Monthly Archives: January 2012

The IHBC’s Linkedin group has passed 1000 members. Charles Strang, IHBC’s Communications Secretary, welcomed the speed with which the network has developed, saying: ‘The first 1000 members of the IHBC’s LinkedIn group demonstrate that those who look back can also … Continue reading →

Establishing a register of Historic Battlefields in Wales will be among one of the priorities for the historic environment, Huw Lewis, Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage announced.? The Minister made the announcement during a statement to AMs on his … Continue reading →

Nahid Majid OBE is to be the new Director of Design Council Cabe, the Design Council has announced. Nahid Majid has worked for over twenty years in urban regeneration as a professional urban designer. Initially trained as an urban planner and … Continue reading →

Complementing the IHBC’s web resource for local authority service standards, ‘Why planning authorities must have conservation skills!’ (http://www.ihbc.org.uk/skills/), Iain Johnston, Partner at sgh Martineau, has reported on a case especially relevant to the private sector, under the title ‘A salutary … Continue reading →

Elected city mayors will have their own bespoke powers tailored to local needs, Minister for Cities Greg Clark has announced.   Rather than seeking to impose a ‘one size fits all’ approach, the Government will take advantage of the new … Continue reading →

Details of over 700,000 objects in the care of the National Trust went online for the first time in December.   The National Trust writes: Now anyone with an interest in historic objects or old curiosities can have virtual access … Continue reading →

A campaigner has failed in his bid to block a legal challenge against a decision to confirm a 12-hectare plot of land near Aberdare, south Wales, as a protected area of ‘village green’.   For background see: LINK   Search … Continue reading →

Two north Devon councils have agreed proposals to appoint a joint head of planning as part of a move to share planning services across the two local authorities.   North Devon District Council and neighbouring Torridge District Council intend to … Continue reading →

  The Building Conservation Directory for 2012, which is offered free to IHBC members, has just been published.   Articles in the current range from ‘Listed Building Consent’, Nicholas Doggett and ‘Flooding: Risk and Remediation’, Ruth Nicholls to ‘Laser Scanning: … Continue reading →

Proposals for a major mixed-use development including a 55-storey tower on Liverpool’s waterfront would damage the World Heritage site ‘beyond repair’, a UNESCO report has warned.   Liverpool Echo Article: LINK

Universities and Science Minister David Willetts has laid an Order in Parliament to abolish the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) as a non-departmental public body (NDPB) following the Government’s announcement in October 2010 of its proposal … Continue reading →

  A building at Bletchley Park used to break the Enigma Code and which contributed to the allied victory in the Second World War has been given Grade II listed status today by Heritage Minister John Penrose. Block C at … Continue reading →

Colin Haylock, a full member of the IHBC, has become President of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) in succession to Richard Summers.   IHBC Secretary Eddie Booth welcomed Colin to his new position saying: ‘The IHBC is very proud … Continue reading →

A 19th century granary store that has been spectacularly transformed into a university for the arts has scooped the Mayor’s Award for Planning Excellence at the London Planning Awards, while the award for Best Historic Building Management – sponsored by … Continue reading →

Heritage Alliance has launched its 2012-15 strategy.   Heritage Alliance writes: Heritage Day on 8 December 2011 was a moment to reflect on the organisational development of the Alliance with the publication of the Annual Review of 2011, and a … Continue reading →

Communities Minister Baroness Hanham is asking people to vote out policies they think are the weakest links, in a drive to eliminate ineffective and unnecessary regulations from the country’s housing laws. The Government’s Red Tape Challenge is shining a spotlight … Continue reading →

Industry feedback is being sought on proposed recommendations for the new Construction Skills Strategy which is currently being developed by Sector Skills Council CITB-ConstructionSkills and the Industry Training Board, with the consultaton closing on 6th February 2012. The Strategy, which … Continue reading →

Durham County Council is considering putting its leisure centres, libraries and theatres into a charitable trust as a way to save money.   The council has to make spending cuts of £145.8m in the next five years and hopes it … Continue reading →

Proposals for a costs capping scheme in cases challenging decisions by public authorities which impact on the environment have been published by the Scottish Government in a consultation ending on 3 April.   The usual rule in civil cases is … Continue reading →

English Heritage (EH) and Ashgate Publishing have announced the forthcoming launch of the much anticipated revision, expansion and updates of their Practical Building Conservation series, first published in 1988, with 10 new volumes replacing the original five.   Charles Strang, … Continue reading →

Campaigners exploiting planning rules by claiming beach huts and car parks are ‘village greens’ to halt developments are costing taxpayers millions of pounds, council leaders have warned, as councils claimed that vexatious claims were preventing new affordable housing and stopping … Continue reading →

Part of a new housing estate at Prestbury, Gloucestershire, has been bulldozed following a campaign by local residents who highlighted the existence of a protective covenant applying to 1.8 acres of the site.   Taylor Wimpey demolished 24 homes after … Continue reading →

The projected list of future themes for the IHBC’s renowned house journal, Context, is available on-line, at LINK, to encourage members and non-members to plan, offer or suggest relevant articles and themes.   Context has always served as an essential … Continue reading →

Loyd Grossman, chairman of the Heritage Alliance, has added his voice to the Telegraph’s ‘Hands Off Our Land’ campaign, saying ‘If we want to deliver more prosperous and meaningful lives to our citizens, our heritage is a tool waiting to … Continue reading →