Changes to Listed Places of Worship grants will come into effect in autumn.

 

The Government has announced details of how the Listed Places of Worship (LPW) Grant scheme will be expanded in October.
The Government announced in the Budget in March that the zero rate of VAT for approved alterations to listed buildings would be withdrawn, with effect from 1 October 2012. However, at the same time it was announced that the LPW Grant scheme would be extended to cover approved alterations of listed places of worship.
Following consultation with faith and heritage organisations, the scheme will remain largely the same to ensure it is as easy as possible to use.
Some restrictions will be lifted, however, including those on repairs to kitchens and toilets, and there will be additions, including the installation of security and forensic systems to prevent crime.
To improve cash flow for places of worship, the scheme will also return to a system of monthly payments.
The extended scheme will come into effect on 1 October to coincide with the VAT changes. In the meantime the current rules and criteria will continue to apply.
Detailed guidance and new applications forms will be available on the LPW scheme website in September 2012.

• Upcoming changes to the LPW Grant scheme

Heritage Alliance launches series of public heritage debates

Source: The Heritage Alliance

The Alliance is delighted to announce its latest initiative – a series of public heritage debates to examine some of the more controversial issues we face in caring for the huge range of historic assets we have in this country.

The series, generously sponsored by Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, kicks off in Cambridge on 17 October in partnership with the Cambridge Heritage Research Group. The subject will be ‘Heritage & Tourism: Who needs Whom?’. Alliance Chairman Loyd Grossman will lead a panel of outstanding speakers – Robert Hewison, author of ‘The Heritage Industry’; James Berresford, Chief Executive of VisitEngland; Dame Fiona Reynolds, Director General of the National Trust; and Marie Louise Stig Sorenson, Reader in Prehistoric Archaeology, University of Cambridge. The debate will then be opened to the floor.

6.15pm for a 6.30 start at Magdalene College, Cambridge, followed by a reception, finishing at 8.30pm. This event is free of charge but registration is required. To find out more and to register for this exciting event, click here.

Places are limited to 120. Registration opens 23 August. Please register for this free event by emailing sheralyn.wade@theheritagealliance.org.uk by 5 October. Tickets will be by acknowledgement email.

Consultation on Improvements to Listed Building Consents

Source The EH News Feed

The Department for Culture Media and Sport has consulted on proposed reforms to Listed Building Consent (LBC). The Government is keen to incorporate reforms into the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (ERR) Bill, which will get its 3rd reading in Parliament this Autumn. As a result, the consultation period for the reforms to LBC was set at 30 days in order to meet the timetable already established for the ERR Bill.

I am currently travelling to the Trees Beyond the Wood Conference in Sheffield

The core theme of the event will be to raise and discuss issues around the concept of the wood and to address issues of trees outside woods in their biological and historical context. The conference starts today and I am giving a poster presentation tomorrow.