Monthly Archives: January 2012

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 →

The National Heritage Training Group (NHTG) has announced that Karen Houghton has been appointed as the National Project Manager for the NHTG’s Skills for the Future programme on a 27 month contract.   Paul Simons, NHTG Chair, writes:   I … Continue reading →

Culture Action Europe is inviting all those who care about heritage and the arts in Europe to sign their petition, ‘We Are More’ – which aims to highlight to policymakers the value of European cultural activities – in advance of … Continue reading →

The Black Environment Network (BEN) has announced James Friel as its new CEO while Judy Li Wong steps down as Director to become BEN President.   BEN writes: ‘After 24 years of pioneering contribution to the establishment of ethnic environmental … Continue reading →

Members of the Society of Dilettanti have written to the Telegraph to encourage English Heritage (EH) chief executive Simon Thurley to reconsider EH’s decision to raise no objections to an application to remove 102 pieces of classical sculpture that are … Continue reading →

North of England Civic Trust (NECT) has commenced its recruitment for the 2012-13 intake of Engineering Heritage Skills Initiative (EHSI) trainees, as successful applicants will be in place in April 2012, with a closing date for applications for the 2012-13 … Continue reading →

Icon, the Institute of Conservation, has announced changes to its personnel.   Alison Richmond, Icon CEO, writes: New Staff for Icon The Board of Trustees and Chief Executive of Icon are delighted to announce three new additions to the staff … Continue reading →

The Government announced on 15 December 2011 that it would undertake a review of the Treasure Valuation Committee and DCMS is now inviting views from stakeholders to contribute to the review, with the deadline for responses at 10am on Monday … Continue reading →