BEFS Bulletin 393: Built environment news, blogs and hustings!

Plenty of coffee break reading in this week’s bulletin as we publish two brand new blogs!

Out now – the seventh in BEFS Joining the Dots Series! For this edition Katherine Pollard from the Scottish Land Commission explores how land reform connects to housing, high streets, retrofit and community empowerment. Drawing on the ScotLand Futures initiative Katherine outlines three priorities: opening new land opportunities, rebalancing power for public good, and shaping change locally. The good news? Many of the powers already exist. Read more here.

In October last year as part of BE-ST FEST, representatives from across the built environment came together to discuss how to better address the skills challenges the sector faces, by working together – a priority identified in the Skills Investment Plan for the Historic Environment (SIP). Reporting on outcomes of the Building Connections event this blog has been co-authored by the SIP delivery sub group with a remit for Architecture, Engineering, Planning and Surveying, which is made up of representatives from Built Environment Forum Scotland, the Chartered Institute of Building, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. The discussions held were an important step, but are only the beginning of a broader collaborative effort. Over the coming months, partners across the sector will work together to publish a collective statement that unifies the sector’s commitment and asks of others. Read the article to view a draft and add your organisation to the signatories here.

The devastating fire that brought down the Category B listed building at 101-115 Union Street in Glasgow has sent shockwaves across the country, generating discourse about how we look after Scotland’s historic buildings and places beyond the usual sphere of our sector. Occurrences such as last week’s fire are a stark reminder of how easy it is to take our built heritage for granted; retention, continued use, and protection of these buildings go hand in hand with safety regulations, technical guidance, research and skills:
A Scottish Government consultation on Scottish Building Regulations: Fire Safety review and Compliance: Call for Evidence is currently live, and seeks views and opinions of stakeholders on a review of building standards and guidance relating to fire safety, including work on the compliance plan approach to the design and construction of domestic and non domestic buildings. Previously BEFS has participated in a Scottish Government consultation to advocate for appropriate actions to protect human life in the retention and protection of historic buildings that have been converted into hotels and can be read here.
For further reading, Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) Short Guide 14: Fire Safety Management in Traditional Buildings for Dutyholders is intended to help those with responsibilities for historic buildings understand their duties in fire safety management, and to provide practical guidance for complying with the requirements of Scotland’s fire safety legislation. Their Managing Change in the Historic Environment: Fire and Historic Buildings document is part of a series of guidance sets out the principles of fire safety in historic buildings.

A new report, From Local to Global: The Power of Heritage in a Changing World, has just been published. Produced by The Heritage Alliance with the support of Europa Nostra UK and World Monuments Fund Britain, the report demonstrates how the UK’s heritage sector strengthens international relationships through shared expertise, cultural diplomacy, and global collaboration. From climate resilience and skills exchange to community cohesion, the report draws on more than 30 case studies to show what’s already been achieved and what could be possible with greater investment and support.

SAVE Britain’s Heritage has launched its 2026 call for entries to the Buildings at Risk register. The organisation is actively seeking nominations for buildings at risk throughout Scotland, recognising this as a gap in their current register coverage. While there is no strict deadline for nominations, SAVE Britain’s Heritage will conduct research over the next few months to add selected buildings to the register in June 2026. The Buildings at Risk register highlights historic buildings that are vacant and whose future is uncertain, raising awareness and providing a platform to advocate for their retention and reuse. Nominations can be made online at savebritainsheritage.org.

Congratulations go out to BEFS Members The Scottish Historic Buildings Trust and the National Trust for Scotland, who have been shortlisted for the Museums & Heritage Awards 2026, Partnership of the Year. Alongside the Bernat Klein Foundation, this recognition for the important safeguarding work being carried out, as part of the Bernat Klein Studio Coalition, is important and well deserved.

And last, but very much not least, BEFS is pleased to announce the date for a pre-election hustings. Taking place on Tuesday 7 April, 2-4pm, the event will be chaired by Jocelyne Fleming, Scottish Policy and Public Affairs Lead for the Chartered Institute of Building in Scotland. The purpose of the hustings event is to bring together BEFS Members, wider stakeholders within the built environment sector, and political party representatives to share and discuss built environment policy positions and priorities for the next term of the Scottish Parliament, in the context of a 2026 Manifesto produced by BEFS.

Representatives of six political parties with candidates standing for the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections will participate in this event, including two former Scottish Government Ministers, to respond to the BEFS Manifesto and to answer questions from BEFS Members and stakeholders around five priority themes identified in Manifesto consultations:

• Culture and Heritage

• Climate Emergency and Net Zero

• Repair, Maintenance and Retrofit

• Training and Skills

• Planning and Place-making

This hustings event is kindly hosted by BEFS Member the Royal Incorporation of Chartered Surveyors.

If you work with the built environment, please do consider signing up. The event is free to attend: you can book your in-person place here, or register to join online.

 

Onshore Electricity Generation: Increasing threshold for applications under The Electricity Act
Scottish Government
This consultation seeks views on increasing the 50 MW threshold which determines whether applications for onshore electricity generating stations are decided by Scottish Ministers or by the relevant planning authority.
Closes 27 March 2026

New Inventory of Living Heritage – Expression of Interest
Living Heritage in the UK
Following ratification of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the UK government invites communities to nominate their own cultural traditions for the inventories of living heritage in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Categories include oral expressions, performing arts, social practices, nature/land/spirituality, crafts, sport/games, and culinary practices.
Closes 27 March 2026

Fair Funding in the Voluntary Sector
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
Voluntary sector bodies are invited by SCVO to complete a survey sharing their views on and experiences with the current funding landscape and its impact on the provision of organisational services and projects. The results of the survey, which takes an estimated five minutes to complete, will be anonymised. The outcomes will be used by SCVO to continue to advocate for fair funding practices, including provision of multi-year grants of three years or more with flexible core funding and inflation-based uplifts.
*NEW* Closes 31 March 2026

The Big Think: Place
UK Heritage Pulse
Sector-wide surveys organised by the UK Heritage Pulse, a research consortium convened by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England, will explore how heritage organisations work with place and what ‘place-based heritage’ means in practice. Monthly surveys on the theme will run in January, February and March and are open to all heritage organisations.
Closes 31 March 2026

Scottish Building Regulations: Fire Safety review and Compliance: Call for Evidence
Scottish Government
This consultation seeks to obtain the views and opinions of stakeholders on a review of building standards and guidance relating to fire safety, including work on the compliance plan approach, to help ensure the safety of people in and around Scotland’s buildings. The consultation covers three main areas: the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report recommendations on fire safety, including a fundamental review of Section 2 (Fire) of the Technical Handbooks; the compliance plan manager; and the compliance plan approach. The proposed review and changes outlined in the consultation aim to improve safety for the design and construction of all domestic and non-domestic buildings, making them safer for those in and around buildings, particularly relating to fire safety and in the event of an outbreak of a building fire when considering the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report recommendations. The consultation paper contains full background information.
Closes 10 April 2026

Accelerating home-building in Scotland
Scottish Government
This consultation seeks views on possible measures to accelerate the build-out of housing in Scotland, including mechanisms to stimulate the build-out of housing sites with planning permission. Options include land assembly, build-out rates, and fiscal measures. Follows commitment in Housing Emergency Action Plan to extend planning consultation to cover measures for SMEs and increase volume of delivery.
Closes 30 April 2026

Draft Infrastructure Strategy 2027-2037
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government wants Scotland’s infrastructure to be planned and delivered in a way that supports Net Zero, environmental sustainability, inclusive economic growth, and resilient and sustainable places. The ambition is to create a system that makes best use of existing assets, embraces innovation, and ensures investment decisions deliver long-term public value.  However, delivering infrastructure is not without challenges. To meet these challenges, the strategy focuses on three key enablers that can help turn strategic ambition into practical outcomes, ensuring investment choices deliver long-term public value: public assets, place-making and private investment. The consultation paper contains full background information for respondents.
Closes 5 May 2026

Heat networks – installation and maintenance licence
Scottish Government
A consultation seeking views on proposals for an installation and maintenance licence for heat networks, which puts forward an opt-in installation and maintenance licence under the Buildings (Heating and Energy Performance) and Heat Networks (Scotland) Bills replacing the mandatory licensing regime in the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021. It would grant rights and powers similar to other utilities (gas, electricity) such as carrying out road works, surveys and the compulsory purchase of land. The proposed changs aim to improve the pace and scale of heat networks’ installation and maintenance to contribute to net zero targets.
*NEW* Closes 5 June 2026

 

News Releases

New SPAB programme to support historic Scottish churches (SPAB 06/02/2026)

Buildings at Risk register (BaR) – Call for Entries 2026 (SAVE Britain’s Heritage 16/02/2026)

New introductory film on the National Collection of Aerial Photography (HES March 2026)

Scottish Charity Awards 2026 (SCVO March 2026)

Scotland’s Heritage Hub: A Gateway to Scotland’s Past (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland March 2026)

Near £4 million awarded to revitalise Girvan, Govan, and Tarbert (HES 09/03/2026)

Hub selects 10 new Local Good Practices across Europe from Open Call (European Heritage Hub 09/03/2026)

Society Launches Virtual Issues of 170-Year-Old Journal (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 12/03/2026)

Why now is the moment to join the Architecture and Design Scotland Board (A&DS 13/03/2026)

European Cultural Heritage Summit 2026 programme announced (Europa Nostra 13/03/2026)

Town centre ‘heritage gems’ to be restored with £7m of lottery funds (BBC 17/02/2026)

 

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust Strategy 2026-29: Our Future at Fifty (SHBT January 2026)

CROSS Safety Report: Higher Risk Building residents’ concerns about safety not heard (CROSS UK 20/01/2026)

A Middle Bronze Age settlement near Mauchline, East Ayrshire (Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports February 2026)

The need to re-focus on housing conditions: Introducing the Housing Stewardship Framework (CaCHE 24/02/2026)

Planifesto Thinkpiece: Housing ambition to delivery (RTPI Scotland 02/03/2026)

Country of Origin Report 2025 (Registers of Scotland 10/03/2026)

Case study: The Work of Westhill and Elrick Community Council in Aberdeenshire (Community Councils Scotland 11/03/2026)

Scottish Parliament elections 2026: boundaries and voting system (DeHavilland 12/03/2026)

The Big Think: Place (February 2026) (UK Heritage Pulse 16/03/2026)

 

Scottish & UK: Governmental & Parliamentary Publications

 

Motions

S6M-21018
Submitted by: Alexander Stewart, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 09/03/2026
That the Parliament welcomes the delivery of construction pathways at Stirling and Balfron high schools, which features Build Your Future events to inspire the next generation to consider a career in the sector; notes that creating a pathway into roofing with the introduction of a National 5 in Creative Industries Roof Slating has directly resulted in a young person from Stirling High School being offered an apprenticeship with local company Old Plean Roofing; understands that this was delivered in collaboration with the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, Historic Environment Scotland, Scottish Traditional Building Forum and Stirling Council; understands that the creation and continued evolution of the construction pathways will assist young people to make informed decisions about their career choices, while ensuring parity of esteem with other subject choices; congratulates the organisations, schools, staff and students for participating in the pilots; and wishes all concerned best wishes for their future careers.
Supported by: Sharon Dowey, Paul Sweeney, Tess White

 

Dr Jocelyne Fleming: She built this city… or, at least, she could (Scottish Construction Now 26/02/2026)

Centre of excellence tipped to enhance traditional and heritage skills (Project Scotland 05/03/2026)

Glasgow Central station fire again shows vulnerability of city’s older buildings (The Guardian 09/03/2026)

Why do Glasgow’s historic buildings keep burning down? (The National 09/03/2026)

John Swinney signals ‘willingness’ to support council financially in dealing with the consequences of Glasgow blaze (The Holyrood Magazine 09/03/2026)

Anas Sarwar reveals plans for a pothole fund to fix 5m holes (Glasgow Times 09/03/2026)

‘Ugly, unloved and an environmental drain, but Brutalist Argyle House is worth saving’ (Edinburgh Inquirer 10/03/2026)

Calls for more historic buildings protections as ‘treasure’ lost (The Herald 10/03/2026)

Director’s Blog: Scotland Moves Beyond Growth to Create Landmark Community Wealth Building Bill (WEAll Scotland 11/03/2026)

Almost a decade after Grenfell, my flat still isn’t safe (BBC News 16/03/2026)

Society raising £1.5m to buy historic Edinburgh property (BBC News 17/03/2026)

 

Events

AHSS – Sarah Jane Storrie: Heritage with Purpose; Adaptive Reuse and Community-Centred Design
Date & Time: Thursday 19 March 2026; 7:30-8:30pm
Location: St Andrew’s West Church & Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4JP
Note: Lecture will also be live-streamed via Zoom
Join Sarah Jane Storrie, a founding director at Studio SJM Architects, as she shares insights gained from over twenty years of experience in the adaptive reuse of historic structures. Holding RIAS Conservation Accreditation since 2013, she examines how careful conservation and repair partnered with imaginative and pragmatic adaptive reuse of heritage assets, can act as a catalyst for regeneration and benefit the wider community in terms of tangible and intangible heritage.

Under One Roof – Taking Care of Your Tenement: Drop-In Q&A Session with Glasgow City Heritage Trust
Date & Time: Thursday 19 March 2026; 5:30-7pm
Location: Kinning Park Complex, 43 Cornwall Street, Glasgow G41 1BA
Join Glasgow City Heritage Trust (GCHT) and Under One Roof for a drop-in Q&A session aimed at anyone who wants to learn more about maintaining and repairing a historic tenement. This is a chance to bring your questions and speak one-to-one with the experts. Whether you have a specific issue to discuss or just want to have a quick chat about looking after your tenement, please stop by. If you do have a specific building repair query, please bring photos so their teams can best assist you. This event is free, and questions will be answered on a first come/first serve basis. 

How Dundee Changed and Developed between the 1870s and 1970s
Date & Time: Thursday 19 March 2026; 7pm
Location: 17 Roseangle, Dundee, DD1 4LP
Dr Kenneth Baxter, a historian based at  Dundee University Archive Services, will explore the changes to Dundee’s built landscape over the course of a century. Dundee has attracted an infamous reputation for demolishing many of its most prominent buildings. Baxter will explore the economic, social, and political reasons for these demolitions. Importantly, Baxter will explain how the attitude of Dundonian citizens to their built environment changed over the years, and showcase how many of these demolitions were met positively at the time. This event is free.

Tron Steeple Project Celebration
Date & Time: Friday, 20 March; 5pm
Location: Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, Glasgow, G1 5HB
The Tron Theatre is celebrating the completion of the final stage of the Tron Steeple Project, which saw the restoration of and upgrades to Glasgow’s third-oldest building. The seventeenth-century steeple has survived two fires over the course of its history, and restoration works were instigated in 2024 with the help of Glasgow City Heritage Trust and Glasgow Institute of Architecture. This event will feature talks from Niall Murphy (Glasgow City Heritage Trust), the architect Scott Abercrombie on the history of the building, and the artist Kayleigh Sarah McGuinness who was commissioned to create a new sculpture commemorating the history of the steeple. This event is free but ticketed.

Aberdeen City Heritage Trust – Transatlantic Tradesmen: Aberdeen Granite Workers in North America
Date & Time: Tuesday 24 March 2026; 7-8pm
Location: Online
Part of the Aberdeen Heritage Lectures 2026 collection, Prof. Marjory Harper, University of Aberdeen discusses Transatlantic Tradesmen: Aberdeen Granite Workers in North America. Marjory Harper is Professor of History at the University of Aberdeen, and Visiting Professor at the Centre for History, University of the Highlands and Islands. She has devised and directed an award-winning online Master’s Programme in Scottish Heritage. Her research focuses on British (particularly Scottish) emigration since 1800. Two of her monographs have won international prizes, and she has published around 100 articles and book chapters. Aberdeen City Heritage Trust recognises the support of Historic Environment Scotland and Aberdeen City Council.

Heritage Network – North UK Mills Group – Tour of Preston Mill 
Date: Tuesday 24 March 2026; 10:30am-12:30pm
Location: Preston Mill, East Linton, EH40 3DS
Join the North UK Mills Group at Preston Mill to see this watermill grind grain for the first time in nearly 40 years. There has been a mill on site since the 16th century and the current structure dates to the 18th century. Fraser MacDonald of the National Trust for Scotland will explain the labour, skill, and technical work necessary to bring the millstones back to life.

Heritage Network – Heritage Works – Arts, Culture and Placemaking in a Historic City
Date & Time: Tuesday 24 March 2026; 9:30am-4:30pm
Location: The Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1
Against Edinburgh’s backdrop of medieval closes, Georgian crescents, and world-renowned arts and culture festivals and programming, the event shines a spotlight on the opportunities and challenges of cultivating thriving public realms rooted in heritage. Bringing together local authorities, heritage bodies, cultural practitioners, arts professionals, and community stakeholders, this symposium delves into the unique potential of historic cities; places where centuries of architectural legacy meet contemporary creative ambition. 

FuturHist & INTBAU – From Heritage to Energy Transition. How Active Systems Can Support Heritage Buildings 
Date & Time: Tuesday 24 March 2026; 10-11:30am
Location: Online via Zoom
This webinar will discuss active solutions with experts Federico Trentin (Eurac Research) and Marianna Muchorowska (Innsbruck University). They will highlight the key learnings from the deliverable “Conservation compatible solutions for HVAC and RES integration in Historic Buildings“.
Register here.

SHSMG – Is There Hope for Social Media in the Heritage Sector? | Final SHSMG Event
Date & Time: Wednesday 25 March 2026; 3-4pm
Location: Online via Zoom
After running for ten years, the Scottish Heritage Social Media Group is coming to an end, but not before leaving on a positive note with a group of speakers who will explain why they’re optimistic about the future of social media in the heritage sector. There will be speakers from the National Library of Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland and National Museums Scotland.

RIAS BookshopLATES – Glasgow from Above
Date & Time: Thursday 2 April 2026; 6:30-7:30pm
Location: RIAS Bookshop, 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh EH1 2BE
Come along to the RIAS Bookshop to explore the architectural and industrial heritage of 21st-century Glasgow. Architect Rosalie Menon discusses her recent book, ‘Glasgow from Above’, with Chris Stewart PPRIAS.

BEFS Pre-Election Hustings 2026
Date & Time: Tuesday 7 April 2026; 2-4pm
Location: Royal Incorporation of Chartered Surveyors, Scotland (hybrid event – in-person and online options available)
BEFS pre-election hustings bringing together BEFS Members, built environment stakeholders, and political party representatives to discuss built environment policy positions and priorities for the next Scottish Parliament term, in the context of the 2026 BEFS Manifesto. Representatives from six political parties with candidates standing for the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections will participate, including two former Scottish Government Ministers, responding to the BEFS Manifesto and answering questions around five priority themes: Culture and Heritage; Climate Emergency and Net Zero; Repair, Maintenance and Retrofit; Training and Skills; Planning and Place-making. Chaired by Jocelyne Fleming, Scottish Policy and Public Affairs Lead for the Chartered Institute of Building in Scotland. Kindly hosted by BEFS Member the Royal Incorporation of Chartered Surveyors. Free to attend. Book in-person place here or register to join online.

AHSS – Dominic Echlin & Thomas Hamilton – Extending the National Gallery of Scotland  
Date & Time: Monday 13 April 2026; 6:30-7:30pm
Location: Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL (wheelchair accessible)
Note: Lecture will also be streamed online via Zoom
Dominic Echlin, structural engineer, and Thomas Hamilton, architect, will share with us some of the challenges associated with the construction of the new Scottish Galleries at the National Gallery of Scotland at the Mound. Tickets available from Eventbrite or on the door, subject to availability: £6 / students £2

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland – PALaEoScot: New Approaches to Scotland’s Oldest Archaeology
Date & Time: Thursday 16 April 2026; 6-8pm 
Location: Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL
This lecture will present the latest results of the PALaEoScot project, a research initiative from the University of Aberdeen centred on the use of archaeo-ecological approaches to explore the low visibility archaeology of Late Pleistocene Scotland and its recolonisation as glaciers retreated. The latest evidence for Scotland’s Ice Age people will be explored, along with their continental connections, the landscapes they encountered, and the fearsome beasts they shared their world with.

RTPI – Scottish Young Planners’ Conference 2026
Date & Time: Friday 24 April 2026
Location: Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AS
This year’s Scottish Young Planners’ Conference will explore planning’s critical role in tackling the climate and nature crises. The conference will feature a variety of speakers who will provide critical insights, share best practice examples, and lead practical workshop sessions to enhance delegates’ awareness, knowledge and skills on a range of topics.

AHF 50^th Anniversary Exhibition
Date & Time: 30 April – 16 May in Glasgow, 23 June – 11 July in Cardiff, 21 October – 4 November in London; Times TBC
Location: Glasgow, Cardiff, London
To celebrate our 50th anniversary, we have put together an exhibition, 50 Years of Reimagining Heritage, which tells the story of the difference heritage reuse can make in people’s lives and in communities. Across the year, our exhibition will travel to each part of the UK, with openings in Belfast, Glasgow, Cardiff and London. We hope by showcasing these extraordinary stories to inspire more people to get involved in saving local historic buildings to improve places, empower people, and secure a sustainable future for built heritage.

RIAS BookshopLATES – Professor Susan Roaf
Date & Time: Thursday 30 April 2026; 6:30-7:30pm
Location: RIAS Bookshop, 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh EH1 2BE
The RIAS Bookshop and SEDA invite you to join Professor Susan Roaf for a discussion of the research behind her new book ‘Adaptive Thermal Comfort: At the Extremes’ with architect Gloria Lo.

SURF – Shared Learning Workshops
Dates & Times: Thursday 7 – Thursday 28 May 2026; 10am-2pm
Location: Various; see individual events below
A series of SURF Award Shared Learning Workshops will take place in May. At these events attendees will have the opportunity to learn from SURF Award winners and highly commended projects, before opening to a wider policy discussion with national partners. The 4 workshops are:

• Removing barriers to employability (7 May, Edinburgh)

• Housing led regeneration initiatives (14 May, Edinburgh)

• Place-based regeneration approaches (21 May, Govan)

• Taking a creative approach to regeneration (28 May, Glasgow)

SAVE THE DATE/EARLY BOOKING OPEN NOW/APPLICATIONS INVITED

Open Call: FuturHist Retrofit Academy – master historic building retrofitting
Location: Online then Krakow
Join an international cohort of experts in the FuturHist Retrofit Academy to master the energy transition of our built heritage. This two-stage programme, co-organised by the FuturHist Horizon Europe project partners offers specialised training on high-performance energy efficiency and innovative conservation-compatible solutions. The programme includes a free 6-week e-learning course (starting April 20) and an exclusive Summer Academy in Krakow for top performers (September 2026). Gain competitive expertise and future-proof your career in the sustainable heritage sector.
Deadline: Saturday 18 April 2026

Archaeology Scotland – 2026 Summer School 
Date & Time: Tuesday 19 – Friday 22 May 2026
Location: Corran Esplanade, Oban, Argyll, PA34 5PZ
The 2026 Summer School will explore the archaeology of Lorn’s glens and coast. The event, open to members and non-members, features guided tours of Neolithic to Reformation sites.

IHBC – Annual School 2026 Newcastle I Adaptive Reuse 
Date & Time: Thursday 18 – Saturday 20 June 2026
Location: Newcastle-upon-Tyne (In Person and Online)
The IHBC Annual School in Newcastle explores the theme of Adaptive Reuse through inspiring tours, expert talks, and networking opportunities across this 3-day programme, starting on Thursday with CPD Study Tours of iconic sites including the Byker Wall and Ouseburn, followed by a Welcome Reception at the Baltic Centre. Friday’s Day School, available in-person or online features specialist speakers at the Grade II* listed Common Room, and an Exhibitor Hub. The weekend concludes with the Annual Dinner and Awards at the Royal Station Hotel, followed by study tours on the Saturday for Full School delegates. Booking now open.

Heritage Network Conference 2026
Date & Time: Sunday 27 September – Tuesday 29 September
Location: Belfast & Armagh
The conference emphasis is on the impact of community-led heritage on people and places, explored through the experience of heritage regeneration in our host towns and cities and beyond. As well as a day of compelling presentations, lively discussions and networking, Conference includes tours and visits to fascinating historic sites and ground-breaking projects.

 

Training

Planning Aid Scotland – Community Engagement Skills Training Edinburgh
Date & Time: Wednesday 25 March 2026; 10am-3:30pm
Location: The Crannie, 9 Cranston Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BE
This is an interactive workshop on community engagement and how to use the SP=EED framework. The trainers bring extensive community engagement and facilitation expertise to help develop your skills, knowledge, and confidence as a community engagement practitioner. Learn how to undertake meaningful engagement that achieves positive outcomes for communities and projects alike. Discover useful tips and practical tools to help you lead your engagement work with confidence and ease. Engage in a range of different learning techniques to think creatively about engagement. Connect with fellow engagement practitioners, share experiences, and learn from each other in a safe, collaborative setting.

SLCT – Repairing Traditional Masonry Structures
Date & Time: Thursday 26 March 2026; 9:30am-4:30pm
Location: Merryhill Training Centre, 2 Rocks Road, Charlestown, Fife KY11 3EN
This one day workshop covers the construction and appropriate repair of traditional masonry structures such as culverts, tunnels, light houses, viaducts, canals, harbours, retaining walls, piers and masonry arch bridges. These structures contribute so much to the richness of our built heritage and many are still in use after 200+ years. But in many cases, we are asking these structures to outperform any of the expectations that their original designers intended, which can leave us with various ‘headaches’ to deal with, without spoiling their beautiful aesthetics. There are now a wide range of lime and natural cement binders along with additives that can be used to emulate both the technical and aesthetic performance of original mortars in repair schemes from re-pointing to stitching cracks and grouting structures to secure them. Download full course description here (PDF)

The Engine Shed – Scottish Roofing: Materials and Practices
Date & Time: Tuesday 31 March 2026; 9:30am-4pm
Location: Hybrid – The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling, FK8 1QZ and Online
Natural slate, lead and iron have been used to cover (and sometimes decorate) traditional Scottish buildings for generations. These three morning talks will introduce you to the methods and materials traditionally used in Scotland for roofing, followed by a discussion on the prospects for reopening Scotland’s first working slate quarry since the 1950s. A networking lunch will provide you with the opportunity to continue discussions and explore the Engine Shed. In the afternoon, the speakers will lead a walking tour around Stirling’s Old Town to observe a wide range of roof repair and conservation issues. Cost: £85 for the in person full day learning experience; £30 for virtual attendance.

SLCT – Surface Repair of Stone
Date & Time: Tuesday 14 & Wednesday 15 April 2026; 9:30am-4:30pm
Location: Merryhill Training Centre, Charlestown, Dunfermline, Fife KY12 3DR
This course will teach you how to carry out a successful surface stone repair with an understanding of the materials and when and where it may be appropriate. In many cases, simple surface repairs can be less intrusive and a suitable alternative to replacing masonry units with new stone. This course is designed to ensure successful surface repairs to flat work, angles, corners and moulded details. The decay mechanisms of stone will be discussed and consideration of the factors that should be taken into account when deciding if a surface repair is a suitable alternative to replacement with new stone. This course is aimed at those working within the construction industry who have had practical building experience and trowel skills.

SLCT – C1 Making and Using Traditional Mortars
Date & Time: Monday 20 & Tuesday 21 April 2026; 9:30am-4:30pm
Location: Merryhill Training Centre, Charlestown, Dunfermline, Fife KY12 3DR
This practical workshop will provide attendees with a strong understanding of lime technology and how to approach re-pointing work in traditional buildings. The reasons for using traditional mortars on solid walls will also be explained, to allow you to better advise your clients. The course will guide participants to be able to complete repointing work to traditional buildings to a high standard. The content of this workshop provides the underpinning knowledge required for assessment and accreditation of SQA National Unit H8WT45 – Prepare and Mix Traditional Lime Mortars
Full course description

The Engine Shed – Conserving Timberwork and Timber Windows
Date & Time: Wednesday 22 April 2026; 9:30am-4pm
Location: Hybrid – The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling, FK8 1QZ and Online
Three morning talks will examine the wealth of timberwork in Scotland’s traditional buildings, from major structural features like joists and rafters, to delicate finishing details like skirting boards, mouldings and panelling.  How these features should be repaired, maintained and conserved will also be covered and there will be a discussion on ways to repair traditional simple sash and case windows. A networking lunch will provide you with the opportunity to continue discussions and explore the Engine Shed. In the afternoon, there will be guided tours of Stirling’s Church of the Holy Rude and the nearby Great Hall of Stirling Castle to inspect their remarkable timber roof structures – one being ancient and the other of recent construction. Cost: £85 for the in person full day learning experience; £30 for virtual attendance.

Icon Scotland – Glass Bonding and Filling Workshop
Date & Time: Tuesday 28 – Thursday 30 April 2026; 10am-5pm (28^th) and 9am-5pm (29^th & 30^th)
Location: The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ
This 3-day Workshop is aimed at conservators with previous knowledge but little experience of glass conservation, being objects or stained glass. The course will cover theory about glass degradation, conservation issues, conservation materials and techniques, and hands-on sessions on handling, bonding, mould making and filling flat glass and vessel glass surrogates. At the end of the workshop, participants will have a clear idea of common glass conservation issues, and options and strategies for their conservation.

Introduction to Building Conservation
Date & Time: Monday 1 – Friday 5 June 2026; 9:30am – 4pm
Location: The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
Five-day intensive course delivered by Historic Environment Scottish conservation professionals are exploring traditional building skills and materials used in conservation and repair projects throughout the Scottish built environment. It includes lectures, activities, and site visits to Stirling Old Town, Doune Castle, Glasgow Cathedral, and Glasgow Necropolis. Topics include approaches to conserving/repairing traditional buildings; stone, lime, slate and lead; climate change effects on heritage; and maintaining Scotland’s castles. Bursaries are available for third-year students/recent graduates in building-related subjects (architecture, surveying, engineering, planning) – apply by 9am Tuesday 7 April 2026 to technicaleducation@hes.scot. Successful applicants contacted by Friday 15 May 2026. This course is suitable for graduates, heritage professionals, building practitioners, and anyone responsible for a traditional building.

Vacancies

RIAS – Bookshop & Venue Programme Manager
Salary: £16,800–£18,000 (FTE £28,000–£30,000)
Status: Part-time, 21 hours per week
Location: 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) is seeking an organised, commercially aware Bookshop and Venue Programme Manager to support engagement with members and the wider public. This part-time role combines management of the RIAS online Bookshop with the delivery of book-related events and small-scale visual arts exhibitions. Read the full job description here. Please send your application to recruitment@rias.org.uk or by post to RIAS, 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, EH1 2BE
Closing date: Tuesday 14 April 2026

Members – Board of Architecture and Design Scotland
Remuneration: A daily rate of £196.16 per day, providing a yearly remuneration of £4,708; plus reasonable expenses.
Status: Approx 2 days a month (24 days per year). This appointment will be for up to 4 years in the first instance.
Location: Edinburgh
Do you want to shape the strategic direction of Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS) as it begins a new chapter of transformation and increased impact? Following a recent government review, A&DS is entering an exciting new chapter. Alongside its continuing actions to champion good design, A&DS will now play a new role to support and develop Scotland’s architecture and design workforce, growing the collective capacity and harnessing the value of design. Scottish Ministers now seek to appoint up to three Board Members who will be key to A&DS delivering the review outcomes and the new ambitions. Members will provide support to the Board Chair, help to steer the organisation’s strategic direction and ensure robust governance in times of reform and change. The role involves strategic thinking, providing vision, inspiration and constructive challenge and the ability to hold others to account. Hear directly from Mr. Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs, and Culture, about External Affairs and Culture, on these roles and their importance. You can view his short message by clicking on this link. For more information or an informal discussion, please contact Jim MacDonald, CEO, A&DS, at Jim.MacDonald@ads.org.uk. You can also find out more about A&DS on their website. An online information session will be held on Wednesday 25 March 2026; 6:30-7:30pm. Click here to sign up. Full details on how to apply, and the evidence that should be submitted at the application stage, are set out at pages 10-13 of the Applicant Information Pack 
Closing Date: Thursday 16 April 2026

Stirling City Heritage Trust – Trustees
Salary: No remuneration
Stirling City Heritage Trust is seeking new Trustees. Founded in 2004, Stirling City Heritage Trust (SCHT) is a Scottish charity and company limited by guarantee funded by Historic Environment Scotland and Stirling Council. The Trust operates the Traditional Buildings Health Check, offers grants for traditional repairs and supports local education projects which promote an understanding of Stirling’s heritage. They also offer energy efficiency advice through their Retrofit Service. The Trust are looking to recruit volunteer Trustees who have an interest in the heritage and historic built environment of the City of Stirling to enhance the Board. Trustees support the Trust staff, raising the profile of the organisation and helping with strategic decision-making. To complement existing Board members, SCHT are particularly seeking individuals who have skills and experience in one or more of the following areas: architectural history, local cultural heritage, retrofit, engineering, traditional skill(s), HR, financial management/accountancy and legal. Applicants should have an interest in Stirling’s traditional architecture and recognise the importance of the maintenance of traditional buildings. SCHT particularly welcomes applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience, and with the ability to make an effective contribution to the organisation. They are also keen to attract young people to join. Further information and an application pack are available on the SCHT website or by contacting the Trust Manager, Vivienne Whyte, on 01786 498462 or manager@scht.org.uk.
Closing date: Friday 17 April 2026

Planning Aid Scotland – Opportunities for chartered planners
Becoming chartered is a significant professional milestone, signalling competence and a commitment to public service. Planning Aid Scotland, the national charity working to widen access to planning, offers newly chartered planners a way to put these values into practice through its national planning Advice Service. Volunteers support members of the public with a wide range of planning questions, gaining direct experience that is often hard to find in day-to-day roles. The opportunity is flexible and open to all chartered planners. In return, volunteers receive professional training, access to a video archive, and ongoing support.
Get in touch to find out more at volunteer@pas.org.uk
Closing Date: Not applicable

Planning Democracy – Trustees
Planning Democracy are looking for new trustees to join their board. They are particularly interested in recruiting trustees who have skills in the following areas:

• Governance

• Communications (social media, online resources, website management)

However, they are also keen to hear from anyone who feels that Planning Democracy is an organisation they are interested in getting involved with. In return, they are offering training opportunities, learning opportunities, experience in campaigning and advocacy, the opportunity to travel in Scotland and meet new people, as well as being part of a committed group of people.
If you are interested, contact Chair, Helen Todd on info@planningdemocracy.org.uk and they can then send you an application form and/or have a chat.
Closing Date: Not specified

SHBT – St Ninian’s Manse
Location: Quayside Street, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6EJ
Size: 2,889 sq ft
Availability: March 2026
Tenure: Available as a single tenancy or individual floors
With origins dating back to 1493, St Ninian’s Manse is thought to be the oldest building in Leith and is topped by Edinburgh’s sole surviving 17th-century timber steeple. It formed part of the original entrance to St Ninian’s Chapel, which was mostly demolished during the 19th century when the site was converted to industrial use as a mill. From 1996 to 2002, SHBT restored both St Ninian’s Manse and the adjacent Quayside Mills, creating desirable waterfront office space whilst also preserving an important historic structure and a key part of Leith’s history. The manse now offers four floors of adaptable office space with period character, modern amenities, and five dedicated parking spaces. Brochure
Enquiries: info@shbt.org.uk

BACK