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NEWS FROM CIVIC VOICE

Government consultation: Draft Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance closes 10 March 2026

Government consultation: Draft Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance closes 10 March 2026

3 March 2026 , 10:46
The Government has opened a consultation on a new, consolidated Draft Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance (PPG). It is the second major planning consultation issued since December 2025 and is intended to sit alongside, and help implement, the proposed…
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Civic Voice Conference: Liverpool on Friday 17 April 2026

Civic Voice Conference: Liverpool on Friday 17 April 2026

25 February 2026 , 07:09
Civic Voice has published details of its forthcoming events programme, confirming that this year’s Civic Voice Conference will take place in Liverpool on Friday 17 April 2026. 9:30am–5:00pm The conference will be held aboard the Daffodil, a former Mersey ferry…
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Civic Voice sets out a renewed, volunteer-led future to strengthen the civic movement across England

Civic Voice sets out a renewed, volunteer-led future to strengthen the civic movement across England

9 February 2026 , 19:26
The Board of Civic Voice has today announced a significant and positive evolution in the organisation’s future operations, following a period of careful reflection and engagement with its membership. Having considered a range of options and listened closely to member…
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National Planning Policy Framework consultation – Civic Voice summary

National Planning Policy Framework consultation – Civic Voice summary

16 January 2026 , 10:42
The Government has issued another consultation, National Planning Policy Framework: Plan-making and national decision-making policies. The consultation comprises two main documents, one of 123 pages and another of 127 pages, together with a questionnaire comprising 223 questions. The National Planning…
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Reforms to the statutory consultee system – Civic Voice response

Reforms to the statutory consultee system – Civic Voice response

4 January 2026 , 15:05
Civic Voice has submitted a response to the latest consultation from MHCLG. You read our full response here. Our Expert Panel prepared this response and expressed concern at the abolition of Sports England as a statutory consultee and the failure…
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The future of Civic Voice

The future of Civic Voice

29 December 2025 , 10:32
The meetings in November showed clear support for Civic Voice to continue, initially as a volunteer run body whilst a review is undertaken of how to revitalise the organisation. The Board now feel confident that we can demonstrate that Civic…
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New Towns in 2025: a promise for the future without a strategy for the present

New Towns in 2025: a promise for the future without a strategy for the present

29 October 2025 , 08:27
The government has indicated that it will seek to promote housebuilding through new towns. The development of new towns is a long-term process and, in most cases, will only lead to the completion of additional housing in at least five…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
Read More
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.
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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,…
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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…
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EXTERNAL NEWS

Government consultation: Draft Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance closes 10 March 2026

Government consultation: Draft Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance closes 10 March 2026

3 March 2026 , 10:46
The Government has opened a consultation on a new, consolidated Draft Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance (PPG). It is the second major planning consultation issued since December 2025 and is intended to sit alongside, and help implement, the proposed…
Read More
National Planning Policy Framework consultation – Civic Voice summary

National Planning Policy Framework consultation – Civic Voice summary

16 January 2026 , 10:42
The Government has issued another consultation, National Planning Policy Framework: Plan-making and national decision-making policies. The consultation comprises two main documents, one of 123 pages and another of 127 pages, together with a questionnaire comprising 223 questions. The National Planning…
Read More
‘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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
Read More
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.…
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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,…
Read More
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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