Category Archives: Sector NewsBlog

Government in England has launched a pilot scheme to match landlords struggling to find tenants for their empty properties with community groups looking for space, with bids and enquiries to be sent to Laura.hurley@communities.gov.uk, and closing 31 December. image: Fiona Newton

The latest version of the Planning Directorate Newsletter brings readers up to date with the England’s programme of planning reform. image: Open Government Licence v3.0

On 22 November 2018 Mr Nicholas Rothe of Manchester was convicted by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) on eight counts of the criminal offence of misusing the title ‘Architect’.

The Warburg Institute is offering Long-term Research Fellowships in Intellectual, Cultural and Art History (of nine months to twelve months), for tenure during 2019-20, and Short-term Research Fellowships in Intellectual, Cultural and Art History (of two, three or four months), … Continue reading →

The Court of Appeal upheld a High Court decision and that of the Planning Inspector enforcing return of two lead urns removed by landowner Marcus Dill from the grounds of Idlecote House without permission, while as a result he could … Continue reading →

The RTPI has commissioned new research from the University of the West of England (UWE), in partnership with PBA (now a part of Stantec), to find out how strategic infrastructure planning is carried out on the ground. image: Open Government … Continue reading →

Lochside House, a breathtaking new home in the West Highlands designed by HaysomWardMiller Architects has been named the 2018 RIBA House of the Year.

Scotland’s Historic Environment Audit (SHEA) 2018 is now out and its lead officer in Historic Environment Scotland (HES), Karen Robertson, has offered her personal blog looking at the trends and findings.

Civic Voice – England’s link body for local Civic Trusts – has now made available another tool to help guide community groups interested on enhancing local conservation areas, a resource developed as part of Civic Voice’s Big Conservation Conversation and … Continue reading →

The chairman of the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group wants to government to set up a statutory authority to regulate construction industry practice. image: Open Government Licence v3.0

Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) has reported on how the ‘Inspiring Fundraising’ online toolkit is now available, together with accompanying report ‘The State of Heritage Funding Now.’ image BEFS website

Local councillors have declared Birley Spa Bath House in Sheffield to be an Asset of Community Value.

New research has been published to help understand the visitor and non-visitor value of cultural engagement at 4 cultural institutions in England, and to test whether economic values for cultural sites can be transferred to similar sites in England.

In November 2018, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) launched the UK’s first nationwide architectural learning programme aimed at schoolchildren.

The BBC has reported on how campaigners fighting to restore the 122-year-old Shotley Pier for public use have revealed new designs for the Victorian structure.

Former housing minister Nick Raynsford in his planning review has warned that planning has been reduced to a ‘chaotic patchwork’ of responsibilities which is not compatible with promoting the health, wellbeing and civil rights of communities. image: Open Government Licence … Continue reading →

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has issued its revised ‘Principles of Selection for Listed Buildings’ with new dates, definitions and more. 

Historic England (HE) most recent Heritage at Risk Register has identified sites currently ‘most at risk of being lost as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.’

Companies from across the UK construction sector are being invited to take part in the largest-ever research project on skills shortages.

The Vacant and Derelict Land Taskforce will start the process of finding 100 sites with the best potential for development from 26 November.

Industry initiatives to encourage young women to join the construction industry do not appear to be making much headway, as Construction Week reports on the latest statistics from the Department for Education, which report that 88% of apprenticeship starts in … Continue reading →

The Heritage Alliance _(THA) – England’s link body for heritage interests – has highlighted how its Advocacy groups – which are open to all full members of the Alliance – and working groups – which can also include affiliates and … Continue reading →

RTPI Scotland is pleased to announce that the Scottish Government and the universities of Heriot-Watt and Dundee will be funding £1000 bursaries to study planning at Masters level.

National Churches Trust commissioned a survey to understand the reasons why the public visit churches, chapels or meeting houses and what would make them more likely to visit for tourism or leisure, with findings including that ‘half (51%) of British … Continue reading →

A national archive for the civil nuclear industry by Reiach & Hall Architects has won a top Scottish architecture prize: the Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award for 2018.