Category Archives: Sector NewsBlog

Scottish Government has launched its first National Islands Plan with measures to improve outcomes for island communities.

Investigations have begun into what caused part of Chester’s Roman city wall to collapse during construction work.

Housing secretary, Robert Jenrick has announced building safety measures that go further to ensure residents are safe in their homes, revealing that slow improving safety standards will ‘not be tolerated’.

Architecture and Design Scotland is working with the Scottish Government Committee on Climate Change and a small number of selected Local Authorities to develop spatial plans for places which prioritise the agenda of responding to changing climate and reduction of … Continue reading →

Village Halls Week: Government scheme supports vital hubs for rural communities. image: for illustration only – by P Badcock

RIBA has published guidance on targeting, designing and evaluating sustainable outcomes for buildings, defining a concise measurable set of eight sustainable outcomes that correspond to key UN Sustainable Development Goals and can be delivered on building projects of all scales.

MOOO architecture design competition has placed a call for architects, landscape architects etc. to explore the notion of POPS – ‘Privately Owned Public Spaces’ – and their potential within the city of London in a new competition, with standard entry … Continue reading →

Egyptian Halls is one of Glasgow’s most important buildings and a category A-listed masterpiece by Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, but it has been empty for 40 years, so The Alexander Thomson Society has launched a new initiative calling on those ‘with … Continue reading →

Local authority leaders through The Local Government Association (LGA) have warned that communities are potentially losing out on thousands of affordable homes due to office conversions which bypass local planning offices. image: for illustration purposes only – Open Government Licence … Continue reading →

A Scottish Government consultation document makes proposals for a new, legally binding standard for home energy efficiency from 2024 onwards, with the consultation open until 26 March.

Interim findings from the Taylor Review Pilot evaluation to help build a sustainable future for the UK’s historic places of worship are now out from the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS).

The number of ancient woods under threat in the UK from built development has topped the thousand mark for the first time since records began, the Woodland Trust has reported. image: for illustrations purposes only by P Badcock

One of Britain’s oldest department stores, Beales, has collapsed into administration, putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk. Beales has appointed KPMG as administrators after failing to find a buyer or new investment for the business.

Just 10% of the UK population believes that the construction of new towns is the best way to tackle the UK housing crisis, according to a new report. image: Open Goverment Licence v3.0

David Goldstone has been named chief executive of the?delivery authority that will act as client for the work to?restore?and renew?the Palace of Westminster. image: Open Government Licencde v3.0

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have announced a global prize to tackle climate issues, pledging ‘a decade of action to repair the Earths.

Historic England has begun work on a Local Authority Strategic Framework (LASF), setting out priorities for engagement with local authorities  and is seeking feedback on the emerging framework though a survey of representives of local authorities.

The National Churches Trust (NCT) has three grant programmes currently inviting applications for funding, while in each case, grants will be awarded for up to 50% of the project cost.

Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Chief Executive Victoria Hills has mounted a vigorous defence of the planning system recently, saying that planners are feeling the effects of years of government under-resourcing and meddling. image: RTPI (l-r) Nicki Linihan, Peter Rees, Sam … Continue reading →

Historic England’s (HE) new ‘Technical Conservation Guidance’ brochure lists all current free-to-download technical conservation guidance and research reports, and also includes information on our series of Practical Building Conservation books and guides on building stone types.

Leaders of England’s largest councils, through the County Councils Network (CCN), have urged new ministers to ensure that their pledge to unleash the potential of the country does not ignore the needs of ‘left behind areas’ in shire counties.

A crisis is engulfing the Mekong River, with its banks collapsing and half a million people at risk of losing their homes, all from ‘the quest for sand… the essential component for… particularly… cement’, generating calls that ‘Sand… be recognised … Continue reading →

A memorial to a lost village and an apple-shaped refreshment kiosk are two of the sites given a heritage listing in Wales in the past year.

Transforming Places Through Heritage is a £15million grant programme from the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF), aimed at supporting charities and social enterprises to develop projects that are creating alternative uses for redundant or underused historic buildings in town centres with … Continue reading →

Projects benefitting from over £138 million of funding have the potential to create more than 7,000 jobs across Scotland, according to analysis of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.