IHBC NewsBlogs

The Heritage Alliance has released a statement responding to the recent Treasury’s Statement of Intent, Fixing the Foundations: The Government’s Productivity Plan (highlighting issues of particular concern to the historic environment), and are also seeking your evidence to assist in forming a response to the comprehensive spending review, by 21 August.

The Heritage Alliance (THA) writes:
The Heritage Alliance welcomes HM Treasury’s Statement of Intent, Fixing the Foundations: The Government’s Productivity Plan, as a means of addressing the housing shortage in the UK. The Alliance has long supported the Government’s campaign to streamline the planning system while conserving our heritage in order to maximise its economic, environmental and social returns.

The Plan proposes changes to the wider planning system, but we limit our comments to its potential implications for the historic environment and those who care for it.

Our general concerns are:

1. The Plan has a presumption that planning is a barrier to development and that reducing the level of planning controls will directly increase productivity, but it does not cover supporting local planning authorities to make them more efficient and thus able to make sound decisions in a timely fashion. In our view good planning is, and has long been, a necessary precondition for increasing productivity through helping deliver attractive places where people want to live and work. In addition, businesses that depend upon Britain’s built and natural heritage, including our highly productive tourism and creative industries, as well as the heritage industry itself, require a planning system that can effectively manage and conserve heritage from harmful change.
2. The Plan makes little reference to capacity and expertise in Local Planning Authorities to manage the planning system, and in particular the historic environment, efficiently and effectively to create better places.
3. There needs to be secure funding for Historic England to perform its national role of advising and helping local planning authorities with heritage expertise.
4. There is little discussion of safeguards for the environment, the historic environment in particular, or the importance of existing legislation for either designated or undesignated heritage assets on development sites and simplified planning areas like brownfield sites.
5. The trend towards a Zonal System for Brownfield Land which militates against mixed uses or sustainable development, fails to recognise and protect its archaeological interest, does not understand or make use of the environment in the area, and reduces control over the quality of design.
6. There is no reference to sustainable development in the Plan, though the presumption in favour of sustainable development is the ‘golden thread’ running through the National Planning Policy Framework.

View the full THA response to Fixing the Foundations (including specific responses to historic environment safeguarding, Local Authority spending, borwnfield land zoning, design and placemaking and community engagement) on THA’s website

And find out how to help the THA Comprehensive Spending Review response on THA’s website

The new WEcan work experience initiative which highlights opportunities in different career paths and improves transferable skills for young people (as well as appointing youth ambassadors for peer to peer support) is being supported by CITB, who will be highlighting those who offer construction work experience and career opportunities.

CITB writes:
A new campaign ‘WEcan’ has been launched to help give young people a taste of working life. The new government initiative aims to help provide more youngsters with the chance to benefit from work experience placements, something Employment Minister Priti Patel says will boost their prospects of getting a job.

CITB are one of many organisations already backing the work experience campaign, and it is hoped that many more will now come on board and offer work experience placements.

The initiative will include the appointment of youth ambassadors, who will offer young people advice on how to get a placement.  Ms Patel says the campaign aims to help young people gain valuable skills as well as an insight into the world of work.  She said: “Young people tell me they can’t get a job without work experience, but they can’t get work experience without a job.  That is why we are launching the WEcan campaign to give young people practical advice about making the most of their summer holidays – and beyond – to gain valuable business skills.  With 14 million jobs likely to open up in the UK in the next decade, this one nation government wants young people to be at the forefront of the opportunities to get the best start in life.”

CITB supports work experience in construction through its Experience Construction Project (ECP), which is a work experience programme that allows applicants and employers to make the right choice before they fill an apprenticeship place.

CITB will be supporting the WEcan campaign in the coming weeks by highlighting those in the construction industry that are supporting work experience in the sector.

View the press release

Find out more about WEcan

Find out more about CITB and work experience opportunities

IHBC newblogs on construction

IHBC learning opportunities site

IHBC jobs etc

The RTPI have released new research which shows that constructing new homes in London’s green belt could result in 3.9-7.5 million car journeys each week.

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) writes:
Using commuting data from the 2011 Census (provided by Nomis) the RTPI has today published analysis which finds that adding 1 million homes near railway stations in London’s Metropolitan green belt could see 3.9-7.5 million car journeys each week added to roads which are already struggling with congestion and delays. These findings – Building in the green belt? A report into commuting in the Metropolitan green belt challenge the assumption that building in the green belt around railway stations would see the majority of new residents using the train to get to jobs in London and could therefore be easily accommodated.

Over the past year various think tanks, academics and policy commentators have considered whether green belt boundaries around London should be relaxed in order to ease the housing crisis. These proposals often suggest the release of green belt land within easy walking or cycling distance of key railway stations, land which could provide space for figures upwards of 1 million homes. The assumption behind these proposals is that the majority of new residents will commute by rail to jobs in central London, enabling sustainable housing growth in the wider Metropolitan region without placing excessive strain on existing roads. However the implications of growth on commuting patterns is difficult to predict without looking at those already living in the green belt. Where are these residents travelling for work, and what methods of transport are they using to get there?

The RTPI examined commuting data for five medium-sized towns within the existing Metropolitan green belt, towns which are centred around railway stations and have direct connections to central London. We found that in these five towns, only 7.4% of commuters actually travel to inner London by train on a regular basis, despite living within easy walking or cycling distance of a station. The majority of commuters (72%) instead travel by private vehicle, mostly driving to jobs within their hometown and to other places not in London.

Janet Askew, President of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said:  “If 1 million new homes were built in the green belt in this way, this is likely to result in a huge increase in the number of car journeys being made across the green belt to work, and between schools health facilities and stations.  Quite apart from other good reasons why building in the green belt on such a scale might be opposed, these figures demonstrate a fundamental flaw in the reasoning that there is a quick fix and a sustainable solution to the housing crisis by putting large numbers of new homes close to railway stations. While it is difficult to predict exactly future commuting patterns, the overwhelming evidence is that people will use their cars and this will result in vastly increased numbers of car journeys in and through the green belt.”

Trudi Elliott, Chief executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said:  “The outcome of the analysis was surprising given the range of voices calling for housing around railway stations in the green belt. Our data shows, using one region of the green belt, just how complex the issue of commuting patterns is and how unpredictable they are likely to be in the future. The green belt is an important planning tool. Our findings demonstrate that it is vital to have an evidence base before you make major policy.”

The view of the RTPI is that brownfield sites should be looked at as a priority for housing but not all brownfield sites will be suitable. The housing crisis is complex and will require a number of different policy solutions, such as increasing access to mortgage finance, improving transport and infrastructure, encouraging the house builders to build more homes, and a strong, delivery focussed planning system. Major proposals for new homes, whether they are in the green belt or on brownfield sites, must be preceded by adequate investment in schools, health, transport and other infrastructure, and planned in a strategic and holistic way, with up to date local plans being critical. Any development in the green belt continues to need rigorous justification under the planning system and there are many checks and balances in place.

The five towns in the RTPI analysis were: Hemel Hempstead, High Wycombe, Watford, Maidenhead and Bracknell.

The RTPI is also publishing today a short YouTube film and a new public information note explaining the history, background and purpose of the green belt.  A recent Ipsos Mori poll found 71% of all age groups knew just a little/ heard of but know nothing/never heard of green belt land. Among the under 34s this was 85% and among the under 24s the figure was 92%.

View the full report

View the YouTube film on green belt origins

Historic England are seeking opinions on ways in which to improve the Buildings At Risk Register and information on how you use it, through a simple online survey.

Find the survey online

HE on Heritage At Risk

HE compilation of Local Authorities which have BAR registers

IHBC newsblogs on buildings at Risk 

Architecture and Design Scotland and NHS Scotland are seeking views about the recently developed ‘Place Standard Assessment Tool’, through a short online survey.

A+DS writes:
A+DS has been working with partners NHS Scotland and Scottish Government to develop a Place Standard Assessment tool. The aim of the Place Standard tool is to support the delivery of high quality places – which can be instrumental in reducing health inequalities.

Earlier this year, the project team carried out a number of workshops and public engagement activities to gather your views on the Place standard tool. That feedback has assisted us in developing this new, working draft.

We would welcome your views. To complete a short survey and offer your comments please click this link

View the news release and more information on the tools (including comments on previous versions)

IHBC newsblogs on design

IHBC newsblogs on health

IHBC Scotland Branch

London & Partners (the official promotional company for London) has released the results of a study which shows that London is the ‘most googled’ city in the world for cultural events and attractions.

London & Partners writes:
London is the most Googled city in the world for art galleries, performing arts and innovative art and design, according to new insights released by London & Partners, the Mayor’s official promotional company for the city, and Google to mark the launch of London’s blockbuster Autumn Season of Culture.

Search insights from Google show that London’s theatres generate more searches than those in any other city, while international searches for globally renowned museums rank the Science Museum in London as the most Googled museum in the world*.

The Natural History Museum and the British Museum rank second and third according to Google, followed by The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.

The data from Google also shows that London is the most searched for city in the world to visit. Separate research published by London & Partners and MHM Insight reveal that in 2014/15 London’s museums and galleries received 17.9 million overseas visits, accounting for 57% of the total 31.5 million visits.

View the full press release and information on the forthcoming cultural events in London

IHBC London Branch

The House of Lords Select Committee for the Built Environment has released a call for written evidence, on policy making for the built environment; aiming to ‘ensure better planning and design and whether we have the right balance between national policy and local accountability for planning decisions’- closing date for submissions is 6 October.

The House of Lords Select Committee for Built Environment writes:
The new House of Lords Committee on National Policy for the Built Environment has today issued its call for written evidence, setting out the scope of its inquiry and asking for evidence submissions.  Issues around housing and the built environment are a pressing concern in England with parts of the country facing acute housing shortages and an affordability crisis, while the legacy of poorly planned and designed developments can blight communities.

The Committee will seek to establish what steps can be taken to ensure better planning and design and whether we have the right balance between national policy and local accountability for planning decisions. It will also examine the pressing national need for appropriate homes for a changing population, bearing in mind that decisions taken today will have continuing effects in the years to come.

Commenting Baroness O’Cathain, Chairman of the Committee, said:

‘We live, travel and work in the built environment and it affects us all in numerous ways, from our health and happiness to the strength of our communities and the prevalence of crime and anti-social behaviour. It is increasingly clear that the design and quality of our places, and therefore our lives, could be improved.

‘We need to plan our built environment to meet future demographic, environmental, economic and social challenges. Design and architecture, public and green spaces, the sustainability and resilience of buildings and the provision of vital infrastructure are all essential parts of this process. To achieve this, we need the right priorities, policies and incentives from national Government and the sufficient skills and resources for local government to deliver on an ambitious vision for the future. In this country we have a wonderful heritage of excellent housing in lovely settings; we must ensure that future generations can be proud of the legacy resulting from the decisions and actions of this generation.

‘The supply of housing is a long-standing problem; delivery has neither kept up with public need nor politicians’ targets. We need to look at new ways of tackling the obstacles that have prevented progress being made and we need an appropriate planning regime to ensure a balance between giving local residents a voice and meeting our urgent needs.

‘Improving our built environment is likely to be a key area for Government policy over the next decade and our inquiry gives people the chance to make their voice heard. When it comes to the built environment, all of us have views on the places we live, and I would therefore encourage as many people as possible to send us written evidence before our deadline on 6 October.’

The call for written evidence contains thirteen questions that the Committee wish to receive responses to.

View the news release

Respond to the call for evidence

The Government has announced a new dedicated planning service for shale gas, aiming to fast track the decision making process.

The DECC writes:
Shale gas planning applications will be fast-tracked through a new, dedicated planning process, under measures announced today (13 August 2015).

Amber Rudd and Greg Clark today announced plans that will ensure local people have a strong say over the development of shale exploration in their area – but will ensure communities and the industry benefit from a swift process for developing safe and suitable new sites.

Today’s measures include identifying councils that repeatedly fail to determine oil and gas applications within the 16 week statutory timeframe, with subsequent applications potentially decided by the Communities Secretary.

Energy and climate change Secretary Amber Rudd said:  ‘As a One Nation Government, we are backing the safe development of shale gas because it’s good for jobs giving hardworking people and their families more financial security, good for our energy security and part of our plan to decarbonise the economy. We need more secure, home grown energy supplies – and shale gas must play a part in that.

‘To ensure we get this industry up and running we can’t have a planning system that sees applications dragged out for months, or even years on end. Oversight by the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency of shale developments makes our commitment to safety and the environment crystal clear. We now need, above all else, a system that delivers timely planning decisions and works effectively for local people and developers.’

Communities Secretary Greg Clark said:

‘There is huge potential right across the country for safe and sustainable use of shale gas, to provide a clean long term energy source and create British jobs and growth.  People’s safety and the environment will remain paramount and communities will always be involved in planning applications but no one benefits from uncertainty caused by delays in planning decisions. By fast tracking any appropriate applications today’s changes will tackle potential hold ups in the system.

‘The government has made clear shale is a national priority, helping to move the UK to a low-carbon economy.  But ministers want to ensure shale applications can’t be frustrated by slow and confused decision making amongst councils, which benefits no one.  If planning applications for shale exploration developments take months or even years it can create uncertainty for communities and prevent the development of a potentially vital national industry.  Today’s measures will mean ministers will consider calling in any application for shale exploration, and will recover appeals on a case-by-case basis.’

Local communities will remain fully involved in planning decisions with any shale application – whether decided by councils or government. And demanding planning rules to ensure shale development happens only at appropriate sites remain unchanged.  On top of this, strong safety and environmental safeguards are also already in place through the regulatory regime to ensure shale exploration and extraction is safe and only happens in appropriate places.

As a quasi-judicial process planning applications will always be considered with due process and a fair hearing – but today’s measures will prevent the long delays that mean uncertainty both for business and for local residents.

Today’s measures include:

• The Communities Secretary actively considering calling in on a case by case basis shale planning applications and considering recovering appeals
• Identifying councils that repeatedly fail to determine oil and gas applications within the 16 week statutory timeframe requirement (unless applicants agree to a longer period). Underperforming councils’ gas and oil planning applications could be determined by the Communities Secretary
• Adding shale applications as a specific criterion for recovery of appeals, to ensure no application can ‘fall through the cracks’
• Ensuring planning call ins and appeals involving shale applications are prioritised by the Planning Inspectorate
• Taking forward work on revising permitted development rights for drilling boreholes for groundwater monitoring.

The government also believes that communities hosting shale gas developments should share in the financial returns they generate, and will be presenting proposals later in the year on the design of a new sovereign wealth fund.

View the press release

IHBC newsblogs on energy

Paragraphs 012-023 of the planning obligations guidance have been removed following a High Court legal judgement on land affecting two Berkshire planning authorities.

View the full judgement text

View the guidance

View a commentary on the judgement by Planning Portal

View an LGA commentary on the judement

View all Planning Practice Guidance online

Historic Scotland have published three new ‘Inform Guides’ which provide short summaries of issues affecting the care and repair of traditional buildings.

The three new publications are:

• Hot-mixed Lime Mortars
• Clay Mortars for Masonry Buildings
• Earth and Clay Construction

To request a paper copy of the guides contact hs.cgoutreach@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

You can download the guides and view all previous publications online 

IHBC newsblogs on earth construction

Nominations are open for Trustee positions for Civic Voice, with a closing date of 7 September (appointments will be made in October).

Civic Voice writes:
Being a Trustee of Civic Voice gives you an opportunity to help shape one of the oldest social movements in the country. As a Trustee, you can help us build on the important progress established in our first few years and inspire many more individuals to show civic pride and get involved in their community.

The Board meets about six times each year and there are a number of other commitments, such as AGMs and major networking events. It is an opportunity to really influence the future direction of Civic Voice. Trustees are elected by civic societies and are expected to be members. If you are interested in standing for the board for 2015, please review the information online and we would welcome arranging an informal conversation with you and our Executive Director, Ian Harvey.

If you wish to apply to be a Trustee, your application must be received by Monday 7th September. You will then be entered into a ballot to be voted on by Civic Voice members. Results will be announced at our AGM in Bristol on 24th October.

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Ian Harvey, Executive Director via info@civicvoice.org.uk.

View more information on the roles, including a job description and application form

As many IHBC members will know, September is an opportunity to see behind the scenes of buildings which are not normally open to the public, for free, through European Heritage Open Days.

A selection of events which may be of interest (covering all IHBC regions) include:

• Throughout 2015- DigIt2015 
• Throughout September – Doors Open Days Wales
• Throughout September- Doors Open Days Scotland 
• Throughout September- European Heritage Open Days 
• Various dates in September – Historic Lincolnshire technical events and Heritage Open Days 
• 3-6 September- Hadrian’s Wall Live 
• 4-11 September- Angus Heritage Week 
• 5 September – 30 September- Scottish Archaeology and Heritage Festival 
• 5- 30 September Scottish Borders Heritage Festival 
• 10-13 September- Heritage Open Days throughout England 
• 12-13 September- Discover Northern Ireland events 
• 12 September- Historic Scotland’s Engine Shed Doors Open Day (traditional skills events)
• 14- 20 September- Glasgow’s Built Heritage Festival and Glasgow Doors Open Day  
• 19 September- Ironbridge World Heritage Festival 
• 19- 20 September – London Open House 
• 26-27 September- Bristol Green Doors

Happy exploring!

A new appointment at NTS will be helping to build the heritage fundraising work of the Trust; Mark Bishop has been appointed the new Head of Development.

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) writes:
Scotland’s largest conservation charity has announced the appointment of a new Head of Development, who will take forward its ambitious fundraising targets.

Mark Bishop will join the National Trust for Scotland on 5 October. He will be in charge of a fundraising team that will be responsible for securing donations, bequests and support towards the conservation of Scotland’s most iconic and best-loved heritage.

Mark has spent the last six and half years as Director of Fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK, in which time he oversaw initiatives that helped to grow the charity’s income by 600%, including the high-profile Men United campaign.

Previously Mark was Head of Corporate Fundraising at Leonard Cheshire Disability for five years following earlier career spells with HarperCollins publishers and Sky Television. He is a graduate of the University of Stirling, with an M.Phil in Publishing Studies.

Welcoming Mark, the National Trust for Scotland’s Chief Executive, Simon Skinner said: ‘Mark will play a pivotal role in the Trust as we look forward to the future.  We have already announced target of raising an additional £46 million over the next ten years to fuel the existing conservation objectives we have in place – but we must and we will go beyond this with new and much more ambitious fundraising programmes.  Mark will be responsible for designing a new strategy that will enable us to launch fresh appeals and campaigns both at home and abroad. The money raised will be the catalyst for transformational efforts to conserve and promote the best of Scottish heritage for the benefit of current and future generations.’

Mark Bishop said: ‘I’m really delighted to be joining such a well-respected and valued organisation as the National Trust for Scotland.  Under Simon’s leadership I’m certain that we can deliver a real step-change that will ensure the future success of the charity. I am really impressed by his passion and vision and with my team I will help deliver on this by setting and meeting bold new income targets.  I am particularly looking forward to playing a part in building a movement of committed supporters who care about Scotland’s heritage: I want to help people appreciate just how wonderful the places cared for by the Trust are.’

The National Trust for Scotland is an independent charity with 330,000 members. Among the properties the charity cares for are Glencoe, Culloden and Bannockburn battlefields, Culzean and Brodick Castles, Inverewe Garden and Estate and St Kilda, the UK’s only Dual World Heritage Site.

As well as responsibility for 190,000 acres of countryside, 46 Munro mountains, 394 miles of mountain footpaths, 10,000 archaeological sites and 35 major gardens, the Trust also counts on the support of 3,500 volunteers, welcomes 2½ million visitors a year and provides educational activity for schools and communities.

View the press release

The structure of the new Enhanced Advisory Services for Historic England have been announced, following consultation on the proposals earlier this year. 

Historic England (HE) writes:
In March we began a consultation on four new charged-for Enhanced Advisory Services, which will sit alongside our existing free (taxpayer funded) planning and listing services. We were very pleased with the engagement in this consultation, and many thanks to all who were able to take part. An analysis of the responses is available to download.

We have now assessed all of the responses and made amendments to our proposals accordingly. These amendments are set out below, with the original consultation material still held on these pages for your reference.  We are delighted to confirm that, with over 70% of respondents supportive of our proposals, these four new services will launch on 12 October 2015.

The four Enhanced Advisory Services are:

• Fast-track Listing: providing Listing decisions in a quicker and guaranteed timeframe
• Listing Enhancement: providing clarity over the extent of statutory protection in a guaranteed timeframe
• Extended Pre-application Advice: providing Historic England engagement in pre-application advice beyond an initial free service
• Listing Screening Service: providing assessment of the likelihood of any heritage assets with the degree of interest that would warrant statutory Listing

Amendments to proposals based on consultation:

• Our proposals included plans for a Screening Service, and we asked what you would expect to receive as part of such a service. The responses offered enormous variety, but it was evident that we had not provided sufficient clarity as to the content of such a service. We have therefore decided to rename this as the Listing Screening Service. Historic England staff will conduct a survey and produce a report on an area of land to assess the likelihood of any heritage assets with the degree of interest that would warrant statutory Listing. The report will also indicate heritage assets which may merit local designation; however decision-making on these is for the Local Planning Authority to determine. The service will not identify below-ground archaeological potential, which will need to be addressed separately with the Local Planning Authority. We hope this will provide a helpful way to reduce uncertainty early on in the development process by allowing owners or prospective owners of substantial areas of land to gauge the risk of proceeding with development plans in an above ground context.
• Many of the consultation responses demonstrated some concern about the impact that the introduction of paid-for services would have on continued provision of our taxpayer funded free services. Some of these responses highlighted the reassurance provided by the key performance indicators set out in the consultation material against which we will monitor the continued performance of our free services. However, we will now articulate more fully the available free services alongside the paid-for options. Our description of the charged-for service will be presented alongside full description of the free services offered. This will demonstrate our commitment to the continued provision of the free services, and also make clear the options for engagement with Historic England.
• Consultation responses highlighted the importance of pragmatic and efficient delivery of the scheme as essential to the services being well received and used. This feedback was timely as it coincided with the development of our processes for implementing the new services. This has been given particular consideration to how we will calculate the charges, and we can confirm that each case will be charged on the basis of the hours used to complete it. This means that customers will only pay for the work undertaken on their individual case.
• One of the changes we will need to make so that prospective applicants cannot evade pre-application charges is to confine our pre-application advice to applicants themselves (or their agents). From mid-October, therefore, we will no longer be able to provide pre-application advice directly to Local Planning Authorities (LPAs), unless of course the LPA is also the prospective applicant. We will, however, encourage prospective applicants to arrange joint pre-application meetings so that the likelihood of contradictory pre-application advice from Historic England and the LPA is minimised. For the time being, such meetings would need to be separately billed to the customer, but we are looking into how this might be avoided in future and would welcome suggestions from LPAs on how this might be achieved.

View the news release

A campaign has been launched by CAMRA aimed at protecting local public houses and designating them as assets of community value (ACV) following statistics which reveal up to 29 pubs a week are being closed.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) writes:
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is launching a new initiative to protect 3,000 pubs from demolition or conversion to other uses – as new statistics released today show 29 pubs a week are being lost across the UK.

CAMRA will be mobilising its members in England to nominate their local pub as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) and offer advice and guidance to other community groups looking to do the same. Currently pubs can be demolished or converted to other uses without planning permission, whereas pubs with ACV status are given planning protection under laws introduced in April.

With 800 pubs currently nominated, the initiative aims to raise the profile of ACVs to the pub-going public and increase the number with the status to 3,000 by the end of 2016 – an ambitious target, but one which CAMRA say is essential if England’s pubs are to be properly protected.  ’Holes in the current planning system allow pubs to be sold off, demolished or converted to many other uses without planning permission or the involvement of the local community. However when a pub is nominated as an Asset of Community Value it automatically receives planning protection meaning it is no longer a soft target to would-be developers looking to quickly purchase and convert  or demolish the pub – which in some instances has literally happened overnight.’ Tom Stainer, CAMRA’s Head of Communications.

CAMRA is inviting other local community groups to work with it in gaining this vital protection and urges community groups, or individuals, to get in touch with their local CAMRA branch to highlight valued pubs.

‘Nominating a pub as an ACV is a surprisingly simple process. You can either nominate as an unincorporated group of 21 local people, as a Parish Council, or in connection with another local group including a CAMRA Branch. Some towns, such as Otley in West Yorkshire, have gone as far as nominating every pub in their area for ACV status to ensure all are protected in coming years.’  Tom Stainer added.

Despite the protection afforded to pubs through the ACV system CAMRA say this doesn’t go far enough to curb the closure of pubs in the UK and that the next logical step is to extend the same protection to all pubs across England.

View the press release and related news on ACV’s

More information about the CAMRA ACV campaign

IHBC newsblogs on ACV

The University of Leicester is involved in a UK mapping project which shows the degree of change to land cover over a six year period; from 2006 – 2012 3,000 hectares of coniferous forests were cleared for industrial development, 7,000 hectares were converted from forest to artificial surfaces, and over 14,000 hectares changed from agricultural areas to artificial surfaces. 

Large-scale changes to the environment of the United Kingdom, including an apparent loss of habitats and agricultural land, have been revealed through an updated national map of land cover launched by researchers at the University of Leicester together with consultancy company Specto Natura.

The land cover map, which examines data from 2006 and 2012, is based upon a standardised classification system of 44 land cover and land use classes which are structured in a three tier system that shows how much of the UK is made up of artificial surfaces, agricultural areas, forest and semi-natural areas, wetlands and water bodies.  The ‘Coordination of Information on the Environment’ (CORINE) Land Cover (CLC) map forms the central part of the European Land Monitoring Service under the Copernicus Programme. It is a European-wide project gathering together information relating to the Environment within the European Union.

Professor Heiko Balzter, Director of the Centre for Landscape and Climate Research at the University of Leicester and leader of the study, said: ‘Environmental information from satellites is hugely important to keep a check on the quality of life in the UK. The European land monitoring service turns satellite data into policy-relevant information. The CORINE map is the only consistent European information on land cover change that allows a comparison with our neighbours.’

The land cover map depicts areas larger than 25 hectares (0.25 km²) and with a width of 100m. In addition, a land cover change map between 2006 and 2012, which detects changed areas larger than 5 hectares, has been produced.  Professor Balzter added: ‘For the reference year of 2012, this is the only land cover information available for the UK. At the scale of change mapping of 5 hectares or larger, there appears to be a loss of semi-natural habitats and agricultural land. The apparent decline in wetlands is particularly concerning.

‘The maps show the need for a more detailed study of the state of our countryside, because of the technical limitations of the CORINE mapping approach at a coarse spatial scale.’ 

Key findings from the 2006-2012 land cover map are:

• An area of 225,200 hectares (over 2,250 km²) or 1% of the total area of the UK showed a change in land cover / use from 2006 to 2012. Altogether, 167 different types of change were seen from the satellite images.
• The changes are dominated by forest management, therefore their concentration is higher in Scotland and Wales, following the distribution of managed forest.
• Forestry: The dominant change was clear-cutting of coniferous forest (over 100,000 hectares). Almost 50,000 hectares were regrowing or being replanted with coniferous forest. Clear cutting far exceeded replanting of coniferous forest, however the slow regrowth of forest is more difficult to map consistently.
• Forest loss: Nearly 3,000 hectares of coniferous forests were cleared for industrial development. Conversion of coniferous forest to industrial and mineral extraction sites largely relates to the erection of wind turbines in upland areas, mainly in Scotland. Wind farms fall into the industrial land cover class in the European system. The rate of conversion of land to sport and leisure facilities, mainly golf courses at this scale, continues to decline. Clear cutting of mixed forests accounted for another ca. 3,000 hectares.
• Urban expansion: Changes of a range of other cover types to artificial surfaces indicate urbanisation. Over 7,000 hectares were converted from forest to artificial surfaces, and over 14,000 hectares changed from agricultural areas to artificial surfaces. Over 1,000 hectares were converted from wetlands to artificial surfaces. Completion of construction sites in urban areas made up nearly 3,000 hectares and completed new industrial and commercial developments just over 1,000 hectares.
• Loss of arable land: Over 3,000 hectares of arable land and 2,000 hectares of pastures were converted to mineral extraction sites. Over 2,000 hectares of arable land and 2,000 hectares of pasture land were converted to construction sites, but nearly 2,000 hectares of mineral extraction sites were converted back to pasture land. Pasture land converted to arable land made up over 1,000 hectares. Some agricultural land was planted with forest and some changed to wetlands.
• The most dominant land cover type in the UK in 2012 remains agricultural land, followed by forest and semi-natural vegetation. Artificial surfaces represent 8% of the country with the majority being urban settlements.

In addition to the new land cover map, the previous 2006 land cover map has also been corrected by the team and updated to make sure the change results more closely reflect reality.  The 2006 revision and 2006-2012 change maps were produced by visual interpretation of optical and near-infrared satellite images provided by the European Space Agency with a spatial resolution of 20m, supplemented with higher spatial resolution images with 5m pixels. The 2012 map was produced in a GIS operation adding the revised database and the change database.

Dr Beth Cole, postdoctoral researcher from the University of Leicester’s Department of Geography in charge of the map production, said: ‘The production of the 2012 CLC map and the detection of land cover change between 2006 and 2012 shows a continuing trend in the UK landscape of the rotation of clear-cutting and regrowth associated with forest management and a growth in artificial surfaces associated with urban expansion.  Monitoring like this at a National and European scale is key to allow us to identify these broad landscape scale changes. With a significant improvement on the previous version of the 2006 map, as well as the 2012 update, this study provides data for a large number of users and can be fed into a wide range of research topics and applications.’

The interpretation of satellite images took two years and was carried out with funding by the European Union, supported by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the European Environment Agency (EEA).

The CORINE land cover maps have many real-world applications. As a freely available dataset they can be used in any agency or business.  Examples of previous uses include land management, insurance companies, planning regulations, population disaggregation, forest mapping, green infrastructure, land fragmentation assessment, studies of the urban heat island effect and flood risk mapping.  The maps have informed environmental policy in the fields of climate change, nature conservation and biodiversity, natural resources, environmental health and quality of life.  They have also found uses in research of biodiversity, crop yield monitoring, ecosystem services, the water cycle, urban sprawl and wildfire management.

View the news release

IHBC newsblogs on natural landscape issues

The newly issued ‘Planning Responsible Retrofit’ publication is available on the STBA website, offering information on traditional buildings and retrofitting.

The Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance (STBA) writes:
We are pleased to announce the publication of the first guide in a series of ‘how to carry out responsible retrofit’.  This focuses on risk management and how to reduce risk through effective planning of retrofit projects.

The Planning Responsible Retrofit guide sets out some basic definitions of retrofit and of traditional buildings and then explains the main types of risk arising from retrofit – technical risks to building fabric and human health, heritage risks and risks in terms of energy and the environment. The guide then analyses the main causes of these risks and provides a robust process to manage these risks and links to a suite of information on best practice, technical guidance and training.

This first guide is available to download (see below) and has been sponsored by the CITB, Historic England and Historic Scotland.

View the news release and download the guide

Eight projects have been awarded a total of over than £1.6 million funding under the latest awards from the Historic Scotland Building Repairs Grants Scheme.

Historic Scotland writes:
A Glasgow cemetery which forms an important part of Scotland’s Jewish heritage, the City Observatory Complex in Edinburgh and an extremely rare locomotive turntable in Aberdeen are amongst the latest recipients of Historic Scotland’s Building Repairs Grants Scheme announced today (5th August).

More than £1.6 million has been awarded in total, which will be invested in 8 projects across the country to repair and restore historic buildings as well as helping to support an end use which is beneficial to the surrounding community.

Fiona Hyslop, the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs announced the latest award recipients at Castle Mill Works, the former North British Rubber Company offices, in central Edinburgh, which itself has been awarded £500,000 as part of the scheme. The only surviving structure from what was at one point the city’s largest industrial site, occupying over 30 hectares and employing 3,000 people, Edinburgh Printmakers plan to restore the building to create a thriving visual arts centre and a hub for creative enterprises housing printmaking facilities, galleries and education resources.

Speaking from the site, Ms Hyslop, said: ‘This scheme helps to protect and promote, as well as transform and bring back into use, some of Scotland’s most historically and architecturally significant buildings.  This magnificent former Victorian factory in Fountainbridge, is one of eight projects in total, throughout Scotland, to receive grant funding and aims to see this derelict building once again filled with purpose and a take on a new role as a creative arts hub. Across the country, historic buildings which played an important role in our past also have an important role to play in our future, with schemes such as these helping to tell a new chapter in the building and its surrounding community’s future.’

In October 2015 the new lead public body for Scotland’s historic environment, Historic Environment Scotland, brings together Historic Scotland and The Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments (RCAHMS’). The Chair, Jane Ryder said: ‘As we move towards the launch of this new organisation it’s fantastic to see the continuing commitment from the Scottish Government to invest in schemes which protect some of the most at risk buildings in the country. By doing so they are enabling people to play their part in protecting the heritage on their doorstep as well as contributing to the nation’s extraordinary built heritage.’

Chair of Edinburgh Printmakers, Alastair Snow, said of the rubber mill development: ‘We are delighted with this award from Historic Scotland and recognition of the heritage value of this building. This award is a significant boost to Edinburgh Printmakers’ fundraising efforts, which with public support via our new text donate appeal, means our vision to bring creativity and community back to Castle Mill Works is now well on the way to becoming a reality.’

The scheme welcomes applications three times a year, and is a competitive process which takes account of the wider benefits that a repair project may provide such as community engagement, promoting sustainable economic and rural development, reinforcing local identity and the development of traditional skills.

Applications are now being accepted for the next round of funding.

Recipients of the funding are as follows:

• Castle Mill Works, the Former North British Rubber Factory in Edinburgh (awarded £500,000) is the only remaining physical reminder of what was once a world renowned rubber mill which, for many years, was integral to the expansion of the city and the livelihood of many of its inhabitants. Edinburgh Printmakers, which is a visual arts charity specialising in fine art printmaking, is proposing to repair and restore the 19th century building to make an internationally recognised centre for excellence in printmaking, a hub for the wider arts and a community resource.

• Westmuir Street School in Glasgow (awarded £500,000) one of the finest examples of 19th century board schools in the city and a considerable local landmark. The building has been vacant for some time and is currently on the Buildings at Risk Register. However, the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust have devised a project to undertake repairs to the historic fabric of the building and turn it into a community enterprise centre, creating lots of new commercial space.

• St Andrews Harbour in St Andrews (awarded £22,600) is an exceptionally rare harbour of 17th century configuration, although the site has mediaeval origins. It was largely destroyed in 1655 and rebuilt the following year with stone from St Andrews Castle. The Harbour Trust intends to carry out a scheme of emergency repairs to ensure the harbour can continue to be used for fishing and recreational use.

• The Engine shed and associated turntable in Ferryhill, Aberdeen (£298,158). The steel girder locomotive turntable is one of only three surviving turntables in Scotland and is classified as a Category A listed structure, dating back to 1907. The associated engine shed is a Category A listed building which was built around 1852. Collectively they formed the core of the Aberdeen Ferryhill Locomotive Depot until its closure in 1987. The project aims to repair and restore the structures in order to create a self-sustaining heritage visitor attraction. This would include a small museum and workshop and, with the restoration of the timetable, it’s hoped that it could allow Aberdeen to once again become a popular destination for main-line steam charter trains such as the Flying Scotsman.

• Built in 1818, the complex of buildings which comprise the City Observatory on Edinburgh’s Calton Hill (awarded £233, 280) were designed by leading architect of the period, William Henry Playfair. This site and the buildings on it are synonymous with the Scottish Enlightenment of the 19th Century, with the Observatory used for scientific research and forming the basis of an accurate time service for Edinburgh and Leith. The Observatory is of huge architectural and historical significance, as well as an integral part of Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. The project aims to repair and restore the buildings, as well as creating a new subterranean art gallery and café/event space, which should allow public access to the site for the first time as well as providing the buildings with a sustainable future.

• The Fountains and Gatepiers in Alexandra Park, Glasgow (awarded £45,000) are an important reminder of Scotland’s rich industrial heritage. At the time that the fountains were built (1866-70) Scotland was a world leader in the production of cast iron items such as these. The project intends to restore the fountains and gates, as part of a wider regeneration of Alexandra Park.

• Glasgow’s Necropolis is undoubtedly one of the most important monuments of Victorian Glasgow, internationally significant as a spectacular example of a Garden cemetery, featuring memorial designs by many leading architects and sculptors of the time, including an early work by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The Jewish Enclosure within the Necropolis (awarded £13,125) was acquired around 1832 and marked by a column based on Absalom’s Tomb in King’s Dale, Jerusalem. The enclosure was very quickly filled, due to the fact that Jewish Law forbids the burial of more than one person in a grave, and so no burials have taken place since the 1850s. The enclosure is therefore an integral piece of Jewish heritage in Scotland, and important for the architecture and history of the Necropolis. The project aims to repair and restore fifteen fallen headstones, a staircase and rubble wall, as well as installing a handrail and posts to increase accessibility. The works also include plans to install a viewing area and information boards outlining the history of the graveyard.

• The Stovehouse in Auchincruive, South Ayrshire (awarded £18,200) consists of a long range of greenhouses, within a walled garden. Some of the buildings within the site were designed by internationally renowned Scottish Architect Robert Adam. The site has been used as a Scottish Agricultural College since the 1920s and plans are now underway to continue with a repair scheme to the buildings which will allow a charity to expand on their work with army veterans through horticultural therapy workshops. The scheme by local charity Gardening Leave should provide a sustainable future for these 19th century glasshouses, as well as allow for better access for the general public when not in use by the veterans and better signage placed around the site for interpretation.

View the news release

More information and eligibility criteria for HS grants can be found

IHBC newsblogs on funding

CITB have launched an award with the Daily Mirror to find the hidden heroes of construction (nominate by 28 August); do you know anyone in the heritage sector who deserves recognition?

Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) writes:
The Daily Mirror is joining forces with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to present the 2015 Pride of Construction Awards.  The construction industry is predicted to grow 2.4% each year for the next five years, according to the CITB’s statistics, with a massive 224,000 jobs created.

This job growth will be driven by housing, leisure and infrastructure projects. These include HS2, nuclear and major housing and shopping centre developments across the country.  That is great news for those seeking to join the industry, whether they are young apprentices starting out in their careers, or older workers looking to return to construction.

Last year’s award was given to the team at Dawlish for reconstructing the storm-damaged railway. This year, CITB would like to celebrate the unsung work that people in the construction sector are doing in their communities.

We know there are people in the construction and building trades doing great work in communities across the country.  People who help to build new homes and schools, or carry out vital repairs, sometimes at a moment’s notice, sometimes in the middle of the night.

Do you know:

• a hero roofer who fixed homes damaged by bad weather?
• a carpenter or joiner who refurbished your home exactly how you wanted it?
• a bricklayer who did an amazing job building your extension?

If you have any stories like these, however big or small, of people working in the construction and building trades who deserve a Daily Mirror Hero of Construction award, then get in touch.

Download the nominations form and tell us the name of the person, or company you want to nominate, and why you think they deserve an award.  Then you, and the person you have nominated, could be in with a chance of coming to the Pride of Construction Awards at the Natural History Museum on 25 November.

View the press release

Download the nomination form

IHBC newsblogs on construction 

IHBC Awards etc

Historic England have issued a press release regarding a certificate of immunity from listing (CoI) for Robin Hood Gardens, Tower Hamlets, London, expressing the view that it ‘does not equal the architectural achievement of other 20th century estates which have been listed’.

Historic England (HE) writes:
The Heritage Minister, Tracey Crouch, is minded to approve the Certificate of Immunity for Robin Hood Gardens, Tower Hamlets. A period of 28 days is now allowed for review before the certificate is issued. 

A certificate of immunity from listing was issued for Robin Hood Gardens in 2009 by DCMS on the advice of Historic England (then English Heritage). Following a thorough assessment of the building, it was turned down for listing. DCMS was asked to review the decision soon after, but the original decision was upheld.

When the certificate expired in 2014, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets applied to Historic England for it to be renewed. We provided Tower Hamlets, the 20th Century Society and CABE with a consultation report as part of the COI process.  Many of the points in the consultation response we received from the 20th Century Society were in reference to the original 2008 report and subsequent review material, and did not provide new information. A certificate of immunity is a legal guarantee that the building or buildings named in the certificate will not be considered for listing for five years. 

Emily Gee, Head of Designation at Historic England, said: ‘Any of the Smithson’s buildings deserve to be considered for listing, and a number are already listed. We have therefore given much thought to Robin Hood Gardens. We assessed the complex for listing in 2008 and our advice was subject to detailed scrutiny and review. No new information has come to light that would cause us to revise our assessment, so we stand by our view that Robin Hood Gardens does not meet the very high threshold for listing.

In recommending a building for listing, particularly one so recently built, we need to consider whether it stands up as one of the best examples of its type. We don’t think that Robin Hood Gardens does. It was not innovative in its design – by the time the building was completed in 1972 the ‘streets-in-the-air’ approach was at least 20 years old. The building has some interesting qualities, such as the landscape, but the architecture is bleak in many areas, particularly in communal spaces, and the status of Alison and Peter Smithson alone cannot override these drawbacks.

The complex does not equal the architectural achievement of other 20th century estates which have been listed such as the Barbican and Brunswick Centre in London, and Park Hill in Sheffield.

Listing is highly selective and decisions must be made objectively. While respecting the opinions of campaigners, after careful review of all the points received by the consultees, we recommended once again that Robin Hood Gardens does not make the grade.’

Listed Buildings by Alison and Peter Smithson:

• Smithdon School and Gymnasium, Hunstanton, Norfolk (1950-54) Listed Grade II*in 1993
• The Economist group, City of Westminster (1960-64) Listed at Grade II* in 1988 and amended in 2013.
• Garden Building at St. Hildas College, Oxford (1968-70) Listed at Grade II* in 1999
• Sugden House, Watford, Herts (1956) Listed at Grade II in 2012
• Upper Lawn Cottage with associated garden walls and raised patio, West Tisbury, Wiltshire (1961-62). Listed at Grade II in 2011

View the press release and examples of listed 20^th century housing estates