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- Booking opens for IHBC’s 2026 Annual Day School, #IHBCNewcastle2026, in person & online, June 19: Accessible & Certified CPD on ‘Adaptive Reuse’ – From £35+VAT 27/02/2026
- IHBC SE Branch Day School + AGM – ‘Concrete and candyfloss: Seaside structures of the 20th century’, De La Warr Pavilion, 13/03 27/02/2026
- IHBC’s ‘Research’ Signpost: Unlock Access to RICHeS Research Infrastructure with Full Access Fund Call now Open with ‘Help’ webinar on 11/03 27/02/2026
- Looking back to IHBC’s Council on ‘Heritage Skills in Conservation’, and ahead to our new ‘response-led’ DRAFT Minutes, for review and feedback 27/02/2026
- IHBC Director’s pick from HESPR’s £77K of weekly works: Authority seeks design team for a new development, to 22/03 27/02/2026
- IHBC’s ‘Evaluation’ Signpost: HE introduces the Monumental Works of Giles Gilbert Scott 27/02/2026
- DCMS Honours Team on New Year 2027 (NY27) ‘Invitation to nominate’, information sessions and nomination form (to 31/03) 27/02/2026
- RTPI asks: Can England still build its utopian vision of a ‘new town’? 27/02/2026
- New design guidance to raise the bar for new build developments 27/02/2026
- RICS modernises CPD framework and launches new member app 27/02/2026
- UK Research and Innovation launches creative industries strategy 27/02/2026
- ARB’s five-year strategy to strengthen safety, competence and culture in architecture 27/02/2026
- Pride in Place: 40 neighbourhoods join transformational programme 27/02/2026
- IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: Launch of ICOMOS Report on the Implementation of the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 27/02/2026
- IHBC welcomes the chance to ‘Unlock Access’ to RICHeS Research Infrastructure with ‘Full Access Fund Call’ open to 8 April, with ‘Help’ webinar on 11/03 24/02/2026
- IHBC’s Director joins RICHeS Programme Board: ‘Honoured, of course, but mostly I’m impressed by the £80M of research opportunities for historic and built environment conservation’ 24/02/2026
- IHBC MARSH Awards: Nominate to celebrate ‘Successful Learning…’ AND/OR ‘Community Contribution…’ (Ret IHBC) – with our easy-fill form open to 31/03 24/02/2026
- Booking opens for IHBC’s 2026 School, #IHBCNewcastle2026, June 18-20 (Full School only): Accessible, Certified CPD on ‘Adaptive Reuse’ – From £35+VAT (Online Day School), free pre-conference webinars and more… 24/02/2026
- IHBC’s ‘Professional’ Signpost: BEFS & Dr Scott McGibbon on ‘Skills as Strategic Infrastructure – Building Scotland’s Workforce for Net Zero’ 24/02/2026
- IHBC HESPR’s ‘Double-up Sector News’: DB on ‘Ireland’s National Residential Retrofit Plan’ & IHBC on ‘Sponsorship opportunities for #IHBCNewcastle2026 24/02/2026
- IHBC features ‘Heritage from the (SPAB) doorstep’: Henry rekindles Hot Iron Blacksmithing at Chiddingfold Forge 24/02/2026
- IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Preferred developer and development proposal for Egyptian Halls in Glasgow approved 24/02/2026
- England’s cultural infrastructure: repair, maintenance and renewal reports from Purcell show £2 billion of unfunded repair and maintenance (R&M) 24/02/2026
- Icon launches new Early Career Membership category 24/02/2026
- Why City & Guilds says ‘Apprenticeships could be the only way out of the UK’s Housing Shortage’ 24/02/2026
Tag Archives: policy
IHBC ‘Management’ Signpost: Turley on ‘Grey Belt – What have we learned’
The introduction of ‘grey belt’ has been one of the most debated changes made to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in December 2024 while an article from Turley consultants considers what has been learned from its first year in … Continue reading
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged government, Green Belt, housing, NPPF, planning, policy
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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Westminster Council launches ‘Retrofit First’ policy & more in City Plan Partial Review
Westminster City Council has published its ‘City Plan Partial Review’, setting out strengthened planning policies on retrofitting, affordable housing, with a new Retrofit First policy, requiring developers to explore options for retrofitting etc. before seeking permission for demolition etc.’
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged development, housing, local authorities, planning, policy, retrofit
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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: ICOMOS at COP30: Heritage, Culture, and Global Climate Action
ICOMOS took part in the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), which was held from 10-21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, to reaffirm its commitment to climate action within heritage conservation practices.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged climate change, cultural heritage, global, heritage, ICOMOS, policy
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IHBC’s Context 185 under the spotlight: Accessible CPD for Conservation Professionals, with Alexandra Fairclough’s ‘Law and Policy update’
IHBC’s members’ journal Context No. 185 is under the spotlight and for this NewsBlog round we feature Alexandra Fairclough’s ‘Law and Policy update’ as she looks across the UK at changes, case law, appeals and call-ins.
IHBC urges ‘risk-based approach to retrofit’ with Government’s ‘Warm Homes Plan’ – ‘biggest home upgrade plan in British history’
image for illustration: IHBC The IHBC has welcomed Government’s £15Bn ’Warm Homes Plan’ – to ’help millions of families benefit from solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and insulation…’ – but says it must ‘ensure that retrofit is done properly’.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged climate change, government, heritage, planning, policy, retrofit
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RTPI & TCPA: ‘Planning for the Climate Crisis – A guide for local authorities’, 5th Edition
The RTPI and The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) have published the fifth edition of their joint guidance on planning for climate change.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged climate change, government, guidance, local authorities, planning, policy, resources
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IHBC’s Research signpost: ‘… synergy… of historic building retrofit and the heritage of traditional building craft practices…’
A new research paper – An investigation in synergy: The intersection of historic building retrofit and the heritage of traditional building craft practices’ in the UK – asks: ‘… is there opportunity for greater synergy between historic building retrofit and … Continue reading
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged conservation, expertise, heritage, policy, skills
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UK Government urged to step up maintenance to safeguard ageing infrastructure: Royal Academy of Engineering
The Royal Academy of Engineering has urged the UK Government to step up maintenance to safeguard ageing infrastructure, as the ‘Reviving our Ageing Infrastructure’ report by the National Engineering Policy Centre calls for the maintenance and renewal of existing assets … Continue reading
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, engineering, expertise, infrastructure, policy, safeguarding, skills
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IHBC Toolbox’s latest Guidance Note update now out: ‘Local Planning Authorities in England on Consulting the National Amenity Societies’
The IHBC’s Toolbox resource has had its latest Guidance Note update, on ‘Local Planning Authorities in England on Consulting the National Amenity Societies’, issued as a reminder to ‘local planning authorities of their statutory duty under the 2015 Direction’.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged amenity, conservation, consultation, expertise, government, heritage, localauthority, planning, policy, societies
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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the global doorstep 2: ‘Europa?Nostra on new Culture Compass for Europe – ‘When Culture wins, Europe wins’
Europa?Nostra, the pan-European Voice of Civil Society committed to Cultural Heritage, also in its role as Leader of the European Heritage Hub, welcomes and strongly endorses the Culture?Compass for Europe.
RIBA & partners call for raise the age of eligibility for Level 7 apprenticeship funding
With funding for Level 7 apprenticeships soon to be only for those aged 16 to 21, the has led an open letter to government asking them to raise the age of eligibility for funding to 25 years old for built … Continue reading
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged apprenticeship, government, learning, partnership, policy
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Government consultation: ‘Reforms to the statutory consultee system’, to 13/01/2026
Government UK are seeking views on reforming the role of statutory consultees in the planning system in England. This consultation closes on 13 January 2026.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged consultation, environment, heritage, planning, policy, safety, transport
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Gardens Trust on ‘Government Consultation on Removal of the Gardens Trust as a Statutory Consultee’
The Government has launched a consultation including the removal of the Gardens Trust as a statutory consultee, running until mid-January.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged charity, conservation, consultation, expertise, gardens, government, heritage, policy
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IHBC’s ‘Professional’ Signpost: Update on the ‘Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill’
The Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament by Sarah Boyack MSP on 27 March 2025, and this new Parliamentary Research Briefing summarises the situation as of 8 October.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged development, expertise, government, policy, skills, sustainability, wellbeing
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RIBA on ‘Build it Together’ – Progress and planning towards gender equity in the architecture profession’
Commissioned by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and independently produced by the Fawcett Society, a new ‘landmark report and action plan’ looks at gender equity in the architecture profession.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged architects, expertise, gender equality, government, organisations, policy
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IHBC’s ‘Professional’ Signpost: Submit representations to HM Treasury on Autumn Budget 2025, by 15 October
HM Treasury ‘welcomes representations as part of the policy-making process…’ they may be made on the Autumn Budget 2025 by October 15. as a written submission, commenting on government policy or suggesting new policy ideas to be considered in the … Continue reading
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged budget, economy, employment, government, policy, treasury, value
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New report calls for long-term placemaking to create vibrant communities
The ‘Place Building – Developing Homes & Communities’ report advocates a shift from short-term housing targets to long-term placemaking, as aligning policy incentives with on-the-ground innovation and community insight lets the built environment sector transition towards a true place-building approach.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged building, community, environment, expertise, placemaking, planning, policy, skills
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IHBC‘s ‘Research’ Signpost: Assessment of priority skills to 2030 report published
The Assessment of priority skills to 2030 report offers a detailed analysis of future employment needs across ten critical sectors, aligned with the government’s Industrial Strategy and Plan for Change, and highlights the scale of demand for apprenticeships and broader … Continue reading
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged apprenticeship, employment, expertise, policy, report, skills
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Parliamentary Committee call for permanent VAT Relief for LPOW
Culture Media and Sport Committee calls for permanent VAT Relief for Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme(LPOW).
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged church, heritage, policy, VAT
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Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change… survey by the ESPON GILL project. We want to learn from you! Submit your local greening plan
The ESPON GILL project collects examples of planning documents by local authorities relevant to Green Infrastructures (GI)… so submit your local greening plan as an exemplary case for local authorities.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged climate change, environment, expertise, nature, planning, policy
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IHBC’s ‘Research’ Signpost from RTPI: Data integration could be the key to joining the dots in Scotland’s complex policy landscape
In the fourth of BEFS ‘Joining the Dots’ series exploring interconnected policy agendas for Scotland’s built environment, Dr Caroline Brown, Director for Scotland, Ireland and English Regions at the RTPI, explores how data integration could transform policy implementation and decision-making.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged building, conservation, environment, expertise, heritage, planning, policy, Scotland
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IHBC’s ‘Finance and Economics’ Signpost: From DCMS & London Economics ‘Estimating the economic and social value of volunteering’
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has issued a London Economics report to monetise the economic and social value of volunteering in England.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged community, culture, economics, investment, policy, value, volunteering
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Spirit of 2012: Research, learning and insights measure wellbeing to understand the value for money of Spirit of 2012 grants
Spirit of 2012 is the London 2012 social legacy organisation offering research, learning and insights from over a decade of funding projects to inspire a social legacy.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged community, environment, learning, policy, research
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IHBC’s ‘Legislation & Policy’ Signpost: Landmark right to light case
An office building owner avoids demolition order in a landmark ‘rights to light’ case, is reposted in by Pinsent Masons.
Posted in IHBC NewsBlog
Tagged building, environment, legislation, planning, policy
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Engine Shed on ‘Fire Safety Management in Traditional Buildings for Dutyholders’
A Engine Shed publication offers a short guide to ‘Fire Safety Management in Traditional Buildings for Dutyholders’.
Posted in Sector NewsBlog
Tagged fire, guidance, legislation, policy, safety
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