Monthly Archives: November 2020

IHBC NewsBlog readers’ update from DBW on ‘Building People’: Focus on ‘diversity, skills, careers and social value’

Designing Buildings Wiki (DBW) – host platform for the IHBC’s Conservation Wiki as well as the ‘construction industry knowledge base’ – has developed a microsite focused on diversity, skills, careers and social value to help ‘make construction and the built … Continue reading

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Comments Off on IHBC NewsBlog readers’ update from DBW on ‘Building People’: Focus on ‘diversity, skills, careers and social value’

IHBC’s HESPR pick this week from £20K+ costed works: Welsh council calls for proposals linked to a country park development, closing 30/11

The IHBC’s heritage business register HESPR – our Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition quality assurance scheme for heritage services working to the IHBC’s standards – emails its members weekly ‘News and Tender Alerts’, and the IHBC Director’s top pick this … Continue reading

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Comments Off on IHBC’s HESPR pick this week from £20K+ costed works: Welsh council calls for proposals linked to a country park development, closing 30/11

IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Grimsby urban explorer uncovers ‘forgotten village’ in Lincolnshire woods

An urban explorer has uncovered a ‘forgotten village’ within a Lincolnshire woods, the Grimsby Telegraph has reported.

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Comments Off on IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Grimsby urban explorer uncovers ‘forgotten village’ in Lincolnshire woods

Wales extends investment in decarbonising social housing: ORP for a green recovery

The Welsh Government has given the green light and a further £10M to a major new programme that will transform social housing across Wales, boost the economy and open the door to a new Welsh industry: the Optimised Retrofit Programme … Continue reading

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Comments Off on Wales extends investment in decarbonising social housing: ORP for a green recovery

Wellcome Trust agrees £506m takeover of Urban & Civic

The Wellcome Trust has agreed a £506 million takeover of a London-listed developer that specialises in building huge developments in commuter hotspots on brownfield sites.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Comments Off on Wellcome Trust agrees £506m takeover of Urban & Civic

CLC on England’s White Paper: Unlock ‘Levelling Up’ with ‘Fourth Zone’

The response to England’s Planning White Paper consultation the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has called for the creation of a so called ‘fourth zone’ that would unlock tricky regeneration opportunities that have been blocked by existing planning rules.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Comments Off on CLC on England’s White Paper: Unlock ‘Levelling Up’ with ‘Fourth Zone’

FMB & partners: Government misses potential £15Bn economic boost and job creation without VAT relief

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has called on the Government cut VAT on home improvement works to 5% to boost jobs and stimulate the economy.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Comments Off on FMB & partners: Government misses potential £15Bn economic boost and job creation without VAT relief

HES: £194,349 awarded to coasts and waters heritage projects

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has awarded funding to eighteen projects across the country. image: HES

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Comments Off on HES: £194,349 awarded to coasts and waters heritage projects

New charity launches with a mission to protect local nature, wildlife and heritage: ‘Habitats & Heritage’

On 5 November 2020 ‘Habitats & Heritage’, a new charity dedicated to looking after the natural and historic environment in south and west London has launched, a result of the merger of Environment Trust and South West London Environment Network … Continue reading

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Comments Off on New charity launches with a mission to protect local nature, wildlife and heritage: ‘Habitats & Heritage’

New COTAC Newsletter now out

COTAC’s fourth Newsletter has been published, with news, updates and more from across COTAC and its networks, including heritage data, understanding conservation and climate change. Download the Newsletter here.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Comments Off on New COTAC Newsletter now out

Row over China’s plan to build its largest European embassy in London’s East End as consultation begins

China’s ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming has written to the mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs to say he believes councillors are ‘attempting to disrupt’ the new embassy.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Comments Off on Row over China’s plan to build its largest European embassy in London’s East End as consultation begins

IHBC’s latest HESPR registered practice: Artifex Conservation Architects, joins nearly 50 HESPR service providers working to IHBC standards

Artifex Conservation Architects has become the latest company to join the IHBC’s conservation and heritage services ‘HESPR’ quality assurance register, the IHBC’s listing and support service that nears 50 service providers working to IHBC standards.

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Comments Off on IHBC’s latest HESPR registered practice: Artifex Conservation Architects, joins nearly 50 HESPR service providers working to IHBC standards

IHBC’s pre-AGM event is free (IHBC members only; 5.30 on, 03/12), and you can donate to the IHBC CREATIVE Conservation Fund on application… or after, if you missed it!

If lucky enough to be an IHBC member (any category) and able to join the IHBC’s 2020 AGM and free pre-AGM proceedings from 5.30PM on 3 December – with a filmed welcome from Griff Rhys Jones and School updates –you … Continue reading

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Comments Off on IHBC’s pre-AGM event is free (IHBC members only; 5.30 on, 03/12), and you can donate to the IHBC CREATIVE Conservation Fund on application… or after, if you missed it!

IHBC’s HESPR ‘Special Interest Sector News’ pick of the week: ‘Chinese ruins transformed into museum’

The 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’, with notices from across the development sector’s publications, and this week features Dezeen’s … Continue reading

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Comments Off on IHBC’s HESPR ‘Special Interest Sector News’ pick of the week: ‘Chinese ruins transformed into museum’

IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: North Staffs sites share in £1.57bn fund for support through pandemic

Ford Green Hall and Middleport Pottery in North Staffordshire are among the heritage organisations to receive funding to support them though pandemic.

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Comments Off on IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: North Staffs sites share in £1.57bn fund for support through pandemic

AHF: Supporting community ownership in the historic heart of Dumfries

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) has invested £10K towards the regeneration of the Mid-Steeple Quarter project in Dumfries, including allowing use ‘as a community space for local groups, for pop-up events and a re-makery shop.’ image: AHF website

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Comments Off on AHF: Supporting community ownership in the historic heart of Dumfries

Build UK survey for CLC on impact of coronavirus pandemic: Supporting Jobs in Construction

The results of the second cross-industry ‘People Survey’, carried out by Build UK on behalf of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) in September provides an up to date snapshot of the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the construction … Continue reading

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Comments Off on Build UK survey for CLC on impact of coronavirus pandemic: Supporting Jobs in Construction

Nominate a heritage charity to receive a festive financial boost

Ecclesiastical Insurance is giving £120,000 to good causes as part of its annual 12 days of giving Christmas campaign and is inviting people to nominate a registered charity close to their hearts to benefit from this festive financial boost.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Comments Off on Nominate a heritage charity to receive a festive financial boost

Environmental charities and funders trapped in ‘vicious cycle’, finds report

Environment charities and funders are ‘stuck in a vicious cycle’ where work is underfunded, leading to less impact and less ability to attract funding, a report has warned. image: for illustration purposes only – Apollo 17/Public Domain

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Comments Off on Environmental charities and funders trapped in ‘vicious cycle’, finds report

Historic England launches new education resources and films as part of Breaking New Ground

Historic England has launched new education resources created to help primary school teachers engage key stage two pupils in the history of buildings, as part of the Breaking New Ground project supported by the John Laing Charitable Trust.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Comments Off on Historic England launches new education resources and films as part of Breaking New Ground

Treasure found on Barking building site

Potentially valuable Roman artefacts have been recovered from a building site in Barking, Essex.

Posted in Sector NewsBlog | Comments Off on Treasure found on Barking building site

Voting at IHBC’s 2020 Virtual AGM (03/12)?  Vote by proxy even if attending – it can be changed in the AGM – and be sure to ‘help the IHBC move past the pandemic’!

ALL IHBC members with a say at the online AGM on 3 December are called on to vote in advance ‘by proxy’, even if attending – votes during the AGM take precedence, allowing for changed positions – and ‘help the … Continue reading

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Comments Off on Voting at IHBC’s 2020 Virtual AGM (03/12)?  Vote by proxy even if attending – it can be changed in the AGM – and be sure to ‘help the IHBC move past the pandemic’!

Serious about your staffing plans or career direction? Stay ahead with ‘IHBC Jobs etc.’ – conservation roles from ‘Placemaking’ in Wales and ‘Design’ with HS1, to urban, regulatory and maritime roles, and much more!

To help heritage and conservation employers and practitioners across the UK, the IHBC regularly updates NewsBlog readers about the diverse career opportunities advertised on our ‘IHBC Jobs etc.’ service, while recent posts cover roles from an insightfully titled ’Placemaking and … Continue reading

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Comments Off on Serious about your staffing plans or career direction? Stay ahead with ‘IHBC Jobs etc.’ – conservation roles from ‘Placemaking’ in Wales and ‘Design’ with HS1, to urban, regulatory and maritime roles, and much more!

IHBC’s LPA Capacity research headlines DBW’s home page: ‘Conservation advice available to local authorities falls 48.7% since 2009; 6% today have none!’

Against news from bodies such as ICE, BRE Trust, CIAT, CIOB, BSRIA etc., the IHBC’s recently launched research into England’s Local Planning Authority (LPA) conservation services has headlined the home page of Designing Buildings Wiki (DBW) – host platform for … Continue reading

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Comments Off on IHBC’s LPA Capacity research headlines DBW’s home page: ‘Conservation advice available to local authorities falls 48.7% since 2009; 6% today have none!’

IHBC CPD provider Scottish Lime Centre & HES: Data Driven Approach to Understanding Historic Mortars in Scotland

Technical Paper 32 – A Data Driven Approach to Understanding Historic Mortars in Scotland – has been issued, jointly produced by the Scottish Lime Centre Trust (SLC), which is an IHBC Recognised CPD Provider, and Historic Environment Scotland (HES).

Posted in IHBC NewsBlog | Comments Off on IHBC CPD provider Scottish Lime Centre & HES: Data Driven Approach to Understanding Historic Mortars in Scotland