IHBC NewsBlogs

The ten year strategy for archaeology in Scotland was launched earlier this month, setting out the vision for archaeology across Scotland and extending the audience for archaeological activity.

Historic Scotland writes:
A brand new 10 year Archaeology Strategy for Scotland was launched at Europe’s biggest archaeology conference in Glasgow today (2nd September). Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy has been developed by the Scottish Strategic Archaeology Committee, coordinated by Historic Scotland, with input from over 200 people from across the archaeology sector in Scotland and beyond. It sets out a shared national vision that Scotland’s archaeology should benefit everyone in society.

Hosted by the University of Glasgow, this is the first time that the European Association of Archaeologists conference has been held in Scotland. Over the next three days, 2000 delegates from 80 different countries will travel to the city to hear about the latest developments in European archaeology, from the ways science has helped to uncover the life stories of Scotland’s past inhabitants, to collaborative working between professional archaeologists and volunteers at the Black Loch of Myrton encouraging a radical re-think of Iron Age life in Scotland.

The EAA conference will also be marked with the launch of The Cradle of Scotland, a major exhibition revealing new discoveries in Scottish archaeology at the Hunterian Museum, as well as the Our Place in Time Arts Festival – an open access art festival showcasing creative responses to archaeology including photography, film and even cake.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Conference, Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, welcomed the launch of the Strategy as an important step towards realising the full potential of Scotland’s outstanding archaeology. She said: ‘Archaeology is a vital part of our heritage. We want archaeology to be for everyone, with the study of the past offering opportunities for all to discover, to care for, to promote and to enjoy our rich and diverse heritage. If we can get this right, archaeology will contribute to physical and mental well-being as well as to the growth of knowledge and the economy, and help us to tell Scotland’s stories in their global context. The recent events in Syria have of course placed archaeology and heritage into the headlines for the wrong reasons and the world has been rightly shocked and appalled by images of the loss of heritage sites, with the systematic looting and demolition of sites including the ancient city of Palmyra.’

‘As many of the world’s archaeologists gather in Glasgow for this week’s conference, world heritage is again at the forefront of our minds and will be explored at sessions and events throughout the week including an exhibition on how the trafficking of cultural objects is damaging and destroying archaeological sites worldwide.’

Read Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy

View the press release

The Victorian Society has revealed its list of the most at risk Victorian buildings in England and Wales.

The Victorian Society writes:
The Victorian Society has announced the Top Ten Most Endangered Victorian and Edwardian Buildings in England and Wales 2015. All the buildings in the Top Ten are nationally important listed buildings in real risk of being lost if action is not taken in the immediate future. In a video launching the Top Ten Griff Rhys Jones, Victorian Society Vice President, said: ‘ Share the list around because these are buildings that need help, and we need you to help them’. The national exposure from inclusion in the Society’s Top Ten often leads to new interest in the buildings. The 2015 list includes:

• Brighton’s seafront walk, Madeira Terrace, said to be the longest continuous cast iron structure in the world, now closed to the public and set to be entirely replaced
• Kinmel Hall, often dubbed the ‘Welsh Versailles’ or ‘discount Downton’, subject to thefts while lying neglected by its British Virgin Islands registered owner since 2011
• Birnbeck Pier – the only pier in Britain built around an island – now on the verge of collapse
• Sheerness Boat Store, the world’s earliest survival of this kind of iron framed structure – a technique near universally used in modern steel framed buildings, and
• London’s gothic Ladywell Baths which sank its own 270ft well to avoid paying the water company but remains derelict despite a London property boom.

Director of the Victorian Society, Christopher Costelloe, said: ‘We’re grateful to everyone who nominated an endangered building. All the buildings included in this year’s Top Ten are listed buildings meaning that the Government has recognised their national importance. These buildings illustrate Britain’s history in tangible form. The Grade I listed Boat Store at Sheerness has worldwide importance. All of them deserve better than their current situations. I urge the public to share the Top Ten list, and Griff’s message, to help raise awareness of these buildings and help them to find the investment they desperately need.’

If the Top Ten has inspired you to help us fight to save great Victorian and Edwardian architecture you can join us here, click the ‘donate’ button at the very bottom of this page or just text VICT00 followed by either £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10 to 70070. 100% of your donation will be received by the Society to help us to help us continue our campaigns.

The 2015 Top Ten in no particular order are:

• Ladywell Baths, Lewisham, London (Grade II, 1884, Wilson and Son & Thomas Aldwinkcle) Lewisham Council, has struggled to find anyone to take the building on which has suffered internal vandalism. With a property boom across London the baths have lots of potential for reuse – surely the time is right for someone to come to its rescue.
• Kinmel Hall, Wales (Grade I, 1870-1874, W E Nesfield) Owned by British Virgin Islands registered, Acer Properties Limited, the ‘Welsh Versailles’ or ‘discount Downton’ remains unused and neglected since its purchase in 2011 with plans for a hotel seemingly no closer to implementation.
• St Luke’s Church, Wolverhampton (Grade II*, 1860-61, George Robinson) Wolverhampton cannot afford to lose a building of this quality. A new community or commercial use must be found to give the building a sustainable future.
• Tolly Cobbold Brewery, Ipswich (Grade II, 1896, William Bradford) The owners are understood to be considering a planning application but the building cannot afford more delay – urgent works are needed now.
• Overstone Hall, East Midlands (Grade II, 1860, William Milford Teulon) The owners should face up to the responsibility of owning a historic building and take action to ensure it survives – either by finding a tenant or selling it a more realistic price.
• Sheerness Boat Store, Kent (Grade I, 1856-60, Col GT Green RE and William Scamp, Admiralty Works Department) The boat store is in desperate need of a use. The Isle of Sheppey is one of the South East’s more remote areas but the not too distant Chatham Dockyard shows that historic dockyard buildings such as the boat store can have a future.
• Madeira Terrace, Brighton (Grade II, 1890- 1897, Philip C Lockwood) Brighton Council has stated that repairs cannot be made and a ‘like for like’ replacement is required. It seems unlikely that nothing from the entire length of the terrace can be repaired or salvaged. The Council should make its survey public and ensure that as much of this historic structure as possible is preserved.
• Central Plaza Hotel, Carlisle (Grade II, 1880, Daniel Birkett) The Council has spent £77,000 on the building in recent years but have been unable to find a developer willing to take it on. New sources of funding are desperately need to restore this important city-centre building.
• Birnbeck Pier, Weston-super-Mare (Grade II*, 1862, Eugenius Birch) Storms earlier this year have left one walkway on the verge of collapse – North Somerset Council must now help all parties to quickly establish a planning brief to secure the pier’s future.
• Hunslet and Victoria Mills, Leeds (Hunslet Mill Grade II* c1842 William Fairbairn, Victoria Mill, Grade II, c1838) The developers who have owned the Mills for around 20 years state development remains unviable. Hunslet Mill is being treated as a priority case by Leeds City Council and Historic England but if the developer doesn’t take action soon there will be little left to develop.

View the launch video

Listen to the Radio 4 programme featuring news of the launch (starts at 02:46:09)

View the full 2014 Top Ten list and images of the building

The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, one of the most historically significant LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) venues in London has been listed by the Minister for Heritage at Grade II following the advice of Historic England.

Historic England writes:
We are delighted that the Minister for Heritage, Tracey Crouch, has listed the Royal Vauxhall Tavern at Grade II on our advice.

The Royal Vauxhall Tavern (RVT) is one of the most historically significant LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) venues in London, possibly in England. It has an international reputation and is built on a long tradition of hosting ground-breaking alternative cabaret performances from the early twentieth century onwards.

It was a place of safety for many in the LGBTQ community and a beacon of acceptance in less tolerant times. It carries on that role today as a site for campaigning and activism.

Roger Bowdler, Director of Listing at Historic England, said: ‘The Royal Vauxhall Tavern is an enduring and important venue for the LGBTQ community. Built on the site of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, it carries on the tradition of alternative and bohemian entertainment which is bound up in this part of London’s history and identity.’

The building also has architectural interest. It is a handsome mid Victorian public house, with an impressive curved façade and strong architectural presence despite alterations at ground floor level. This building meets the test for listing for its combined special architectural and historic interest in a national context. The listing means this iconic venue, so important in telling the story of LGBTQ London, is now protected and we hope the RVT continues to entertain the capital for years to come.

The listing comes at a time when Historic England is working on Pride of Place: a ground-breaking research project uncovering the untold queer histories of buildings and places people have lived alongside for generations. Led by a team of historians at Leeds Beckett University’s Centre for Culture and the Arts, people have been asked to give examples of the buildings and places special to them; from the private houses of trailblazing individuals; to the much loved local gay bar; to the first venue in town to host equal marriage and everything in between. The result will be an online exhibition telling the stories of a multitude of buildings across the country that hold a sometimes hidden, sometimes public, LGBTQ history. People can map their own LGBTQ places on the Pride of Place interactive map.

View the press release

View the listing

View the Pride of Place interactive map

A historic building on the Northern Ireland border has been restored following assistance EU cross border funding from to bring the Ulster Canal Stores building in Clones back into use.

The Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture and Rural Development writes:
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA today attended the official opening of the Ulster Canal Stores building in Clones, County Monaghan. The Minister jointly officiated at the event with Minister Heather Humphreys TD, the south’s minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Speaking at the opening Minister O’Neill said: ‘My Department’s involvement in providing £240,000 funding towards the Clones Erne East Blackwater project and the regeneration of the Ulster Canal Stores is a practical example of how greater cross-border collaboration and integration can create a thriving and sustainable economy and environment for our rural communities.

‘Not only has this initiative supported growth in rural enterprise, it has also developed new and enhanced tourism and recreational facilities to be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. The work on the Ulster Canal Stores is symbolic of what has been achieved. It’s great to see the original, historic structure of this important building merged with the modern design. This building is a tremendous asset to the social economy of the Erne East hinterland and Clones.’

The Ulster Canal Stores building in Clones was originally built during the early 1840s and was a distribution centre for goods transported on the Ulster Canal. The building has been completely refurbished to include a modern bistro, local crafts and lace displays and meeting space. The initiative was part-financed by the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Cross-border Programme and DARD.

View the press release

IHBC NewsBlogs on funding

England’s link body for voluntary heritage interests, The Heritage Alliance (THA), seeks trustees in areas particularly covering: Heritage in private ownership; Building conservation/Planning; Transport heritage, and Experience of regional issues.

Chair Loyd Grossman writes:
I am writing to ask you for recommendations for new Trustees in December 2015. We’ll be advertising publicly but I wanted to give you advance notice.

Three Trustees, Nick Way, Denis Dunstone and Mary King complete their terms of office in December 2015. Mindful of the Charity Commission guidelines to ensure The Heritage Alliance retains a balanced trustee membership compatible with its strategic aims and objectives, the Board has identified the areas of experience and expertise that we need to replace or develop. We are looking for three candidates preferably but not exclusively with knowledge and experience in these areas:

• Heritage in private ownership
• Building conservation/Planning
• Transport heritage
• Experience of regional issues

Overall experience and knowledge of the heritage world is of course helpful.

I would be grateful if you could help us to identify individuals who might best fulfil these roles with a short background note or CV in support.

Self-nominations can be accepted. Nominations made by members with the support of 10 other Alliance membership bodies will ordinarily go forward to the AGM for election. Under the Alliance’s Memorandum and Articles, Trustees can serve a third consecutive term of 3 years but this is only used in exceptional circumstances. Previous Trustees can return after an absence of one year. And lastly, if you would like to discuss potential nominees with me, another member of the Board or the Chief Executive, please give Kate Pugh a call on 020 7233 0800.

I look forward to hearing from you by 25 September via this email address. The Board will discuss responses and make arrangements to interview shortlisted candidates at the end of October. A final shortlist will go forward for election at the AGM on 3 December.

The list of current Trustees and the Trustee role description can be found on the website

The Chief Executive officer (CEO) of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has called on construction businesses to work together to achieve the aim of attracting new talent to the construction industry and help address skills shortages, and revealed how CITB is researching the most ‘in demand’ skills. 

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) writes:
The CEO of the Construction Industry Training Board has issued a call for the construction sector to attract fresh talent into its ranks.

Addressing construction firms, SMEs, Government officials and training organisations at the Construction Industry Summit, Adrian Belton examined the scale of the skills crisis facing the sector.

He outlined how CITB is working hard to secure the future of the industry by drawing up a comprehensive picture of the most in-demand skills and by tailoring training to employers’ needs.

The final day of the two-day London summit focused on the talented people who make up the sector and how they can help to transform the industry over the next 10 years.  It is part of efforts to meet the objectives in Construction 2025, a joint strategy by the industry and Government aimed at helping British construction establish itself as one of the top players on the world stage.

Only by working together with the Government and training providers can construction employers hope to overcome the challenges they face, Mr Belton urged.  While steps are being taken to tackle the issues at hand, Mr Belton said there are a number of reasons why solutions have not yet been identified.  These include a lack of information on skills needs and where the shortage of talent is having the biggest impact, while recruiting for jobs rather than careers has allowed the best workers to drift away.

CITB is working on helping education establishments better understand the skills need for the industry. With more than 220,000 construction jobs set to be created over the next five years, it will be essential to bring more young people into the sector, as well as finding ways to retain existing talent.

‘There are several things that CITB is doing in order to meet these challenges. We have restructured our funding to meet industry’s skills needs – with new, more responsive funding schemes.

‘Later this month will see the launch of construction’s first industry-led career portal to get people into construction ‘a career like no other’. We are also working on a new, industry wide approach to apprenticeships to determine how we can make them more effective and productive than ever been before.’

Apprenticeships will play a crucial part in achieving these objectives, Mr Belton said, but so too will attracting graduates and upskilling those already in building roles or moving across from other sectors.

To help industry, CITB will be using information on specialist skills, FE information data and intelligence from training providers to make it easier to match the supply of skills with demand.

View the press release

Historic England took part in a metal theft conference last week,  posting some of the headline information on their Twitter feed, revealing some shocking statistics on the level of issue for listed buildings: 200 attacks a day take place.

The conference was part of Pol-PRIMETT II, a European police-private partnership to tackle metal theft.

Impact must be measured in terms of the technical and emotional aspects of the crime. https://t.co/2ATwBEe0Wh

— HE Heritage Crime (@HeritageCrime) September 15, 2015

https://twitter.com/LessCrime

HE resources on tackling heritage crime

Historic England (HE) has issued a call for proposals under the collaborative doctoral partnerships scheme. 

Historic England writes:
We are now issuing a call for proposals from universities to co-supervise 1 of 3 CDA studentships to commence in October 2016. Proposals are to be made jointly by a researcher at a UK university and a member of staff from Historic England or English Heritage, based on one of the Research Themes we have identified:

• Development and impacts of statutory and non-statutory heritage lists on the national management of heritage
• Ownership and effective management/care of heritage
• Historic Building Information Modelling (BIM)
• Medieval friaries: heritage, interpretation and regeneration
• English Heritage‘s Roman collections: developing a national picture of range, spread and significance

Further details on these themes and the relevant proposal documents can be found online.

The deadline for proposals is November 27 2015, for studentships to start in October 2016. A panel consisting of internal and external experts will judge the proposals and those that are successful will be advertised as studentships to find suitably qualified students in early 2016. The studentships will be co-supervised by both the university academic and the Historic England/English Heritage staff member.

View the call for proposals and more information on the research themes on the HE website

£1.5 million has been earmarked for communities in England to help local people take control public houses at risk of closure under the new ‘Pub Loan Fund’, and will help with refurbishment costs.

Government writes:
A new £1.5 million fund to help local people take control of pubs at risk of closure is being launched today (11 September 2015) by Community Pubs Minister, Marcus Jones.

The new ‘Pub Loan Fund’ will help community groups take over the running of their much-loved local, by providing small loans to start feasibility work, pay for lawyers’ fees or get materials for refurbishment.  This new fund builds on a number of measures introduced by the government to help support the Great British Pub, having already abolished the unpopular beer and alcohol duty escalators, cutting business taxes and giving communities a fairer chance to prepare to buy community buildings through Community Right to Bid.

Speaking at the Great British Pub Awards, Mr Jones said: British pubs have always been at the heart local communities, with people getting together to enjoy good company and conversation over a pint of beer or glass of wine. But they also support thousands of jobs across all areas of the country, boosting the economy by £21 billion a year.

Now we’re giving our communities the chance to be at the heart of their local with the support they need to put their plans for running a pub into action.  Already, under community rights, local people can nominate any local building or land they love as an ‘asset of community value’ and then, if it comes up for sale, have 6 months to raise the funds to buy it. So far more than 800 pubs have been listed. Further details about the Pub Loan Fund will be announced in due course.

Supporting community pubs:

• between 2012 – 2016, we have provided £350,000 to Pub is The Hub and the Plunkett Foundation to help pubs to provide a wide range of community-focussed services and facilities and to help local residents buy and run co-operative pubs.
• the National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that to deliver the social, recreational and cultural facilities that communities need, planning policies and decisions should provide for the use of such facilities, including pubs, and guard against their unnecessary loss.
• we are assisting firms with business rates: the Localism Act helps make small business rate relief easier to claim
• we have doubled small business rate relief scheme from October 2010 to March 2016
• we have given councils powers to levy discretionary business rate discounts which could, for example, be used to support local community pubs
• a further centrally-funded business rate discount for pubs (and restaurants and shops) has been introduced worth £1,000 in 2014 to 2015 and £1,500 in 2015 to 2016 for premises with rateable values of up to £50,000
• the government has scrapped the last administration’s plans for a 10% rise in cider duties (the so-called cider tax)
• we have cut duty on beer by 1p, and scrapped the beer duty escalator which would have further increased beer duty every year – as of March 2014, beer is 8p a pint cheaper as a result
• pubs have benefited from the greater flexibility on weights and measures, allowing beer and wine to be sold in different sizes than was previously allowed by regulations
• we are supporting landlords leasing their pubs from pub companies through the introduction of a statutory code of practice to govern the relationship between pub-owning companies and their tied tenants, with an independent adjudicator to enforce the code
• the Live Music Act 2012 has made it easier for pubs to play live music
• we are tackling unfair competition and loss-leading of alcohol by some retailers, without adversely affecting the price of a pint in a pub
• as part of the ‘focus on enforcement of regulation’ initiative launched in July 2012, we have sought to reduce over-zealous regulation of pubs

IHBC on public houses

IHBC NewsBlogs  on funding 

UK Gov news item

Four national parks have been awarded funding to assist with the removal of pylons and replacement with underground cabling. 

The National Grid writes:
Plans to reduce the visual impact of electricity infrastructure in nationally protected landscapes across England and Wales have reached a new landmark, following decisions by the project’s independently chaired Stakeholder Advisory Group.

In November 2014, twelve sections of high voltage lines in eight Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and National Parks were shortlisted as having the most significant landscape and visual impact, following a study overseen by leading landscape expert Professor Carys Swanwick.

Since then, National Grid and independent landscape consultants have done further technical work with considerable and highly detailed input from local stakeholders in each location. This has enabled the Stakeholder Advisory Group to prioritise four projects from the shortlist.

The Stakeholder Advisory Group’s decisions were made after a rigorous review of each shortlisted section of line. Members at a two-day meeting considered each project using a set of five guiding project principles from the Visual Impact Provision project’s policy.*

These four projects will be taken forward over the next 12 months for detailed technical feasibility works which will include environmental studies, archaeological studies and engineering work ‘on the ground’. There will also be further significant engagement with local stakeholders and communities.

National Grid transmission lines which have been prioritised in protected landscapes are:

• Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty near Winterbourne Abbas
• New Forest National Park near Hale
• Peak District National Park near Dunford Bridge
• Snowdonia National Park near Porthmadog

Using a £500 million allowance made available by Ofgem until 2021, National Grid plans to reduce the visual impact of sections of high voltage overhead lines in these locations. A range of different ways of doing this has been considered in each location.

Given the sensitive nature of these protected areas, replacing existing overhead lines with underground cables has generally proved to be the preferred option both technically and in discussion with local stakeholders.

Chris Baines, Chair of the Stakeholder Advisory Group, said: ‘Reducing the visual impact of pylons and power lines in our most precious landscapes is highly desirable, but it is also very expensive and technically complex so we have had to make some difficult decisions. Although four schemes have been prioritised, none of the locations on our original shortlist have been dropped and they will remain under consideration for future work to reduce the impact of National Grid’s transmission lines under the Visual Impact Provision project.’

Hector Pearson, Visual Impact Provision Project Manager, National Grid, comments: ‘This is a unique stakeholder-driven project, and it continues to represent a major opportunity to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife, cultural and environmental heritage of some Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks. We will continue to work in partnership with stakeholders to not only mitigate the impact of our transmission lines in these areas but to also enhance the landscape, and deliver value for money.’

The Stakeholder Advisory Group is chaired by environmentalist, Chris Baines and comprises senior representatives from organisations including the Campaign for National Parks, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales, Historic England, Cadw, Natural England and the National Trust. It was established to help National Grid identify which transmission lines should be prioritised to make use of the £500 million allowance.

The protected landscapes that have not been prioritised are the Brecon Beacons National Park, High Weald AONB, North Wessex Downs AONB and the Tamar Valley AONB. These locations will remain under consideration for future work using the VIP allowance.

National Grid is also set to use part of the £500 million for smaller localised visual improvement projects which can be accessed by all AONBs and National Parks with existing National Grid electricity infrastructure.

Set to be launched in the Winter, this landscape enhancement initiative will to provide up to £24 million over six years. The aim will be to reduce the visual impact of National Grid’s existing infrastructure in AONBs and National Parks and improve the related visual quality of the landscape. A range of local visual improvement projects could enhance biodiversity, benefit cultural heritage or raise awareness of natural and historic features of a landscape.

View the press release 

View OFGEM information about the work in AONBs

England’s Housing Minister Brandon Lewis’ speech to the RESI housing conference in Newport this week told his audience not to blame planners for housing market challenges and revealed that 261,000 new homes had been approved by Council’s in England this year (the highest annual total for 8 years) with planning permissions for new homes are up 50% since 2010.

Government reports the speech as follows:
It’s a pleasure to join you again for my second RESI conference. We’re back at Celtic Manor, but one small difference from last year is that there is no longer a general election looming on the horizon. It will come as no surprise that I believe the election result was the best outcome for the housing market and the country. It removed the threat of rent controls and blanket regulations that would have seriously damaged the private rented sector, and undermined the potential for investment.   For me personally it meant another opportunity to serve as Minister of State for Housing and Planning. I was delighted when I got the call from the Prime Minister confirming my reappointment, because I believe housing is one of the most important jobs in government. In the election campaign we made it clear that improving the housing market would be a top priority. That goal is only possible because we cut the deficit by half and laid the foundations for economic recovery.   For the second year in a row we are growing faster than any other major advanced economy, and our job creation is the envy of the developed world.

Our country is rising again, and that includes the performance of the housing market.   Housing starts and the number of first time buyers have doubled since 2009. Last year alone the number of first time buyers rose by 20%. But we all know the job is far from complete. A better housing market will be vital for meeting the aspirations of working people, and raising the productivity of our country.

On 7 May the British public recognised that fact. They asked us to finish the job, and we are determined to repay their trust. That’s why this government is committed to encouraging homeownership, building homes people can afford to buy, and investing in all areas of the housing market – including the private rented sector. We will serve as a one nation government. One nation – so whoever you are, and wherever you live, you can benefit from a home of your own, whether you buy or rent.   One nation – because for Britain to prosper every part of the country must contribute to its success   Our commitment for one nation is why this government is dedicated to devolving greater powers away from Whitehall to local areas.

To ensure we continue rebalancing the economy, and help local communities use their dynamism and local leadership to fulfil their potential, and provide the homes their area needs.   During the last parliament we made great strides towards reversing the failure of centralisation, devolving powers on planning, housing and economic growth.   We reached an agreement with the 10 councils in Greater Manchester to devolve significant powers, and recently extended this deal to include a land commission to release public land to build new homes. Earlier this summer we agreed a devolution deal for Cornwall – the first for a county – and we are negotiating deals to devolve powers to the Sheffield City Region, Leeds, West Yorkshire and its partner authorities, and the Liverpool City Region. This is just the start. The Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill will enable us to negotiate with cities, towns and counties across the country. To give them the power they need to galvanise their local economies, and take greater control and responsibility over many areas of policy, including housing.   We want local areas to develop their best case for increasing housing delivery, perhaps by contributing their own assets and capital funding. This will undoubtedly change the landscape of the housing market, but we’ve already seen why devolution works, by providing a fertile environment for investment in housing.

During the last parliament our planning reforms put local people in control.   Today they are developing their own plans for house building, and the planning system is faster and more efficient. Since 2010, planning permissions for new homes are up 50%, while the number of Local Plans in place has more than doubled. And since we introduced the National Planning Policy Framework, the number of new homes planned for in Local Plans has risen by 23%. Neighbourhood planning has captured the imagination of communities across the country, and support for new homes has doubled over the last 4 years. I was able to release figures at the end of June that showed that the numbers of homes that were granted planning permission in the year to March, was higher than before the 2008 economic crash.

Last year, councils across England granted permission for 261,000 new homes – the highest annual total for 8 years. It is all too easy to blame the planning system, and planners, for the challenges facing the housing market in particular. All too easy and it would appear, wholly wrong.   So our reforms are helping to boost housing supply, but they are also good for investment. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that councils should look at the viability of Build to Rent schemes when setting Section 106 obligations and the Community Infrastructure Levy. The result is that councils are starting to play a more direct role in bringing schemes forward.   Again, Manchester is a pioneer here, setting up Matrix Homes as a joint venture between the city council and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund to bring forward new homes for rent. In London Wandsworth Council granted planning permission for a 114 home Build to Rent scheme within a 500 home development by Bellway Homes in the Nine Elms regeneration area in Battersea.   It’s now time for other local authorities to look at innovative ways of marrying their land holdings with third party capital to bring forward new homes. I am convinced that councils will rise to the challenge of devolution, and this will mean delivering the homes their communities need, and providing more opportunities for institutional investment in housing.

View the speech in full

View more information on the conference

IHBC NewsBlogs on housing

The passenger railway service between Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders was re-opened this month, with its first passenger services in over 50 years now running.

The Scottish Government writes:
The first passenger trains in almost half a century are now operating between Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders.

The Scottish Government’s £294million Borders Railway is the longest domestic line to be built in the UK in over 100 years and has been delivered on time and on budget. And the inaugural ScotRail services have now run between Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders and Edinburgh Waverley, bringing this long-awaited project to life 46 years after the original line – known as the Waverley Line – was torn out in the infamous Beeching cuts.

Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown said: ‘It’s been a lifetime in the making for many people in the Borders and Midlothian, but the Borders Railway is now open for business! There can be few projects which have generated the levels of excitement and anticipation we have seen around the opening of the Borders Railway and it was fantastic to see all the happy faces travelling on the line for the Golden Ticket day of celebrations on Saturday and the first ScotRail services on Sunday. The communities along the route have now been able to experience their new railway with a party to remember, and they can now make it a part of their everyday lives. That a scheme of this magnitude – the longest domestic railway built in the UK in over a century – has been delivered on time and on budget is testament to those who have worked on it, who can now look with a great deal of pride on the growth this railway will deliver for the communities it serves, as well as the Scottish economy as a whole. As of now, there are so many more possibilities for people in the Borders and Midlothian – access to new work, learning and social opportunities, as well as new business and industry links. Scotland’s railways are enjoying a period of success not seen since the time that the old Waverley line was built in the Victorian era, largely thanks to the Scottish Government’s record levels of investment, but also because the people of Scotland see the benefits of rail. The Borders Railway has become a symbol of this golden age, and it will be the vehicle for a new prosperity for the communities on the route.

The opening festival was launched on Friday evening with the switch-on of gold illuminations at half a dozen well-known landmarks along the route of the new railway. Edinburgh Castle, the Scott Monument, Midlothian’s Newtongrange Mining Museum, the Newbattle Viaduct (which forms part of the railway), the new Galashiels Transport Interchange and the town’s Reiver Monument were all lit up ahead of Golden Ticket Day. Saturday saw 1,600 lucky Golden Ticket winners celebrate at street parties in their local communities before boarding special ScotRail preview services.

View the press release

View the press release on the formal opening of the railway by Her Majesty the Queen

Further information on the Borders Railway and its history

View a history of the railway and archival images on the CANMORE site

The Local Government Association (LGA) has issued a warning that Local Authority reserves would be spent in only three years if Councils used these to react to planned central government funding cuts.

The LGA writes:
Council reserves would be fully spent in less than three years if local authorities used them to plug expected reductions in government funding, new analysis shows. With public spending expected to continue falling until 2020, analysis by the Local Government Association shows that if councils used reserves to cover projected funding cuts, all of the money would be spent by 2018. Such a move would leave councils with no funds to make vital investments or manage new financial risks. It would also increase the national deficit.

The LGA forecasts that the cumulative gap between projected funding and expenditure for English local government will reach £17.9 billion by 2018/19. Latest figures show that, at 31 March 2015, councils held £17.1 billion in reserves.

A recent LGA survey of council finance directors reveals much of this money is set aside for longer-term investments. These include job-creating regeneration schemes, creating school places, restructuring programmes to save money and redundancy payments.

As part of its Spending Review submission to the Treasury, the LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales, said longer-term funding settlements would allow councils to plan ahead and release some of their risk-based reserves to fund services.

At present, settlements often span less than three years and arrive very late making it difficult for councils to plan ahead.

Cllr Claire Kober, LGA finance spokesman, said: Reserves are designed to help councils manage growing financial risks to local services. Most of this money is essentially a growth fund which councils are using to build new roads and regenerate areas or pay for school places and superfast broadband. What’s left would only cover less than a month’s spending. The size of cuts councils are having to make are simply too big to be plugged by reserves. Spending them in this way would be a gamble with the future of people who rely on council services and would put local areas on the fast-track to financial failure. It is not viable for councils to use reserves to cover reductions in spending. This would store up huge problems and runs contrary to the Government’s goal of reducing public spending to drive down the deficit. With further funding reductions expected in the Spending Review along with ever-growing pressure on vital services like caring for our elderly, putting aside money for the difficult years ahead is prudent financial management. It is crucial to local taxpayers getting value for money that councils are able to plan ahead more than 12 months at a time.’

View the news release

After a four year journey, campaigners fighting to save Ancoats Dispensary were ecstatic and relieved as the group formally took ownership of the iconic and much-loved 140 year old former hospital, while Ancoats Dispensary Trust CEO Karen Houghton highlighted the trust’s urgent need for skilled company directors to help shape the building’s future.

Ancoats Dispensary Trust writes:
Ancoats Dispensary Trust signed the lease to take possession of the derelict building from developers, Urban Splash, who have owned it since 2001.

The Trust expressed gratitude to supporters of their 4 year campaign. Trust CEO, Karen Houghton said ‘Without the help and support of the people of Manchester, the Trust wouldn’t have reached this crucial point.’

The Trust plans to restore the Dispensary and convert it into a community wellbeing centre and affordable workspace for local creative businesses. In the next few months the organisation will be carrying out urgent safeguarding works on the building.

‘We now have legal possession of the building, and initial funding in place for the safeguarding works,’ said Karen. ‘However, we still have a significant journey ahead, to raise more funds to deliver the design and the full restoration. This is what the hard work over the last four years has been about; restoring the building and ensuring it continues to be an asset owned by the community for the community.’

‘Needless to say, there is lot more to do before the Dispensary re-opens, but we are on our way to creating a space that will make a huge contribution to health and wellbeing of Ancoats community and the local economy. We’re so thankful to the people and businesses that have given their precious time and money to help us reach this point. So, if you’re interested in heritage, your local community, or just want to get involved, we invite you to come on board in whatever way you can – we’ve still a long way to go until those doors open’.

The Trust is appealing to individuals and businesses to come on board and help them to raise funds, continue to defy the odds and put the heart back into Ancoats.

To find out more visit the Trust’s website

A court ruling in Northern Ireland (NI) has clarified the definition of what constitutes ‘treasure’ under archaeological investigations.

DoENI writes:
An inquest was held today in Belfast Coroner’s Court about the ring which is believed to date from the 10th-12th century AD.

Under the provisions of the Treasure Act (1996), an object, other than a coin, may be declared to be Treasure provided it contains at least 10 per cent gold or silver, and is at least 300 years old when found.

Welcoming the outcome of the inquest, Minister Mark H Durkan said: ‘This is an important judgement which helps safeguard our rich heritage, especially items of treasure, for present and future generations. This object was one of many hundreds of artefacts retrieved from the site, and each of these artefacts will further help our understanding of life at the Crannóg.

It is my intention that this gold wire ring will form an important part of any future exhibition of materials from Drumclay Crannóg.

‘I wish to acknowledge the partnership with the Department for Regional Development which has ensured that this gold object was brought through to this Inquest.’

IHBC NewsBlogs on archaeology

View the news release

A new scheme in Worcestershire and Warwickshire, the ‘One Public Estate programme’ will unite ‘three councils, two police forces and the fire service’, aiming to raise £75 million by selling off property which is no longer required by the public sector in the area.

Warwickshire Police writes:
The six organisations which are driving forward the UK’s first single-asset management company for public sector property have announced that the pioneering new venture will be called Place Partnership.

The new name for the ground-breaking initiative was selected by representatives of the six founding partner organisations – Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, Redditch Borough Council, Warwickshire Police, West Mercia Police, Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council – who unanimously agreed to proceed with Place Partnership.

It will, for the first time in public sector history, work to deliver significant economic and regeneration benefits by maximising the value of its estate portfolio, which includes 1,323 assets across the four counties. This revolutionary approach will create significant efficiencies, improve operational services and initially employ around 200 staff. The company aims to deliver gross cost savings of approximately £58 million (excluding school savings, as schools are responsible for their own budgets) between 2015 and 2025.

Warwickshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Ball, speaking on behalf of Place Partnership, said: ‘This exciting milestone is just the beginning of the Place Partnership story. We wanted to find a brand that reflects the company’s vision of unlocking the economic potential of environments, property and places and now that we have a name and corporate brand identity in place, we can really begin to shape and develop the company into an organisation that our skilled workforce will be proud to work for. We’re also in the process of recruiting a managing director, who will be tasked with leading this unique venture and guiding it to become a national model of best practice that can be adopted by other public sector organisations.’

Bruce Mann, Executive Director of GPU at the Cabinet Office, has been acting as the independent Chair of the Shadow Shareholder Group (SSG), which is overseeing the creation of Place Partnership until the new Management Board is in place, added: ‘We’re delighted to formally announce the new name for this ambitious new company. The potential regional and national impact of this trailblazing organisation is far-reaching and we’re looking forward to seeing the company’s progression over the next few months.’

This is the latest milestone for the pioneering new company, which is developed from the ‘One Public Estate programme’ and funded by the Government Property Unit (GPU), and will revolutionise public sector asset management throughout Herefordshire, Shropshire (including Telford and Wrekin), Warwickshire and Worcestershire. The services to be delivered by Place Partnership include asset management, facilities management, management of major outsourced services, energy management, and management of design and development work.

View the Evesham Journal article ‘Project to raise £75 million by selling off unwanted public sector property launches’

View the Warwickshire Police article

Decisions on six proposed energy infrastructure proposals which were dealt with at a combined public inquiry due to call in by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change have been announced this week, with four onshore wind farms and one overhead line project being refused and only one project with consent given, for onshore wind farm repowering.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) writes:
The Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom today announced planning decisions for six proposed energy infrastructure projects in Powys, Mid-Wales.

The decisions follow a combined public inquiry, called by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, which closed in May 2014.

The decisions are:

• Llanbadarn Fynydd onshore wind farm refused;
• Llandinam onshore wind farm repowering consent given;
• Llaithddu onshore wind farm refused;
• Llanbrynmair onshore wind farm refused;
• Carnedd Wen onshore wind farm refused; and
• Llandinam to Welshpool Substation Overhead Power Line connection refused.

A DECC Spokesperson said: ‘Careful consideration has been given to each application, and the planning and energy issues involved.’

Culture and heritage issues of relevance to the sites are considered within the reports, which can be accessed via the DECC website

Planning Portal on the decision

The Open University is offering studentships for full time PhD study in the Business School’s Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership, starting in February 2016 with a stipend of circa £14,000 per year.

The Open University writes:
The Open University Business School invites applications for full-time PhD studentships starting in February 2016. Studentships are attached to specific research projects in the new Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership.

The studentships cover tuition fees, a research training support grant and a starting stipend of circa £14,000 per year. These are full-time three-year studentships and candidates would be required to live in the UK within commuting distance of the Milton Keynes campus.

We are looking for highly motivated candidates who have a good honours degree at a minimum of 2:1 or equivalent in a related subject, plus around 120 credits of advanced research methods skills or ideally a Masters in research methods.

Your application should comprise a 1500-word research proposal and a covering letter outlining your suitability for your chosen project. We must also receive a completed application form, copies of relevant degree certificates and transcripts and a copy of your SELTS test results (if applicable), before we can consider your application. Further details of the individual projects and how to apply can be found via The Business School.

Interviews will form part of the selection process and are to be held in November 2015 in person (or via web conference if required). PhD applicants are expected to give a 15 minute PowerPoint presentation about their proposal, followed by a question and answer session.

View the call for proposals and more information on how to apply

View more information on the OU Business School

The annual Canal and River Trust report into heritage projects has been published, offering an insight into heritage highlights from the last year, including the work of heritage trainees.

The Canal and River Trust writes:
Each year we produce a retrospective report focusing on the actions the Trust is taking to care for the heritage of the waterways. This is publicly available and it summarises and reflects upon the past year’s heritage activity and performance.

We care passionately about our canals and rivers and want to preserve their historic significance for future generations to enjoy far into the future, and for the waterways to be special places that are loved and valued today by local residents and visitors alike. The Heritage Report for 2014/15 saw a major revamp and provides several brief case studies of projects across England and Wales. We hope you will enjoy it.

The Canal & River Trust is responsible for the care of 2,663 listed buildings and 50 scheduled monuments over 2000 miles. The heritage we care for is free to access and use; it provides an everyday, local connection to our past.

2014/15 was the first year we took on 14 ‘Heritage Trainees’ through a scheme partially funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and that continues for another two years. Last year also saw a major increase in volunteers helping the team of heritage advisers.

Richard Parry, chief executive at the Canal & River Trust, said: ‘Championing and protecting the historic environment of the waterways is a key area of our work.  We’re proud of the many historic sites and buildings we have worked on and improved, and of the contribution our volunteers have once again made to a variety of heritage works and projects.’

Sir Neil Cossons, chair of the Heritage Advisory Group, said: ‘Britain’s network of inland waterways is one of the largest and most important heritage resources in the country. Today the care of this inspiring landscape is the prime responsibility of the Canal & River Trust who fulfil their obligations in an increasingly discerning and professional way.’

View the press release and download the report