IHBC NewsBlog Archive

The IHBC, with partners, is highlighting yet another likely disaster for the UK’s built heritage as attempts by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to reduce energy consumption in buildings will push potentially damaging external insulation in traditional and historic properties and places!

Energy Company Obligations (ECOs), developed alongside the Green Deal by DECC to help improve energy consumption in our current building stock, require energy providers to spend £1.3bn a year on improving insulation, or sacrifice 10% of profits.  The pressure to spend is generating a ‘quick-fix’ promotion of external insulation despite the need for careful evaluation, management and implementation of this technology, especially in historic and traditional properties.

The IHBC, with the Brick Development Association, the Federation of Master Builders, the National Trust and CPRE were among those organisations at a meeting on 1 May 2012 to explore the potential impact of the proposals.

Following the meeting, initial concerns have been summarised as follows:

‘Energy Company Obligations (ECOs) will see the major energy companies obligated to spend £1.3bn per year between now and 2015 on improving the energy performance of existing homes.

The Government has said that the vast majority of this fund should be used to provide external insulation for ‘hard to treat’ properties. This will result in many thousands of homes of all ages being over clad with insulation and then rendered, potentially damaging the performance and beauty of our housing stock whilst creating long term issues.

This raises a number of key issues including:

1.     Who will carry out this work?

2.     Given we have little UK experience of this process how will they be trained?

3.     What inspection process will be put in place?

4.     How do we ensure the properties are properly ventilated to protect against health issues and condensation?

5.     How will the on-going maintenance costs of render finishes be factored in?

6.     What safeguards can we put in place to ensure that the brick and stone clad buildings are maintained after insulation has been applied?

7.     How will the homeowner be protected should issues occur?

8.     Improving our housing stock and reducing our energy consumption is vital but all agreed that we must ensure that any works are carried out properly and in a truly sustainable way that protects consumers and the assets of UK PLC.

The key stakeholders agreed to brief their members and associates on the issues and work together to produce an urgent paper for Government setting out the concerns and recommending a series of solutions.

The IHBC will be pursuing our concerns with our partners over the coming weeks and months.

For background see the May 2011 consultation document at: LINK

See November 2011 ECO consultation at: LINK

IHBC Policy Chair Mike Brown, together with other partners in the ‘Cut the VAT’ campaign, led by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB),  will meet next week with David Gauke, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, to make the case against the proposed VAT raid on key listed building consent works.

For David Gauke see: LINK

For the campaign background and links see: LINK

You can easily add your name to the anti-VAT raid e-petition NOW, in advance of the closure of the consultation on 18 May, by clicking on epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/32056. 

With 100,000 signatures the matter could be debated in the House of Commons!  Current signatures are only 1/10th of the way there, but the petition is open until 27 June 2012.

Sign the e-petiton at: LINK

Add to the case to government by following up on the Heritage Alliance campaign toolkit at: LINK

Following presentations to Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) members by Andrew Fleming, Director of Policy at Historic Scotland (HS), on the current position and forward plan for the review of Historic Environment (HE) legislation and policy identified in the HS Corporate Plan, BEFS has provided a summary of the current state of play.

HS’s Corporate Plan 2012-15 states that it will ‘Carry out a fundamental review of the Scottish Historic Environment Policy to ensure it supports delivery of the Scottish Government’s commitment both to the historic environment and to sustainable economic growth and provides clarity over our role in key areas.’

BEFS updates as follows:
As Andrew outlined in the presentation there are a number of key drivers for the review, such as the significant budgetary constraints faced across the public sector, and climate change. It is within this context that HS has responsibility to ensure that delivery of national policy on the historic environment is as effective as possible.  It is anticipated that the review will not only look at the delivery of statutory functions, but take a much broader view, looking at opportunities and challenges right across the sector.

The review team would like to advise you all of the next steps – which are as follows:

1.  Discussions: Preliminary discussions with stakeholders about the scope of the review are nearing completion.

2.  Existing information: HS is undertaking a high level review of the evidence base for the area.

3.  Formulating work programme: Both the discussions and analysis of existing information will be used to identify key themes and issues. These will form the basis of a work programme for the review.  The team is keen to structure this work in a way that is open, transparent and participatory.  Equally, it is recognised that the process has to be manageable and should not make any unnecessary burdens on stakeholders. The work to develop this programme structure will be ongoing over the next few weeks.

4.  Sign off: The structure of the review will require sign off from HS senior management and the Cabinet Secretary prior to the review commencing.  HS will be working towards securing agreement over the summer months with a view to starting the work in late summer.

If you have further comments on the scope of the review at this initial stage, please contact hs.policy@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

For the HS Corporate Plan see: LINK

Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) is offering Conservation and Craft Awards of up to £15,000 with the next deadline Thursday, 24 May 2012.

QEST states:
QEST is particularly concerned with the conservation of the many traditional British crafts that are dying out. It is open to men and women of all ages and awarded twice a year—applications must be received by early January or late May.  QEST awards scholarships of up to £18,000 to conservators with exceptional talent to enable them to advance their education and skills in the UK.

What are Scholarships awarded for?
To fund further study, training and practical experience for craftsmen and women who want to improve their craft and trade skills. Scholarships may not be used for acquiring equipment, premises or for other business set-up costs.

How much is each Scholarship worth?
Between £1,000 and £15,000. The size of each award depends on how much funding is needed for a project. Scholarship winners also receive an emblazoned certificate.

What sort of crafts are covered?
A huge range of modern and traditional crafts. Scholarship winners have included: an antiques restorer, calligraphers, book conservators, potters, silversmiths, upholsterers and many more.

Who can apply?
There is no age limit. But you need to demonstrate you already have a high level of skill and are firmly committed to your craft or trade.

You must live and work permanently in the UK to be eligible for a Scholarship. You do not have to be connected with firms or individuals holding Royal Warrants.

What are we looking for?
Well thought out proposals which will contribute to the excellence of modern and traditional British crafts.

On the application form you need to explain clearly why the proposed training will improve your skills and what you expect to achieve as a result. You also need to give a careful estimate of the full cost of the training you would like to undertake.

QEST, the charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association, was established in 1990 to mark the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Association.

To find out more and apply visit the QEST website at www.qest.org.uk

English Heritage (EH) has produced explanatory guidance on its interpretation of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – including the relevance of the ‘Practice Guide’ to the now-withdrawn PPS 5 – all supported by an online presentation by Mike Harlow and Duncan McCallum, and free NPPF Discussion Sessions around the country.

English Heritage writes:
The National Planning Policy Framework was published on 27 March 2012, replacing all the previous Planning Policy Statements, including PPS 5, as well as various other planning guidance. Its central theme is the ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’, set out in twelve core land-use planning principles which underpin both plan-making and decision-taking.

Although matters relevant to the historic environment are scattered throughout these principles, particularly design, urban and countryside policies, it is the section on Conserving and Enhancing the Historic Environment which supersedes PPS 5, whilst following that document’s significance-led approach to decision-taking.

English Heritage has produced two comparison documents for ease of reference; one compares the NPPF historic environment policies to those in PPS 5, and the other gives information on additional policies in the NPPF not mentioned in PPS 5.

The Practice Guide remains a valid and Government endorsed document pending Government’s review of guidance supporting national planning policy.

NPPF Discussion Sessions

Free half day sessions will provide an opportunity to discuss English Heritage’s interpretation of the NPPF in order to promote understanding of NPPF, its implications for the management of heritage assets, and its use in plan and decision-making.  The session will explore the language and terminology used in NPPF and how this differs from the PPS5.

They will give delegates an opportunity to interact with a broad cross section of interests; the events are open to Local Planning Authority officers, planners, elected members, heritage professionals, consultants & developers, amenity groups and the voluntary sector.

Please contact Sam Powell at train@english-heritage.org.uk to reserve your place.

·   11 May. London.
·   15 May. Cambridge.
·   21 May. Newcastle.
·   29 May. Birmingham.
·   12 June. Nottingham.
·   19 June. Manchester.
·   25 June. Guildford.
·   27 June. Bristol.

Link to the Practice Guide at: LINK

Helm Article 1: LINK

Helm Article 2: LINK

The Planning Officers Society has published an advice note for local planning authorities on how to respond to the enactment of the Localism Act and publication of the finalised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The advice note focuses on five matters:

·   the new flexibility in relation to the local plan

·   some implications of the duty to cooperate

·   how local planning authorities can update or amend their local plan to make it compliant with the NPPF

·   retaining national or regional policy which would otherwise be lost

·   development management decision-making and the NPPF.

Access the advice note at: LINK

The Vulcan Hotel, one of Cardiff’s best preserved Victorian pubs, is to be dismantled and moved to St Fagans National History Museum.

Search Planning Portal: LINK

Heritage watchdog Historic Scotland has refused an application from Perth and Kinross Council seeking its permission to demolish Perth City Hall.

Historic Scotland states:
Historic Scotland, on behalf of Scottish Ministers received an application from Perth and Kinross Council seeking permission to demolish the B-listed Perth City Hall. After careful consideration we have refused permission for its demolition.

Any application to demolish a listed building is scrutinised against the Scottish Historic Environment Policy. The policy states that no listed building should be demolished unless it has been clearly demonstrated that every effort has been made to retain it.

As part of this policy, applicants must demonstrate that they have made a case for demolition against one of four tests.  It is our belief, on the evidence presented by Perth and Kinross Council, that they have not made the case for demolition and that the alternatives have not been fully explored.

We have advised Perth and Kinross council of the decision and would be happy to offer advice on next steps.

Additional Information:
There are four tests in the Scottish Historic Environment Policy in relation to the demolition of a listed building. It is Scottish Ministers’ policy that no listed building should be demolished unless it can be clearly demonstrated that every effort has been made to retain it. These tests are:

a.the building is not of special interest; or
b.the building is incapable of repair; or
c.the demolition of the building is essential to delivering significant benefits to economic growth or the wider community; or
d.the repair of the building is not economically viable and that it has been marketed at a price reflecting its location and condition to potential restoring purchasers for a reasonable period.

An applicant needs to make the case against one of these tests.

Further information can be found at: LINK

Historic Scotland News: LINK

Search Planning Resource: LINK