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Date: 02 April 2008

Conservation capacity in local authorities:
IHBC endorses concerns in parliamentary select committee's new report

The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) has welcomed the publication of the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee’s review of the government’s proposals for protecting the built heritage of England and Wales. The proposals, laid down by the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) earlier this year, involve major reforms to the heritage protection system.

The IHBC supports wholeheartedly the governments aim to make heritage protection simple, clear and streamlined and is particularly heartened that the committee has recognized the need for enhanced resources in its statement that “Conservation officers, in sufficient numbers and with adequate training, will be critical to the successful implementation of the Bill”.

IHBC President David Lovie said “we are especially encouraged that the committee has, like us, found it ‘astonishing’ that the government didn’t think that we will need more conservation officers to deliver the proposed reforms. Current research indicates that already 1 in 5 authorities don’t have a trained or skilled in-house conservation adviser, with increased pressure on local government spending there is every indication that this situation could be worse by the time the legislation is in place. Research both by IHBC and Atkins, co-sponsored by English Heritage, demonstrates that skilled in-house staffing is essential if we are to serve our heritage properly, and to reap the benefits that this irreplaceable resource can bring to everyone.

Notwithstanding the Government’s stated aim to put ‘heritage at the heart of planning’, these current shortages were surprisingly ignored by the Communities and Local Government Committee’s report, published last week, on “Planning Matters – labour shortages and skills gaps”.

David Lovie explained that “as conservation officers retire there are now few courses available offering suitable training for their successors. Competent staff will be needed to implement the proposed reforms. This combination of experienced staff retiring, supply shortages, and future additional needs is heading us towards a crisis situation: by the time the new legislative changes come into effect councils may have no expert staff to protect our fragile heritage. If this is to be avoided, we urgently need a joined-up approach from the Departments of Culture Media and Sport, and Communities and Local Government, to ensure both resourced employer demand for conservation officers, and an effective supply chain with sufficient courses to meet that demand.”

Editor Notes

The committee’s full report is available at http://www.publications.parliament.uk
/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmcumeds/821/821.pdf

The draft Heritage Bill published in April 2008 proposes to create a new a unified and simpler heritage protection system for England and Wales that will be more open, accountable and transparent. To view the Draft Heritage Bill see http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/
DraftHeritageProtectionBill.pdf

The IHBC is the principal body in the United Kingdom representing professionals and specialists involved in historic environment conservation. The Institute exists to establish, develop and maintain the highest standards of conservation practice, to support the effective protection and enhancement of the historic environment, and to promote heritage-led regeneration and access to the historic environment for all.

Further information e-mail publicity@ihbc.org.uk

 

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To: Newsdesks
From: Fiona Newton – IHBC Projects Officer

Tel: 01507 602567

E-mail: projects@ihbc.org.uk
Website: www.ihbc.org.uk

Date: 02 April 2008

IHBC Welcomes Draft Heritage Bill


IHBC welcomes the draft Heritage Bill published today (2 April), which should bring heritage protection more fully into the planning system. The Draft Bill sets out the primary legislation necessary to implement the changes to the Protection of our Heritage which were proposed in the Heritage White Paper of March 2007.

Heritage is a powerful tool for helping our towns, cities and rural areas to adapt to today's needs, and creating places in which people want to live, work and spend leisure time.

Chairman of IHBC Dave Chetwyn said that “We hope that the Bill will be appropriately funded at all levels. Without substantial additional investment in English Heritage and local government the Bill cannot become the tool for protecting out heritage which it should be.

“We will be looking closely at the Bill to make sure it will deliver real benefits to local communities and stakeholders. In particular we want to see a more open system, much needed reform of conservation area protection, and proper resources to deliver local services.”

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Editors’ Notes

The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) is the professional body for the United Kingdom representing building conservation specialists and historic environment practitioners in the public and private sectors. The Institute exists to establish the highest standards of conservation practice, to support the effective protection and enhancement of the historic built environment, and to promote heritage led regeneration and access to the historic environment for all.

To view the Draft Heritage Bill see the Department of Culture Media and Sport website www.culture.gov.uk

The Heritage White Paper in March 2007 proposed three main aspects of change to create a new system of Heritage Protection:
developing a unified approach to the historic environment maximising opportunities for inclusion and involvement supporting sustainable communities by putting the historic environment at the heart of an effective planning system.

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To: Newsdesks
From: Doug Black – IHBC Press Officer

Tel: 020 7926 4065
Fax: 020 7926 1171

E-mail: publicity@ihbc.org.uk
Website: www.ihbc.org.uk

Date: 19th February 2008

IHBC Conservation Skills and Services Consultation

Conservation skills and services are the focus of an open consultation currently being undertaken by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC), the professional body for historic environment conservation specialists.  
 
IHBC’s working draft document ‘HOW TO CARE FOR PLACES AND PEOPLE: Towards a common standard in Historic Environment Conservation Skills & Services’ defines the standard of skills required of an individual working in historic environment conservation and identifies the services they should be provided in key organizations such as local and national government.  
 
The document represents the IHBC’s first formal attempt to define the gamut of these responsibilities and also explores the potential impact of forthcoming legislative change which will affect England and Wales.  

The IHBC would welcome comments before 2 May 2008.  
 
The draft can be viewed at www.ihbc.org.uk.
Comments should be sent to skillsconsultation@ihbc.org.uk.

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EDITOR’S NOTES

 

1/ The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) is the professional body for the United Kingdom representing building conservation specialists and historic environment practitioners in the public and private sectors. The Institute exists to establish the highest standards of conservation practice, to support the effective protection and enhancement of the historic built environment, and to promote heritage-led regeneration and access to the historic environment for all.

2/ IHBC is 10 years old and has a wide and diverse membership of architects, surveyors, engineers, designers, archaeologists and planners. It is the lead professional body in the sector that the Government turns to for advice and input into policy on the historic environment.

3/ It is managed by a Council body of volunteer members, supported by a Director and staff.

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To: Newsdesks
From: Doug Black – IHBC Press Officer

Tel: 020 7926 4065
Fax: 020 7926 1171

E-mail: publicity@ihbc.org.uk
Website: www.ihbc.org.uk

Date: 05 March 2007

NEWS FROM IHBC LONDON

Heritage professional at IHBC London’s recent Conference on Renewable Energy and the Historic Environment were told, in no uncertain terms, that Britain’s historic buildings have to ‘shape up’ in response to climate change.

The sector was warned not to be distracted by renewable regeneration when the biggest issue facing building built pre-1920 was energy inefficiency and heat loss. Buildings must be made more efficient before it is worth attempting renewable generation.

Keynote speaker, eminent services engineer, Max Fordham went so far as to suggest radical interventions in a bid to challenge convention. He said,

‘I see no good reason why inefficient Georgian brick buildings, like those on Bedford Square, can not be rendered externally to improve their efficiency. The windows could be replaced and brought forward in order to secure the correct visual effect.’

Whilst this caused consternation amongst delegates it reinforced the message that conservation professionals and the building industry must come up with acceptable solutions for historic buildings in terms of services, ventilation and insulation.

The 130 attendees were also reminded of the increasing threat to heritage, at home and abroad, from climate change and that a failure to respond with flexibility could lead to the side spread destruction of historic buildings through flooding and sea level changes.

A summary of the conference papers will be published in IHBC’s magazine ‘Context’ early in 2008.

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EDITOR’S NOTES

1/ The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) is the professional body for the United Kingdom representing building conservation specialists and historic environment practitioners in the public and private sectors. The Institute exists to establish the highest standards of conservation practice, to support the effective protection and enhancement of the historic built environment, and to promote heritage-led regeneration and access to the historic environment for all.

2/ IHBC is 10 years old and has a wide and diverse membership of architects, surveyors, engineers, designers, archaeologists and planners. It is the lead professional body in the sector that the Government turns to for advice and input into policy on the historic environment.

3/ It is managed by a Council body of volunteer members, supported by a Director and staff.

4/ The conference, held at grade I listed Royal College of Physicians, London, was the 4th annual conference organised by IHBC London Branch. The branch’s 150 members are at the heart of conservation in the capital, working for government agencies, local government and the private sector.

5/ Max Fordham founded Max Fordham LLP in 1966. The practice’s holistic approach to the design of building services has contributed to a list of sustainable, award-winning buildings, most recently Heelis – the new HQ for the National Trust in Swindon – with Feilden Clegg Bradley, which won the RIBA Sustainability Award in 2006. Max Fordham is Fellow and Past Present of the CIBSE, and is Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Honorary Fellow of the RIBA. He is Visiting Professor in Building & Design at University of Bath and is the only Building Services Engineer on the Building Magazine’s Hall of Fame list of 40 people who have had the greatest, most positive impact on building over the past 40 years.

 

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To: Newsdesks
From: Doug Black – IHBC Press Officer

Tel: 020 7926 4065
Fax: 020 7926 1171

E-mail: publicity@ihbc.org.uk
Website: www.ihbc.org.uk

Date: 18 June 2007

IHBC APPOINTS NEW CHAIR

The IHBC is very pleased to announce the election of Dave Chetwyn as its new Chair. He was elected at the AGM held during the recent IHBC Annual School in Liverpool.

"As IHBC Chair I will be working to see heritage management more closely integrated with the Government's wider social, economic and environmental agendas, with proper resourcing for conservation services and heritage-based regeneration programmes.

Heritage has been a major element in delivering the physical and economic transformation of towns, cities and rural areas all around the UK, over the 10 years of IHBC's existence. Our members have played a significant role in achieving this and in improving the quality of life of local communities."

Biography
Dave is Head of Planning Aid England, a publicly funded service run by the Royal Town Planning Institute to help individuals and communities engage with the planning system. Prior to this, he worked for 17 years in local government, specialising in design

NEWS FROM THE IHBC
and heritage-led regeneration. He has also helped develop and deliver training and education programmes for CABE, the Civic Trust and Keele University.
END

For further information please contact Dave Chetwyn on dave.chetwyn@planningaid.rtpi.org.uk
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EDITOR’S NOTES
1/ The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) is the
professional body for the United Kingdom representing building
conservation specialists and historic environment practitioners in the public and private sectors. The Institute exists to establish the highest standards of conservation practice, to support the effective protection and enhancement of the historic built environment, and to promote heritageled
regeneration and access to the historic environment for all.
2/ IHBC is 10 years old and has a wide and diverse membership of architects, surveyors, engineers, designers, archaeologists and planners.
It is the lead professional body in the sector that the Government turns to for advice and input into policy on the historic environment.
3/ It is managed by a Council body of volunteer members, supported by a Director and staff.

Download PDF

To: Newsdesks
From: Doug Black – IHBC Press Officer

Tel: 020 7926 4065
Fax: 020 7926 1245
E-mail: publicity@ihbc.org.uk

News Contact: Seán O’Reilly, IHBC Director
Tel: 07814 976117
E-mail: director@ihbc.org.uk
Website: www.ihbc.org.uk

Date: 9 March 2007
‘Heritage Protection? Match the talk with the walk’
says IHBC President

David Lovie, IHBC President, today called for the government’s new Heritage Protection strategy, launched with a White Paper, to get essential investment.

‘It’s a once-in-a-generation chance to revolutionise how we work with our historic places. But we all know that investment will make it, or break it’, said Lovie, a conservation consultant. ‘It’s an ambitious and long-term agenda. Government must match their ambitions with the necessary funds to deliver it.

They’re ‘talking the talk’, now they must ‘walk the walk’.
Under legislation planned for 2010, local planning authorities, and communities, could take a new lead in managing nationally important historic properties and places. With added responsibilities on hard-pressed, even threatened, local
conservation planning services, dedicated investment is critical to success.

English Heritage (EH) and DCMS, the sponsoring government department, have led the proposals, with the IHBC, the professional body for heritage conservation, a key consultee. IHBC Vice-Chair Dave Chetwyn said ‘IHBC’s advice has been
formative, but now the IHBC and our members can scrutinise the current proposals in detail’.

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EDITOR’S NOTES
1/ The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) is the professional
body for the UK’s historic environment practitioners and conservation specialists.
The Institute is a registered charity (No 1061593) that exists to establish the
NEWS FROM THE IHBC
highest standards of conservation practice, to support the effective protection and
enhancement of the historic environment, and to promote heritage-led
regeneration and access to the historic environment for all.
2/ The IHBC is 10 years old in 2007, and has a wide and diverse membership
of architects, surveyors, engineers, designers, historians, archaeologists and
planners. It is the lead professional body providing guidance on the historic
environment to Government and other parties.
3/ The IHBC is guided by an elected Council, supported by a national office
and an extensive voluntary network.