbell Robb CEO, Shelter
• David Orr Chief executive, National Housing Federation
• Kate Henderson Chief executive officer, Town and Country Planning Association
• Jon Sparkes Chief executive, Crisis
• Terrie Alafat Chief executive, Chartered Institute of Housing
• Stephen Howlett Chief executive, Peabody
• Mark Walton Executive director, Shared Assets
• Sue Percy Chief executive, Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation
• Caroline Julian Head of policy programmes, ResPublica

View the Guardian article

View the RTPI press release

A new report authored by Dr Antony Firth has been published by the Honor Frost Foundation (HFF), which is the first study to look at how marine and maritime cultural heritage benefits society and consider ways in which this heritage could be enhanced for the benefit of all.

The Honor Frost Foundation (HFF) writes:
The importance of our heritage and its relevance both to our society and to our economy is becoming increasingly recognised. Whether in our towns and cities or in rural landscapes, the character of places draws upon the past, stimulating interest and enjoyment amongst those who live there, and attracting visitors from both near and far.

We seem to have lost sight, however, of just how much of our present has been shaped by our age-old relationship with the sea. The UK is surrounded by the sea. It has been fundamental to communication, to our resources, to trade and to culture for millennia. It is often said that we are a maritime nation, but what does this mean today?

This report – initiated by the former British Academy & Honor Frost Foundation Steering Committee on Underwater Cultural Heritage – looks at the social and economic benefits of the UK’s marine and maritime cultural heritage. Although this heritage is tremendously rich and already has a big impact, its overall contribution seems largely unrecognised. This is the first study to examine how the UK’s marine and maritime cultural heritage could be better harnessed and enhanced.

The report shows how we can better understand – and better appreciate – the importance and impact of marine and maritime heritage.  Many of our predecessors based their communities and made a living from being at the edge of the world’s seas and oceans. They left us a fascinating heritage that we can explore, enjoy and use to enrich today’s society. This report seeks to identify the current contribution of marine and maritime cultural heritage whilst making the case for greater accessibility and effective management in future.

The report focusses on the situation in the UK but it is hoped that it will resonate in many other places around the world where the marine and maritime past forms a vibrant part of the cultural heritage.

The Honor Frost Foundation hopes that you find the report stimulating and looks forward to discussing with you how to make the very best of our marine and maritime cultural heritage.

If you wish to receive a printed copy of the report, please email hff@britac.ac.uk or write to the Honor Frost Foundation, 10 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH and provide your name and address and any relevant contact details.

IHBC NewsBlogs on maritime heritage

IHBC NewsBlogs on coastal heritage 

View the press release and download the report

50 new Cultural Education Partnerships have been launched by Arts Council England through working with the Heritage Lottery Fund, British Film Institute and English Heritage and a debate has been launched on cultural education, urging organisations to work together in the interest of all young people (#culturaledchallenge)

Arts Council England (ACE) writes:
Arts Council England today urged all those working in the arts and education industries to work together in offering a consistent cultural education for all children and young people.

The Cultural Education Challenge was launched today at the Barbican in London. It challenges sector leaders across the arts, education, local authorities, schools, higher education institutions and others to create new ways of working. It encourages them to share resources to create joined-up arts and cultural provisions locally, at a time when public funding remains under pressure.

The Arts Council announced 50 new Cultural Education Partnerships across the country, in areas of most need of arts and cultural provision.  They will be modelled on previous pilot cultural education partnerships established in Great Yarmouth, Bristol and Barking & Dagenham. These were initiated by the Arts Council, with partners the British Film Institute, Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage, in response to a number of recommendations made in the Henley Review on Cultural Education in England.

These Cultural Education Partnerships will be led and initiated by ‘Bridge organisations’. This network of ten organisations located across the country helps to connect schools, children and young people with arts and cultural activity. Bridges receive £10 million in funding every year from the Arts Council and will play a leading role in delivering the Challenge, although strong convenors are encouraged to come forward to help deliver the Challenge locally.

The Cultural Education Challenge brings a renewed focus on the importance of cultural education at a time when the creative sector continues to make a significant contribution to the economy, providing 1 in 20 jobs and when cultural education provision amongst children and young people varies across the country. Through the Cultural Education Challenge the Arts Council wants to make sure that all children and young people everywhere have access to great arts and culture, and that every child can create, compose, and perform; visit, experience and participate in extraordinary work, and be able to know more, understand more, and review the experiences they’ve had.

Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said: ‘A great arts and cultural education gives children and young people the confidence and creative skills to thrive, as individuals, as members of our society, and as the next generation of creative talent. All children and young people, wherever and whatever their start in life, should have the opportunity to have an arts and cultural education that nurtures innovation and unlocks the vital skills that are helping to drive our world leading creative industries.’

Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for Schools, added: ’An introduction to the arts from an early age is vital to producing well-rounded and well-educated individuals, able to make a positive contribution to this country’s rich cultural heritage. That is why we have ensured the arts are a key part of a broad and balanced education for all young people, and this was reflected in this year’s GCSE results, which showed an increase of 3.4% since 2010 in entries to art and design GCSEs. The Cultural Education Challenge represents a great opportunity for local arts organisations, schools and colleges to come together to ensure all young people can enjoy an excellent cultural education, regardless of their background.’

Ed Vaizey, Minister of State for Culture and the Digital Economy, said: ‘I want to see all children have access to the arts regardless of where they live and go to school. Cultural education gives our young people the enriching experiences they need at an early age while also developing the talent and creative thinking that is powering the UK’s world-beating creative industries. We need to do as much as we can to support cultural education through initiatives like this fantastic Challenge. I’m convinced better partnership working and a more strategic approach is key and I look forward to seeing the results of this vital new scheme.’

Over the coming weeks a number of workshops will be hosted by Bridge organisations across the country. Local arts organisations, teachers, local authorities and more are invited to attend, to learn more about how they can get involved with the Cultural Education Challenge.

IHBC NewsBlogs on education

Find out how to get involved with the Challenge 

Watch and join the conversation online through Twitter using the hashtag #culturaledchallenge

View the press release

Tesco is seeking nominations for the grants programme for its carrier bag programme, where funding from the carrier bag charge is able to benefit environmental projects- why not consider nominating a community heritage project which meets the guidelines.

Groundwork writes:
Communities across England, Wales and Scotland will soon be able to apply for up to £12,000 for local green space projects thanks to a new grant scheme being launched with the proceeds generated from the sale of carrier bags by Tesco.  It is anticipated that there will be two funding rounds per year over the next three years.  The first funding round opens on 19 October 2015 and will close on 30 November 2015.  The scheme is open to community groups, charities and some public sector organisations and will fund capital improvement projects such as parks, play areas, community gardens and other green spaces.

The scheme is managed by environmental charity Groundwork.

The grants programme will be open to voluntary/community organisations, registered charities, health bodies, Parish/Town councils, local authorities and housing organisations.  It will fund capital projects that provide community benefit and have free and open access to all members of the community for a minimum of six days a week, during daylight hours.

Projects that would typically receive funding include:

• Parks, pocket parks and urban green spaces
• Green corridors – river and canals, cycle ways
• Formal and informal play areas
• Open access sports facilities within public parks and recreation grounds – eg football pitches, tennis courts and cricket pitches
• Informal outdoor recreation facilities; eg gym equipment, trim trails and woodland walks
• Nature reserves, community woodland, ponds and village greens
• Churchyards
• Seafronts
• Community allotments, community gardens, orchards and city farms

More about the Tesco scheme http://www.tesco.com/carrier-bags/

For further information email info@groundwork.org.uk

View the Groundwork information page