Denbigh Hospital update: CPO

The Grade II* listed Denbigh hospital in North Wales is now the subject of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), confirmed by the Welsh Government.

Denbighshire County Council writes:
Denbighshire County Council has hailed a decision by the Welsh Government to confirm a Compulsory Purchase Order served on the owners of the former North Wales Hospital site as a major milestone in the efforts to protect and preserve the site.

The Council’s Planning Committee voted in favour of the CPO for the site back in September 2013 after the owners Freemont (Denbigh) Limited, based in the British Virgin Islands, failed to comply with a Repairs Notice served by the Council, which required the owners to carry out significant repairs to the buildings on site.

A Public Inquiry was held earlier this year following a decision by the owner of the site to challenge the CPO served by the Council.

The CPO required Freemont (Denbigh) Ltd to sell the building to Denbighshire County Council, who will in turn pass the ownership of the site onto the North Wales Building Preservation Trust. The Trust will manage the restoration of the main buildings by progressing enabling development on the associated land, the profit from which will fund the restoration of the most important listed buildings and the demolition of a number of less important buildings. The newly formed Trust is a none profit making organisation, who will receive support from the Princes Regeneration Trust.

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, said: ‘The Minister’s decision totally vindicates the great efforts made by the Council and its partners to protect this important historic site for future generations.

‘We were naturally very disappointed that the owners decided to challenge the CPO, but that was not entirely unexpected, given the owners’ complete lack of co-operation over recent years.

‘The Council’s main consideration has always been about the preservation of the main historic building on site and we warned the owners time and time again that we would go down the compulsory purchase route, should we have no other option.

‘This has been an extremely frustrating process which has been drawn out due to the lack of action from the site owners to carry out urgent works on the property.  It has been frustrating for the Council and partners who have worked so hard to resolve this situation and it’s also been unsettling for the local community.

‘Hopefully the rejection of the appeal will allow the Council to purchase the site and to hand it over to the Trust. Developing the site would have significant economic benefits to the town of Denbigh and surrounding area’.

‘There are many issues to be resolved before the Council can take ownership and for the Council to pass the ownership on to the Trust. As such, work will not commence on site for some time’.

View the previous newsblog

View a further news article on the ‘Local Government Lawyer’ website 

Denbighshire Council news

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Big Draw: Celebrate the first national architectural drawing day on 10 October

Throughout October there is an international programme of drawing based events organised by an arts education charity (The Big Draw) as on 10 October the first national architectural drawing day is being held, with events organised at RIBA HQ and also shared online, as you are encouraged to share your creations on Twitter.

The Big Draw writes:
This October, arts education charity The Big Draw, teams up with a record number of partners to create an extensive programme of free drawing events as part of its annual international festival, The Big Draw.

From 1 to 31 October, The Big Draw festival is celebrating its 15th year with a month-long programme of activities on every continent, including hundreds of free events for all ages created by an extraordinary range of organisations UK-wide – from nursery schools to national museums.

The Big Draw’s first Architecture Drawing Day will be launched in partnership with the RIBA (10 October, London) and supported by an exciting series of workshops to encourage different approaches to drawing buildings and places. An evening event will see special guest hosts architect Will Alsop and artist Patrick Vale challenge their audience to a BIG architectural sketch-up (6 October, RIBA, London).

Seeing Closer with The Royal Society is where art and science overlap to enable fascinating invention and discovery. With talks, historic engraving demonstrations and free activities for all ages, from making takeaway smartphone microscopes to creating microscopic drawings with the Gurdon Institute team (17 October, London).

The arts education charity – The Big Draw – is the creator and driving force behind the annual, international Big Draw festival. Launched in 2000, the festival promotes the belief that drawing changes lives for the better, and its mission is to give everyone an opportunity for self-expression through the universal language of drawing. The charity champions visual literacy and highlights the importance of creativity in education, literature and society.

In 2014, 414,000 participants took part in over 1800 Big Draw festival events in 26 countries. Sue Grayson Ford, Big Draw Founder and President, commented: ‘Drawing allows us to interpret, invent and communicate; it helps to develop individual creativity and breaks down cultural and generational barriers. The Big Draw festival celebrates drawing’s social, economic and health benefits, and our highlight events demonstrate drawing’s vital role across all disciplines. The festival is an open invitation to get everyone drawing!’ The 2015 Big Draw Festival provides a unique platform for people to explore, discover, take part in and organise creative activities throughout the UK and abroad from 1 to 31 October.

To find out more visit www.thebigdraw.org or follow @The_Big_Draw

View some of the highlights from RIBA’s drawing collection on Facebook

Read the press release

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New IHBC Context online – The changing face of retail and much more!

Context138The latest issue of the IHBC’s membership journal Context now available online explores the changing face of retail, and much more, from carpentry to historic routes.

Articles include:

  • Tim Brennan – the changing face of the high street
  • Tom Copp – Thomas Sharp’s Exeter legacy
  • Leigh Sparks – a sense of place
  • Nigel Crowe – the Wetherspoon Collection
  • Colin Hyde – voices of the people
  • Lindsay Lennie – the art of shop signs
  • Michael Davis – love architecture, hate dogma
  • Charles Hippisley-Cox – carpentry traditions and timber-frame buildings
  • Philip Masters and Sally Stradling -protecting historic routes

As ever, themed issues of Context also include more general conservation articles as well as news, book reviews and reports from IHBC’s officers.

If you have any suggestions for articles or other material contact Fiona Newton at: editorial@ihbc.org.uk

Explore our Context online archive

For information on Context’s future issues, guidance for authors, and links to the journal’s archives see the IHBC website

View the online version of issue 138 of Context

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New programme in NI for cultural outreach

A new scheme has been launched in Northern Ireland as part of Community Relations and Cultural Awareness Week to bring museum collections and heritage archives out to local communities, aiming to make cultural heritage more accessible and help tackle social exclusion issues.

The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) writes:
Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has welcomed a new initiative which brings museum collections to the wider community. The ‘Out and About’ programme was launched in Ormeau Road Library today. The Minister praised a project which brings together museums and libraries, two branches of the wider DCAL family.

She added that collaboration is vital if we are to maximise our cultural offering, and engage effectively with people across the north.

The Minister said: ‘National Museums NI is working in partnership with other DCAL organisations, such as Libraries NI, in order to bring more of its collections and exhibitions directly out into the community. As DCAL Minister my top priority is to promote social and economic equality and tackle poverty and social exclusion. I also believe that local communities should have more opportunities within their own areas to access and learn about our publicly held cultural and heritage assets. This is important if we are to effectively address inequalities in our society and bring about positive social change.

‘National Museums’ ‘Out and About’ programme is designed to help improve access to stored collections and bring more artefacts and exhibitions into the heart of communities. I am delighted that National Museums and Libraries NI are collaborating on this issue and that local libraries are now being used as venues for ‘Out and About’ workshops and displays.’

The display at Ormeau Road Library includes archaeological artefacts such as tools, weapons and jewellery. Members of the public had the opportunity to learn about and handle the objects.

The Minister said: ‘I am aware that National Museums is planning to develop community access and engagement programmes with other organisations in the DCAL family, including the Arts Council and NI Screen. This is welcome news, I encourage all DCAL arm’s-length bodies to support National Museums’ community outreach initiatives in every way possible.’

As part of the ‘Out and About’ programme National Museums, in partnership with Libraries NI, will be extending access to museum stored collections. This will be done through a series of community workshops and exhibitions in libraries located in areas identified as Urban Villages under the Executive’s Together: Building a United Community Strategy.

The Minister said: ‘This is one of a number of DCAL projects taking place during Community Relations and Cultural Awareness Week. Across culture, arts, sport and languages there are events which aim to engage communities and ultimately bring people together.

‘Collaboration and innovation is vital if we are going to bring our cultural offering directly to communities and reach out to those most in need.’

View the press release and find out more about the scheme

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Scotland’s first ‘Heritage Angels’ at inaugural awards

The first winners of the Scottish Heritage Angels awards have been announced.

The Scottish Civic Trust writes:
Heritage volunteers from across Scotland gathered at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre on Monday 28th September as the winners of the very first Scottish Heritage Angel Awards were revealed.

The volunteers or ‘Angels’ involved in one of Europe’s most significant cemeteries, Scotland’s firefighting past, the country’s unique canal and waterway heritage, the safeguarding of a pair of historic buildings in the North of Scotland and an individual who has dedicated more than 20 years to Scotland’s archaeological sector were all celebrated as winners as they each received an Angel Award.

Funded by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, this initiative, the first of its kind in Scotland, culminated in winners being named across five categories at an awards ceremony hosted by Scottish writer and broadcaster Sally Magnusson. The evening and the awards programme acknowledged and celebrated remarkable individuals and their efforts in helping to better understand, appreciate and protect Scotland’s heritage and history, for both present and future generations alike.

John Pelan, Director of the Scottish Civic Trust, added: ‘Honouring and acknowledging volunteers whilst recognising the benefit that their work brings to their local communities and the nation’s wider historic environment is at the very core of the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards. The inaugural year of this initiative has been hugely successful. From receiving over 80 high-quality applications to then narrowing this down to our shortlist and then choosing five overall winners has proven a challenge for our judges. This year’s Heritage Angels winners showcase the great diversity of important volunteer work that is being carried out at a local heritage level throughout the country.’

Scottish Heritage Angel Awards Winners 2015:

  • Friends of Glasgow Necropolis in the category of Investigating and Recording for the surveying and archiving of graves and monuments, Glasgow
  • Forres Heritage Trust in the category of Caring and Protecting for the restoration and bringing back into community use of two local historic landmarks, Nelson Tower and The Tolbooth, Moray
  • Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Volunteers in the category of Sharing and Celebrating for their Scottish fire heritage project, South Lanarkshire and throughout Scotland
  • Scottish Waterways Trust – Canals College in the category of Capacity Building for their canal and waterways heritage work, Falkirk
  • Patrick Cave-Browne for Lifetime Contribution to the Historic Environment in recognition of his valuable contributions to Scotland’s rich and diverse historic environment

To view the full details and to view the films of the inaugural Scottish Heritage Angel Awards winners please visit the website

View the press release

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Sheffield City Region agrees devolution deal

This week the Sheffield City Region formally signed a devolution deal which brings significant change to the region, with more say over funding in the region and a directly elected mayor.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) writes:
The Northern Powerhouse takes another major step forward today (Friday 2 October) as Sheffield City Region agrees a historic devolution deal with the government. Chancellor George Osborne today signs a deal with civic leaders from South Yorkshire that will see it vote for a new, directly-elected Mayor, in what he will hail as the most fundamental shake-up of local government for a generation.

Sheffield City Region is one of 38 towns, cities, counties and regions which submitted ambitious proposals to Westminster to take control of how public money is spent in their area. As part of the deal, the Sheffield City Region Mayor will be elected for the first time in 2017 by voters across South Yorkshire. The Mayor will oversee a range of powers devolved from government including responsibility over transport budgets; franchised bus services and strategic planning while the deal also includes additional devolved powers for the area’s Combined Authority. This includes a new gain share deal within an envelope of £30 million a year for 30 years – giving Sheffield the power to use new funding to boost local growth and invest in local manufacturing and innovation.

Of the 38 nationally submitted proposals this deal is the first to be done – reflecting the confidence of the Chancellor in the economic prospects for the Sheffield City Region which has transformed itself over the last ten years, the strength of our economic partnership, the support of our private sector and the quality of our bid into government.

The new Mayor will act as Chair to the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority and will exercise a range of powers devolved from central government including:

  • Responsibility over the region’s transport budget, with a multi-year settlement to be agreed at the Spending Review
  • Responsibility for franchised bus services, which will support the Combined Authority’s delivery of smart and integrated ticketing across its councils
  • Responsibility for an identified Key Route Network of local authority roads that will be collaboratively managed and maintained at the city region level by the Combined Authority on behalf of the Mayor
  • Powers over strategic planning

The Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, working with the Mayor, will also receive the following powers:

  • Control of a new gain share deal, like that agreed with Greater Manchester and other areas, within an envelope of £30 million a year for 30 years – giving Sheffield the power to boost local growth and invest in local manufacturing and innovation
  • Responsibility for chairing an area-based review of 16+ skills provision and devolved 19+ adult skills funding from 2018/19
  • Joint responsibility with government to co-design employment support for the harder-to-help claimants, many of whom are currently referred to the Work Programme and Work Choice
  • More effective joint working with UKTI to boost trade and investment, and responsibility to work with government to develop and implement a devolved approach to the delivery of national business support programmes from 2017

In addition:

  • To support the development of the area’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District, the government will offer the Sheffield City Region expert advice and support to ensure they are able to put forward a City Region led proposal to undertake a Science and Innovation audit
  • The Sheffield City Region will work with HM Government to achieve their ambitions for a national Institute for Infrastructure within Doncaster
  • The government will work with the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority to agree specific funding flexibilities to a Spending Review timetable. The joint ambition will be to give Sheffield City Region Combined Authority a single pot to invest in its economic growth

Further powers may be agreed over time and included in future legislation.

View the press release

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Merseyside Civic Society: State of the City III report

A new report has been issued by the Merseyside Civic Society- State of the City III report ‘Empty Spaces Healthy Places’, together with an exhibition in the city.

Civic Society writes:
Yesterday Merseyside Civic Society launched their State of the City III report: ‘Empty Spaces Healthy Places’. The launch event took place at Liverpool’s brand new Exhibition Centre, which can be found on the city’s waterfront.

Professor Erik Bichard from the University of Salford delivered the keynote speech at the event and presented issues surrounding his research into ‘Sustainable Return on Investment’ (SuROI), an approach to urban assets and programmes which places a value on social and environmental change, not just economic. Professor Bichard’s presentation framed the three main actions of Merseyside Civic Society’s report which are to support a better understanding of the sustainable value of city assets; foster a culture of listening and embrace and encourage neighbourhood plans.

The report’s conclusions were drawn up following events held at The Bluecoat Chambers on this year’s Civic Day in June. Civic Day is a national celebration of civic pride. It is a day when communities across the country participate in different activities to show that they care about where they live.

Merseyside Civic Society celebrated Civic Day this year by gathering a diverse line of speakers, who shared community success stories to encourage and improve communication between residents and the city. This also helped to create awareness of the vital importance of green spaces.

Deputy Chair of Merseyside Civic Society, Jean Grant said: ‘Merseyside Civic Society is grateful to everyone who has been involved helping to spread the word about the three main actions arising from State of the City. Professor Bichard’s practical way of evaluating the non commercial aspects of the city are key to residents discussing with each other and with those in the city council and government why certain aspects such as open spaces, health and education are so important to our cities’ economies. We look forward to working with our partners as we take forward the conclusions we have reached through our activities.’

View the press release

Access the report

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PAC’s land disposal inquiry: ‘No proof of success’

The results of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry into land disposal have been released, and are critical of the government approaches to land disposal, with ‘No proof of success’ on results.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) writes:
Meg Hillier MP, Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts, today said: ‘The Government should be embarrassed by the failings uncovered by the PAC’s inquiry into land disposal. Its entire approach has been wishful thinking dressed up as public policy. It also demonstrates an alarming complacency over the future of an irreplaceable public asset. Many thousands of people desperately need homes and an effective land disposal programme should provide two significant benefits: much-needed housing and much-needed cash for the public purse.’

‘Yet the Government has no record of how many homes have been built or are under construction. It has no record of sale proceeds, nor their value in relation to prevailing market prices. There is no means of knowing whether taxpayers are getting a good deal from the sale of their land. We are told enough public space has now been sold off to accommodate more than 100,000 homes at nearly 950 sites. Land disposed of by the Ministry of Defence alone could hold an estimated 39,000 properties.’

‘The Government cannot tell us how many of these homes now exist – or will ever exist. Instead it appears simply to have hoped huge numbers of houses would spring up across the country. Government departments have been instructed to draw up plans for further spending cuts and many people are rightly worried about the effects these will have on struggling public services.’

Summary of conclusions and recommendations:

  • The Department cannot assess whether the programme delivered value for money for the taxpayer. The Department’s view is that the success of the programme is defined by having disposed of land with the potential capacity for more than 100,000 homes, and that the value for money of individual sales is just the responsibility of individual departmental Accounting Officers. We do not accept these narrow interpretations. Recommendation: In taking forward the new target, the Department and the Homes and Communities Agency must apply a broader test of value for money, which must include sale proceeds and progress in the actual construction of new homes. Taxpayers deserve to know how many homes have actually been built.
  • We are sceptical as to whether departments achieved value for money from the sale of all individual sites. The Department stressed to us that responsibility for securing value for money on individual land sales rested with the individual selling departments. We are sceptical whether this was achieved. Recommendation: We will hold the Department to account for the value for money of the new programme. It should, therefore, set out how it will gain assurance that all land-owning departments and public bodies have achieved value for money from all disposals.
  • The Department adopted a very wide interpretation of what it could count towards achieving its target. The Department claims the programme has sold enough land to support an estimated 109,950 homes. In counting the notional number of homes for which land had been released, the Department counted over 15,000 from land sold before the programme started, and over 10,000 from land which had simply moved outside the public sector. Recommendation: In taking forward its new target to release land for up to 150,000 homes between 2015 and 2020, the Department must only count the number of homes built, or commenced, on land disposed of during the programme. This should also include the number of affordable homes.
  • The Department was unable to confirm how many jobs the programme created. Recommendation: The Department must set out clearer parameters for job creation and collect and audit data to ensure that claimed new jobs are in fact created.
  • The Department and the Homes and Communities Agency have not provided effective oversight of the programme. After the programme started slowly the Cabinet Office Implementation Unit intervened in 2012 and outlined some significant concerns about achieving the target. After the Cabinet Office’s report, government took various steps and there was an acceleration of disposals in the second half of the programme. However, the Department still did not collect basic information we would have expected for it to oversee the programme effectively – for example, copies of sales contracts. Recommendation: The Department must be clear with individual departments as to the guidance they are expected to follow, and must set clear documentary and data requirements.
  • There were significant omissions in the Department’s data collection. Most worryingly, the Department did not collect information on the number of homes actually built or under construction, or on sales proceeds, both of which are fundamental to assessing the value for money of the programme. Recommendations: In addition to setting minimum documentary and data requirements for all land-owning departments, the Department must design and implement a data validation process. The Department should also review how it can increase transparency of agreed commercial terms for land disposals to provide greater assurance to the taxpayer that value for money has been achieved.
  • It is essential that the Department delivers value for money from future land disposals. We will want to see how the Department and the Homes and Communities Agency plan to implement the new programme. Recommendation: Alongside its usual Treasury Minute response, the Department should provide us with a fuller report on its progress with setting up the new programme, including objectives, how it will measure success and monitor progress, and how it has addressed National Audit Office recommendations.

View the news release & full reports

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IHBC welcomes HES: Scotland’s new national heritage body

HE_TwitterOn 1 October the IHBC welcomed the long anticipated arrival of Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the new non-departmental Public Body (NDPB) which was formed following the transfer of functions from Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), while a new online planning portal has also been launched.

IHBC members may be especially interested in the changes brought about as a result of this, including a new right of appeal against decisions on scheduling, listing and scheduled monument consent.

Historic Scotland writes:
As of 1st October 2015, a new online planning portal is to be launched as the functions of Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) transfer to the new Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) Historic Environment Scotland. Formed to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment, the new organisation incorporates the strengths of two bodies who have been managing and recording the historic environment for over a century.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) was formed by the Historic Environment Scotland Act 2014. The act also outlines some changes relating to the regulatory work of the Heritage Management Directorate, who provide advice, guidance and policies on key subjects relating to the historic environment from designation to listings and scheduling. As well as simplifying procedures, the changes aim to make the process of planning in relation to the historic environment more transparent.

Throughout September 2015, the Heritage Management Directorate of Historic Environment Scotland carried out extensive work to let stakeholders and frontline planners see the final details of how the new historic environment legislation will affect them. This work involved conducting outreach sessions with local authorities across the country, and publishing the new Historic Environment Circular which can be accessed online.

Barbara Cummins, Director of Heritage Management for Historic Environment Scotland, said: ‘Although many elements of our work will remain the same, there are a number of key changes that will come into effect through the new legislation. This includes the introduction of a right of appeal against decisions on scheduling, listing and scheduled monument consent, as well as the publishing of our decisions online through a new planning portal. The Historic Environment Circular provides a comprehensive guide to these changes and Historic Environment Scotland’s wider role in the planning system.’

‘We are confident these changes will enable us to be more transparent in what we do to support the management of the country’s historic environment. As a result, we will be accountable to and deliver a better service for the Scottish people.’

From 1st of October 2015, Historic Environment Scotland will publish decisions taken in relation to scheduling monuments, listing buildings and handling scheduled monument consent online. Advice on planning applications will continue to be posted on the relevant local authority’s planning portal. Historic Environment Scotland will continue to be a statutory consultee on applications for consents within the planning system affecting certain aspects of the historic environment.

The Historic Environment Circular 1 is available to read or download as a PDF

Watch a short video about what the changes mean

Access the new online planning portal

View the press release

View an information pack about HES

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UN launches ‘2030 Agenda’; specifies heritage in sustainable development

A special United Nations summit has launched the new framework for sustainable development, the ‘2030 Agenda’, with 17 goals to help ‘eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development by 2030’, including, under Goal 11, to ‘Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’, a commitment, at 11.4, to ‘Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage’.

The UN writes:
The 2030 Agenda, a universal framework for all countries to help eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development by 2030, includes an ambitious set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals and will be adopted today at a special UN Summit.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to be adopted today by the United Nations sets out a global framework to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development by 2030, building on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted in 2000. As the first ever global agreement setting a universal, comprehensive agenda for action, the 2030 Agenda includes an ambitious set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated targets, mobilising all countries and stakeholders towards their achievement and affecting domestic policies. The 2030 Agenda also includes the United Nations Addis Ababa Action Agenda adopted in July which sets out the different means necessary to implement the 2030 Agenda, including domestic resources, private finance and Official Development Assistance (ODA).

The EU has been a leader in contributing to this process from the start. It is now committed to take this agenda forward, both inside the EU (such as through forthcoming EU initiatives like, inter alia, the Circular Economy Strategy which is designed to address more sustainable patterns of production and consumption) and through the EU’s external policies by supporting implementation efforts in other countries, in particular those most in need.

First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, responsible for sustainable development and leading the Commission delegation on behalf of President Juncker, said: ‘This Agreement is a historic event, and a significant step forward for global action on sustainable development. I am proud to say that from the start, the EU has been strongly committed to reaching an ambitious outcome, with a universal agenda for all countries, rich and poor alike, fully integrating the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability. The result is a landmark achievement uniting the whole world around common goals for a more sustainable future. We are determined to implement the 2030 Agenda which will shape our internal and external policies, ensuring the EU plays its full part’.

The UN Summit to adopt the new 2030 Agenda is taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 25-27 September and will be attended by more than 150 Heads of State and Government from all over the world. The European Commission is represented by First Vice President Frans Timmermans, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica.

View the full press release

Agenda 2030

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October is Black History Month – help needed for ‘BAME’ places

October is Black History Month in the UK, and the Ubele Initiative and Locality have issued a report calling on the government to give greater support to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities for community development projects, following research which reveals the future of many community assets is uncertain.

Locality writes:
On the first day of Black History Month 2015, the Ubele Initiative and Locality are highlighting the need for Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities to be supported to take over community buildings to ensure they can meet the needs of their neighbourhoods for generations to come.

A new report by the Ubele Initiative and Locality reveals the scale of issues facing African diaspora communities across England in retaining places to meet, support, work, learn, celebrate and mourn.

Ubele was funded by Locality, the national network of ambitious and enterprising community-led organisations, to carry out the first phase of Project Mali which provides an important overview of asset ownership within the African diaspora community.

The report, called A Place to Call Home, highlights the vulnerability of community buildings secured by the Windrush Generation and underlines the failure to build on the struggle for social justice and equality in post-war Britain by protecting important meeting places.

Locality Chief Executive Tony Armstrong said: ‘This report highlights some inspirational stories of leaders and the determination of African diaspora groups to establish and retain important meeting places for their communities. But it also underlines the uncertain future of community buildings primarily used by BAME groups and stresses the struggles and losses that many have faced in recent years. The government needs to act to ensure BAME groups are supported take on and retain the important community assets which mean they can make a difference to the people in their neighbourhoods.’

Huge leaps in equality, prompted by civil unrest in the 1980s, have taken a step backwards recently as local authorities fail to renew leases on important community assets, meaning BAME groups are being forced from the centres which have been the cornerstones of their communities for decades.

Uprisings in urban areas such as Brixton, Toxteth, Bristol, Handsworth and Tottenham, from the early 1980s onwards, led to the emergence of new community organisations and spaces being leased to African diaspora community leaders for up to 30 years. However, a lack of renewal of these leasing arrangements over the past five-10 years has left many without the community assets they originally ‘owned’.

Data was captured from a total of 150 organisations across England and 54% of respondents said the future of their community buildings was ‘insecure’.

Ubele Chief Executive Yvonne Field said: ‘A Place Called Home unearthed unexpected stories of many BAME women’s unheralded leadership accomplishments but also suggests that African diaspora communities need to embrace change in our enterprise-based contemporary culture by upskilling younger people to become future leaders. There is an urgent need for a more joined up or holistic strategy to help save and restore iconic community centres and buildings. We need to bring together key national, regional and local stakeholders with BAME communities with assets in need of development.’

Ubele and Locality will now be working to influence central and local government to ensure that BAME communities are proactively identified and supported to use their rights under the Localism Act, as well as other measures, to take over the ownership or management of important community assets in their area.

The report recommends that BAME organisations are skilled up in order to create a more level playing field to ensure they are in a position to bid to take over land or buildings for community use.

For more background see The Guardian

View the press release and download the report

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£2M for 5 pilot city research projects – includes heritage

A new £2 million scheme that brings together all the UK Research Councils (RCs) for the first time has been launched, which will seek to investigate and address problems and issues in building successful 21st century cities – these teams will include heritage expertise and aim to adopt a ‘whole city’ approach.

Innovate UK writes:
Jo Johnson, Universities and Science Minister, has announced a new Urban Living Partnership that will bring together researchers, innovative businesses and local authorities to help build successful 21st century cities. The partnership will enable integrated research and innovation that will address the challenges faced by urban areas. It will also help these areas realise their visions for the future.’

‘As a One Nation Government, we are backing our great cities and towns, ensuring they drive economic growth, embrace innovation and have resilient infrastructure. This unique partnership will harness the UK’s world-leading strength in research and I encourage all aspirational cities to make their case.’

This is the first time Innovate UK and all 7 UK research councils have come together to address the challenges and opportunities of urban living.

Project co-chair Dr Mike Pitts commented: ‘Significant previous investment by the research councils and Innovate UK has built great strength across a broad range of research areas related to urban living. This partnership will combine that strength with dynamic local authorities, innovative businesses and major service providers to create the sustainable, successful and desirable city living that we all want for ourselves and future generations.’

Professor Rick Rylance, chair of Research Councils UK, said: ‘By bringing together capabilities across RCUK and Innovate UK, the partnership will open up new opportunities for creativity, innovation and co-design in responding to the challenges of future urban living.’

The first step in the programme is an investment of £2 million to create up to 5 pilot city projects. A consortium of researchers, local authorities, service providers and businesses will lead each project. Each team will also include engineers, ecologists, economists and heritage experts.

These teams will take a ‘whole city’ approach. They’ll use their diverse expertise to identify, understand and address key interconnected challenges. These challenges range from community health and crime to social inclusion and employment.

The partnership will award funding of up to £400,000 to support each pilot project to conduct a ‘diagnostic’ phase starting in April 2016 and running for up to 18 months. The call is open now.

View the press release

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Updated National Heritage List for England (NHLE) website

The new mobile friendly version of the NHLE website has been launched, together with a consultation survey seeking views on suggestions for new features and changes which you would like to see.

New features in this release are:

  • redesign to work for visitors using a smart phone or tablet
  • simplified searching and viewing of list results
  • Quick Search filtering
  • an email me my results function
  • updated mapping functionality to allow a satellite view.

View the NHLE site and survey

View information on the site and its contents on the HE glossary pages

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New Strategic Planning Policy Statement for NI

The new Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) for Northern Ireland has been launched, and it includes policy measures to guide the operation of the planning system, covering town centres and retail development, building in the countryside, the creation and enhancement of shared space, tourism, telecommunications and housing, as well as a ban on unconventional hydrocarbon extraction (fracking).

DoENI writes:
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan today published the Strategic Planning Policy Statement for Northern Ireland (SPPS).

In essence, this is ‘the go to guide’ for everyone involved in the local planning system. The SPPS reduces 20 separate planning policy statements to one. This provides the policy on key issues such as town centres and retail development, building in the countryside, creating and enhancing shared space, tourism, telecommunications and housing.

Significantly, it also sets in black and white, for the first time, as policy, no to unconventional hydrocarbon extraction, often referred to as fracking. This could only change in the future if the Department is satisfied that there is sufficient and robust evidence on all environmental impacts of fracking.

Welcoming the publication of the SPPS Roisin Willmott, the Royal Town Planning Institute’s Director for Northern Ireland commented: ‘This is good news for our members and for Northern Ireland. The much anticipated SPPS will be a catalyst for positive change on the ground. It will greatly aid the preparation of Councils’ new local development plans, providing a clear, practical and integrated policy framework for good decisions in the long term public interest.’

View the press release

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PM’s Better Public Building Award shortlist: includes heritage work

The shortlist for the Prime Minister’s (PM’s) Better Public Building Award has been announced, and with 32 nominees it includes a number of with conservation and related works, including refurbishment, works on traditional buildings and historic infrastructure such as the Borders Railway, representing projects from throughout the UK.

The Cabinet Office writes:
The Prime Minister’s Award is the pinnacle of the British Construction Industry Awards. It is for excellence in construction and design for buildings and civil engineering projects. The award recognises publicly funded construction projects that are completed on time, on budget and bring real change to their local community…

Full list of nominees for the 2015 Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award:

  • Alfriston Swimming Pool, Alfriston School
  • Burntwood School, Wandsworth Borough Council
  • Church Bridge Reconstruction, South Gloucestershire Council
  • Courtyard Housing, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
  • Crossrail Running Tunnels, Crossrail Limited
  • Dawlish Sea Wall Emergency Works, Network Rail
  • Five Pancras Square, London Borough of Camden
  • Gobbins Coastal Pathway, Larne Borough Council
  • Guys Tower, Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
  • Herne Hill Flood Alleviation, Southwark Council and Thames Water Utilities
  • Humber Bridge Main Span Bearing Replacement, Humber Bridge Board
  • Lancaster University Engineering Building, Lancaster University
  • Littlehaven Promenade and Sea Wall, South Tyneside Council
  • M25 LUS, Managed Motorway, Highways England,
  • Maggies Cancer Caring Centre, Lanarkshire, Maggies Cancer Caring Trust
  • Manchester Metrolink Phase 3, Transport for Greater Manchester
  • Mayfield School, London Borough of Redbridge
  • National Graphene Institute, University of Manchester
  • Pudding Mill Lane, Crossrail
  • South Glasgow University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Sick Children, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
  • Steart Coastal Management Project, Environment Agency
  • Stockley Airport Junction Civil Main Work, Network Rail
  • Strabane Works Depot and Waste Transfer, Strabane District Council
  • Teeside Transporter Bridge, Middlesborough Council
  • Tennison Road Bridge Replacement, Network Rail
  • The Borders Railway, Transport Scotland
  • The Brooks Building, Manchester Metropolitan University
  • The Core, Science Central, Newcastle City Council
  • Tottenham Court Road, Transport For London
  • University of Greenwich, Stockwell Street Library and Academic Building, University of Greenwich
  • Weston Library, New Bodleian Library Refurbishment, University of Oxford
  • William Street Quarter, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

The award for the winning project will be presented at the British Construction Industry Awards ceremony in Park Lane, London on 14 October. Previous award winners include the Medmerry Flood Defence Scheme, Tate Modern and the Velodrome at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

UK Gov news

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Vote now: The Great British High Street Competition 2015

The finalists for each of the categories in The Great British High Street Competition 2015 have now been announced, and your vote could make a difference, but you need to vote before the end of October)!

Government writes:
Twenty-one finalists across the competitions 7 categories now have the chance to impress an expert judging panel and battle it out in the public vote to be crowned Britain’s best. Winners in each category will get a share of a prize pot worth £80,000, which includes expert training and tailor-made tips from Google’s training taskforce for one hundred of their shops, bars and restaurants.

High Streets Minister Marcus Jones said: We had a record amount of high-quality entries to this year’s competition – testament to the pride local people have and brilliant work being done to boost Britain’s high streets. The local high street is the life and soul of many towns, villages and cities across the country and these awards are a great opportunity to not only celebrate those that are the best of the best, but also to help others learn their valuable tips for success. If you cherish the hard work going on in your local high street, then show your support and get voting.

The top 3 finalists in each category that have gone through to the public vote are:

City

  • St Giles Street, Northampton
  • Mill Road, Cambridge
  • North Parade, Bradford

Coastal Communities

  • Prestatyn
  • Bognor Regis
  • Amble

Local Centre

  • Faulkner Street Hoole, Chester
  • Bishy Road, York
  • Bath Place, Taunton

London

  • Raynes Park
  • Pitshanger Lane, Ealing
  • Roman Road, Tower Hamlets

Market Town

  • Chipping Norton
  • Helmsley
  • Colne

Town Centre

  • Rotherham
  • Altrincham
  • Tamworth

Village

  • Brigg, Lincolnshire
  • Twyford, Berkshire
  • West Kilbride, North Ayrshire

The 5 best high streets in each category have been named on the GB High streets website. Only the top 3 in each category goes through to the public vote.

This year’s competition also sees prizes for towns that have become ‘rising stars’, or local people and special recognition awards to people or places that have made an invaluable contribution to their local high streets. To go online to cast your vote, visit the Great British High Street website and follow @TheGBHighSt on Twitter.

Voting closes in November.

View the press release

Visit the Great British High Street website

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Demolition of Cockenzie Power Station Chimneys

The iconic 1967 Cockenzie Power Station Chimneys in Fife were demolished this week, in a controlled explosion.

View a video of the demolition and images of the work ‘in progress’ on the BBC website

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IHBC’s 3rd ‘Conservation Course Connection Day’: 18 Nov – Will your course be represented?

Old Joint Stock

IHBC CCD Venue: The Old Joint Stock Birmingham

To help develop conservation skills at all levels, the IHBC now hosts its annual and complementary ‘Course Connection Day’ for student representatives on relevant UK conservation courses, with the institute  paying student travel costs, so make sure your course is represented at our next course connection day on 18 November in Birmingham, check with your course director, or get them to contact the IHBC’s director, Sean O’Reilly, at director@ihbc.org.uk.

IHBC Director Sean O’Reilly said: ‘If you are interested in going along to our next Connection Day, in Birmingham this November, or you would like to make sure your course is represented there, do check with your course director or ask them to get in touch with me to explore this unique learning and networking opportunity.’

‘And remember, as with our annual Gus Astley Student Award, it’s not only for the IHBC’s recognised courses (see our website for those details at www.ihbc.org.uk) but for any courses with sufficient built and historic environment conservation content.’

‘The UK’s conservation courses are renowned globally for their conservation standards, and we’re keen to do all we can to support them. IHBC capacity is limited however, as we cover all the reasonable costs for the student delegates, so we can host only one lucky student per course.’

‘However as delegates also serve as representatives of their course, and report back to their fellow-students on the content of the day, we hope that our course connection day will add both capacity and networking opportunities across all the UK’s conservation courses.’

For further details contact your course director or leader in the first instance, and if necessary ask them to contact IHBC Director Sean O’Reilly at director@ihbc.org.uk

For the 2014 Course Connection Day view the video and read the newsblog

For the IHBC Gus Astley Annual Student Awards visit the website

Find IHBC’s Recognised Courses

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IHBC on new stats for England’s LA conservation services: 1.4% down this year; 35% since 2006 – ‘a miserable and avoidable saga’

The IHBC has condemned as ‘a miserable and avoidable saga’ the continuing cuts in local authority (LA) conservation services revealed in recent research carried by the Institute, which confirms that conservation capacity has been reduced by a further 1.4% in the last year, making it a cumulative decline of over 35% since 2006 

IHBC Chair Mike Brown said: ‘Continuous and relentless cuts in conservation services over the past nine years have had a devastating effect on local authorities which often are no longer even able to carry out their statutory conservation duties.  This is a long-term decline that is now set into the minds of managers and politicians, and in many places shows no signs of changing.  The threat to our heritage through this lack of specialist professional capacity is immense.’

‘These statistics represent a miserable and avoidable saga: owners of listed buildings have been let down and left without anyone to turn to for advice; planners are making decisions on our most precious buildings without specialist input, and developers are finding out about conservation issues too late in the development process, with knock on additional costs and extended timescales.’

The seventh annual report on local authority staff resources captures the dramatic impact of local government cutbacks on the infrastructure of heritage management, highlighting that, while the scale of decline has reduced:

  • In the past 12 months the number of conservation specialists has fallen by 1.4%
  • Since 2006 the number of conservation specialists has fallen by 35.43%.
  • There are now 527.4 FTEs working on building and area conservation
  • In the past 12 months the numbers of planning application decisions have decreased by 3.9% and Listed Building Consent decisions increased by 3%

IHBC Director Sean O’Reilly said: ‘These statistics represent another thread in the most substantial body of data, research and knowledge in conservation services in the UK, all centred on the IHBC’s work.’

‘That data and research, produced in parallel to archaeological statistics by ALGAO also funded by Historic England, and shaped by our own expertise as well as that of our colleagues and partners, means that the IHBC is perfectly placed to advise on the capacity of an organisation or service to respond to their statutory or non-statutory obligations relating to conservation and related services and outcomes.  So if you would like to know more about our work in these areas please feel free to contact the institute direct.’

Download the report HERE

Find out more about the IHBC at www.ihbc.org.uk

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RTPI Scotland condemns lack of planners on review panel

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scotland has expressed its disappointment that the independent panel launched by the Scottish Government to review the planning system does not have a chartered planner on it.

RTPI Scotland writes:
Pam Ewen, RTPI Scotland Convener said: ‘While the members of the panel bring a lot of expertise, I am astonished and very disappointed that there is not a planner on the panel with recent practical experience of the planning system. The success of the review will depend upon knowledge and expertise of how the planning system works from the inside as well as the outside.’

‘While the members of the panel bring a lot of expertise, I am astonished and very disappointed that there is not a planner on the panel with recent practical experience of the planning system.  The success of the review will depend upon knowledge and expertise of how the planning system works from the inside as well as the outside.’

‘I will be writing to Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil requesting that a Chartered Planner plays a key role, in an advisory capacity to the panel, during this review. I will reiterate that RTPI Scotland would welcome greater involvement. I wrote to Mr Neil two weeks ago seeking a meeting to discuss how the Institute can be further engaged in the review. To date we have not had a response. We want to play a greater role in this review, in facilitating discussion and solutions amongst our members, the planners who work within the planning system every day.’

‘RTPI Scotland welcomed the review of planning in Scotland as an opportunity to ensure that we maximise the potential of the ?planning system when it was announced at the start of the month.’

Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil announced today that the review is to be undertaken by an independent panel. The three panel members will be able to look at this from their particular economic development, property and community engagement perspectives.

Further details on the review process are to be forthcoming within the next few weeks. 

RTPI press release

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Cornwall ‘Shed of the Year’ finalist faces axe

A ‘Shed of the Year’ finalist from Cornwall – and 80 square foot shed made out of recycled wood by Jonathan Melville Smith, 62, in his back garden which he currently rents out as a holiday home – may be pulled down following a planning row.

It is set to be demolished after neighbours complained while retrospective planning approval was rejected by Cornwall Council.

Mirror article

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Re-use of former public sector sites for housing in Scotland

The Scottish Government has reported on the development of affordable housing on sites which were owned by the public sector, including re-use of buildings and new construction. 

The Scottish Government writes:
Former publicly-owned land and buildings across Scotland, including hospitals, prisons and police stations, are being redeveloped to allow hundreds of affordable homes to be built.

The Scottish Government, working closely with public sector partners, is supporting the following projects:

  • Edinburgh – £34.2 million redevelopment of the former Eastern General Hospital will provide 291 homes, 191 by the Hillcrest Group and 100 by Dunedin Canmore Housing and Bield Housing and Care.
  • Perth and Kinross – 62 new homes are nearing completion on land previously owned by the UK Government’s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
  • Aberdeen – around 120 homes will be built on the site of the former Craiginches Prison.
  • Falkirk – a development of 18 new council homes is starting on the site of a former police station in Stenhousemuir
  • Highland – around 25 homes are to be built at former NHS sites in Moray and Fort William, and six homes are being built in Inverness, Caol near Fort William, and Glencoe using former Police Scotland property.

During a visit to the former Eastern General Hospital site, Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil said: Housing is, and will remain, at the heart of the Government’s ambitions to create a fairer and more prosperous country.  Vacant land and property which was previously in public sector ownership – such as by NHS Scotland and Police Scotland – is being used to add to the provision of affordable housing across Scotland.  The redevelopment of the former Eastern General Hospital site is an excellent example of what can be realised when partners share a vision of what can be achieved for the benefit of the local community.  This Government has invested record funding in housing and has developed a range of pioneering approaches to tackle Scotland’s housing challenges.’

George Curley, NHS Lothian Director of Operations Facilities, said:

‘NHS Lothian are delighted to have been involved in this partnership. We have been supportive of the development from its inception, and have been a significant catalyst in the delivery of a significant number of affordable homes in the City of Edinburgh’

Fiona Morrison, deputy chief executive of the Hillcrest Group of companies, said: ‘We are delighted to be bringing 191 more top-quality affordable homes to the capital in partnership with the Scottish Government.  Forged on the site of the former Eastern General Hospital, our Seafield Apartments development will deliver a mix of one, two and three-bedroom, modern, energy efficient and desirable properties for social and mid-market rent.  In addition to helping those on low incomes, we initially target our mid-market rental properties at key workers such as nurses, members of the police and fire services.’

Cllr Cammy Day, City of Edinburgh Council, said  ‘The City of Edinburgh Council is delighted to work in collaboration with the Scottish Government, NHS Lothian, Hillcrest, Bield and Dunedin Canmore Housing Associations to deliver 291 social and mid-market rent affordable homes on the site of the former Eastern General Hospital.  Edinburgh has a shortage of affordable housing but we are working hard with our partners and have trebled the number of homes being built; this £34 million redevelopment is a great example of what we can deliver when we work collaboratively.’

IHBC NewsBlogs on housing

Scottish Gov news

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ResPublica on the end of Green Deal: ‘What next?’

The independent Westminster based think tank ResPublica have launched a report this week, in partnership with Age UK, The Mineral Wool Insulation Manufacturers Association and the Energy Bill Revolution, setting out new recommendations for energy efficiency policy

ResPublica writes:
Homeowners should be offered low interest loans, guaranteed by the government, to pay for energy efficiency improvements to their homes, according to a radical new report from the leading independent think tank ResPublica.

The innovative report called ‘After the Green Deal: Empowering people and places to improve their homes’ says ‘Help to Improve’ loans would operate in a similar way to the ‘Help to Buy’ scheme. Loans would be offered by banks and building societies but guaranteed by the government.

In the first report on energy efficiency since the government announced it was cutting Green Deal funding ResPublica says the current, failing, system needs a complete overhaul because it does not provide value for money or engage with local communities.

ResPublica’s report also suggests a ground breaking system for reducing the amount of stamp duty paid on homes that make energy improvements.  The report says homeowners who make their homes more energy efficient before selling them should pay less in stamp duty. It also calls for city regions to have a portion of the national infrastructure fund devolved so they can invest in energy efficiency schemes.

Director of ResPublica Phillip Blond said: ‘Consumers need help to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. This report outlines workable ways to help homeowners take control of improving the energy efficiency of their homes. It also gives details of how devolved powers can incentivise city regions to improve efficiency of homes in their local areas ensuring they are allowed to keep the money generated from energy improvements and carbon taxes.  A centralised, top-down approach to government infrastructure spending needs to be replaced by more devolution to City Regions,’ he added.

Other recommendations include:

  • A minimum energy efficiency standard for all domestic properties being sold or let. This would gradually increase in line with carbon reduction targets set out by Committee on Climate Change carbon budgets.
  • Enable city regions to retain revenues generated from Stamp Duty Land Tax. Allowing cities to keep the stamp duty would give them greater flexibility to create their own incentives to stimulate the market and encourage positive behaviour among consumers.
  • Revenues generated from carbon taxes and levies on energy bills should be retained locally. City regions should be able to invest this money in local home energy efficiency projects.
  • Local Authorities should designate ‘Warm Home Zones’ to help target areas where there are few energy efficient homes and poor health outcomes.  Homeowners and landlords would have to adhere to strict regulations to improve energy efficiency in these zones.

View the press release and download the report 

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WW2 hangars in Derry proposed for listing

Three blister-type’ hangars at the City of Derry airport which are now relatively rare in the North of Ireland) are proposed for listing by The Department of the Environment Northern Ireland (DoENI). 

DoENI writes:
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan is proposing six new listed buildings for Derry. These include three former World War Two hangars beside the City of Derry Airport.  A row of three terraced buildings in a prominent location on the Northland Road is also being proposed for listing.

Mark H Durkan, who is consulting with Derry City and Strabane District Council on the listings, said: ‘These proposed listings will be a boost for the region, reflecting Derry City’s varied and diverse history.  Much work has been carried out in recent years to highlight the area’s important role in World War Two. This rare collection of airfield hangars are in good condition and listing them will preserve a key slice of our history. It also reminds everyone just how much there is to see in Derry from this important period.  The other proposal to protect three buildings on the Northland Road will safeguard a group of structures with good external detail at a key point in the Magee Conservation Area.

‘Listing these will ensure these important assets are preserved and protected as part of the City and region’s rich tapestry. They will also further enhance the marketing of the council area as a great place to work, visit and invest.  This brings the total number of buildings offered the protection of listing within the Derry and Strabane area to 655. My Department and I continue to be committed to ensuring that our environment is recognised and utilised to its full potential to deliver a better environment and a stronger economy.’

The three hangars proposed for listing are located on Airfield Road and Lower Airfield Road. They were manufactured by Dorman Long and built for Eglinton Airfield (now City of Derry Airport) which opened as an RAF base in 1941. It was of strategic importance to the UK during WWII as one of the most westerly bases for aircraft supporting convoys on the North Atlantic route. They are good examples of ‘blister-type’ hangars (now relatively rare in the North of Ireland) and as pre-fabricated structures, they have survived well beyond their anticipated lifetime.

The three houses proposed for listing are No56, No58 and No60 Northland Road; a terrace of three-storey Italianate style town-houses built in 1869 and designed by John Guy Ferguson, a prominent architect of the time.

The consultation and listings result from the DOE Historic Environment Division’s Second Survey of the former Derry City Council Area. The former Strabane District Council Area was reviewed in 2011. This has seen surveyors examining and researching the built heritage of Derry from June 2014. The consultation submitted to the Council is one of a number with further engagement planned over the coming months. The total number of listed buildings within the former Derry City Council Area is almost 500. Not all of these have yet been surveyed and re-evaluated by DOE Historic Environment Division. The total number of listed buildings within the new council area is 649; (481 in Derry and 168 in Strabane).

View the press release

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NHTG on adult ‘upskilling’ support for stonemasonry

The National Heritage Training Group (NHTG) has reported on a new scheme which helps with banker masonry skills; Adult Upskilling Support.

NHTG writes:
Stone Train have recently received great news from the CITB who have set up an initiative called Adult Upskilling Support.  This scheme provides the funding of NVQ assessment up to £3,000 per person (which will cover the full cost of assessment) for employees who have recently passed a college diploma in Banker Masonry. Eligible firms will need to be CITB registered.

View more information

NHTG news

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