Tag Archives: environment

IHBC’s first thoughts from the new NPPF: On ‘…what the NPPF means for Conservation in England and what remains unanswered’, with an early push on Planning Resource

image for illustration: Chris CC BY-SA 2.0 vis Wikimedia Commons A recent IHBC online discussion covered the wide-ranging implications for conservation in England’s new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), complement a raised profile as IHBC Chair, David McDonald OBE, fronts … Continue reading →

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IHBC’s 2026 ‘Yearbook’ update No.1 –RTPI President on ‘IHBC & RTPI.. a great example of planning across the divide’

The IHBC’s 2026 Yearbook is our network’s essential sector guide, reference and review for 2026-27, complementing our 2026 Newcastle School, with IHBC updates and a foreword by Jan Bessell FRTPI, 2026 RTPI President, who supports ‘conservation planning’ as ‘… a … Continue reading →

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SocEnv unveils ambitious new Strategy to 2045 – refreshed vision, mission, values and strategic pillars: Recognition, Influence and Growth

The Society for the Environment (SocEnv) has set out its Strategy to 2045 – including our refreshed vision, mission, values and strategic pillars Recognition, Influence and Growth.

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IHBC’s ‘Professional’ CPD Signpost: HE & partners on ‘Industrial Heritage in England – Resilience and Sustainability of Sites’, with 10 recommendations

image for illustration: Archaeologytea, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Commissioned by Historic England (HE) and the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, a 2025 report by Heritage Innovation has been published, focussed on designated industrial heritage sites, with ten recommendations.

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IHBC’s ‘Research’ CPD Signpost: Design Economy – Evidencing the value of the UK’s design sector across nations and regions

New Design Council research tries to answer ‘How can we measure the value design brings to the UK?’, with the UK’s most comprehensive exploration of the value of design: economic, social, and environmental

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ARB transitioning to a new framework for accreditation, to be completed by December 2028

The Architect’s Registration Board (ARB) reports that from December 2028, it will no longer accredit qualifications under its older framework.

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IHBC ‘Members with benefits’ : Invitation to ‘The Historic Buildings, Parks & Gardens Event’, London, 13/11, with Historic Houses, exhibitors, speakers and more

image: Aethonatic, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons IHBC members have received a special invitation to join ‘The Historic Buildings Parks & Gardens Event’ (HBPGE) at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster on 13 November, a free event linked to … Continue reading →

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CITB’s ‘Workforce Mobility & Skills’ research shows that skills strategies must become more localised

Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has released its Workforce Mobility and Skills in the UK Construction Sector 2025 research that shows workers are less willing to travel for employment, highlighting a need to develop localised workforces.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: Breathing new life into sacred spaces, in Rotterdam’s innovative approach to religious heritage

image: Pauluskerk, Rotterdam by AgainErick, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons From historic churches and community storytelling spaces to innovative museum projects and grassroots cultural initiatives, Rotterdam welcomed 20 participants of the European Heritage Hub’s Peer-learning Visit from 18-20 June … Continue reading →

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IHBC HESPR’s ‘News from the Sector’ double up! IHBC calls for member assessors while Building reports on ‘Plymouth – UK Design Capital shortlist’

IHBC’s heritage business register HESPR – our Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition quality assurance scheme for heritage services – emails members weekly ‘News and Tender Alerts’, and this week features IHBC and its call for member assessors and Building on … Continue reading →

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the (development) doorstep’: Industry sets out wish lists for new Prime Minister and Housing Minister

Specification Online summarised an industry list of priorities for Andy Burnham, now the UK Prime Minister.

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MHCLG’s Call for Evidence: ‘Strategy for the built environment professions, trades and occupations’ – Open to 12/08

In December 2025, the government announced that it would publish a new strategy for the built environment professions, trades and occupations in 2027, and a call for evidence by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government  (MHCLG) now seeks … Continue reading →

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: ‘The unlikely return of the back-to-back’ from Building

image for illustration: Niki Walton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons With the viability crunch causing housing numbers to crash, some developers are starting to look for different ways to reimagine projects reports Building.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: £500m retrofit boost for UK universities as Lloyds partners with National Wealth Fund

The National Wealth Fund and Lloyds Banking Group announce major new financing initiative to retrofit universities across the UK.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the (Mayoral) doorstep’: Mayors meet in York on ‘devolution revolution’, from Government UK

Government UK has updated on how Mayors, handed new powers under a landmark Right to Request scheme, are seeing control shifted to local leaders from Westminster. image for illustration: York, DACP, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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IHBC launches survey seeking suggestions for improvements from officers and advisers in local government conservation services across the UK

The IHBC wants to support our local government conservation services by offering some useful suggestions for improvements to governments across the UK, to help both service users and local government conservation officers and advisers and we need your advice, input … Continue reading →

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ITFG publishes new guidance on managing competence in organisations across the built environment

The Industry Task and Finish Group (ITFG) has published its guidance on Managing Competence in the Built Environment, an industry guide on how to meet Industry Competence Committee (ICC) principles etc. ITFG writes: The ITFG is an industry-led, time-limited group … Continue reading →

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Green space, clean air & community lead the wish list for new homes, with surrounding landscape valued above how buildings look: LI

New national polling commissioned by the Landscape Institute (LI) and conducted by Ipsos has found there to be overwhelming public interest in greener, better-connected and better-planned housing developments across the UK.

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IHBC sponsors SAHGB’s ‘Untold Tales: Women Pioneers in British and Irish Architectural History’ with ‘Call for Papers’ to 26 June

image for illustration: St Pancras Station, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons The third symposium in memory of Mark Girouard looks at women’s contributions to architectural history in Britain and Ireland, with sponsors including the IHBC.

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IHBC’s ‘Design’ CPD Signpost: ‘Designing equitable places: responsibility at the design stage’

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has featured a ‘Muslims in Real Estate’ take on how equity and access are best shaped through design decisions, not post-occupancy fixes.

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WMF Call for Nominations: Cultivating Resilience, for ‘… gardens & designed landscapes to adapt to climate change, June 20

image for illustration: Superbloom at the Tower of London, by Mark Percy, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons World Monuments Fund (WMF) is seeking proposals to join ‘Cultivating Resilience’, our signature program strengthening the ability of historic gardens and designed landscapes … Continue reading →

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MPs endorse next Chair of Office for Environmental Protection but insist relations with farmers and environmentalists must improve

The EFRA and Environmental Audit committees have endorsed the Government’s chosen candidate to become the next Chair of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), Dame Helen Ghosh, with qualifications.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: Nature and the City – how Vacaresti Urban Park supports biodiversity in Bucharest

image for illustration: Natural Vacaresti by Mihai Petre, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons In the heart of Bucharest, Vacaresti Nature Park tells a story of transformation, resilience, and renewal, reports Co-operative City Magazine.

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Spotlighting IHBC’s latest (members-only) Council, on local conservation services etc.: Informing a survey to shape Parliamentary advocacy, with IHBC’s Sarah Homer

IHBC’s latest Council received impressively positive feedback, but was very busy, so this NewsBlog post spotlights a paper easily missed in this ‘exploration of conservation services’, our plans for a light-touch survey to shape our response the 3rd of our … Continue reading →

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PASS ON THE WORD: IHBC-member rates on offer to ALL RTPI members for our Virtual Day School, 19/06

IHBC’s 2026 Day School, broadcasting from Newcastle on 19 June, boasts The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) as our School ‘Friend’, offering reduced Virtual School rates to RTPI members as delegates while delegates will hear from former RTPI President Timothy … Continue reading →

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