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The House of Commons Library has published a note summarising recent planning proposals. 

Parliament writes:
Since the Coalition Agreement, major reforms to the planning system have taken place with the introduction of the Localism Act 2011 and the National Planning Policy Framework. Changes have also been made in the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013, aimed at speeding up the planning system.

The Infrastructure Bill 2014-15 is now going through the House of Commons and contains a number of changes to the process of making and modifying development consent orders for nationally significant infrastructure projects. It also proposes a new system for deemed discharge of planning conditions. Further information about all of these provisions is set out in the Library research paper, Infrastructure Bill, RP14/65, 4 December 2014.

Outside of this Bill a number of other announcements on planning reform have also been made, most recently in Budget 2014, the Technical Consultation on Planning July 2014, Consultation: planning and travellers, September 2014, National Infrastructure Plan 2014 and Autumn Statement 2014, December 2014, which together include:

• allowing further changes of use to residential use without requiring planning permission;
• reforming the system of permitted development rights;
• amending the definition of ‘travellers’ for planning purposes;
• proposals to get more brownfield land back into use;
• steps to speed up section 106 negotiations; and
• proposed reform of the compulsory purchase regime.

Most of the proposals would apply to England only.

This note sets out more information about the key planning reform announcements and an overview the proposals. For information about proposals to stimulate housing supply see Library standard note, Stimulating housing supply.

See more and download the report

The third reading of the Self Build and Custom Housebuilding Bill was passed by the House of Commons on the 9 January.

The Bill aims to increase the number of self build and custom build properties, and create a national register which records details showing where people have expressed an interest in land for self build and/or custom built property. 

Full text of the debate

Commons Library Standard Note

£20.6 million funding has been announced as an investment into UK historic parks by HLF

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) writes:
From Brighton to Barnsley, historic public parks awarded Lottery grants for restoration works and new facilities   Seven much-loved public parks are set to be revitalised thanks to new investment by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund.   The historic public parks are receiving grants today totalling £20.6m for important regeneration works, new community facilities and a range of activities that will generate income and involve volunteers.

This Lottery investment in parks comes six months after the publication of HLF’s report State of UK Public Parks 2014: Renaissance to Risk which revealed that the UK’s public parks are at serious risk of decline unless innovative ways of funding and maintaining them are found.

Carole Souter, Chief Executive of HLF, said on behalf of HLF and the Big Lottery Fund:  ‘Since our report was published, it’s become even clearer that parks are facing an uncertain future, in spite of being more popular than ever. Today’s investment will not only help to regenerate these historic parks, ensuring local people have access to high quality green spaces, but it also brings to life several exciting plans that will see parks used for training, events and activities.’

Currently unused structures including walled gardens, gardener’s cottages and historic halls and houses will be repaired and used as volunteer and training centres, event spaces and community facilities.   The parks funded are also partnering with schools and colleges, ensuring that the local community can learn a range of horticulture and other skills, enabling them to get involved in the restoration and future management and maintenance of their parks. Several apprenticeships will also be offered.

Minister for Communities Stephen Williams said: ‘Parks provide much needed green space for physical activity as well as a nice spot to relax and while away a free moment.  But equally, as these projects demonstrate, parks and the buildings contained within them can also be active centres for the local community, providing training for young people and encourage volunteering.  This significant new funding to revive their original character, to repair sports facilities and restore much-loved listed buildings will help ensure that these parks work for local communities for generations to come.’

Community sports facilities, including those previously used by Olympic champions but currently in a poor state, will be restored for both informal and organised sports.

Helen Grant, Minister for Tourism, said: ‘I am thrilled that several of our historic public parks will be rejuvenated thanks to the investment of £20.6m by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund.   This investment will encourage volunteering and help bring communities together. Around 34 million people make regular visits to our parks. With improved facilities, I am sure many more will be drawn to our great outdoor spaces.’

• Stanmer Park, Brighton- Set inside the South Downs National Park, the Grade II listed Stanmer Park was designed in the 18th century as the setting for Stanmer House, church and estate village. Now the largest public park in Brighton and Hove, it is used by 500,000 people annually. As part of a wider plan to rejuvenate the whole of this large estate, a grant of over £4m will restore historic features, improve the visitor facilities and encourage more local people to use the park. The use of the Walled Garden and greenhouses will be extended from a council run retail nursery to include a training centre with Plumpton College to run horticultural courses. Students and volunteers will help deliver some of the restoration work and a Friends’ Group will be re-established.
• The Canons, South London- Dating back to the 12th century, The Canons were originally created as the grounds of an estate administered by the clerics of St Mary Overie of Southwark. The park is now in a Conservation Area in Mitcham, South London and includes three listed buildings. A grant of nearly £4m will restore the house and grounds and fund a host of cultural and educational activities. Canons House and Madeira Hall will be restored to host events, community facilities and sports and a café will be built to link the two. The cinder running track where Dorothy Tyler (silver medallist at the 1936 Berlin Olympics) trained will be repaired for informal use by joggers and young cyclists learning to ride. A sensory garden, new wildlife pond and natural play area will be created and the park will also host food production, composting and rainwater harvesting.
• Cannon Hall Park and Gardens, Barnsley- Cannon Hall Park and Gardens is a popular country park to the west of Barnsley. Significantly remodelled in the Georgian period, the park features a traditional orchard, walled garden and a series of lakes including a ‘fairyland’ area designed by the previous owners of the hall. A grant of £2.8m will restore and repair important features including an ice-house and deer shelter. The lakes, subject of a long running local campaign, will be dredged and restored and a gardeners’ cottage will be turned into a volunteers’ hub. Apprenticeships will be offered in association with local colleges.

The seven parks receiving Lottery funding today are:

HLF/Big Lottery Fund joint grants in England:

Confirmed grants

• Houghton Hall Park, Bedfordshire – £2,196,600
• Highfields Park, Nottingham- £3,240,500

Earmarked funding

• Stanmer Park, Brighton -£4,077,800
• Cannon Hall Park and Gardens, Barnsley -£2,834,000
• The Canons, Mitcham, South London – £3,981,500
• Poole Park, Dorset -£2,970,200

HLF only funded grants

• Bishop’s Park, Carmarthenshire- £1,264,800

News release 

IHBC newsblogs on funding

IHBC newsblogs on parks and gardens 

More awards and opportunities at IHBC Awards etc

IHBC members with an interest in property research, archives and genealogy will welcome a new Ministry of Justice initiative which makes millions of wills available online for the first time, as well as the turn of the year making new archival information available at National Libraries and online.

The following archives have been made available:

• Online searchable wills (via MoJ)
• Births in 1914, marriages in 1939 and deaths in 1964 from the National Records of Scotland
• Cabinet office records from 1984
• School records from 1870 – 1914 revealing the effects of wartime
• Public Records Office Northern Ireland (PRONI) records from 1986 in Northern Ireland (including Belfast City Centre redevelopment plans)
• National Archives of Ireland annual additions information

IHBC newsblogs on archives

Liverpool’s non-designated Welsh Streets have been saved from destruction thanks to a strong decision from the Secretary of State following a three-week public inquiry last summer as Communities Secretary Eric Pickles says leaving Ringo Starr’s birthplace in a stub of street is not enough, while the city’s Mayor considers the decision ‘dishonourable and completely perverse’!

The Secretary of State supported SAVE’s heritage arguments by agreeing ‘with SAVE… that the Welsh Streets are of considerable significance as non-designated heritage assets of historic, architectural, cultural and social interest.’

Also, SAVE notes, contrary to Liverpool Council’s arguments that the Welsh Streets have little or no heritage value, the Secretary of State considered ‘that the surviving built and cultural heritage in the Welsh Streets is of considerable significance… and that the proposal would have a harmful effect on the significance of the Welsh Streets as a non-designated heritage asset.’

At the same time the Mayor of Liverpool has called the decision of Eric Pickles to turn down the proposed regeneration of the Welsh Streets as ‘unacceptable, dishonourable and completely perverse’. 

SAVE writes
In his decision letter the Secretary of State strongly supports SAVE’s arguments, and does not accept the conclusions of the Inspector Christine Thorby who recommended permission for the planning application which proposed to demolish 400 of the 440 terraced houses on the site, bringing only 40 back into use.

Crucially, the Secretary of State calls for market testing and other options for refurbishment stating that demolition should be a last resort.

He writes: ‘Overall… the Secretary of State is not persuaded that the scale of demolition proposed in this case – has been demonstrated to be necessary and that sufficient forms of market testing and options involving more refurbishment have been exhausted. Consequently… he concludes that the proposal does conflict with the policy set out in the May 2013 Written Ministerial Statement to take forward George Clarke’s best practice recommendations on empty homes.’

The Public Inquiry took place last summer. SAVE was the sole Rule 6 party, and our team of witnesses was led by Barrister James Potts of 39 Essex Street. The grounds for the call in were: good design, conserving and enhancing the historic environment, empty homes, other matters including whether the scheme creates a healthy inclusive community, challenge of climate change, wider planning framework for both matters, and planning balance i.e. whether this is consistent with national and local policy.

The Site
The Welsh Streets consist of a grid-plan of streets built in the 1870s as bye-law housing very close to Grade II* Princes Park. The estate layout and the terraced houses were designed by the Welsh-born architect Richard Owens and constructed by Welsh builders. They were intended to house Welsh families, among others, seeking work in the growing economy of Liverpool. Most of the streets were given Welsh names.

Until 2007 the majority of the site was still inhabited, with high levels of resident satisfaction and the properties in good condition. Since then most of the site has been emptied of its inhabitants.

In 2011, SAVE purchased 21 Madryn Street, a few doors from Ringo Starr’s birthplace at Number 9, and helped a local couple bring it back into happy occupation for an initial £3,000.

SAVE bought 21 Madryn Street to prove demand and to show just how easily and cheaply these homes can be reoccupied, preventing devaluation.

The Application
The planning application was for the demolition of 400 properties with 40 retained; 16 on Madryn Street, 18 on Kelvin Grove and 6 on High Park Street. For part of the area, Phase A, there were detailed proposals for new residential development, mainly semi-detached or short terraces of two-storey houses, partly using the existing street plan but also removing Rhiwlas Street and inserting a new wide ‘green street’ cutting across the existing layout from Voelas Street to Kinmel Street. For the other part of the area, Phase B, between Kinmel Street and Admiral Street, comprehensive demolition was proposed and there are outline proposals for 70 new residential units, removing Gwydir Street and Treborth Street from the street plan. Residents in this area were told that they would be rehoused in the new houses on the site: however it came to light during the inquiry that this was not the case.

The SAVE Team
SAVE had a great team including forming planning and design officer Alec Forshaw, architect Trevor Skempton, former Director of Empty Homes charity David Ireland, structural engineer Ed Morton, local Beatles historian Dave Bedford, estate agent Paul Sutton, and architectural historian Gareth Carr. We also had support from the National Trust and Professor of Architecture at Liverpool University Dr Neil Jackson, and local Beatles historian Phil Coppell. Fiona Deaton of Maisna Heritage put together an illuminating Heritage Statement about the architectural and cultural significance of the area.

Our case contained new evidence about the architect of the buildings, Richard Owens, the subject of a recent PhD thesis by our witness Gareth Carr. Thanks to his research it was established that the houses were 20 years older than was originally thought and were part of a larger estate by Owens, one of several he laid out for Liverpool at this time of great expansion for the city. Carr argued that the Welsh Streets and Owen are pivotal to the understanding and the development of the terraced house nationally and even internationally, not just in Liverpool.

The Decision from the Secretary of State 16th January 2015
Almost all of SAVE’s arguments were supported by the strongly worded decision letter from the Secretary of State.

Planning Framework (NPPF):
The Secretary of State writes that the ‘Scheme does conflict with the Government position as set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 10 May 2013 and the acceptance of the recommendations in George Clark’s Empty Homes Review which makes clear that refurbishment and upgrading of existing homes should be the first and preferred option and that demolition of existing homes should be the last option after all forms of market testing and options for refurbishment are exhausted.’

Heritage Significance:
The Secretary of State supported SAVE’s heritage arguments.

‘The Secretary of State agrees with SAVE (IR 59) that the Welsh Streets are of considerable significance as non-designated heritage assets of historic, architectural, cultural and social interest.’

Contrary to Liverpool Council’s arguments that the Welsh Streets have little or no heritage value, the Secretary of State considers, ‘that the surviving built and cultural heritage in the Welsh Streets is of considerable significance for the above reasons and that the proposal would have a harmful effect on the significance of the Welsh Streets as a non-designated heritage asset.’

‘The Inspector considers that there would be a change in the nature of the immediate setting from which would arise some small, less than substantial harm [IR 98]. The Secretary of State considers that the Inspector’s assessment of this harm as small underplays the degree of harm to the setting of those listing buildings that would arise from the end of the harmonious relationship that SAVE identifies (paragraph 150 Annex D to the IR) and the impact of the new housing facing onto South Street. The Inspector acknowledges that the setting of the listed buildings would not be preserved (IR 245) and the Secretary of State attaches considerable importance and weight to this.’

Design:
‘The Secretary of State notes the efforts to achieve a degree of continuity with the existing heritage and townscape (paragraph 218 Annex D to the IR), but he does not agree that the design would fit in well with the character of the area (paragraph 219 Annex D to the IR). Rather, he agrees with SAVE that the design of the proposal is poor and fails to respond to local character, history and distinctiveness.’

‘Though the proposals retain some of the existing street names and the geographical location and orientation of those streets, the Secretary of State considers that in other respects the existing character of the Welsh Streets would effectively be lost. Existing density would be halved and the Secretary of State agrees with SAVE that the proposed scheme takes a suburban approach given the space surrounding buildings and the focus on the private plot rather than the collective street.’

‘The Secretary of State also agrees that the loss of mature street trees would be a significant loss in design and sustainability terms, and that they should be retained and managed appropriately.’

‘The Secretary of State notes that new build houses themselves will not be much larger than the existing terraces in terms of internal floor space. He agrees with SAVE that the new Green Street would be an inefficient use of space, as there is no shortage of public open space in the area’

Social well-being:
However, the Secretary of State considers that the proposals have to be considered in light of the Government’s position as set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 10 May 2013 and the acceptance of the recommendations in George Clark’s Empty Homes Review which makes clear that refurbishment and upgrading of existing homes should be the first and preferred option and that demolition of existing homes should be the last option after all forms of market testing and options for refurbishment are exhausted.

The Beatles and Tourism:
In regards to Ringo Starr and saving the integrity of birthplace and area where he grew up, the Secretary of State agreed with SAVE that it would be detrimental to demolish most of the street where Ringo Starr was born and grew up.

‘The Council state, at IR 78, that No 9 Madryn Street (birthplace of Ringo Starr) has been saved in the interests of its cultural significance, along with part of Madryn Street. The Secretary of State notes that only a stub of this terrace would be saved. The Secretary of State agrees with SAVE that the demolition of much of Madryn Street would significantly harm the ability to understand and appreciate this part of Liverpool’s Beatles heritage which he considers to be of importance to the City. Although there are other surviving terraced streets in the area where visitors could go and see a similar environment to the one where Ringo Starr was born, the Secretary of State places importance on the actual street where he was born and he agrees with SAVE that the proposal would be short sighted as regards the future tourism potential of Madryn Street.’

‘The Secretary of State agrees with SAVE that the Order scheme proposal would be short sighted as regards the future tourism potential of Madryn Street.’

Conclusion from the Secretary of State:
‘The Secretary of State considers that the potential viability of the scheme has been demonstrated but he is not satisfied that the purpose for which the Council is proposing to acquire the Order lands could not be achieved by alternative means.’

‘The Secretary of State has concluded that there is not a compelling case in the public interest to justify sufficiently the interference with the human rights of those with an interest in the land affected.’ 

Clem Cecil, SAVE Director, says: ‘We salute the Secretary of State’s decision. We have been arguing for the heritage value of these terraced streets for many years and we are delighted that this has now been officially acknowledged at the highest level. We heartily concur with the need to place these houses on the open market to allow buyers to come forward. It is vital now to break the deadlock that has led to these houses and the area deteriorate over so many years. Many inspiring projects are bringing empty homes back into use in Liverpool today, these streets can be next. We hope that this decision will bring a final end to demolition on this scale that was the hallmark of Pathfinder.’

Marcus Binney, SAVE President, says: ‘This is a triple triumph. First for saving the Streets where Ringo grew up. Second for recognising that these empty homes can be just as spacious and far outnumber the proposed replacements, and third for recognising the Welsh streets have value as a model neighbourhood laid out by one of Liverpool’s most significant builders. Our appeal to Liverpool Council is simple: Let people live in these houses again. We have bought one house and made it a pleasant home. Now the others must follow.’

Mayor of Liverpool’s comments

SAVE press release

The future of local authority services are under threat – with many councils reducing statutory services due to austerity measures – warns a new report published by the TUC and the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES).

The report, entitled ‘Austerity Uncovered’ reveals that the Government is only halfway through its austerity programme.

LocalGov writes:
It also claims that by 2015-16 council funding will be cut by 37%, with the total funding gap expected to increase by £2.1bn per year until 2019-20.

The report highlights the impact cuts have had on services, with English councils cutting the amount put aside for means-tested social care by 12% since 2010.

The majority of councils (87%) also now only provide adult social care in cases of ‘substantial’ or ‘critical’ need, with the number of younger people with disabilities receiving social care falling by 17% since 2008-09.

The research also shows the between 2010 and 2013, spending on children’s centres fell by 28%, leading to 580 centres closing.

TUC general secretary, Frances O’Grady, said: ‘This government is taking a sledgehammer to public services and local government.

‘Adult social care is in crisis and children’s services are under increasing attack. With cuts on this scale it will be impossible to protect local services. The tragedy is that the cuts have been disproportionate – those local authorities with the greatest need have been the worst hit.’

The report calls for a more needs-based approach to funding settlements, with further devolution of resources and decision-making powers to councils. It also recommends a long-term plan for increasing funding for adult social care, a high-level commitment to reducing inequalities, and more collaboration with public service unions and community groups.

See the report

UK Local Gov article 

The owner of a Grade II (GII) listed building in historic Hampstead Garden Suburb who repeatedly ignored council officers’ advice while carrying out building work has been fined £45,000 by magistrates.

Barnet London Borough writes:
Maurice Lawee, of 1 Wildwood Road, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, pleaded guilty to four offences of carrying out unauthorised work to a listed building at Willesden Magistrates’ on 13 January in a prosecution brought by Barnet Council.

The court heard that Mr Lawee bought his house near the Hampstead Heath Extension in 2008 for £3.7m within the historic Hampstead Garden Suburb Conservation area. The house was built in 1912 by Arts and Crafts architect George Lister Sutcliffe and listed in November 1996.

In 2010 Mr Lawee was granted listed building consent for an extension to his basement with the installation of a lift and conversion of a garage.

However, complaints were received by the Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust that Mr Lawee was carrying out unauthorised work beyond that granted consent on his property.

Conservation officers from Re* visited the site and ordered work to stop. But despite repeated assurances by Mr Lawee and his architect that work would stop, further site visits showed they had carried on regardless.

Due to the extent of the unconsented works carried out to the listed building, Barnet Council decided to prosecute Mr Lawee in one of the first cases of its kind undertaken by the authority.

Among the unapproved works carried out by Mr Lawee were; building two large conservatories at the back of the house; completely altering the house’s internal layout, including removing internal walls, knocking out chimney breasts, alcoves, the original staircase, doors and architraves; incorporating outside utility buildings into the main structure of the house; and causing significant harm to the distinctive ‘Flemish bond’ brickwork.

Mr Lawee was fined a total of £45,000 for the four offences and ordered to pay the council’s costs of £14,000. It is the third highest fine to be issued in a Magistrates court for this particular type of offence.

The solicitor from Barnet Council’s shared legal practice, HB Public Law, who presented case, said: ‘Despite officers giving repeated warnings that work must stop and on occasions, promises being made for this to happen, works continued regardless stripping out much of the interior of the house, changing the proportions and the spaces, partially demolishing the outhouses and building.

‘Irreversable damage has been caused to the brickwork and outhouse and original features appear to have been destroyed or removed from the building.’

Mr Lawee has since applied for retrospective consent for the works, some of which have been granted and others refused.

Leader of Barnet Council, Councillor Richard Cornelius, said: ‘Mr Lawee showed a blatant disregard for the fact he was living in a conservation area in a Grade II listed building when he decided to alter his house in the way he chose fit. Planning laws are there for a reason and the high level of fine reflects the seriousness of this breach.’

David Davidson, Architectural Adviser for the Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust, said: ‘The Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust is very pleased that the Court has taken these offenses seriously and imposed such a substantial fine on the building owner.

‘The Suburb is an area of international significance in the history of town planning and architecture, and alterations to its buildings need to be carefully considered in order to retain its special characteristics. Mr Lawee chose to ignore the planning regulations which exist to protect Listed Buildings from damaging alterations.

‘The London Borough of Barnet has rightly pursued this offence with due persistence. The result will hopefully deter other owners of Listed Buildings from similar actions and ensure that they get the necessary approvals before carrying out works of alteration.’

Hampstead Garden Suburb was founded in 1907 by Dame Henrietta Barnett. It is internationally recognised as one of the finest examples of early twentieth century domestic architecture and town planning, and home to approximately 13,000 people.

* Re is a joint venture between London Borough of Barnet and Capita plc. It provides development and regulatory services to residents in Barnet and the South East. The company formed in October 2013. 

Press release 

A £500m energy-from-waste project earmarked by Urbaser Balfour Beatty for land at Javelin Park near Haresfield, Gloucestershire, has been approved by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles after a recovered appeal.

His decision was in line with the recommendation of the planning inspector who considered the case.

The county council’s planning committee had refused the scheme against the advice of officers and even though the council had decided in principle to enter into a contract with the consortium to deal with the county’s waste.

Opponents had highlighted the visual impact of the facility at a location close to the edge of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

However, the minister concluded that the project, which would generate over 17 megawatts of power as well as heat, had substantial public benefits which were not outweighed by ‘less than substantial harm to the settings and significance o the two heritage assets [in the vicinity] ‘.

Download the decision letter

Search Planning Portal

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has dismissed an appeal that would have allowed up to 35 homes to be built near the village of Malpas in Cheshire, in an area for which a neighbourhood plan proposal had been submitted to Cheshire West & Chester Council, for reasons that include ‘the significant harm to landscape character, significant adverse visual impact and slight adverse harm to heritage assets.’

The planning authority had refused outline permission for the scheme. Its emerging local plan demonstrated a five-year supply of housing sites including significant activity around Malpas.

Dismissing the recovered appeal as recommended by the inspector, the Secretary of State concluded ‘the benefits of this particular scheme in terms of new housing, including affordable housing, and associated economic benefits are insufficient to outweigh the significant harm to landscape character, significant adverse visual impact and slight adverse harm to heritage assets’.

Download the decision letter

Search Planning Portal

Councils are spending up to £5bn to rehire staff they have previously made redundant, a new investigation has revealed.

LocalGov writes:
The Freedom of Information request, carried out by The Times, discovered many staff who had received large pay-offs were returning as interims or consultants, earning up to £1,000 a day.

The figures also show that five councils spent more than £100m on agency and consultancy workers since 2010-11.

Birmingham City Council topped the list compiled by The Times, spending £155m since 2010-11. topped the list. Essex County Council spent £133.5m, followed by Kent County Council who spent £127m.

Birmingham City Council hit back at the link between its spending on agency staff and the number of people re-hired following redundantcy. It said no staff who earnt more than £70,000 had been re-hired by the council in the past 12 months.

A council spokesperson said: ‘We use agency staff for short term periods where there is insufficient capacity or expertise within the council’s own workforce. This can be for a range of reasons including specialist one-off technical projects or to ensure that vital front-line services such as social care, can continue to be delivered to citizens, during spells of sickness.

‘Such staff can also be used when services are being remodelled and in an interim state – which has been increasingly the case since central government cuts began having an impact on the council.’

UK Local Gov article

The Wales Office has issued advice for church properties in Wales, urging them to apply for the Listed Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund which closes on 30 January.

The Wales Office writes:
These grants will help ensure that these historic buildings can remain open for commemoration, services and other community functions and events. There is only one opportunity to apply and the closing date for applications is on Friday 30 January 2015.

These grants have been made possible through the UK government funded Listed Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund. It was set up by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Autumn Statement and administered by the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF).

Grants are available from £10,000 to £100,000 to help meet the costs of urgent repairs to roofs, such as coverings and ceilings. It can also be used to improve rainwater disposal systems such as gutters, gullies, drains.

Wales Office Minister Baroness Randerson said: ‘During winter months, the harsh weather can have a devastating impact on our historical buildings such as places of worship.  These buildings represent the culture and history of our nation and are at the heart of communities across Wales.

I hope that places of worship across Wales seize this one off opportunity’

more details… 

Apply for funding through the scheme

IHBC newsblogs on funding

More awards and opportunities at IHBC Awards etc

A new Research and development fund aiming to ‘maximise the long-term economic, societal and environmental contribution of buildings, by improving their whole-life performance’ has been launched, officially opening in February with a deadline for applications of 1 April. 

Innovate UK writes:
Innovate UK is investing up to £4 million in collaborative R&D projects that can lead to better whole-life performance of buildings.

The aim is to maximise the long-term contribution of buildings to the economy, society and the environment. This is in line with Construction 2025, the joint strategy by government and industry for the future of UK construction.

If you are working in construction or any other sector your business could win grant funding to develop products, processes and services through this competition. Proposals must be collaborative and led by a business. We expect total project costs to range from £150,000 to £800,000.

This is a two-stage competition that opens for applicants on 23 February 2015. The deadline for registration is at noon on 1 April 2015.

There will be a briefing for potential applicants during the Resource event at ExCel, London, on 4 March 2015.

This competition is co-funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Innovate UK news release 

More information about the funds and how to apply 

Information on the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council http://www.epsrc.ac.uk

IHBC newsblogs on funding 

IHBC newsblogs on construction 

More awards and opportunities at IHBC Awards etc

New research has been published into customers’ experience of having a Green Deal assessment, examining the accuracy and potential variability in the Green Deal assessment of properties by different assessors. 

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) writes:
The DECC commissioned ICF International to carry out research to determine whether there is variation in the conduct of Green Deal assessments, to identify the possible sources of such variations and examine the implications of variations on assessment outputs.

This study forms part of the evaluation of the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) programme.

The study entailed a mystery shopping research exercise in which 48 recruited mystery shoppers booked and had multiple Green Deal assessments and their experiences analysed. The study team also examined variations in the inputs and outputs leading to recommendations of these assessments for 29 of the properties to identify the possible sources of such variations.

The research was conducted between February and April 2014. 

See the research

EH are seeking your help with an evaluation of the heritage counts 2014 reports, with a short anonymous survey with a deadline of 30 January.

Take the survey

IHBC newsblogs on heritage counts

The RIBA are seeking your help with mapping issues relating to design quality and performance, with a closing date for this round of research of 31 January.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) writes:
By collating and disseminating case studies about excellent buildings and places the RIBA will create an important resource for architects and other built environment professionals, as well as for clients.

We are keen to hear about projects with proven design quality and performance, especially, but not limited to, offices, schools and housing. The public database of case studies will be hosted on www.architecture.com, but we are also happy to receive confidential case studies

If you can help RIBA with information which is relevant to this field, contact research@riba.org with the subject ‘Design quality and performance call for evidence’.

Find out more about the call for evidence and topics at architecture.com

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has announced a series of measures which are designed to simplify the process for setting up a new town or parish council, with the aim of allowing local people to have a greater say over their community affairs.

DCLG writes:
Communities Minister Stephen Williams today (8 January 2015) set out new measures that will remove the bureaucratic burdens faced by community groups wanting to set up a town or parish council and give local people a greater say over what goes on in their neighbourhood.

Town and parish councils allow communities to take control of local assets, deliver local services and influence decision-making and priorities. The government wants the experience of creating a town and parish council to become easier for those local communities that believe they would benefit from them.  Over the last 3 years, the government has engaged interested parties both informally and through formal public consultation. The feedback gathered finds that the existing legislation can be burdensome and often discourages local campaigners.  To help cut this unnecessary bureaucracy the government has formulated 3 new measures that will cut red tape, improve the legislative process and help town and parish councils to play a stronger role in the delivery of local services.  These are:

• lowering the threshold of signatures required to trigger a review of governance from 10% to 7.5 % of residents
• speeding up the process and creating greater certainty for local campaigners by shortening the amount of time the local authority can take to complete a governance review to 12 months from receipt of a valid petition
• allowing neighbourhood forums to trigger a community governance review for a new parish council without requiring them to submit a petition

Communities Minister Stephen Williams said: ‘We want more people to have the opportunity to take control and have a greater say over what goes on in their neighbourhood.  Parish and town councils have a crucial role to play, having both a democratically accountable voice and a structure for taking community action.  However, the current obligations can stifle local campaigns and constrain local democracy.  That is why we are changing the rules and helping campaigners by making it much easier to set them up so they can get on and start making a difference for their local communities.’

Cllr Ken Browse, chairman of NALC (National Association of Local Councils), said: Local (parish and town) councils are popular with people and can really make a difference, and for too long communities have battled with burdensome bureaucracy to get them created. The proposals to remove red tape, simplify and streamline the current process is a common sense move.  We welcome the continued impetus on the creation of more new local councils to deliver services to local communities and give them a voice.

The government’s measures are a step in the right direction to help people and communities create these most local of democratically accountable councils. Now communities can get on with delivering grassroots level services and representation by taking local action.  Today the government published its response to the consultation on a proposal to use a legislative reform order for making it easier to set up a town and parish council.

The legislative reform order has been laid in parliament and we expect that these new rights will come into force within the next 12 months.  The government is committed to empowering local governance as close as possible to local to communities.  The Localism Act 2011 gives parish councils a range of powers to help address the problems they want to address and many are now taking control and having a greater say over what goes where in the neighbourhood.  There is huge potential for more parishes to make use of community rights and from our survey of parishes over the summer, it was clear that there have been significant increases on last year in the numbers engaged in neighbourhood planning, taking control of much-loved local assets and taking on services from local authorities.

News release and links to the relevant legislation 

IHBC newsblogs on localism

Proposals to build 470 homes on a First World War airfield in Wiltshire have been put on show to the public.

Planning Portal writes:
Old Sarum Airfield, one of three in England that has been in continuous use as a grass flying field since construction in the First World War, is the only one currently in civilian use and open to the public.

The site, north east of the city of Salisbury, is a conservation area and the airfield has three of the four original hangars still standing, all of which are Grade II* listed.

The owners claim the proposals, called Sarum Landings, are designed to create a sustainable future for the airfield and finance new aviation facilities.

Search Planning Portal 

An appeal against the refusal of two wind turbines at Norham in Northumberland has been dismissed by the Inspector, citing harm to the setting of the Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) of Duddo stone circle as part of the reason for refusal.

Points of particular note highlighted within the decision notice posted by the EH Legal Twitter account include:

• The proposed turbines, although of a modest scale would nevertheless be a stand out feature when seen from the SAM (para 11)
• The proposal would cause harm to the significance of a heritage asset of considerable importance by introducing an incongruous development within its setting (para 19)

Full decision notice and original Twitter post

For information on a further three onshore turbine proposals refused this week, search Planning Portal

A new guide has been published by DCLG setting out the expected responsibilities of the developer and the utilities provider at project scoping, planning permission, implementation and post implementation stages. 

Download the guide

IHBC newsblogs on housing

A new research and development fund aiming to encourage collaboration among those in the building supply chain has been launched, officially opening in February with a deadline for registration of applications set for midday on 15 April.

Innovate UK writes:
Lack of integration in the construction industry supply chain is leading to lost innovation opportunities. If your business has ideas that will encourage the creation of more integrated, collaborative supply chains in the construction industry, you could win a share of £2 million.

Innovate UK is to invest the funding to explore new ways of:

• increasing collaboration in the construction industry supply chain
• improving the flow of information throughout the construction industry supply chain

If you’re working in construction or any other industry sector your business can apply for this funding. These feasibility studies must be business-led and projects are open to companies of any size working in collaboration.

If successful:

• small businesses could receive up to 70% of their eligible project costs
• medium-sized businesses could receive up to 60% of their eligible project costs
• large businesses could receive up to 50% of their eligible project costs

We expect projects to last 6 to 12 months with total costs ranging from £50,000 to £150,000.

Press release

More information how to apply

IHBC newsblogs on funding

IHBC newsblogs on construction

More awards and opportunities on IHBC Awards etc pages

DCLG has launched a new consultation into starter home initiatives, including gathering views on the planning policies affecting these developments for first time buyers (deadline for responses 9 February): 

Questions 1 to 5 will be of particular interest to IHBC members with an interest in housing policy:

• Q1:Do you agree in principle with the idea of a new national Starter Homes exception site planning policy to deliver more new low cost homes for first time buyers?
• Q2: Do you agree that the Starter Homes exception site policy should focus solely on commercial and industrial brownfield land which has not been identified for housing?
• Q3: Do you agree that the types of land most suitable for starter homes will be under-utilised or non-viable sites currently (or formerly) in commercial or industrial use?
• Q4: Do you consider it necessary to avoid Starter Homes developments in isolated locations, or where there would be conflicts with key protections in the National Planning Policy Framework?
• Q5: Do you agree that the Starter Homes exception site policy should allow at the planning authority’s discretion a small proportion of market homes to be included when they are necessary for the financial viability of the Starter Homes site?

Consultation document

IHBC newsblogs on housing 

Arts Council England are currently seeking a new panel chair (who may come from the heritage field) for their designation panel.

Arts Council England writes:
Arts Council England is looking to appoint an experienced Chair to the Designation Panel. The Designation Panel is appointed by Arts Council England and makes independent decisions on its behalf. The Panel is made up of respected members in the fields of arts, heritage, academia and related fields. It meets twice a year to consider applications for Designated status.

The Designation Scheme identifies the pre-eminent collections of national and international importance held in England’s non-national museums, libraries and archives, based on their quality and significance. These inspiring collections represent a vital part of our national cultural and artistic heritage.

The scheme was launched in 1997 and now recognises 140 collections held in museums, libraries and archives, it recognises that organisations with Designated collections care for a significant part of England’s cultural heritage and sets out to raise standards across the sector.

About the designation panel and Download an application pack

EH have published a series of free reports available for downloading from their website, charting the history of the national heritage collection and the history of the conservation movement and heritage protection. 

EH writes:
This is the most in-depth research into the history of the collection ever undertaken. It tells the story of how the British state accumulated more than 400 historic buildings and sites in England, to be repaired, protected and opened to the public. These are now cared for by English Heritage. Among them are some of our most important prehistoric monuments, Roman sites, medieval castles and abbeys, and Georgian country houses. The reports cover a 100 year period from the beginning of the collection in 1882 through to the formation of English Heritage in 1983. They tell us more about the rich, and often unusual, history the sites enjoy. From the keeper of Richborough Roman Fort being paid in animal feed to the gun platform at Yarmouth Castle on the Isle of Wight being used as a venue for tea parties.

In the late 19th century hundreds of historically important buildings and archaeological sites stood in ruins, half-buried and overgrown with ivy. While some people enjoyed their picturesque beauty, these monuments were slowly being destroyed by vandalism and natural decay. Britain had no national laws to enforce the preservation of historic places and many were sadly lost. The earthen mounds of prehistoric barrows were used as fertilizer to spread upon fields, stone circles were broken up to serve as gate posts or road surfaces, and medieval castles were dismantled to build houses. In 1882 the passing of an Ancient Monuments Act, gave the government the first powers to maintain and protect important prehistoric monuments through a process called ‘guardianship’. This saw the beginnings of a National Heritage Collection, which would eventually amount to 420 sites in England. It was effectively an outdoor museum of national history, ranging from sites such as Stonehenge in Wiltshire, to Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire and Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland.

The new research published by English Heritage will be of interest to anyone who would like to know more about the National Heritage Collection, as well as to students, academics and heritage professionals studying the history of the conservation movement and heritage protection.

EH Reports overview  and Download each volume