LATEST NEWS

NEWS FROM CIVIC VOICE

Budget backs small high-street businesses but leaves historic buildings paying the price

Budget backs small high-street businesses but leaves historic buildings paying the price

30 October 2026 , 10:06

Civic Voice welcomes the Chancellor’s support for town centres. It also regrets that the Budget once again does nothing to address VAT on historic and listed building works. Repairing and adapting historic buildings still generally carries VAT at 20%, while…

AGM 21 November – trustee nominations sought

AGM 21 November – trustee nominations sought

27 October 2026 , 16:20

Are you ambitious for the civic movement? Can you help us to achieve our aims? We are looking for people to join the board of trustees at Civic Voice. We want to hear from people with a passion for the…

A New Chapter for Civic Voice: Our Mission and Values

A New Chapter for Civic Voice: Our Mission and Values

5 September 2026 , 10:10

The approval of Civic Voice’s new Articles of Association at the recent EGM marks an important moment for the organisation. Alongside the new Articles, we have also agreed a clear mission and set of values to guide Civic Voice and…

Civic Voice Members Approve Updated Articles of Association

Civic Voice Members Approve Updated Articles of Association

3 September 2026 , 15:32

Members of Civic Voice have approved updated Articles of Association, following the Extraordinary General Meeting held on 18 July 2026. The Articles are the formal governing document for Civic Voice. They set out our charitable purpose, how the organisation is…

Important Notice: Civic Voice’s Official Website

Important Notice: Civic Voice’s Official Website

3 September 2026 , 15:16

We would like to remind all Civic Voice members, civic societies and supporters that our official website is civicvoice.org.uk. A separate and unrelated website using a similar name — civicvoiceuk.org — has recently come to our attention. We are making…

Statement from Civic Voice on Local Government Reorganisation

Statement from Civic Voice on Local Government Reorganisation

5 August 2026 , 18:16

The Government's announcement on Local Government Reorganisation starts to provide much-needed clarity about the direction of travel, even though important details remain to be determined in most areas.

Civic Day 2026

Civic Day 2026

5 August 2026 , 18:08

Earlier in the year, Civic Voice invited its members to “fix one thing” for Civic Day. Was there a community bench in need of some TLC, an overgrown public garden in need of weeding or person in need of more…

Civic Voice: Press Release / Briefing on Neighbourhood Guarantees

Civic Voice: Press Release / Briefing on Neighbourhood Guarantees

17 June 2026 , 15:29

The government in a press release on 21 May launched a neighbourhood guarantee scheme. It stated “Communities are set to benefit from clear expectations around the level of public services they should expect to see in their area, under bold…

1 2 … 6 7 Next »

NEWS FROM MEMBER SOCIETIES

Civic Voice: Press Release / Briefing on Neighbourhood Guarantees

Civic Voice: Press Release / Briefing on Neighbourhood Guarantees

17 June 2026 , 15:29

The government in a press release on 21 May launched a neighbourhood guarantee scheme. It stated “Communities are set to benefit from clear expectations around the level of public services they should expect to see in their area, under bold…

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…

1 2 … 4 5 Next »

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

Budget backs small high-street businesses but leaves historic buildings paying the price

Budget backs small high-street businesses but leaves historic buildings paying the price

30 October 2026 , 10:06

Civic Voice welcomes the Chancellor’s support for town centres. It also regrets that the Budget once again does nothing to address VAT on historic and listed building works. Repairing and adapting historic buildings still generally carries VAT at 20%, while…

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…

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…

‘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…

1 2 … 5 6 Next »

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…

Search, subscribe or submit news

SUBMIT NEWS

We welcome relevant news items from our members or partners. We retain discretion over publication.

CIVIC UPDATE

Sign up to CIVIC UPDATE for a summary of recent posts every few weeks, right in your inbox.

You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in each email, and we will never share your details externally.

CONTACT

Email: info@civicvoice.org.uk

Civic Voice

70 Cowcross Street

London

EC1M 6EJ

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT

GOVERNANCE DETAILS

Charity registration number in England & Wales: 1134476

Company number: 07142946

Privacy Policy