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NEWS FROM CIVIC VOICE

Planning and Infrastructure Bill Part 3: Development and Nature Recovery

Planning and Infrastructure Bill Part 3: Development and Nature Recovery

16 October 2025 , 15:27

The Civic Voice Expert Panel has discussed the Planning & Infrastructure Bill with particular reference to concerns about nature protection and recovery and produced a comment paper. Civic Voice support the concerns of the Office for Environmental Protection and others…

The future of Civic Voice

The future of Civic Voice

10 October 2025 , 08:49

An important email and discussion paper about the future of Civic Voice has been circulated to member societies. This is from the Co Chairs, Robert Osborne and Andrew Jackson. If you think you are a member and have not received…

Concealment of public comments on planning portals

Concealment of public comments on planning portals

6 October 2025 , 10:19

Civic Voice has undertaken a small-scale study of the publication of comments on local planning portals. That study has revealed a consistent pattern of preferences amongst civic societies. Societies want transparency in the publication of all comments, but also agree…

AGM and the future of Civic Voice

AGM and the future of Civic Voice

22 September 2025 , 10:49

Trustees would like to clarify the arrangements for the AGM on 8 November, which is in person in Birmingham. The first part of the meeting will be an opportunity for members to discuss Civic Voice’s future and consider a number…

Changes at Civic Voice

Changes at Civic Voice

27 August 2025 , 15:12

The Civic Voice Board has announced the resignation of its Chief Executive, Rob Hattersley, from early November. Co Chair Robert Osborne said: “Since February 2025, Rob has done a tremendous of amount of work in resolving many basic financial and…

Civic Voice Directory

Civic Voice Directory

6 August 2025 , 07:05

We’ve launched our new Members’ Directory. Check it out to see the geographic spread of the civic movement in England – making places better together. Get in touch if:-

Refreshed Heritage Funding Directory

Refreshed Heritage Funding Directory

28 July 2025 , 16:50

The Heritage Alliance, of which Civic Voice is a member, has launched a refreshed funding directory which is free to use. Whether you’re seeking grants for conservation projects, community heritage initiatives, or organisational development, this directory will prove very useful.…

Our Place, Our Voice

Our Place, Our Voice

23 July 2025 , 07:42

Two years ago, the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke about the importance of oracy and committed to embedding it in the national curriculum. Now, in the lead up to the publication of the Curriculum and Assessment review, a coalition…

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NEWS FROM MEMBER SOCIETIES

Calls for Stop the Rot Campaign following devastating fire at Grade 1 Listed Woolton Hall

Calls for Stop the Rot Campaign following devastating fire at Grade 1 Listed Woolton Hall

28 August 2025 , 10:25

The recent fire at Woolton Hall* has caused severe structural damage, including the collapse of the roof and widespread destruction of the interior. This event represents a profound loss to Liverpool’s architectural legacy. Merseyside Civic Society, through its partnership with…

What if?

What if?

28 August 2025 , 08:14

This September Kingston Society will be encouraging residents to shape where they live and work as they explore the week-long What If? installation in central Kingston. Organised as part of both the London Design Festival’s annual series of city-wide events…

Protected Sycamore in Buxton’s Hogshaw Woods Targeted in ‘Sycamore Gap-Like’ Vandalism

Protected Sycamore in Buxton’s Hogshaw Woods Targeted in ‘Sycamore Gap-Like’ Vandalism

21 August 2025 , 12:12

A mature sycamore tree in Hogshaw Woods, owned and managed by local environmental and heritage charity Buxton Civic Association (BCA), has been deliberately vandalised in an incident the charity describes as “deeply disturbing” and “malicious.” During routine patrols on Tuesday…

Cheltenham Civic Society launches Battlefield Crosses museum website

Cheltenham Civic Society launches Battlefield Crosses museum website

5 August 2025 , 09:18

Cheltenham’s unique WWI Battlefield Crosses Museum – home to the surviving wooden grave-marker crosses of Cheltenham soldiers who fell on the battlefields of France and Belgium during the Great War – now has its own website thanks to sponsorship by…

Celebrating 10 Years of York’s ‘Planning Club’

Celebrating 10 Years of York’s ‘Planning Club’

16 July 2025 , 15:37

York Civic Trust has celebrated the 10th anniversary of its unique and award-winning heritage training initiative called ‘Planning Club’. In partnership with the University of York, it trains students to assess live planning applications and submit detailed recommendations to the local authority…

Wakefield Civic Society launches Architectural Photography Exhibition

Wakefield Civic Society launches Architectural Photography Exhibition

16 July 2025 , 10:50

Ever keen to boost the Society’s profile within the local community – and hopeful of recruiting new members – the Committee at Wakefield Civic Society have decided to run an architectural photography competition, inviting members of the public to submit…

Addingham to host regional summer meeting

Addingham to host regional summer meeting

25 June 2025 , 17:05

The Yorkshire & Humberside Association of Civic Societies (YHACS) is holding its Summer Members’ Meeting on Saturday 26th July. This time they’re off to the beautiful village of Addingham, which lies by the River Wharfe between Ilkley and Skipton. Hosts at Addingham…

Cash: a civic issue?

Cash: a civic issue?

25 June 2025 , 11:07

Steve Speakman of Manchester Civic Society writes about his campaign to re-introduce cash to local streets. France, Spain, the Netherlands and others have now legislated in various ways to protect the use of physical cash. In France it is illegal…

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REGIONAL CIVIC NETWORKS

Addingham to host regional summer meeting

Addingham to host regional summer meeting

25 June 2025 , 17:05

The Yorkshire & Humberside Association of Civic Societies (YHACS) is holding its Summer Members’ Meeting on Saturday 26th July. This time they’re off to the beautiful village of Addingham, which lies by the River Wharfe between Ilkley and Skipton. Hosts at Addingham…

Yorkshire and Humberside publish annual report

Yorkshire and Humberside publish annual report

2 May 2025 , 11:53

Yorkshire and Humberside Association of Civic Societies – YHACS for short – has published its annual report including activities, achievements and updates. The report can be downloaded as a pdf.

Yorkshire and Humberside election fever

Yorkshire and Humberside election fever

24 April 2025 , 06:38

Margaret Hicks-Clarke – Chair, Yorkshire and Humberside Association of Civic Societies As we arrive in Hull for our YHACS Spring Meeting you may detect a touch of election fever in the air. Devolution has arrived in Hull and East Riding,…

West Yorkshire Heritage Toolbox

West Yorkshire Heritage Toolbox

16 April 2025 , 07:38

West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Heritage Network, and Locality are excited to announce the launch of ‘Heritage Toolbox’ new support for heritage organisations, which may be of interest to Civic Societies. Heritage Toolbox is a skills and learning programme that aims to help organisations…

EXTERNAL NEWS

‘Pride in Place’: Councils empowered to drive high street regeneration

‘Pride in Place’: Councils empowered to drive high street regeneration

25 September 2025 , 13:07

The Government has unveiled a new initiative aimed at giving local communities more control over the regeneration of their struggling high streets and neighbourhoods, reports the LGA. Under the ‘Pride in Place’ scheme, councils will have greater powers to regulate…

Practical Hope Community Guides

Practical Hope Community Guides

25 September 2025 , 13:00

The TCPA is publishing new Community Planning Guides as part of its Practical Hope series. You are invited to join their launch webinar on Tuesday 21 October. The guides showcase community groups that are tackling the effects of climate change. By exploring…

Destructive Liverpool Street Station plans should be thrown out on sustainability grounds

Destructive Liverpool Street Station plans should be thrown out on sustainability grounds

28 August 2025 , 10:00

Specialist carbon report commissioned by the LISSCA (Liverpool Street Station Campaign) coalition finds that a 19-storey tower proposal over Liverpool Street Station breaches a significant number of national and local environmental policies. Network Rail and Acme architects’ controversial tower block…

Celebrate European Architectural Heritage Day

Celebrate European Architectural Heritage Day

27 August 2025 , 09:15

Join the IHBC NW at Chester Town Hall on 18th September for a day celebrating the 50th anniversary of the European Architectural Heritage Day. The day will spend some time looking back at how the world of conservation has evolved over the last 50…

CPRE hails changes to bill to protect nature

CPRE hails changes to bill to protect nature

13 August 2025 , 14:34

CPRE report that they are thrilled with some exciting campaign wins on the Planning & Infrastructure Bill this month. The organisation has been pushing for meaningful changes to the bill — calling for stronger protections for nature and protecting local…

Exploring the new Heritage Funding Directory

Exploring the new Heritage Funding Directory

8 August 2025 , 09:39

After months of research and development, The Heritage Alliance has successfully unveiled the refreshed Heritage Funding Directory, with support from sponsors Historic Houses Foundation, PixelFridge, and Architectural Heritage Fund. Due to the huge amount of interest and requests from those…

Heritage creates jobs and opportunities

Heritage creates jobs and opportunities

8 August 2025 , 09:35

Heritage is for everyone, says The Heritage Alliance, of which Civic Voice is a member. The sector offers genuine social mobility through accessible career routes that don’t require traditional academic qualifications, it employs people in all parts of the UK,…

It’s not just about building houses – communities need infrastructure to grow

It’s not just about building houses – communities need infrastructure to grow

4 August 2025 , 09:07

Referencing an original article by Harriet Grant last Sunday on The Guardian, “No shops, no schools’: homes in England built without basic amenities“, planners and developers need to engage landscape architects early, writes Carolin Göhler of The Landscape Institute in…

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CIVIC VIEWPOINTS

Cash: a civic issue?

Cash: a civic issue?

25 June 2025 , 11:07

Steve Speakman of Manchester Civic Society writes about his campaign to re-introduce cash to local streets. France, Spain, the Netherlands and others have now legislated in various ways to protect the use of physical cash. In France it is illegal…

Is the democratic process working with Local Authorities?

Is the democratic process working with Local Authorities?

15 May 2025 , 07:22

Derek Wilson, Chair, Maidenhead Civic Society Our society constantly responds to planning applications monthly, expressing views and concerns about local development schemes. However, the local planning authority does not consider the Civic Society a statutory consultee within the planning process.…

Yorkshire and Humberside election fever

Yorkshire and Humberside election fever

24 April 2025 , 06:38

Margaret Hicks-Clarke – Chair, Yorkshire and Humberside Association of Civic Societies As we arrive in Hull for our YHACS Spring Meeting you may detect a touch of election fever in the air. Devolution has arrived in Hull and East Riding,…

A view on the English Devolution White Paper

A view on the English Devolution White Paper

4 April 2025 , 08:55

Andrew Booton, Chairman, Stourport & Cheltenham Civic Societies While many of us were getting stuck into our Christmas shopping, the Government published its English Devolution white paper. English devolution has been a political anomaly for some years as Scotland, Northern…

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