Yesterday, the Chancellor set out details for the Spending Review 2020. His full speech is available here, the full set of documents can be found here. Billions of pounds have been allocated to COVID-19 recovery for next year across different government departments. The Department for Culture, Media …
The Heritage Alliance – Heritage, Brexit and Immigration Breifing
The Heritage Alliance has published a new briefing on Heritage and Immigration summarising the new points-based visa system, as well as advocating policy recommendations to address the challenges that the new immigration system poses for our sector. You can read the briefing here.
Supporting Housing Delivery and Public Service Infrastructure
MHCLG is seeking views on a series of proposed technical changes to the planning system. The changes include a new permitted development right for a change of use to residential; expanded permitted development rights and a new streamlined planning application process for hospitals, schools and prisons; …
RAF Halton
The MOD and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation are consulting on their strategy to invest £4 billion to modernise and improve this RAF base. The base currently hosts two museums and the proposals aim to celebrate and incorporate the site’s military heritage. You can see the …
VisitBritain & VisitEngland have 2021 Budget Confirmed
The Government has confirmed that VisitBritain & VisitEngland will have a rollover budget for the next year and will receive an additional sum to be put towards agreed priorities. The budget includes £19.9 million for VisitBritain, £7.1 million for VisitEngland, and an additional £5 million …
Wedding Consultation
This week, the Alliance has responded to the Law Commission’s wedding consultation, focusing on the questions about location and venues. The core proposal of the Law Commission’s provisional scheme is to regulate the officiant rather than regulating the building in which the wedding is held, meaning …
Changes to the Treasure Act
Upcoming changes to the Treasure Act 1996 will see artefacts defined as treasure ‘if they are of historical or cultural significance’. The current definition is based on the common law of treasure trove, which dates back to the medieval period and is based on the …
Tree Planting and Boosting Community Forests
DEFRA has announced that over 500 hectares will be planted with trees across England’s ten Community Forests, through an investment of £12.1m. This is an important part of the Government’s target of net zero emissions by 2050. The Government has also put further funding into tree planting across the …
Sustainable Farming
The Government has published ‘Path to Sustainable Farming’, the transition plan for agricultural policy in England from 1 January 2021. It also covers what these changes will mean for farmers and land managers. The government has said that these changes will be “designed to ensure that …
Planning Reform
Housing Minister, Christopher Pincher, was questioned on the Future of the Planning System by the HCLG Committee on Monday. You can watch a recording on Parliament TV here. The Committee also has published a Twitter thread summarising the responses to their planning survey which can …
Funding for Projects Alleviating Loneliness
Yesterday, DCMS announced that £4 million in small grants will be awarded for projects alleviating loneliness as part of the #LetsTalkLoneliness campaign. This funding will be available to small charities and community groups tackling isolation and loneliness will be open for applications from 5 January 2021.
Visa Applications Open
The Government has opened the visa application process for people wanting to come and work in the UK under the new points-based system, including the Skilled Worker route. Guidance for UK visa sponsorship for employers can be found here and you can access the online application portal …