IHBC NewsBlogs

A ministerial statement from Community Pubs Minister Kris Hopkins has highlighted the planned introduction of changes in legislation that will mean permitted development rights will not apply for pubs which are assets of community value.

Community Pubs Minister Kris Hopkins writes in his written statement to Parliament:
National permitted development rights are an important part of the planning system; providing flexibility, reducing bureaucracy and allowing the best use to be made of existing buildings. However, the passion for community pubs as demonstrated by the significant numbers listed as assets of community value highlights the need to enable local communities to consider planning applications for the change of use of a pub of particular local value.

We therefore plan to bring forward secondary legislation at the earliest opportunity so that in England the listing of a pub as an asset of community value will trigger a removal of the national permitted development rights for the change of use or demolition of those pubs that communities have identified as providing the most community benefit. This provides the right balance between protecting valued community pubs, but avoiding blanket regulation which would lead to more empty and boarded up buildings. Blanket regulation could also have adverse consequences on the asset value of pub buildings, harming the financial viability of the pub industry. This government recognises the economic, environmental and social benefits of allowing redundant buildings to be converted into productive uses without excessive red tape.

This will mean that in future where a pub is listed as an asset of community value, a planning application will be required for the change of use or demolition of a pub. This then provides an opportunity for local people to comment, and enables the local planning authority to determine the application in accordance with its local plan, any neighbourhood plan, and national policy. The local planning authority may take the listing into account as a material consideration when determining any planning application.

View the full statement

IHBC newsblogs on localism 

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has issued a call for entries for the 2015 John Betjeman awards, with a deadline of 24 February.

SPAB writes:
The John Betjeman award is given to celebrate excellence in the conservation and repair of places of worship of any faith in England and Wales, although cathedrals are not eligible. It recognises and rewards the highest standards of conservation craftsmanship and the winning project is publicised as an example to others of good practice.  The award is made for specific repair to, or conservation of, a single element of a church’s fabric, fitting or furnishing and is given to the place of worship rather than to any individual associated with the work. It celebrates the project, the building and the community that cares for it.

The Award is made for the repair or conservation of the fabric, fittings or furnishings of historic churches, chapels or other faith buildings in England or Wales, which remain in use for worship. However, cathedrals of any denomination are not eligible. It is not essential that the building is listed as being of architectural or historic interest. The age or architectural significance of the building is less important than the quality of the repair.

View more information on the awards and how to enter

Download the SPAB magazine feature on the awards

IHBC Newsblogs on John Betjeman

A new report developed by ‘The Mighty Creatives’ working with Research Centre for Museums and Galleries (RCMG) at the University of Leicester has studied the potential for young people’s engagement with ‘heritage rich settings’, looking at the East Midlands as an example.

The study is divided into several topics, as follows:

• ‘Historic houses do work with children and young people but they are not always the main organisational priority ‘
• ‘Historic houses are a fragmented group with no single ‘voice.’ There are many barriers to engaging with children and young people’
• ‘What opportunities exist for historic houses to develop cultural provision for children and young people?’
• Case studies and records from 53 historic properties in the East Midlands.

View more information and a summary of the report

Download the full report

IHBC East Midlands Branch 

IHBC newsblogs on heritage and young people

IHBC newsblogs on education

IHBC newsblogs on heritage and tourism

The National Trust (NT) has acquired the estate at Mount Stewart on Strangford Lough, County Down.

NT writes:
Mount Stewart’s world famous house and gardens are set to be reunited with their historic demesne after more than 50 years. The news comes as the National Trust today announced plans which will see the area which the conservation charity looks after increase from 100 to 1000 acres

The £4m investment from the National Trust comes as the £7.5m project to restore the house at Mount Stewart enters its final weeks.

Announcing the news, Jon Kerr, National Trust Manager at Mount Stewart said: ‘This year as we celebrate the completion of the house restoration project at Mount Stewart, we will begin another new chapter in its history as we reunite the house and garden with its historic demesne.  With a story dating back hundreds of years, the landscape will now extend beyond the house and garden on the shores of Strangford Lough to include the surrounding 1,000 acres of rolling parkland and woodland which make up the demesne. In time, visitors will be able to explore extensive woodland, previously unseen walled gardens, farmland and a range of historic monuments and buildings.  Combined with a newly restored house and one of the top gardens in the world – in years to come this will create a destination which offers a fascinating insight in to the stories of the Stewart family. I really believe that Mount Stewart is an extraordinary place, and it deserves to be safeguarded and protected for many generations to come.’

Lady Rose Lauritzen, granddaughter of Edith Lady Londonderry, welcomed the news: ‘The number of people visiting Mount Stewart continues to rise every year and the pleasure it gives to so many people will be enhanced by the opening of the demesne. This will eventually enable visitors to walk, ride or cycle around the old rides, and enjoy the beauty of the wildlife and wild flowers in a totally unspoilt part of Northern Ireland.  Mount Stewart for me is more like a relation or a best friend and having experienced so much pleasure all my life surrounded by the exquisite thousand acres, I feel very strongly that it should be shared by everyone. I know for the Trust this is an important long term investment.’

Heather Thompson, Director for the National Trust in Northern Ireland said: ‘Our £4m investment in the demesne is in addition to the £7.5m house restoration project which will complete in April 2015 – a clear demonstration of the National Trust’s commitment to conservation that will leave a legacy for everyone in Northern Ireland to enjoy, forever.  This is a really special opportunity to open up access to a truly beautiful part of our countryside. Looking after the wider demesne will require a huge amount of work and we will be developing a range of plans over the next few years, in preparation for opening this amazing landscape to our members, supporters and visitors.

‘I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Arts Council and HMRC who helped guide us through the Acceptance in Lieu (AIL) process which has made this possible. As part of the same AIL process we will also see an amazing collection of historic items returning to the house. So this really is a big year for Mount Stewart!  I would also like to thank the Garfield Weston Foundation which is helping to fund this important project and also the Lauritzen family who have worked so closely with us to make this a reality.’

Although visitors will not be able to access the full demesne for a number of years, the Trust has already opened up areas of the previously unseen Walled Garden and Dairy.

Neil Porteous, Head Gardener at Mount Stewart said; ‘Once the powerhouse of the demesne, the Walled Garden provided plants, raised mainly from seed, supplied by plant collectors from around the World, and produced a wide variety of fruit and vegetables to serve the house and feed the estate staff.  A significant project in itself, restoring the Walled Garden in years ahead will incorporate the return of an extensive collection of the best scented period roses. In the open quarters of the orchard there are plans to plant a selection of fruit trees. Over the longer term we will once again grow soft fruit in the restored Vineries and Peach Houses.’

The newly restored house at Mount Stewart will open a range of exciting new rooms to visitors in April with a UTV documentary airing later in the summer. Meanwhile the world class gardens are open to visitors to enjoy throughout the year.

View the NT press release

Read more about Mount Stewart

IHBC newsblogs on historic parks and gardens 

The Twentieth Century Society (20C Society) has highlighted the case of Paolozzi murals in Tottenham Court Road tube station affected by Crossrail upgrading proposals, and supporter Etan Smallman has launched a petition to save them with over 7,500 signatures gained to date. 

View more information on the murals 

View the petition information

Twentieth Century Society murals campaign

IHBC newsblogs on Twentieth Century Society

Kate Mavor, Chief Executive of the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the new English Heritage charity, which will look after over 400 historic monuments, buildings and sites in England, including Stonehenge.

The NTS writes:
A new leadership team is to be in place at the Trust from May with the retirement of Sir Kenneth Calman from the post of Chairman and the departure of the Chief Executive, Kate Mavor.

As announced last December, Sir Kenneth is to step down after five years as Chairman to make way for Sir Moir Lockhead.

With Sir Moir confirmed in the role, Sir Kenneth has decided that his retirement will take effect in May so that the new Chairman can make an early start on planning for the conservation charity’s long-term future.

Kate Mavor has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the new English Heritage charity, which will look after over 400 historic monuments, buildings and sites in England, including Stonehenge.

In April, English Heritage in its present form will separate into two organisations: a charity retaining the name English Heritage, with Kate as its Chief Executive and caring for this collection of historic sites, and Historic England, a government service championing England’s wider heritage and giving expert, constructive advice. Kate will take up her new post at the start of May.

The National Trust for Scotland’s Deputy Chairman, Jill Carrick said, “Although both Ken and Kate will be with us for a few months yet, we can reflect on the fact that they formed a formidable team which helped to rescue the Trust from one of the most difficult periods in its eighty-two year history.

“Between them, they steered the Trust through far-reaching modernisation and reform and re-built the charity’s finances away from the point where our reserves were at a dangerously low level.

“I know from talking to members, volunteers and peers in the heritage sector that Ken and Kate between them have managed to restore confidence and respect for the National Trust for Scotland and have established firm foundations for our future sustainability, credibility and growth.”

Sir Moir Lockhead will chair a Board of Trustees meeting for the first time on 7 May.

The Trust’s Nominations Committee will begin the search for a new Chief Executive with immediate effect. If necessary, an interim CEO will be appointed if Kate Mavor’s successor has not been chosen or is unable to take up the post by the time of her departure.

Jill Carrick added, “From my own perspective, I have been privileged to watch Sir Ken grace us with his wise and enlightened guidance as the Board of Trustees wrestled with many difficult problems.

“I think that Kate’s new appointment proves that her abilities in running a large, complex charity within the heritage sector, where there is a perennial struggle for funding, have been recognised and valued.

“We were fortunate to have her as our Chief Executive for six years, just at the time we needed her most.

“Ken and Kate will leave behind them a National Trust for Scotland that is in good order and ready to face up to the fresh challenges of the future.”

NTS news & EH news

Projects in Wales benefitting from Coastal Communities Funding include scheduled ancient monument works at Chapel Bay Fort & Museum, heritage skills training at the Vale of Rheidol Heritage Railway and a new Centre for Archaeology, Mythology and Storytelling at Menter Y Felin Uchaf Cyf.

The Welsh Government writes:
Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths, has congratulated 21 coastal community projects across Wales set to benefit from a share of nearly £4.6 million.

Under the UK Treasury’s Coastal Communities Fund, grants are available to fund projects which boost the economy of coastal communities across the UK. The fund for Wales is delivered in partnership between the Welsh Government and Big Lottery Fund.

Recently Lesley Griffiths congratulated the projects, which will share £4,591,612, on their successful bids. She said: ‘We want to see vibrant, viable communities all along Wales’s fantastic coastline. This fund will support our work to regenerate coastal towns, boosting their economic development as well as their standing as key tourism and cultural destinations.  The funding will enable those with local knowledge to develop projects addressing the specific issues facing their communities. I look forward to seeing how these schemes benefit local people and support our wider regeneration vision for Wales.’

Fran Targett, Chair, Coastal Communities Fund Wales Committee, said: ‘Coastal Communities share a strong sense of place and this funding will give areas in Wales a welcome boost by supporting the development of their local economies.’

The Coastal Communities Fund was announced by the UK Government in 2011 to provide funding on a bid basis for projects supporting local economic development in coastal communities.  The applications were considered by the Coastal Communities Fund Wales Committee and approved by the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty. During the selection process, consideration was taken of how plans for economic growth address local needs and priorities, job creation and long-term sustainability.

The 21 projects set to benefit are:

• RSPB Cymru will receive £267,843 for a two year project to develop the existing visitor facilities at RSPB Cymru South Stack on the west coast of Anglesey to improve the tourism experience.
• Porthcawl Harbourside Community Interest Company will benefit from £297,597 to further develop the Marina/Harbour quarter in Porthcawl by increasing boat capacity, providing new water sports activity provision as well as education facilities for visitors and local people.
• Meithrinfa Gymraeg Derwen Deg is set to receive £283,898 for a project to develop a new full time Welsh language childcare provision in Llandudno Junction on the Conwy coast.
• Cwm Harry Land Trust Ltd will receive £75,000 to create a new cafe to serve the Moelyci Environmental Visitor and Education Centre, just outside of Tregarth, near Bangor.
• Cardiff Marine Group Ltd has been awarded £300,000 to make significant improvements to Aberystwyth harbour and marina, upgrading infrastructure and services.
• Sustrans Limited will benefit from £299,364 for a  scheme to construct a new walking and cycling path linking Pembrey to Kidwelly and providing direct access into Pembrey Country Park and the Millennium Coastal Path – both key tourism destinations.
• Antur Waunfawr is set to receive £238,056 to develop an existing business in Caernarfon as a social enterprise which will provide bicycle sales, hire, repairs and recycling. It will offer training and work experience to people with learning disabilities and unemployed or disadvantaged young people.
• Becws Islyn Bakery Ltd has been awarded  £132,000 to develop the small, family-run bakery business, enabling them to produce a greater amount of artisan products to maximise sales opportunities with local residents, tourists and local businesses.
• Tape Community Music and Film Limited will benefit from £224,304 for a two year project to establish an annual film festival which will take place in Denbighshire and Conwy.
• Groundwork North Wales is set to receive £54,615 for a scheme that will enable the purchase of a purpose built sales tricycle and the recruitment of staff to operate it along a section of the North Wales Coastal Path, providing tourist information, basic first aid and refreshments to people using the path.
• Chapel Bay Fort & Museum, based in Angle on the Pembrokeshire coast, has been awarded £270,626 to support the restoration of this unique Ancient Scheduled Monument and improve access. The site will be opening to the public as a Museum and interpretation centre for the military and social history of Pembrokeshire.
• Vale of Glamorgan Council is set to receive £224,760  to maximise the employment potential of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast through encouraging the development of new businesses.
• Menter Aberteifi Cyfyngedig will benefit from £109,974 to re-establish and develop Cardigan Market Hall as a sustainable business hub for market traders and micro-enterprises.
• Vale of Rheidol Railway Limited has been awarded £288,000 to provide high quality heritage skills training at the Vale of Rheidol Heritage Railway.
• Cyngor Tref Nefyn will receive £300,000 to improve a section of the Wales Coast Path between Nefyn and Morfa Nefyn to make it accessible to people with disabilities and young families, as well as re-opening a section of an historic 10 mile route from Nefyn to Llanbedrog.
• Ceredigion County Council is set to receive £150,718 to raise the profile of the Ceredigion coastline as a place to visit throughout the year.
• Bluestone Brewing Company Limited will benefit from £80,746 to support a one year project to provide a visitor facility, office and storage facilities within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
• Fishguard & Goodwick Chamber of Trade and Tourism has been awarded £291,032 for a project to promote North Pembrokeshire as a visitor destination through the development and coordination of tourism services.
• Menter Y Felin Uchaf Cyf, based on the Ll?n Peninsula in Gwynedd, will benefit from £298,900 to create a new Centre for Archaeology, Mythology and Storytelling.
• Cardigan Bay Watersports will receive £123,974 to provide new products and activities, upgraded equipment and professional management.
• Cyngor Gwynedd is set to receive £280,205 for a two year project to develop 13 identified linear or circular routes which link communities to the Wales Coast Path, maximising the economic benefit of the path in Gwynedd.

View the press release 

IHBC newsblogs on funding

Janet Askew has been inaugurated as President of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) at a ceremony in central London.

She has worked as a planner in both the public and private sectors. She currently teaches planning at the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol.

The RTPI writes:
Janet Askew was today inaugurated as President of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) at a ceremony in central London.

In her speech, Janet emphasised how vital it was to continue to promote the positive benefits of planning and also highlighted the contribution planning and planners can make to addressing social inequalities.

Janet Askew said: ‘I am determined to ensure that we build on the success of our centenary and engage with more people to promote planning – what I call the challenge of persuasion – proving the value of planning to society. I became a planner because I had a utopian view, an emotional view that planning could improve the quality of life and give people a voice about how they lived.’

She outlined three key opportunities to promote planning: through education, through community planning, and internationally. 

Internationally
‘Working abroad what has surprised me most is the influence that British town planning and history has had. The RTPI is held in very high esteem in China for example. There may be differences in scale in different countries but we are all working on the same issues – to provide liveable places, better public transport, sustainable housing and a fair distribution of public services. There are still many international opportunities for the RTPI, not least of all to increase membership.’

Through education
‘I have spent a large part of my career working in the University of the West of England in Bristol, and I am often asked about planning schools when I am abroad – how do we maintain and uphold such high standards in planning education?  I see it as one of the main roles of the RTPI to ensure and guarantee the future quality of the profession – through the accreditation of planning schools, and co-operation with universities on research.

For nearly 20 years, there has been a downward trend however in undergraduate numbers – with the most marked drop in home students. In some universities, international students outnumber home students.

Many graduates from British planning schools return to their home countries to work, wherever that might be and they are eligible to be members of the institute.  So we should explore the opportunities of working with these planners – as a starting point through universities and British consultants with international offices – to recruit more members to the RTPI, and I hope to do some of this during my year as President.’

Through community planning
Neighbourhood planning offers opportunities for more people to be involved in the planning of their own areas. And communities need the help of qualified town planners to prepare their plans. This is reassuring in one way – planners really do have skills and knowledge to offer, but we also know that local authorities are very short staffed, and if we want to create good plans, then recruitment to the profession is vital. 

RTPI news

The Land Registry has published a summary of the proposed measures to be included in the Infrastructure Bill, including matters relating to land use planning concerning national infrastructure, the deemed discharge of conditions and powers for Mayoral Development Orders

Government writes:
The proposed bill would improve how we fund, plan, manage and maintain our national infrastructure.

The Infrastructure Bill would provide a £3.9 billion boost to the economy over the next 10 years by:

• improving the funding and management of our major roads
• streamlining the planning process for major projects
• protecting our infrastructure from invasive plants and animals
• supporting house building
• making it easier and cheaper to register land and property
• helping communities become stakeholders in renewable electricity projects
• maximising the recovery of oil and gas from the UK continental shelf
• simplifying underground access procedures for the shale and geothermal energy industries

The bill and its supporting documents are on the Parliament website.

View the full press release

View the Bill

A coalition of organisations which work on landscape and rural interests has been formed to raise the profile of these areas to the whole of society, with the title ‘Landscapes for Everyone’.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) writes:
Encompassing 27 national and regional organisations, including the Campaign to Protect Rural England, National Trust, British Mountaineering Council and Wilderness Foundation, the coalition is believed to be the largest ever to be formed on this issue.

Ahead of May’s general election, the coalition aims to raise the profile of landscape and to emphasise the importance of landscapes to our wellbeing, environment and economy.

With ongoing speculative development in and around sensitive areas, such as National Parks and AONBs, the varied group of organisations believes that it is vital for future government policy and funding to reflect the extraordinary value of landscapes.  The Landscapes for Everyone vision is supported in parliament today by Natural Environment Minister Lord de Mauley, Shadow Minister for Natural Environment Barry Gardiner MP, and Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environmental Affairs Baroness Parminter. The vision calls for better landscapes for people, better planning for landscape and better places for nature.

Lord de Mauley, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science, comments: ‘Our beautiful landscapes provide not only outside spaces for people to enjoy, they are also valuable in their own right and integral to tourism, to rural economic growth and to people’s health and wellbeing. I want to see our countryside continuing to contribute to the economy, whilst ensuring our much valued landscapes remain protected.’

Shaun Spiers, Chief Executive, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), comments: ‘For far too long, England’s landscapes have been undervalued given the understandable focus on economic recovery. But beautiful landscapes and a strong economy go together. CPRE believes that government at all levels needs to do more to ensure our diverse landscapes survive and thrive, and to support local communities in safeguarding them. We are calling on all political parties to commit to the calls to action in Landscapes for Everyone.’

Howard Davies, Chief Executive, National Association for AONBs, comments: ‘Our landscapes reflect our collective past and determine our future quality of life. Landscapes are about people and places, are fundamental to our health and well-being, and are an important part of our identity. It is critically important that the value of landscape is recognised in decision making locally and nationally.’

Rachel Stancliffe, Director, The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, comments: ‘The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare supports Landscapes for Everyone as it is vital to protect and enhance natural places, both to benefit people’s health and for the wellbeing of the planet.’

Peter Nixon, Director of Land, Landscapes and Nature, National Trust, comments: ‘From the public park to the National Park, and the historic townscape to the natural seascape, Britain has extraordinarily varied landscapes, which provide limitless opportunities for enjoyment, exploration and inspiration. But they are threatened as never before by inappropriate development and lack of resourcing.  As organisations, we’ve come together to ask Government and political parties to celebrate landscapes, and to show their commitment to a better future for these areas, that have inspired generations of people.’

Stuart Brooks, Chief Executive, John Muir Trust, comments:

‘Our wellbeing now and in the future depends on having access to wild places, which are vital for nature to thrive and people to restore their spirits.’

Julian Woolford, Chief Executive, Campaign for National Parks, comments: ‘National Parks are ‘living landscapes’ making a significant contribution to the economy through tourism, farming and other related businesses as well as containing breathtaking scenery, rare wildlife and cultural heritage.’

View the CPRE press release

Download the Landscapes for Everyone document

IHBC newsblogs on landscapes

Civil Exchange has carried out research into the impact of the Big Society and published a report ‘Whose Society’ which assesses the impact of the changes introduced in government measures originally designed to encourage people to be able to have more say over decisions affecting them and their area.

Civil Exchange writes:
The Big Society project to hand power back to the people has largely failed against its own measures, leaving the country more divided, with less influence over decisions and receiving less accountable services, according to a landmark study published today.

Whose Society? The Final Big Society Audit, the culmination of a three-year investigation into a key initiative of the Coalition Government, finds that the Big Society – using its own criteria of empowering communities, opening up public services and stimulating social action – has not, despite some positive initiatives, delivered the radical change that David Cameron promised.

The study by the independent think tank Civil Exchange sounds a warning for the next government, saying that it must be genuinely inclusive, target those most in need and harness the energy of the voluntary and private sectors if the Big Society mistakes are not to be repeated.

The report’s author, Caroline Slocock, director of Civil Exchange, said: ‘Despite investment in the Big Society, it has largely failed. Our findings show that society is more divided than before, we feel less able to influence what happens in our communities and public services are, in some ways, less accountable and responsive to diverse needs.  Many people may ask what happened to the Big Society? It was a key commitment of this government and they are entitled to know whether it worked, even though the Government hardly mentions it now.  The real question, however, is what happens next? Whatever name it goes under, the next government will continue to look for ways to give power back to people, to make services more responsive and to encourage local action. To do this successfully requires much better collaboration with local and voluntary groups, giving people a genuine stake in local decision making, reviewing the way we contract companies to deliver public services and making sure major businesses give back more to society.’

‘Whose Society?’ makes key recommendations for the next government including a shift in government and public sector culture to make it work far more collaboratively with civil society, a civil society led Commission on using existing resources to create a fairer society, and a major review of public sector contracting, ensuring services work in the interests of those they mean to serve, particularly those whose needs are greatest.

Using detailed analysis and data from a wide range of government and other authoritative sources, ‘Whose Society?’ finds that, despite significant investment in Big Society schemes, including for volunteering and local decision making:

• Only 34% of people now feel they can influence decision in their local area – a significant decrease against every year since 2001.
• Civic participation (from 41% to 30%) has dropped sharply since 2013, with civic consultation and activism also down.
• Despite over 2000 uses of Community Rights since the introduction of the Localism Act (2011), local authorities have seen their powers to respond to local need, such as in education, severely constrained.
• The proportion of people who feel they belong to their neighbourhood has dropped from 78% to 70% since 2013, the lowest level since 2005.
• Though 88% of charities have seen a rise in demand for their services, only 32% now feel they can meet this need and there is no convincing Government strategy for filling the funding gap left by public sector cuts, particularly for those serving communities with the greatest needs.

Far from opening up public services, private sector ‘quasi monopolies’, which are largely unaccountable, and the largest of which have experienced serious service failures, now dominate contracts to deliver public services.

View the Civil Exchange press release

Download the Big Society report

IHBC newsblog on Big Society

A landmark archaeological discovery has been made in Derry Londonderry, which predates the walled city 

The Department of the Environment Northern Ireland (DoeNI) writes:
Environment Minister revealed details of a building pre-dating the walled city and believed to have been burnt down during the O’Doherty rising of 1608.

The building, only a very small part of which has survived, had stone foundations and a cellar above which the upper floors were constructed of timber. When the building burnt down its wooden walls and roof collapsed into the cellar where they have now been found just over 400 years later.  A collection of artefacts was also unearthed during the dig including musket balls, a small cannon ball, pottery sherds, clay pipes and, a rarity on archaeological excavations, a number of intact wine bottles. The earliest find was a sherd of medieval pottery dating to AD1200-1400.

Minister Durkan said: ‘This is a truly exciting and important discovery. Archaeologists working for the Apprentice Boys have uncovered the earliest dated building in Derry and it is fitting that some of the artefacts uncovered will now go on display in the new museum.  The building’s alignment is east-west and has been dated to the early 1600s. The east-west alignment is radically different to our present day Walled City street pattern. This clearly shows the building reflects the earlier street pattern based on the ecclesiastical settlement that pre-existed the plantation town of Londonderry. The building was burnt down prior to the construction of our Walled City and the ‘best-fit’ event for that fire would seem to be the 1608 O’Doherty rebellion when all the houses in Derry were burnt by Cahir O’Doherty’s troops.

‘A very small fired-clay tobacco pipe that dates to the period of Elizabeth I has further helped to date the early building. A small cannon ball from the time of the O’Doherty rebellion in 1608 was also found on the cellar floor of the early building but we may never know if it was fired in anger.  Although the dig doesn’t appear to have found any remains dating to the 1689 Siege of Derry, rare finds have been uncovered including two complete glass bottles and near complete plates dating from the 1700s.  These important discoveries will add value and content to the information discovered on the successful NIEA led community dig at Bishop Street car park in 2013.’

Billy Moore, General Secretary of the Apprentice Boys Association, said: ‘It has been fascinating to see what this archaeological dig has uncovered. We hope that once the archaeologists have had a chance to review their findings, we will be fortunate to identify that some of the artefacts relate to the period of the Great Siege.  We are pleased and delighted that the dig has added significantly to the history of Londonderry. We eagerly look forward to placing the information uncovered and some of the artefacts on display in our new visitor centre, which we anticipate will open in the summer of 2015.’

The building and artefacts were discovered during an eight week excavation in the area formerly occupied by the Walker Memorial Garden on Society Street. The dig, undertaken by commercial archaeology firm Gahan and Long under licence from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), was a requirement of planning conditions ahead of the new Apprentice Boys of Derry’s visitor centre.

The project is supported by a variety of funders including almost £2.4 million from the Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) Peace III, a £1million grant from NITB and funding from the Apprentice Boys of Derry and DOE’s Northern Ireland Environmental Agency.

View the press release

IHBC newsblogs on Derry Londonderry

IHBC newsblogs on archaeology 

A community initiative which helps pubs provide vital services for local rural settlements has been allocated £452,000 over the next three years from the Big Lottery Fund.

Pub is The Hub writes:
Pub is The Hub has received confirmation this week that funding for its popular advice, guidance and training service for England has been secured for a further three years by the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme. The organisation will receive £452,000 over the next three years enabling its Regional Advisors to continue work with interested local authorities whereby they match community priority needs with additional services which can be provided by the local pub and a good licensee.

This new funding follows the success of the first three-year programme launched in 2011 which inspired a variety of projects around England across eleven local authorities which resulted in a range of twenty-seven different services from shops and libraries to help for elderly residents.

Inspired by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales in 2001, Pub is The Hub operates as a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation dedicated to offering advice and support to licensees, rural pubs and community services as well as to communities considering the options for acquiring their local pub and the range of responsibilities involved.

John Longden, Chief Executive of Pub is The Hub said: ‘We are so delighted to have the recognition and support from the Big Lottery Fund which will help the organisation to fill a very important role in advising great licensees to provide a variety of much needed and vital services within their small local communities. We only exist through donations and grants such as this so fundraising is always uppermost in our thoughts. To have this long term support also gives us the confidence and ability to continue to raise funds directly for good licensees who just need that small financial leg-up to diversify their services.  We will continue use our experience gained from fourteen years’ work to help identify priority services needs by working closely with individual communities and their local authorities.’

The funding will not be spent in direct support for the pubs themselves so Pub is The Hub will continue to work with other sources of private and public funding as well as fundraising for its own Community Services Fund which gives grants of up to £4k per project direct to pubs separately.

View the press release

Find out more about Big Lottery funding

IHBC newsblogs on pubs as community assets

Following the summer survey, the OASIS (Online Access to the index of archaeological investigations) site has now been redesigned and the project team are seeking your views on the mock up site by 8 February. 

The OASIS blog writes:
Thank you if you responded to the OASIS redevelopment survey over the summer, we have now produced a selection of scenarios which reflect the survey responses. We will be making the survey responses available in due course.

The mock up is divided into different scenarios for different types of user: Contractor, HER, Museum etc and each page has a comment area at the bottom. Please use the comments area to leave any feedback you have, positive or negative, as if we don’t know your thoughts now we cannot accommodate them in the final design. We would appreciate your comments even if you are not a user of the current system. The mock up will be open for comments until Sunday 8 February.

Providing feedback will give you a real opportunity to influence the redevelopment of OASIS.  If you have any questions about this, or the project in general, please contact the ADS via Jo Gilham on jo.gilham@york.ac.uk or 01904 323937. 

View the site mockup

More information on OASIS

IHBC newsblogs on OASIS

IHBC newsblogs on archaeology 

Research into the provision of appropriate sites in the land us planning system to meet the needs of the gypsy and traveller communities has been carried out and published by the Equality & Human Rights Commission this week. 

The Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) writes:
The Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has yesterday published research on how local authorities have successfully developed and maintained Gypsy and Traveller sites in Scotland. The research was commissioned in direct response to claims from some Scottish local authorities that they were unable to secure land or planning permission to build new permanent or transit sites. 

Speaking yesterday Alastair Pringle, Director of the EHRC Scotland said ‘Over the last year we have seen once again tension in some parts of Scotland concerning the development of temporary or permanent sites for Gypsies and Travellers, either in private or public ownership. This ongoing lack of provision is forcing many Gypsies and Travellers into ‘pulling in’ at the roadside, often in high profile areas and then risking eviction and local hostility.’

The research shows that with planning and care it is perfectly possible to develop new Gypsy and Traveller sites in Scotland – examples like Falkirk Council’s approach to private sites or South Ayrshire’s refurbishment of their existing sites show that you can balance the needs of the Gypsy and Traveller community with concerns of the settled community.

Phil Brown, Professor of Social Change at the University of Salford, who conducted the research, said ‘The location of the site is paramount. Our research has found that whilst there may be concerns at the start of process from locals living nearby, proper management of the site rarely leads to ongoing concerns. As with most new developments communication between the council, local residents and the Gypsy and Traveller community is also key, as is support for local councillors who will be the final decision makers. Taking a strategic rather than ad hoc approach is also recommended as the more transparent the Council is the more likely they will have public support.’

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights Alex Neil said: ‘Decisions about the provision of Gypsy and Traveller sites are best made at the local level, by those with local knowledge and accountability.  This research provides useful examples of good practice for those involved in making those decisions, including the importance of communication and dialogue when establishing a new site, and selecting the right location.’

The Scottish Government has already strengthened local strategic planning for accommodation in relation to the needs of Gypsy and Travellers, by publishing revised guidance for Housing Need and Demand Assessments and Local Housing Strategies.  This is to help make sure that the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers are fully taken into account by local authorities as they plan accommodation provision in their area.

Research by the Scottish Government recently confirmed that in 2014 there were 59 sites in 18 local authority areas in Scotland – a change from the 53 sites in 23 local authority areas reported in 2009. Altogether there were 763 pitches available in public or private ownership.

Commenting further Mr Pringle said ‘We look forward to the publication of the Governments Gypsy and Traveller strategy later this year as what is needed is a coordinated and coherent approach to the development of sites across Scotland rather than the current ad hoc arrangements where local authorities make decisions in isolation. We hope that this report will provide some inspiration to those charged with locating and providing sites. Without proper provision the community is likely to continue to face hostility and councils are likely to waste more money on avoidable evictions.’

View the press release

View the report

IHBC newsblogs on traveller sites 

Visitors to the Isle of White can now stay in the English Heritage (EH) property that was once Queen Victoria’s family retreat, in a new heritage tourism development to open up a new area of Sovereign’s Gate.

EH writes:
Holidaymakers to the Isle of Wight will soon have the chance to live like a royal – as English Heritage opens up an exclusive area of Queen Victoria’s family retreat as a holiday cottage.

Two luxury cottages have been developed within ‘Sovereign’s Gate’ at Osborne – a ceremonial entrance to the royal retreat once reserved exclusively for Queen Victoria and her family as well as lords, ladies and heads of state.  From this month guests can book a three, four or seven night stay at Sovereign’s Gate, which also includes exclusive use of the grounds at Osborne, which include Queen Victoria’s private beach and gardens, and free entry to other English Heritage sites on the Isle of Wight.

View the press release

Find out more about the property and its history

The owner of a London Grade II listed building (LB) in Hampstead Garden Suburb, who repeatedly ignored Barnet Council officers’ advice while carrying out building work, has been fined £45,000 at Willesden Magistrates’ Court.

Search Planning Portal

Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis has confirmed that business support company TerraQuest is the preferred bidder to take over the running of the Planning Portal.

Planning Portal writes:
Mr Lewis said the move would increase investment in the Portal service and ensure it continues to deliver a high quality service for years to come.

More than 85 per cent of applications in England and Wales now go through the Planning Portal system.

The Government announced last year that it was open to investment from a commercial partner who could continue to develop the service.

After a competitive tendering process, TerraQuest has been chosen as the preferred bidder. As part of their bid, TerraQuest will now look to form a new company with the Government which will take on the management and delivery of the Planning Portal from early this year.

The current Portal will remain while the new service is developed.

Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis said: ‘More than 85 per cent of planning applications are being submitted through the Planning Portal – it was essential that we found a way to secure its long-term future.  So I’m pleased that TerraQuest has been appointed as the preferred bidder to take over the running of the Planning Portal to build the business further and ensure it continues to play a vital role in the planning system for years to come.

Geoff Keal, managing director of TerraQuest, said: ‘We are thrilled to have been identified as DCLG’s preferred Joint Venture partner in relation to the Planning Portal, and are very excited about taking the Portal to the next level.’

Search Planning Portal

A Service of Thanksgiving for Sir Jocelyn Stevens, former Chairman of English Heritage 1992-2000, will be held at 3.00 pm on 5 February in St Paul’s Church Knightsbridge, 32a Wilton Place, London SW1X 8SH.

See an obituary

Historic England intends to continue its support to the sector using funding to build capacity in accordance with the sector plan Heritage 2020, but a new or revised programme needs to be launched in 2016, if new funding agreements are to be in place for 1 April 2017, so an evaluation of English Heritage’s support for capacity building to date is being launched.

These developments are intended to make sure that lessons learned from the existing National Capacity Building programme are applied to any future programme, and that management processes are reviewed to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of funding are maximised.

The project is being commissioned by English Heritage, with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The aim of the evaluation is to:

1. Review the quality and effectiveness of current and previous projects and statutory consultee activity, identifying what works.
2. Identify future programme challenges, opportunities, priorities and infrastructure, taking into account the changing sector context.

For more information and to submit an expression of interest, see the English Heritage website

The latest issue of the National Trust (NT) ‘Arts, Buildings and Collections Bulletin’ (‘ABC’) profiles the very practical ‘building design guides’ that highlight real life case studies from work carried out at their properties, while discussing how sensitive design and specification issues have been addressed.

The NT writes:
From visitor facilities and holiday cottages to bird hides and breweries, these case studies provide a comprehensive guide to how some of our buildings have been refurbished, adapted or a new structure built, often using green technology. They include details from the project brief and construction through to invaluable lessons learnt. Our aim is to share knowledge and best practice, which in turn helps to inform the planning and design of other projects, improving cost-effectiveness and sustainability. 

View the design guides featuring properties throughout England and Wales

View back issues of NT ABC