Author Archives: Rob Lennox

About Rob Lennox

Currently studying at the University of York, investigating the transition in planning-led cultural heritage policy in the last two decades. I am using this blog to share the findings I make during my research with the hope of stimulating debate and increasing understanding of the implications of government policy on the historic environment in England. In particular, my research focuses on the ways in which the public engage with archaeology and the ways in which we as archaeologists or heritage professionals construct the processes of knowledge gathering, and to what ends. I hope that through this blog other interested parties will be able to influence and be influenced by my observations and findings as they occur in real-time, and that ultimately it will contribute to the overall understanding of the heritage sector.

Surveying professional attitudes towards heritage

As part of my PhD research I am currently rolling out a survey designed to be taken by professionals involved in a range of historic environment roles, particularly those who deal with the built heritage, from listed buildings, to historic … Continue reading

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Worrying cuts to York’s Historic Environment Services proposed

Last week I was in the City of York Council’s brand new West Offices building, a tasteful and modern refurbishment of a Grade 2* Listed former railway building. I was pleased by how well the building’s heritage had been treated … Continue reading

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Some half-formed thoughts on potential of Universities to affect change in archaeology.

On Friday I attended a discussion held by Martin Carver at the University of York which was well attended by representatives from across all branches of the profession, from English Heritage to commercial diggers. It’s purpose was to discuss the … Continue reading

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Is now the time for local heritage lists?

With the final NPPF now known and currently being digested by all interested parties, heritage practitioners can begin to think about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead (without relying on wild speculation about policy constraints). Historic environment NGOs must … Continue reading

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Heritage responses to the NPPF

So the National Planning Policy Framework has been released. Because there is so much commentary available at the moment (just see Andrew Lainton’s furious posting over the past 24 hours) I’m going to focus my attention on the implications of … Continue reading

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NPPF: On the outside

Since this will be my last blog before the National planning policy framework is set to be released, I thought I’d reflect on just how little we know going into the publication of the final document that is expected (although … Continue reading

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The NPPF Rumour Mill

The release of the National Planning Policy Framework is apparently imminent, and the rumour mill is churning! But what exactly ought we to believe? Newsnight stuck its neck out to say no major changes on Tuesday 6th, but today (Thursday … Continue reading

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Assessing landscape in the NPPF and European Landscape Convention

In the context of the recent debate over the NPPF I have wondered just how one ought to reconcile the government’s proposed policy emphasis for the spatial planning system with existing (indeed ongoing) commitments to the management of landscapes under … Continue reading

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The war over planning reform

One of the most distressing terms to any political pragmatist must surely be ‘u-turn’; a u-turn is what any politician, party, or government do when they change their stances or opinions, or alter policies – at all, seemingly. The media … Continue reading

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Communities and Local Government Committee report on the NPPF

The National Planning Policy Framework is in the news again today as the CLG Select Committee published its report on the policy, siding with the National Trust, CPRE, IfA and CBA in criticising its ‘confusing’ ‘vague’ ‘unbalanced’ and ‘unsustainable’ language … Continue reading

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