3 Aug 2023

Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations

BEFS NEWS

In July we let our Members and readers know how delighted we are to share news about BEFS – Fit for the Future, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to Spring 2025. This award will enable BEFS to best meet sector need now and for the future, allowing us to enhance our climate support, and EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion) offer for the sector; as well as providing internal training and capacity to examine and develop our own robust business model. To read more, please see our full article.

BEFS are also hiring a Senior Communications Lead, and a Communications and Policy Officer – both roles close on Wednesday 9 August, and full details can be found here.

After the release of their strategy earlier this year, the Heritage Fund has published their first delivery plan, setting out how, across the next three years, they aim to invest £870m via National Lottery Grants for Heritage and a further £140m in strategic initiatives to make a decisive difference for places, nature and heritage in need. The plan provides details about budgets, priorities and changes to funding programmes.

Tickets are now available for the 11th annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum, which returns to the Festival Fringe this year. There is a wide range of activities to sign up for including walks and talks explaining how to look after everything – from sash and case windows to slate roofs; empowering homeowners to repair and maintain their traditionally built homes.

More summer activities can also be found across Scotland with the launch of Scottish Archaeology Month (SAM). SAM encourages people to interact with their archaeology, history and heritage by coordinating and promoting a varied programme of events all across Scotland. Full details can be found via Dig It!

Two sets of architecture awards are well worth a mention: RIBA has launched the Reinvention Award, celebrating the creative transformation of an existing building and projects highlighting vital improvements to environmental, social, or economic sustainability. Seems like a good idea for our times. And closer to home, RIAS has published the shortlist for the 2023 Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award.

There’s a lot of activity still taking place across the parliamentary recess. Here we can read how Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, has outlined why the way we heat our homes needs to change and how to tackle the massive challenge ahead.

Considering the broader cultural-heritage sector, Culture Counts are seeking views on a number of issues to inform their contribution to the Scottish Parliament Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee’s scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s culture budget for 2024-25.

And in England our sibling organisation, The Heritage Alliance have launched their 2023 Heritage Manifesto, which asks all parties to put the past at the heart of plans for the future, as well as calling for support and VAT reform.

BEFS team are continuing to take advantage of the parliamentary recess, and holiday period. The next (bumper) Bulletin will be out on Thursday 7 September 2023.

CONSULTATIONS

Historic environment employers skills survey
HES
The sector is facing increasing challenges in regards to accessing skills provision and as an employer or organisation in the heritage sector, HES want your views on the skills and workforce challenges your organisation is facing, and the solutions your organisation needs.
Closes 14 August 2023

Culture Counts 24/25 pre-budget scrutiny
Culture Counts
This survey is to inform Culture Counts’ contribution to Scottish Parliament Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee’s scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s culture budget for 2024-25.
*NEW* Closes 15 August 2023

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25: Funding for Culture – call for views
Scottish Parliament – Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
These views help the Committee to make recommendations to the Scottish Government ahead of its Budget for 2024-25.
Closes 18 August 2023

Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill – call for views
Scottish Parliament
The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee is seeking views on the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill.
Closes 20 August 2023

Review of Permitted Development Rights – Phase 3
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is carrying out a review of permitted development rights (PDR) as part of a wider planning reform programme. The PDR review is being taken forward in phases, with each phase focussing on specific development types. Phase 3 of the review considers PDR in relation to renewables equipment, thermal efficiency improvements, development by electricity undertakers, reverse vending machines and the temporary use of land for shooting ranges.
Closes 23 August 2023

RICS Retrofit Standard Consultation 2023
RICS
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is gathering input from RICS members and industry professionals on the new RICS Residential Retrofit Standard for 2023. This new standard will be developed following the consultation, as a response to a demand for high quality, residential retrofit advice, spurred on by increasingly high energy prices and UK government net-zero targets.
*NEW* Closes 12 September 2023

Effective Community Engagement in Local Development Planning Guidance
Scottish Government
This consultation concerns guidance on effective community engagement in the local development planning process, inviting views from planning authorities and communities on the clarity and helpfulness of the guidance in informing people when engagement will be most effective.
Closes 13 September 2023

Visitor Levy Bill – call for views
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Government has proposed a new law which would allow local authorities to introduce an additional charge when someone pays for overnight accommodation. MSPs on the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee are examining the details.
*Extended* Closes 15 September 2023

Fairer Council Tax
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government and COSLA are inviting responses to this consultation on a fairer council tax system, which concerns the Council Tax charges (also referred to as multipliers) for properties in valuation Bands E to H.
*NEW* Closes 20 September 2023

Call for Evidence: Restoration and Renewal Recall
UK Government
The Public Accounts Committee has previously reported on the failures of transparency and “wasteful, nugatory spending” in the Restoration and Renewal programme, and expressed serious concern about ongoing risks and hazards in the deteriorating UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are seeking written evidence submissions regarding the ‘real and rising risk” that the Palace of Westminster will be destroyed by a catastrophic event before it is restored.
*NEW* Closes 6 October 2023

Energy Performance Certificate Reform Consultation
Scottish Government
The purpose of this consultation is to set out the Scottish Government’s final proposals for Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reform and to seek stakeholder views ahead of the introduction of new legislation.
*NEW* Closes 16 October 2023

Enhancing the accessibility, adaptability and usability of Scotland’s homes
Scottish Government
This consultation sets out proposed updates to Part 1 of the Housing for Varying Needs design guide and to building standards and guidance.
Closes 19 October 2023

Building Warrant Fees
Scottish Government
This consultation seeks to obtain the views on proposed increases to the building warrant fees required to deliver change to strengthen the building standards system and the development of a new building warrant fees model in Scotland.
*NEW* Closes 24 October 2023

Mandatory training on planning for elected members
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is intending to implement mandatory training on planning for elected members as part of a wider package of measures to improve the performance of the planning system as a whole. This consultation is seeking views on the proposed approach to implementing this training.
*NEW* Closes 26 October 2023

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Delivering Scotland’s Circular Economy – route map to 2025 and beyond: consultation analysis
Scottish Government

Heat networks target 2035: consultation response
Scottish Government

PETITIONS

PE2006: Review and simplify the legislation in relation to dismissal of property factors
Petitioner submission (The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee 17/07/2023)

NEWS RELEASES

Reuse Me, Don’t Lose Me: 2023 Buildings at Risk New Entries List (Save Britain’s Heritage 28/06/2023)

Treshnish Isles join the Trust (National Trust for Scotland 10/07/2023)

200 charities, economists, businesses, and unions call on FM to turn Wellbeing Economy into reality (Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland 13/07/2023)
BEFS is a signatory of letter asking Scotland’s First Minister for a “robust plan” to turn Wellbeing Economy rhetoric into action.

The National Galleries of Scotland has announced that the Scottish galleries at the National will open to the public this coming September (National Galleries of Scotland 17/07/2023)

Launch of the Heritage Manifesto 2023 (The Heritage Alliance 19/07/2023)
The Manifesto is aimed at all major UK political parties, and urges them to not only protect heritage, but maximise the benefits it can bring to communities and the environment.

RIBA launches Reinvention prize to encourage refurbishment over demolition (RIBA 20/07/2023)
The Reinvention Award celebrates the creative transformation of an existing building and the project’s vital improvement to environmental, social, or economic sustainability.

RIAS reveals shortlist for the 2023 RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award (RIAS 27/07/2023)

National Heritage Memorial Fund award £4.4million for exceptional Scottish heritage impacted by the pandemic (NHMF 02/08/2023)

PUBLICATIONS

The Natural Stone Source Book (Stone Federation Great Britain 2023)

Resilience and Cultural Heritage in Urban Development – Guidance Paper on Integrated Risk Management (German Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development April 2023)

Young People’s Engagements with Heritage: tackling inequality & other opportunities for public policy (Institute for Community Research & Development and Arts Connect with Historic England May 2023)

Heritage Fund – Heritage 2033 Delivery plan 2023-2026 (Heritage Fund July 2023)

Community-led action on vacant and derelict land: a handy guide to finding out how you and your community can bring unloved places back into use (MyLand.Scot July 2023)

A Guide to Building Materials and The Environment (Stephen George Partners July 2023)

Report on The Skills for a Jobs Transition (The Future Energy Skills Programme July 2023)

Rethinking Communities, Land and Governance: Land Reform in Scotland and the Community Ownership Model (Community Land Scotland 04/07/2023)

Circular Opportunities in Scotland’s Energy Sector
Zero Waste Scotland Report: Mapping Material Demand in Scotland’s Energy Infrastructure (Zero Waste Scotland 05/07/2023)

What influences the choices of would-be apprentices? (The Sutton trust 06/07/2023)

Roadmap for a Scottish Green industrial Strategy (Ian Blackford MP 14/07/2023)

National Lottery Heritage Fund annual report and accounts 2022 to 2023 (NLHF 17/07/2023)

National Heritage Memorial Fund Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 (NHMF 17/07/2023)

A policy plan for decarbonising home heating (Nesta 19/07/2023)

Pointing the Way to the Future (HES 21/07/2023)
The climate and nature crises and Historic Environment Scotland’s approach to regulatory and advisory services in the planning and other consenting systems.

2023 Rural & Islands Insights Report (NISRIE 31/07/2023)

SCOTTISH & UK: GOVERNMENTAL & PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS

Correspondence between the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee and the Scottish Tourism Alliance regarding their request for an extension to the Call for Evidence on the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill (Scot Gov 05/07/2023)

New grant funding to decarbonise public sector buildings (Scot Gov 10/07/2023)

Correspondence between the Minister for Housing and the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee regarding the Cladding Remediation Programme (Scot Gov 10/07/2023)

Community right to buy – Company Limited by Guarantee: model template and guidance (Scot Gov 10/07/2023)

Wellbeing Economy makes sound business sense (Scot Gov 15/07/2023)

Policy paper: Understanding climate adaptation and the third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) (UK Gov 17/07/2023)

Building standards – building warrant fee model: research project (Scot Gov 18/07/2023)

Place Directors Factsheet (Scot Gov 19/07/2023)

Non-domestic rates: legislation (Scot Gov 20/07/2023)

Overseas travel and tourism, provisional: January to March 2023 (ONS 20/07/2023)

Single Building Assessment: Spending Information (Scot Gov 21/07/2023)

Planning and environmental appeals: complaints policy (Scot Gov 24/07/2023)

Correspondence between the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition and the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee to outline how the government engages with the public on climate change issues (Scot Gov 24/07/2023)

Approval and accreditation of vocational training courses – Scotland (UK Gov 24/07/2023)
The UK Government has published information on approval and accreditation of vocational training courses in Scotland

Scottish Energy Performance Certificates – new metrics: research (Scot Gov 25/07/2023)

Planning Applications Statistics, 2022/23: Annual and Quarterly – October 2022 to March 2023 (Scot Gov 26/07/2023)

SPICe Spotlight: Licensing of short-term lets (SPICe 27/07/2023)

Open Government action plan 2021 to 2025 – commitment 3: data and digital commitment (Scot Gov 28/07/2023)

OPINION & COMMENT

Scotland to explore policy incentives to push retrofit (Construction News 22/06/2023)

Call for national fund to make buildings safe amid concrete concerns (STV News 06/07/2023)

From pubs to churches, Britain is losing the buildings that glue us together (The Times 07/07/2023)

Acropolis now: crisis as soaring visitor numbers overwhelm Greek treasure (The Observer 09/07/2023)

Northstowe: The broken-promise new town built ‘with no heart’ (BBC News 12/07/2023)

Re:Permissioning the City — Unlocking cities’ growing underutilised spatial assets for an emergent civic economy (Dark Matter Laboratories 12/07/2023)

Passivhaus now: Scotland’s plan for tough new building standards (Inside Housing 13/07/2023)

Architects’ Showcase: Scotland’s first passive warehouse is a micro power station for energy, ideas and enterprise (Scottish Construction Now 14/07/2023)

Where are the cladding numbers? Don’t be fooled by cherry-picked figures (or, in Scotland, a lack of them) — the cladding crisis is not under control (The Times 16/07/2023)

Visa rules eased for building and fishing industry (BBC News 17/07/2023)
Skilled shortage list to be updated on 7 August to include bricklayers, plasterers and other roles within the building industry.

Tall buildings are robbing cities of precious heritage (The Times 19/07/2023)

We need a retrofit revolution to win the race to net zero (The New Statesman 21/07/2023)

New Deal for Business must extend to research (Fraser of Allender Institute 21/07/2023)
The recent report from the Scottish Government’s New Deal for Business Group highlighted the need for business to be given more of a voice into the early stages of policy development.

The answer to Britain’s housing crisis lies in its towns and cities – not the countryside (The Guardian 24/07/2023)

‘Over half’ of local planning decisions overturned by Scottish Government (Scottish Housing News 24/07/2023)

Huge bill hangs over Scottish NHS as dangerous concrete suspected in 250 buildings (The Times 25/07/2023)

UK Government says energy certificates need ‘fundamental reform’ in latest green shift (Financial Times 25/07/2023)

Pump up the Volume (Our Scottish Future 27/07/2023)
Dr Peter Wood’s blog on how Patrick Harvie’s plan to boost heat pump use is right – but the SNP-Green government is failing to deliver because of bad policy implementation

Scottish retailers urge rates review as shop vacancies rise (BBC News 28/07/2023)

Building Tomorrow: The Future of the UK’s Construction Sector (The House Magazine with CIOB 28/07/2023)

Half of Scots support Harvie’s plan to phase out fossil fuel boilers (The Herald 31/07/2023)

The new towns influenced by old settlements (The National 01/08/2023)

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Scottish Government to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament. Questions in which a member has indicated a declarable interest are marked with an “R”.

Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 20/06/2023
S6W-19298 R
To ask the Scottish Government what surveys it conducts that are comparable to the English Private Landlord Survey.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 11 July 2023

Michael Marra, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 21/06/2023
S6W-19335
To ask the Scottish Government by what process it records which third sector organisations are in receipt of public funding, and how much money each of those organisations receives.
Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 July 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 03/07/2023
S6W-19733
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 12 July 2023

Beatrice Wishart, Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 06/07/2023
S6W-19841
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to recruit and train carbon audit advisers in all local authorities to ensure that farmers and crofters receive advice from someone who has local knowledge and understanding.
S6W-19842
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of a lack of accredited carbon audit advisers based in Shetland.
S6W-19843
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support farmers and crofters in Shetland to undertake carbon audits, in light of reports that there are currently no accredited advisers based in Shetland.
Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 July 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 03/07/2023
S6W-19720 R
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with National Museums Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 17 July 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 11/07/2023
S6W-19883
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19718 by Christina McKelvie on 7 July 2023, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture has held any discussions with Historic Environment Scotland regarding any permanent closures of sites that it manages, and, if so, which sites were earmarked for closure.
Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 17 July 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 30/06/2023
S6W-19583
To ask the Scottish Government what impact taking a so-called “heat pump first” approach will have on grid capacity and supply.
Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 July 2023

Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 07/07/2023
S6W-19845
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether key infrastructure is integral to ensuring the survival of Scotland’s cultural heritage, particularly in Gaelic-speaking communities, and what it is doing to ensure that the use of Gaelic increases.
Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 July 2023

Pam Gosal, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 04/07/2023
S6W-19811
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) COSLA and (b) Homes for Scotland regarding any need for the creation of data sets relevant to planning performance and housing need and demand.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 19 July 2023

Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 07/07/2023
S6W-19846
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations of the Short Life Working Group on Economic and Social Opportunities for Gaelic, what it is doing to address affordable housing for young families and young people in rural communities.
Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 19 July 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 22/06/2023
S6W-19379
To ask the Scottish Government whether hotels are exempt from the Building Scotland (Amendment) Regulations 2022 regarding fire safety and cladding.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 19 July 2023

Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 29/06/2023
S6W-19525
To ask the Scottish Government, following the publication of Lord Braid’s opinion on the judicial review of the City of Edinburgh Council’s short-term lets licensing policy, what discussions it has had with (a) COSLA and (b) local authorities regarding the possible implications for other short-term let licensing schemes in Scotland.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 19 July 2023

Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 22/06/2023
S6W-19366
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18926 by Michael Matheson on 20 June 2023, (a) how many and (b) which properties that the desktop review has assessed need to be investigated.
Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 July 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 04/07/2023
S6W-19587
To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions local authorities have made an additional powers request to the Scottish Ministers in each year since 1999.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 21 July 2023

Maurice Golden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 06/07/2023
S6W-19836
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to introduce (a) Whole Life Carbon Assessments and (b) Circular Economy Statements for large-scale developments.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 21 July 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 23/06/2023
S6W-19387
To ask the Scottish Government what evaluation it has made of the Warm Home Prescription pilot in Aberdeenshire, and whether it is in a position to work with partners in the NHS, third sector and energy providers to extend the Warm Home Prescription model across Scotland, to support the health of more vulnerable individuals who are at risk of illness and hospitalisation, such as people with chronic kidney disease, because of a cold home.
S6W-19438
To ask the Scottish Government how many Warm Home Prescriptions have been prescribed in each year since the scheme’s introduction, and at what cost, broken down by NHS board area.
Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 July 2023

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26/06/2023
S6W-18558
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its planned consultation on the Scottish Ministers’ proposed target for the amount of heat to be supplied by heat networks by 2035, which it is required to set by October 2023 under the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021, and when it expects to report on any such consultation.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 24 July 2023

Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 29/06/2023
S6W-19538
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the decision to close the SME Loan Scheme for new solar PV applications, (a) when and (b) on what basis the decision was taken; on what date the decision came into effect, and whether the decision is permanent.
S6W-19540
To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time has been for processing SME Loan Scheme applications, broken down by application type in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 24 July 2023

Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 30/06/2023
S6W-19610
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to the (a) Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan and (b) Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan scheme for solar PV and/or energy storage systems, since the scheme was created, and how many applications have been successful.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 24 July 2023

Oliver Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 28/06/2023
S6W-19506
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is the case that the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme does not fund ceiling insulation in flats, and, if so, what the reason is for this.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 25 July 2023

Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 30/06/2023
S6W-19609
To ask the Scottish Government how many properties have received support from the (a) Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan and (b) Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan scheme for solar PV and/or energy storage systems where the household did not claim any qualifying benefits, since the scheme was created.
S6W-19611
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to the (a) Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan and (b) Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan scheme for a heat pump or high heat retention storage heaters, since the scheme was created, and how many applications have been successful.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 25 July 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 24/07/2023
S6W-20171
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12786 by Neil Gray on 12 December 2022, whether it will provide an update on the number of sites that are managed by Historic Environment Scotland that were (a) open and (b) closed in 2022-23.
Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 26 July 2023

Pam Gosal, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 04/07/2023
S6W-19810
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to address the reported recruitment crisis in construction, in light of reports that the number of all new housebuilding starts fell by 25% from 2020 to 2023.
Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 27 July 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 30/06/2023
S6W-19581
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considered exempting hydrogen-ready boilers from its proposed ban on gas boilers in new build properties.
S6W-19582
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has completed an assessment of how many homes in Scotland will be able to run a heat pump and use two electric car chargers simultaneously.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 28 July 2023

Mark Ruskell, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 03/07/2023
S6W-19647
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what consideration it has given to introducing compulsory sale orders for vacant properties.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 31 July 2023

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 03/07/2023
S6W-19673
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish a register of public sector buildings that have been found to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 31 July 2023
S6W-19676
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in (a) public sector buildings and (b) privately owned buildings in Scotland.
S6W-19679
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in private sector buildings, including those that were initially built for the public sector, and how it will raise awareness of any problems related to its presence.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 31 July 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 03/07/2023
S6W-19722
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with National Records of Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Current status: Holding Answer by Angus Robertson on 31 July 2023

Willie Rennie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 18/07/2023
S6W-20031
To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available for homeowners or landlords of properties that have heat pumps installed, and who want to maximise the decarbonisation of their properties and decrease their energy bills by installing solar PV and battery storage systems.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 31 July 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 12/07/2023
S6W-19919
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost of decarbonising all of Scotland’s schools, broken down by local authority area.
S6W-19920
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost to local authorities of decarbonising all of their buildings.
S6W-19921
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost to NHS boards of decarbonising all of their buildings.
S6W-19922
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost to universities of decarbonising all of their buildings.
S6W-19923
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost to all arm’s length external organisations of decarbonising all of their buildings.
S6W-19924
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost of it decarbonising all of its buildings.
S6W-19925
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with COSLA regarding the cost of decarbonising all local authority buildings.
Current status: Answers expected on 9 August 2023

Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 14/07/2023
S6W-19951
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many privately-owned land holdings over 500 hectares are used for (a) food production, (b) timber production, (c) energy generation, (d) carbon sequestration, (e) affordable housing, (f) flood reduction, (g) nature recovery and (h) natural heritage.
Current status: Answer expected on 11 August 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 14/07/2023
S6W-19952
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it (a) has reportedly stopped offering interest-free loans for residential solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems and (b) decided not to accompany the cessation with any press release or publicity; what consultation was undertaken before withdrawing the loans, and for what reason it did not consider a grace period to be appropriate.
S6W-19953
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason solar PV and storage is not considered to be an installation that “will maximise decarbonisation of heat or reduce heat demand”, as stated in the announcement on the Home Energy Scotland website, in light of reported analysis stating that it can provide consumers with significant savings on carbon emissions and energy bills.
S6W-19954
To ask the Scottish Government how many loans and grants Home Energy Scotland provided in 2022-23; for what amount, and for which technologies.
Current Status: Answers expected on 11 August 2023

Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/07/2023
S6W-20049
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the integration of the Skills 4.0 model into work-based learning and the broader skills and education systems.
S6W-20051
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of its Skills and Training budget detailing (a) resources committed per programme, (b) staffing costs and (c) capital costs in each of the last five years.
S6W-20052
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the number of (a) graduate, (b) foundation and (c) modern apprenticeships by (i) occupational grouping and (ii) employer size in each of the last five years.
S6W-20071
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a full list of employers that have at least one employee currently undertaking a graduate apprenticeship.
Current status: Answers expected on 16 August 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/07/2023
S6W-20040
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to homeowners who are dissatisfied with their property factor.
S6W-20041
To ask the Scottish Government whether its proposed Housing Bill will make any provisions regarding property factors.
S6W-20042
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to amend legislation covering the operation of property factors.
Current status: Answers expected on 16 August 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 20/07/2023
S6W-20092
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the stakeholder responses to its public consultation on the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, and, if so, when it will do so.
S6W-20094
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the response from the Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work to the chair of the Just Transition Commission on 28 March 2023, which was published on 14 April 2023, whether it will publish further detail regarding the outstanding work required to deliver decarbonisation of one million homes by 2030, particularly in relation to (a) financing, (b) skills and (c) workforce capacity.
S6W-20095
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its announcement of the successful projects for year one, whether it will provide further detail on the allocation of the Just Transition Fund to ensure transparency and value for money.
S6W-20096
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to roll out initiatives similar to the Just Transition Fund, which is primarily focused in the north east and Moray, for communities across Scotland.
S6W-20097
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the definition of “green jobs” published by the Office for National Statistics, whether it will provide further detail on the allocation of its £100 million Green Jobs Fund, including the (a) amount already allocated and (b) outcomes to date.
S6W-20099
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Green Growth Accelerator programme, including how much of the £200 million public sector investment has already been allocated.
S6W-20100
To ask the Scottish Government how much private sector investment has been secured, to date, for Scotland’s transition to net zero, as part of the Green Growth Accelerator programme.
S6W-20101
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a detailed response to each of the 15 recommendations of the independent review of the skills delivery landscape.
Current status: Answers expected on 17 August 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 24/07/2023
S6W-20102
To ask the Scottish Government, following initiatives such as the 2016 Enterprise and Skills Review, its 2017 commitment to improving skills planning, and the 2022 Auditor General for Scotland report, Planning for skills, which stated that the “Scottish Government has not provided the necessary leadership for progress”, what assessment it has made of the reasons for the reported lack of progress in planning for workforce skills.
Current status: Answer expected on 21 August 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 25/07/2023
S6W-20087
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the academic environmental research, Delivering net zero in the UK: twelve conditions for success, which was published on 10 July 2023, in particular in relation to any implications for net zero policy in Scotland of the research’s findings that (a) deploying low-regret solutions on a large scale, (b) engaging with communities, (c) taking an interdisciplinary and whole systems approach and (d) upskilling and capacity building in the workforce and government are among the conditions for success.
S6W-20093
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the letter from the Chair of the Just Transition Commission to the then Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work, dated 15 February 2023, whether it will provide an update on the Supply Chain Development Programme, including further detail on (a) target sectors, (b) job-creation targets, (c) longevity for employment and (d) fair work criteria and objectives.
S6W-20098
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to (a) people over 30, (b) single parents, (c) people on low incomes and (d) carers, to move into green jobs, including in relation to training and upskilling, in light of reports that such training requires significant time commitment and can result in a real-terms pay cut that many people cannot afford.
S6W-20233
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19781 by Lorna Slater on 21 July 2023, what targets it has set to address any green skills shortages.
Current status: Answers expected on 22 August 2023

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26/07/2023
S6W-19642
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it undertook with the Educational Institute of Scotland Further Education Lecturers Association (EIS-FELA) on the recommendation in the final report of the independent review of the skills delivery landscape, Fit for the Future: developing a post-school learning system to fuel economic transformation, to establish a single national funding body, including any amalgamation of responsibilities from Skills Development Scotland, the Scottish Funding Council and the Students Awards Agency for Scotland.
Current status: Answer expected on 23 August 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26/07/2023
S6W-20090
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the letter from the Chair of the Just Transition Commission to the then Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition and the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, entitled Further Advice on the Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, which was published on 17 April 2023, and when it will publish a response to the Commission.
Current status: Answer expected on 23 August 2023

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 28/07/2023
S6W-20292
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of listed buildings in Scotland that are currently undergoing retrofitting projects relating to energy efficiency improvements.
S6W-20293
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects that all listed buildings in Scotland will have been retrofitted with energy efficiency improvements.
S6W-20294
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on the number of listed buildings in Scotland that have been retrofitted with energy efficiency improvements since 1 January 2021.
Current status: Answer expected on 25 August 2023

Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 28/07/2023
S6W-20265
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has commissioned on converting gas boilers to run on alternative fuels.
S6W-20266
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the public regarding alternatives to domestic gas boilers.
S6W-20267
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16060 by Patrick Harvie on 11 April 2023, whether it has commissioned, or plans to commission, updated research on the efficiency of heat pumps in domestic homes, since the evidence review of August 2021.
S6W-20268
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether its reported proposals to require households to improve their energy efficiency rating, including potentially penalising the use of gas boilers, is compliant with human rights legislation.
S6W-20269
To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings it has had with stakeholders in the private housing sector regarding proposed changes to heating efficiencies regarding gas central heating.
Current status: Answer expected on 25 August 2023

EVENTS

Call out for Contributors: The Icon Scotland Group
Dates: TBC possibly October 2023 and March 2024
Are you involved in the conservation of a building that was inhabited by women who loved other women? Have you been working on the care and conservation of an object that belonged to a trans person? Do you study the life of a gay artist whose paintings have recently been treated by conservators? Icon Scotland want to hear about it! Contributions are being sought for a series of 20-30 minutes online talks that connect conservation with LGBT+ collections and heritage.
The format and dates will depend on the responses – information and forms – to be submitted by 15 August 2023.

Community Ownership Support Service – Your church your community: Funding
Date & Time: Tuesday 15 August 2023; 10am-12pm
Location: Online
With the recent review of the Church of Scotland and other faith groups’ estates, many buildings have been identified as being surplus to requirements as places of worship. This interactive workshop will give an overview on funding community ownership and development. Covering the three main areas where you are likely to need funding during your project – start-up and development costs for professional support, capital funding to acquire the building, renovation, and development costs – this workshop will look at the main sources of funding available in Scotland; the eligibility criteria, any priority areas and types of projects that the individual funders are keen to support. (Do also look out for a further event on Church Buildings – due on 31 August)

RIAS – BookshopLATES… with journalist and author Peter Apps
Date & Time: Monday 21 August 2023; 6-7pm
Location: RIAS Bookshop, 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, EH1 2BE
Join Peter Apps for a discussion of Show Me the Bodies: How We Let Grenfell Happen at RIAS Bookshop, Edinburgh, hosted by Christina Gaiger PPRIAS. Peter Apps, deputy editor of Inside Housing, is the only journalist who has followed the story from the start. His reporting raised the risks of a cladding fire weeks before Grenfell, and ever since the 14 June 2017 he has been dedicated to uncovering the truth about what went wrong. The talk will include a Q&A session and be followed by a book signing.

Heritage Trust Network – Heritage Makes Glasgow!
Date & Time: Monday 21 August 2023; 9:30am-4:00pm
Location: Glasgow West Boathouse, Glasgow Green, Glasgow G1 5QA
Heritage Trust Network (HTN) and Glasgow Building Preservation Trust are joining forces to deliver the 2023 in-person event for the HTN Scotland branch. Presentations will be centred around regeneration activity in Glasgow, with top-tips for attendees to take away to their own projects. This event is open to any heritage professional or community group involved in regenerating historic buildings and places.

Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum – 2023 Fringe Festival
Dates & Times: Monday 21 – Friday 25 August 2023 (various slots)
Location: Various, across Edinburgh
The 11th annual Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum (ETBF) will return to the Festival Fringe this year. There is a wide range of activity to sign up for including walks and talks explaining how to look after everything from sash and case windows to slate roofs. ETBF represents a group of businesses and professions involved in looking after Edinburgh’s traditional buildings, particularly in the World Heritage Sites, and celebrates the skills used to maintain them.

Scottish Civic Trust – My Place Marketplaces
Date & Time: Wednesday 23 & 30 August 2023 (various slots)
Location: Online
Is your local heritage or civic group looking to engage a wider range of people in your activities? Due to popular demand, Scottish Civic Trust have organised additional My Place Marketplaces to support local heritage and civic groups with outreach and marketing. Groups can book one of the online slots where staff will be on hand to talk all things community engagement and promotion. Book now!

SPAB – Scotland’s Churches Lecture Series
Dates & Times: Tuesday 29 August – Tuesday 26 September 2023
Location: Online
A series of 5 online lectures, and one building visit investigating the current issue of church closures in Scotland, and how these buildings and communities can be helped. Tickets can be purchased individually, or as a block booking. All lectures will be recorded, and links sent out following the event. If you cannot make the live talk, but wish to watch it on demand, advance booking is required – the live presentation will be recorded, and a separate link will be emailed to you after the recording is prepared (with viewing access of the recordings until 31 October 2023).

Building Limes Forum Annual Gathering – Simplicity, Quality, and Modernity: A Legacy of Lime
Dates: Friday 1 – Sunday 3 September 2023
Location: Lincoln, England
This year, the Building Limes Forum Annual Gathering will be focusing on the Simplicity, Quality, and Modernity: A Legacy of Lime. Each day will examine one of the three themes on lime and the topics within and around each as they pertain to building limes.

Heritage Trust Network – Restore, re-use, regenerate! Rethinking Town Centres in Scotland
Date & Time: Tuesday 5 September 2023; 9:30am-5pm
Location: CodeBase, 8-10 Corn Exchange Road, Stirling FK8 2HX
Join the Heritage Trust Network at the CodeBase Stirling, a learning hub situated in the heart of Stirling where the focus is on building culture, community and education that promotes and supports tech innovation. The day will be jam-packed with talks, tours and networking with those who have completed projects and those who are helping to shape the future of High Streets in Scotland and forms part of the Network’s Rethinking High Streets programme of events throughout the UK.

RTPI – NPF4 Policy 11. Energy: Solutions and Impacts
Date & Time: Tuesday 12 September; 5:30-7:30pm
Location: Gillespie Macandrew, 5 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 8EJ
Join the RTPI for a discussion on NPF4 Policy 11 – Energy: Solutions and Impacts. John Petrie Managing Director at Petrie Buchanan will discuss solutions in delivering renewable, low energy and zero emission technologies and will also highlight the impacts that these technologies have on existing infrastructure. This is followed by a Q & A session with Sandy Telfer, Planning Manager at Gillespie MacAndrew, and Bob Salter, Director at Geddes Consulting, joining the panel with John.

*Advance Notice* Registration Required: Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland – AGM weekend
Date & Time: Friday 3 – Saturday 4 November 2023
Location: WASPS Studio, Inverness & Cromarty
The AGM will be held on Friday 3 November, preceded by an afternoon visit to Fairburn Tower, the Landmark Trust’s latest restoration project, and followed by a talk on Alexander Ross by Calum Maclean, whose book on the leading Victorian architect of the Highlands is due out in September. There will be a weekend of other visits and talks based in Cromarty and to enable organisation, there needs to be an idea of numbers—both for the visit to Fairburn Tower and for seating for the AGM. Please email Mary Miers and the AHSS National Office as soon as possible if you would like to come to some or all of the above and what your mode of transport will be.

TRAINING

Scottish Lime Centre Trust – Introduction to Stonemasonry
Date & Time: Tuesday 15 – Wednesday 16 August 2023; 9:30am-4:30pm
Location: Merryhill Training Centre, Charlestown, Dunfermline KY11 3DR
Taught by time-served Stonemasons, this two-day practical course is suitable for all abilities and covers an introduction to tools, techniques and uses of basic stonemasonry.
Learners can take away their practice stones at the end of the course.

Scottish Lime Centre Trust – Lime Pointing
Date & Time: Friday 29 September 2023; 9:30am-4:30pm
Location: Merryhill Training Centre, Charlestown, Dunfermline KY11 3DR
Would you like to undertake repointing works as part of a renovation project or simply as general maintenance to traditional masonry structures? This practical ‘hands on’ training day will give participants the skill to undertake repointing works with confidence. This course will provide a sound understanding of traditional building technology, repair techniques and the materials to use when carrying out repointing.

VACANCIES

Vacancies within BEFS team

Senior Communications Lead
Communications & Policy Officer

Two new roles have been created within BEFS team, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Full details and information on applications can be found here.
Closing date: 5pm on Wednesday 9 August 2023

Edinburgh World Heritage – Donor Engagement Manager
Salary: circa £32,000 p.a. pro rata
Status: Part-time (0.5/0.6 FTE); permanent
Location: Edinburgh/hybrid
Edinburgh World Heritage are seeking a Donor Engagement Manager to play a vital part in organisational core resilience, through ownership of international and corporate income targets, developing on a good early foundation in these engaging and impactful areas of work. This is a fantastic opportunity to work with a dynamic and energetic team striving to support a more entrepreneurial approach to securing a future as custodians of, and ambassadors for, Edinburgh’s outstanding world heritage. Further information on applications can be found here.
Closing date: 10am on Monday 7 August 2023

Chartered Institute for Archaeologists – Lay Director on the Board
Salary: Unremunerated; travel and expenses will be reimbursed
Status: 1 year initially, to be extended to 3 years on review, to a maximum of six years
Do you want to help the leading professional body representing archaeologists working in the UK and overseas? Do you have the governance skills required to help to direct a small but ambitious organisation? CIfA, is looking for a director from outside the archaeology profession, to bring new perspectives to the Board. Applications are invited from interested parties outside the archaeological profession who can contribute to the Board’s discussions and decisions in its duty to promote high professional standards and strong ethics, maximising the value that archaeologists bring to society and bringing recognition and respect to the profession. Desirable skills include governance, communication, ability to work collegiately, strategic growth, ambassadorship and integrating professional interests across professions.
Further information and applications or to arrange an informal chat with the Chair of the Board, please contact Alex Llewellyn
Closing date: Friday 11 August 2023

Heritage Trust Network – Heritage Trainee (Scotland)
Salary: £20,200 p.a. pro rata
Status: Full-time (37 hours p/w); fixed term for 6 months
Location: Working from home/an agreed shared workspace anywhere in Scotland.
The post-holder will be responsible for supporting all aspects of Heritage Trust Network activity in Scotland. This exciting post has been designed to help the successful applicant develop on-the-job skills, knowledge and networks to provide early-career access to the heritage sector. Funded by the Partnership Fund at Historic Environment Scotland, this post will run for six-months each year, for the next three years, offering three people the opportunity to work for the Network and with grassroots heritage regeneration projects across the country. Working with the Development Officer for Scotland, the trainee will gain first-hand experience of the heritage regeneration sector, meeting members, shaping events, undertaking digital-focussed activities, and promoting the incredible achievements of Network members.
More information and applications
Closing date: Midday on Monday 14 August 2023

The National Trust for Scotland – Heritage Compliance Officer
Salary: £34,376-£38,027 (subject to experience)
Status: Full-time (flexible working possible)
Location: Hybrid working, available for meetings in Edinburgh
The National Trust for Scotland is looking to recruit a heritage compliance officer to help identify and manage the conservation and operations risks. This is a unique opportunity to work across all aspects of a major heritage organisation, liaising with colleagues in all disciplines.
All enquiries and applications should be addressed to: Diarmid Hearns, Head of Public Policy, Risk and Environment.

BACK

18 Jul 2023

BEFS awarded Heritage Lottery funding for “Fit for the Future” project.

BEFS NEWS

BEFS is delighted to announce BEFS – Fit for the Future, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to Spring 2025. This award of £96,880 will enable BEFS to best meet sector need now and for the future, allowing the organisation to enhance their climate support, and EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion) offer to the sector; as well as provide internal training and capacity to examine and develop their own robust business model.

This award comes at a critical time for the sector: with economic and climate crises providing challenges to all, and within an environment of complex policy making – and increasingly difficult decision taking. BEFS holds space for those conversations, facilitates solution finding, and provides additional sector capacity with support for collaborative policy making and advocacy.

BEFS Trustees stated:
In our 20^th year, we’re grateful to the Lottery for understanding the value of this project to the sector. BEFS are excited to be able to build on our 20 years of expertise supporting the sector’s strategic aims, pleased to bring new capacity to the organisation, and look forward to enhancing our resilience for the future.

Caroline Clark, Director for Scotland, The National Lottery Heritage Fund said:
One of four key investment principles in our Heritage 2033, 10-year strategy is to support organisations to develop the skills and capacity to ensure a long-term future and encourage new heritage investment that benefits communities and economies. With Fit for the Future BEFS aims to do that.

Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are pleased to support BEFS to develop, adapt and transform their services to best meet the needs of the built environment sector today and prepare for the challenges of the future.

BEFS core funding is currently from the Organisational Support Fund, from Historic Environment Scotland.
Susan O’Connor Head of Grants at Historic Environment Scotland said:
We are delighted to see BEFS embrace the opportunity to redefine itself in the post-Covid landscape. For 20 years, the organisation has played a strong leadership role in representing heritage sector organisations, making sure their voices and concerns are heard by key decision makers. We are keen to hear what comes out of this review process and we look forward to supporting wherever we can.

About our Funders

About the Heritage Fund: Using money raised by the National Lottery, we inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the?future. www.HeritageFund.org.uk .
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
Follow our Scottish accounts @HeritageFundSCO on Twitter and Facebook
Each week, National Lottery players raise £30 million for good causes across the UK.

About Historic Environment Scotland: HES is the lead public body established to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment. HES are Scotland’s largest visitor attraction operator, and are also responsible for an internationally significant archive of drawings, photographs, manuscripts and aerial photographs, including hundreds of thousands of digitised objects.
HES have a statutory role in the planning system, and also provide advice on a range of plans, policies and strategies affecting the historic environment and their environmental assessments. HES work nationally and internationally to advance education, skills, and research in heritage. Through the HES grants programme, they invest c.£14million a year. HES also have a lead role in enabling delivery of Our Past, Our Future – the new Strategy for Scotland’s Historic Environment.
HES: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/
Our Past Our Future: http://www.ourpastourfuture.scot

Vacancies

BEFS will be growing the team, not only to help support the sector, but to enable capacity to develop BEFS organisational plan for the future.
Please see the link for both roles – and feel free to share the link with your networks.

BEFS Senior Communications Lead
Salary: £32,000 – £35,000 depending on skills and experience.
Status: FT role until March 2025. Permanent (subject to funding – Organisation funding in place to April 2025)
Location: The job is home-working based – the team all work remotely, and are based in/around Edinburgh with regular face-to-face meetings expected. Very occasional event support may be required across Scotland, or in the evening.

BEFS Senior Communications role will lead on the communication activities of the organisation.
Working closely with the Board, Director, and team – as well as communicating with our Member organisations – the post holder will be responsible for managing the breadth of the organisation’s (digital) communications channels. Adopting a proactive cross-sectoral approach, the post holder will play a key role in maintaining and raising BEFS profile with policy makers, the sector, and wider stakeholders.
As we are in our 20th year, BEFS are seeking the right individual – with an excellent turn of phrase, and an eye for detail – to fit into a small, friendly team.
The Senior Communications Lead will be involved in all aspects of BEFS newly funded NLHF project which develops BEFS governance, BEFS strategic framework development, and BEFS EDI offer for the sector (and internal training).
Please see the Job Description for detailed information on the role and skills required.

To apply: Please complete the Application Form (no CVs please) and send your application attached to an email BEFS [The subject of the email should read: Confidential – Job Application – LEAD]

Closing date: 5pm on Wednesday 9 August 2023
Interview date: Monday 21 August 2023. Interviews will be held, in person, in central Edinburgh.

BEFS Communications & Policy Officer
Salary: £20,000 -24,000 (FTE) depending on skills and experience; For example, 30h = Salary £16,000 – £19,200
Hours: 24-30h These hours can be worked flexibly, as long as there is consistency, and the majority of hours are worked between 8am-6pm. The post holder can work some hours each day, or several days together, or a combination that fits with their other commitments.
Status: Contract until 31 March 2025.
Location: The job is home-working based – the team all work remotely, and are based in/around Edinburgh with regular face-to-face meetings expected. Very occasional event support may be required across Scotland, or in the evening.

BEFS are looking for a proactive person who will work well remotely, but closely with the team. A person who wants to develop effective communications for not only BEFS as an organisation, but also advocacy messaging for the wider sector; and is keen to provide wider project and policy activity support flexibly. Flexibility, accuracy, and ability to work enthusiastically and proactively is key.

This will be a learning and development role within BEFS where the successful applicant will have a degree of autonomy in supporting the Communications activity and Policy activity; but will also be welcome at a wide range of Built Environment Policy discussions and meetings to develop their own learning.

Training and support to develop your communications and policy understanding is part of the role, and individual development areas will be discussed and developed over the term of the role.
Please see the Job Description for detailed information on the role and skills required.

To apply: Please complete the Application Form (no CVs please) and send your application attached to an email to BEFS [The subject of the email should read: Confidential – Job Application – OFFICER]

Closing date: 5pm on Wednesday 9 August 2023
Interview date: Tuesday 22 August 2023. Interviews will be held, in person, in central Edinburgh.

BACK

6 Jul 2023

Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations

BEFS NEWS

Last week saw the launch of Our Past Our Future. The transition to net zero, resilient communities and places, and the wellbeing economy are at the heart of the new five-year strategy for Scotland’s historic environment. Launched by Christina McKelvie, Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, Our Past, Our Future, was created following extensive consultation. BEFS Director helped launch the strategy in Glasgow, and noted that: “Our Past, Our Future demonstrates not only how and where the sector contributes today; but steers a course for the sector to be increasingly celebrated and valued as a contributor for the future, supporting skilled green jobs, the just transition to net zero, and with resilient places underpinning public wellbeing.” BEFS looks forward to working with the sector on strategy delivery over the next five years. Discover more here. This strategy will have a dedicated staffing resource. HES is now recruiting for a team to deliver the new national strategy. More details and to apply online.

BEFS are delighted to be able to share a project worked on in partnership with National Trust for Scotland – this Portfolio Review (scroll down the page to the appropriate section) and Built Estate Analysis set out to understand more about the complex and diverse NTS estate examining many aspects of building type and use. The learning from this work has also helped to inform the Sustainable Investment Tool, which will be launched this summer helping to support understanding, visualisation, and decision making across a range of sector related values.

When it comes to understanding more about the sector there are several surveys out that we’d like to bring readers’ attention to:
First, we know that the sector is facing increasing challenges in regard to accessing skills provision and as an employer or organisation in the heritage sector, HES want your views on the skills and workforce challenges your organisation is facing, and the solutions your organisation needs. This survey, closing on 14 August, is part of the work for refreshing the Skills Investment Plan (SIP). BEFS will be supporting one strand of the facilitation in the Autumn.

Towards a National Collection has commissioned an evaluation of the programme, inviting views from employees, volunteers, or students in the UK’s Galleries Libraries Archives and Museums and wider heritage (GLAM) sectors. This work will help shape the future of UK collections infrastructure and its future funding.

Visit Scotland are also inviting feedback via a consultation, to help shape the options for the next Themed Year. It aims to test potential engagement with a theme that has gained support in initial discussions, whilst allowing room for alternative theme options to surface.

SPICe spotlights are always helpful, and this one looks at the longer-term trends of public funding of culture by national and local government in the context of current cost pressures. The financial position of creative, heritage and arts sectors remains difficult due to a number of factors: increasing costs, a sometimes slow recovery of audiences following the pandemic, and longer-term funding pressures.

Dr Mary Macleod Rivett gives us a call to action, with a reminder (ahead of an impending Agriculture Bill) of the need to ensure that stewards of our land and historic environment are equally supported, emphasising the inextricable link between heritage and agriculture. Advocacy activity, led by CIfA – and supported by the Landscape Institute, BEFS, Archaeology Scotland, NTS, and ALGAO is also ongoing.

Please also note that the National Church Awards are now open for nominations. With the future of many churches uncertain and under threat, there has never been a more important time to celebrate churches across the UK and their importance to communities. Nominations will close on 23 July 2023.

This latest Bulletin has an abundance of publications, consultations, news and more; with a plethora of parliamentary questions and publications – nothing like the start of summer recess to ensure many documents are released!

However, as school is out, the BEFS team are also taking a short break from the Bulletin later this month. We will return, reinvigorated, with another bumper edition at the start of August.

Keep your eyes open for any special Bulletin releases over the summer, and – as the end of June 2023 marked 20 years since BEFS Bulletin #1 – we hope to be able to share news of plans for our 20^th year soon too.

CONSULTATIONS

Council Tax for second and empty homes, and non-domestic rates thresholds
Scottish Government/COSLA
This joint public consultation with COSLA seeks views on giving local authorities the power to increase council tax on second homes and empty homes, as well as considering whether the current non-domestic rates thresholds for self-catering accommodation remain appropriate.
Closes 11 July 2023

Future of Scotland’s first National Park
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
Consultation on the Draft National Park Partnership Plan 2024-29, drafted to frame conversations about the future of the National Park. The National Park Partnership Plan guides how all of those with a role to play in looking after the National Park will work together to manage the Park and achieve a shared vision for the area.
Closes 19 July 2023

Local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods: draft planning guidance
Scottish Government
Consultation seeking views and comments on the draft planning guidance for local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods. It is expected to be of particular relevance in the preparation of Local Development Plans (LDPs), Local Place Plans (LPPs) and to support planning decision making.
Closes 20 July 2023

New National Parks – appraisal framework
Scottish Government
With a commitment to designating at least one new National Park in Scotland by the end of this Parliamentary session in 2026, a draft appraisal framework has been developed with proposed criteria for new National Parks in Scotland. Views and comments are being sought on this framework.
Closes 4 August 2023

Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill – call for views
Scottish Parliament
The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee is seeking views on the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill.
*NEW* Closes 20 August 2023

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Analysis of the survey results on the Heritage Fund’s new strategy (NLHF 20/06/2023)

Agriculture Bill: consultation analysis (Scot Gov 22/06/2023)

Heat networks – thermal energy target 2035: consultation analysis (Scot Gov 03/07/2023)

PETITIONS

Scottish Government submission: PE1957/G: Home Reports – make surveyors more
accountable (Scot Parl 16/06/2023)

Scottish Government submission: PE2006/A: Review and simplify the legislation in relation to dismissal of property factors (Scot Parl 23/03/2023)

Under One Roof submission: PE2006/E: Review and simplify the legislation in relation to dismissal of property factors (Scot Parl 22/06/2023)

PUBLICATIONS

Year of Stories 2022 – Evaluation Report (Visit Scotland May 2023)
Discover the impact of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022, with key insights, results and learnings.

Energy Efficiency and Historic Buildings: Assessing the Thermal and Hygrothermal Performance of Two Refurbished Dwellings (Historic England 26/05/2023)

For Churches – Our New Strategy (National Churches Trust 31/05/2023)

Your Church, Your Community: Guidance for communities exploring future uses for church buildings (Historic Churches Scotland; Heritage Trust Network; The Development Trust Association June 2023)

A National Metrics Library for the Built Environment: Strategy for Implementation (Scottish Futures Trust June 2023)

Architype climate action roadmap Q1 2023 (Architype 14/06/2023)

Portfolio Review – and related documents (National Trust for Scotland 15/06/2023)
BEFS in partnership with National Trust for Scotland produced the Portfolio Review (scroll down to read appropriate section) and Built Estate Analysis. These set out to understand more about the complex and diverse NTS estate, examining many aspects of building type and use.

Traditional Thatching Materials: Issues Affecting a Sustainable Future (Historic England 19/06/2023)

Places, Land and Community Wealth Building in Scotland: An Overview (SURF 21/06/2023)

Progress in reducing emissions 2023 Report to Parliament (Climate Change Committee 28/06/2023)

SCOTTISH & UK: GOVERNMENTAL & PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS

Trends in Funding for Culture (SPICe 12/06/2023)

Community right to buy (Scot Gov 13/06/2023)
Company Limited by Guarantee: model template and guidance
Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation: model template and guidance
Crofting – Company Limited by Guarantee (CLBG): model template

European Regional Development Fund: annual implementation report 2021 (Scot Gov 13/06/2023)

Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill: equality impact assessment (Scot Gov 14/06/2023)

Correspondence between the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland and the Economy and Fair Work Committee, providing follow-up evidence (Scot Parl 15/06/2023)

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs & Culture Committee Meeting, Session 6, National Outcomes (Scot Parl?15/06/2023)

Scottish Natural Capital Accounts: 2023 (Scot Gov 15/06/2023)

New roadmap to ensure Scotland’s people reap the benefits of rising land values and land use change (Scottish Land Commission 16/06/2023)

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee meeting, Session 6, Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 20/06/2023)

Review of the National Outcomes 2023 – Back to the future? (SPICe 20/06/2023)

Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) annual progress report 2022 recommendations (Scot Gov 20/06/2023)

Tolerable standard guidance: satisfactory fire and carbon monoxide detection (Scot Gov 20/06/2023)

Just transition for the built environment and construction sector: a discussion paper (Scot Gov 20/06/2023)

National Strategy for Economic Transformation: annual progress report June 2023 (Scot Gov 21/06/2023)
First annual progress report on the delivery of the 10 year National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET).

Community Councils at 50 – the forgotten front-line of democracy? (SPICe 21/06/2023)

Whole House Retrofit and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator: joint process evaluation (UK Gov 21/06/2023)

Households and Dwellings in Scotland, 2022 (National Records of Scotland 22/06/2023)

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee. Community Planning: Post-legislative scrutiny of Part 2 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 (Scot Parl 22/06/2023)

Correspondence between the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee and Paul McLennan on short-term lets (Scot Parl 23/06/2023)

Building standards fee income and re-investment in service delivery: review (Scot Gov 26/06/2023)

Chief Planner and Planning Minister letter: summer 2023 update (Scot Gov 26/06/2023)

Correspondence between Mairi Gougeon and the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee with an update on the forthcoming Agriculture Bill (Scot Parl 26/06/2023)

Regeneration Capital Grant Fund – stage one 2024 to 2025: application form (Scot Gov 26/06/2023)

Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA): annual review 2022 to 2023 (Scot Gov 27/06/2023)

Statement on call-in of planning applications by Scottish Ministers (Scot Gov 28/06/2023)
Under Section 46A(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, Scottish Ministers have laid a statement on call-in of Planning Applications in the Scottish Parliament.

Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill – Passed (Scot Parl 28/06/2023)
This Bill makes changes to the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.

DCMS Report on the impact of conservation, repair and maintenance on culture and heritage capital assets (UK Gov 28/06/2023)
Combining valuation methodologies and heritage science to measure the welfare impact of ongoing conservation, protection, repair and maintenance of culture and heritage capital (CHC) assets

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs & Culture Committee Meeting, Session 6, Culture in Communities (Scot Parl?29/06/2023)

Mental health and wellbeing strategy (Scot Gov 29/06/2023)
Strategy laying out our approach to improving mental health for everyone in Scotland.

Correspondence between the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee and Paul McLennan on damp and mould in housing (Scot Parl 29/06/2023)

Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP): application form (Scot Gov 30/06/2023)

Short term lets – licensing scheme part 1: guidance for hosts and operators
Short term lets – licensing scheme part 2: supplementary guidance for licensing authorities, letting agencies and platforms (Scot Gov 30/06/2023)

New Deal with Local Government – Verity House Agreement (Scot Gov 30/06/2023)
COSLA and the Scottish Government have agreed a new Partnership Agreement setting out a vision for a more collaborative approach to delivering shared priorities for the people of Scotland.

Scotland’s Heat Network Fund: application guidance (Scot Gov 03/07/2023)

Community Ownership Fund: successful bidders (UK Gov 03/07/2023)
Nine Scottish projects have been awarded over £2m in funding, including £300,000 for the refurbishment of Laxdale Hall, £300,000 for the John O’ Groats Mill Trust and £250,000 for North Edinburgh Arts to create a state-of-the-art hub.

How is Scotland Performing? (SPICe 03/07/2023)

Government response to UNESCO World Heritage Sites – UK Tentative List Review (UK Gov 04/07/2023)

National Islands Plan: implementation route map 2023 (Scot Gov 05/07/2023)

NEWS RELEASES

Museums Galleries Scotland’s journey to becoming a Carbon Literate organisation in 2022 (MGS 31/05/2023)

Future Scottish Agriculture support framework: Agriculture Bill (CIfA June 2023)
CIfA is working to lobby Scottish Government ahead of the publication of its draft Agriculture Bill later this summer and invites support for their views.

NPF4 wins award for planning to address climate change (Planning Awards 08/06/2023)
National Planning Framework 4 won the Planning to Address Climate Change award

The National Retrofit Hub appoints new Co-Directors (National Retrofit Hub 14/06/2023)

Warmworks wins Scottish Government national fuel poverty programme bid (Warmworks 16/06/2023)

RICS announces appointment of new CEO, Justin Young (RICS 19/06/2023)

The Council of the EU reaches agreement on the nature restoration law (European Council 20/06/2023)

Number of households continues to increase (National Records of Scotland 22/06/2023)
The number of households continues to increase in Scotland. In 2022 there were 2.55 million households, 15% more than 20 years ago.

Make Your Mark awarded a £142k grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to make heritage volunteering accessible to all (Heritage Trust Network 22/06/2023)

Three Scottish buildings among 2023 RIBA National Awards winners (SCN 23/06/2023)

Smoothing the building-standards process (Glasgow Caledonian University 28/06/2023)
Academics at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) have secured funding to explore how to best digitise Scotland’s building standards system.

Tantallon and Dirleton castles reopen as access is increased at East Lothian heritage sites (HES 30/06/2023)

Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and the RIAS (RIAS 30/06/2023)
OSCR has concluded an inquiry into the RIAS, and has also engaged with the RIAS in connection with its work on reviewing and updating its governance

Scotland Digs 2023 has launched a packed schedule of fieldwork events to celebrate world-class archaeology whilst highlighting budget-friendly activities for the public. The campaign co-ordinated by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland and AOC Archaeology, will assemble updates on their fieldwork events for the public via an online hub from 21 June to 22 September. For more information visit the Scotland Digs 2023 webpages

OPINION & COMMENT

A new method of accurately assessing stone and brick masonry structures could help preserve historic stone buildings and bridges (New Civil Engineer 24/05/2023)

Mapping with Intent: Feminist city planning. Who are our cities built for? And how does this impact our daily lives? (The Skinny 15/06/2023)
One writer explores Scottish cities’ recent move towards feminist urban planning and unpacks what this should look like – in policy and in public

UNESCO may be flawed, but we are better in than out (The Times 16/06/2023)

We must ensure stewards of our land and historic environment are supported (Holyrood Magazine 23/06/2023)

Over two thirds of firms in Scotland struggling with skills shortages (STV 30/06/2023)

Inclusive Planning for Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople (PAS 04/07/2023)

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 07/06/2023
S6W-18838
To ask the Scottish Government what investigations Historic Environment Scotland has undertaken to determine whether any of the buildings that it manages were fitted with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, and what the cost was of conducting any necessary repairs, broken down by building.
Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 13 June 2023

Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 02/06/2023
S6W-18610
To ask the Scottish Government how much money it has received through the Barnett formula as a result of the Apprenticeship Levy in the last full academic year.
S6W-18611
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on the Flexible Workforce Development Fund in the last academic year, including in relation to any projects designed to support apprenticeships.
Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 15 June 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 05/06/2023
S6W-18663
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many damp surveys have been undertaken by local authorities in each year since 2019.
S6W-18664
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how much has been spent on maintenance of social housing in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 16 June 2023
S6W-18669
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review any of the statutory duties placed on local authorities by the Scottish Ministers.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 14 June 2023
S6W-18670
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any costs associated with local authorities reporting on statutory duties placed on them by the Scottish Ministers.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 16 June 2023

Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 02/06/2023
S6W-18614
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17942 by Shona Robison on 30 May 2023, whether the 17 buildings on the Scottish Government Core Estate will meet an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least band C by 2028, as will be required by all properties actively rented in the private sector, and, if not, what its position is on whether it is fair to impose energy standards on the private rented sector that the Scottish Government will not meet in its own buildings.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 16 June 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 08/06/2023
S6W-18857
To ask the Scottish Government when the employability and individual training account budgets will be confirmed and announced.
Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 16 June 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 12/06/2023
S6W-19058
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in implementing its conclusions in Priority Area 7 of the Report of the City Centre Recovery Task Force 2021-22.
Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 16 June 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 05/06/2023
S6W-18672
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has received the final report of the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment.
Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 June 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 06/06/2023
S6W-17025
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated through the (a) Scottish Empty Homes Partnership and (b) Empty Homes Loan Fund in each year since it was launched, broken down by local authority.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 20 June 2023

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 09/06/2023
S6W-18918
To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Ministers will make regulations to give effect to Part 7 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.
Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 20 June 2023

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 09/06/2023
S6W-18942
To ask the Scottish Government when the Green Heat Finance Taskforce (a) last met and (b) will next meet.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 20 June 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 13/06/2023
S6W-19095
To ask the Scottish Government how many cultural venues have been taken into community ownership in each of the last five years.
S6W-19096
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for community-run cultural venues and assets.
Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 20 June 2023

Jamie Stone, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, Liberal Democrats
Date: 20/06/2023
Westminster Debate on Heritage Sites – Sustainability

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 07/06/2023
S6W-18843
To ask the Scottish Government what investigations National Records of Scotland has undertaken to determine whether any of the buildings that it manages were fitted with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, and what the cost was of conducting any necessary repairs, broken down by building.
Current status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 21 June 2023

Tess White, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 12/06/2023
S6W-19060
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Report of the Review Panel on Building Standards Compliance and Enforcement, which was published in June 2018.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 June 2023

Ariane Burgess, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 14/06/2023
S6O-02398
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce compulsory sales orders through its proposed Land Reform Bill, in light of its plans to address the need for effective, efficient and fair land assembly powers for public bodies, as referred to in the Bute House Agreement.
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 June 2023

Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 12/06/2023
S6W-19023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18306 by Patrick Harvie on 7 June 2023, whether it (a) has provided and (b) plans to provide financial support to local authorities to undertake inspections of buildings for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 22 June 2023

Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 16/06/2023
S6W-19192
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out an Island Communities Impact Assessment in relation to the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill, and, if not, whether it plans to do so.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 23 June 2023

Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 12/06/2023
S6W-19031
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the Energy Performance Certificate ratings of buildings that are part of the Scottish Government estate.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 26 June 2023

Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 13/06/2023
S6W-19103
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18309 by Angela Constance on 9 June 2023, when it anticipates a decision on the long-term solutions for buildings will be taken.
Current status: Answered by Angela Constance on 27 June 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 14/06/2023
S6W-19110
To ask the Scottish Government how many empty homes have been brought back into use in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 28 June 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15/06/2023
S6W-19194
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish local authority analysis for the 2021 Scottish House Condition Survey.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 28 June 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 09/06/2023
S6W-18914
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-14236 by Lorna Slater on 2 February 2023, whether the study to map the net zero gap skills on Scottish islands, as referred to on page 12 of the Carbon Neutral Islands Project Progress Report, has progressed beyond its “early stages” and the “initial meetings” that “were held in December 2022”; if so, whether it will provide a detailed report on progress, and, if not, for what reason it has not progressed, and when it is expected to do so.
Current status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 29 June 2023

Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16/06/2023
S6W-19075
To ask the Scottish Government what investigations the public corporations have undertaken to determine whether any of the buildings that they manage were fitted with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, and what the cost was of conducting any necessary repairs, broken down by building.
S6W-19077
To ask the Scottish Government what investigations non-departmental public bodies have undertaken to determine whether any of the buildings that they manage were fitted with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, and what the cost was of conducting any necessary repairs, broken down by building.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 29 June 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15/06/2023
S6W-19106
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Lord Braid’s opinion on the judicial review of the City of Edinburgh Council’s short-term lets licensing policy, whether it plans to (a) repeal the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2022 and Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) (Amendment) Order 2023 and (b) instruct local authorities to reimburse any short-term let operators that have applied for a licence, whether it was granted or not.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 29 June 2023

Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 15/06/2023
S6W-19153
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent ruling on the judicial review of the City of Edinburgh Council’s short-term lets licensing scheme, whether it is considering a review of short-term lets legislation, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 29 June 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15/06/2023
S6W-19195
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the analysis of the consultation on the New Build Heat Standard, which states that legislation will be prepared in spring 2023, when it plans to publish further information on the New Build Heat Standard.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 29 June 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 23/06/2023
S6W-19435
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been raised from Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) in each year since its introduction, broken down by local authority area.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 29 June 2023

Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16/06/2023
S6W-19076
To ask the Scottish Government what investigations Transport Scotland has undertaken to determine whether any of the buildings that it manages were fitted with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, and what the cost was of conducting any necessary repairs, broken down by building.
Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 June 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 20/06/2023
S6W-19287
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19058 by Neil Gray on 16 June 2023, how much in total has been allocated to the Scottish Cities Alliance to carry out the work specified as necessary in the Report of the City Centre Recovery Task Force 2021-22.
Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 30 June 2023

Gordon MacDonald, Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 29/06/2023
S6W-19590
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on proposals for Investment Zones in Scotland.
Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Neil Gray on 30 June 2023

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 16/06/2023
S6W-19241
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase funding for skills related to retrofitting, in light of its announced policy to ban gas boilers in all new building developments, and, if so, whether it can provide details.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 3 July 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 23/06/2023
S6W-19441
To ask the Scottish Government when it will update the Parliament on the potential introduction of a new National Outcome for housing.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 4 July 2023

Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 21/06/2023
S6W-19309 R
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what the timetable for the Housing Bill is, in light of reports that it has been delayed until spring 2024.
Current status: Answer expected on 19 July 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 30/06/2023
S6W-19581
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considered exempting hydrogen-ready boilers from its proposed ban on gas boilers in new build properties.
S6W-19582
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has completed an assessment of how many homes in Scotland will be able to run a heat pump and use two electric car chargers simultaneously.
S6W-19583
To ask the Scottish Government what impact taking a so-called “heat pump first” approach will have on grid capacity and supply.
Current status: Answer expected on 28 July 2023

Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 30/06/2023
S6W-19606
To ask the Scottish Government whether it approved the decision to change the funding criteria so that applications for solar PV and/or energy storage systems would no longer be considered unless they were part of a package together with a heat pump or high heat retention storage heaters, through the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan and Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan schemes.
S6W-19607
To ask the Scottish Government what the basis was for the decision for applications to the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan and Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan schemes for solar PV and/or energy storage systems to be ineligible unless the applicant is also applying for this as part of a package together with a heat pump or high heat retention storage heaters, from 27 June 2023.
S6W-19608
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of the number of properties that will no longer be eligible for support through the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan and Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan schemes for solar PV and/or energy storage systems because they are unable to have a heat pump or high heat retention storage heaters.
S6W-19609
To ask the Scottish Government how many properties have received support from the (a) Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan and (b) Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan scheme for solar PV and/or energy storage systems where the household did not claim any qualifying benefits, since the scheme was created.
S6W-19610
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to the (a) Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan and (b) Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan scheme for solar PV and/or energy storage systems, since the scheme was created, and how many applications have been successful.
S6W-19611
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications have been made to the (a) Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan and (b) Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan scheme for a heat pump or high heat retention storage heaters, since the scheme was created, and how many applications have been successful.
Current status: Answer expected on 28 July 2023

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 03/07/2023
S6W-19673
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish a register of public sector buildings that have been found to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
S6W-19676
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in (a) public sector buildings and (b) privately owned buildings in Scotland.
S6W-19679
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in private sector buildings, including those that were initially built for the public sector, and how it will raise awareness of any problems related to its presence.
Current status: Answer expected on 31 July 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 03/07/2023
S6W-19716
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can confirm the total amount that Historic Environment Scotland has spent on advertising its sites, in each year since it was founded in 2015.
S6W-19717
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the advertising spend that Historic Environment Scotland allocates to promote each of its sites.
S6W-19718
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has held any discussions with Historic Environment Scotland regarding any permanent closures of sites that it manages, and, if so, which sites were earmarked for closure.
S6W-19720 R
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with National Museums Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
S6W-19722
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with National Records of Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
S6W-19733
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
S6W-19768
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether Historic Environment Scotland awarded any performance payments to staff at executive level since 2015, broken down by year.
Current status: Answers expected on 31 July 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 04/07/2023
S6W-19756
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in its paper, A Culture Strategy for Scotland, whether it is actively promoting Historic Environment Scotland’s work on climate change, and, if so, whether it can provide examples of this.
S6W-19762
To ask the Scottish Government in what ways its National Partnership for Culture has influenced government policy since its establishment, and whether it can provide details and examples of any such influence.
Current status: Answer expected on 1 August 2023

Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 04/07/2023
S6W-19774
To ask the Scottish Government how many households have received Home Energy Scotland funding to install solar PV and/or energy storage systems only, rather than as part of a wider retrofitting package, in each of the last five years, also broken down by local authority area.
S6W-19775
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been distributed to installation projects involving solar PV and/or energy storage systems only, rather than as part of a wider retrofitting package, in each of the last five years, also broken down by local authority area.
Current status: Answer expected on 1 August 2023

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 04/07/2023
S6W-19777
To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met universities and colleges to discuss the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in buildings and action to (a) manage and (b) remove it.
Current status: Answer expected on 1 August 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 04/07/2023
S6W-19781
To ask the Scottish Government what urgent action it is taking to address any green skills shortages, in light of reported concerns that not doing so will undermine Scotland’s and the UK’s progress towards a green economy.
S6W-19782
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government in the last year regarding the UK’s progress towards achieving the 2030 gas emissions targets.
S6W-19784
To ask the Scottish Government how many public–private partnerships are in place to develop and deliver district heat networks across Scotland.
S6W-19785
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £300 million provided for Scotland’s Heat Network Fund, which opened in February 2022, has been allocated to projects.
Current status: Answer expected on 1 August 2023

MOTIONS

Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour.
Date lodged: 13/06/2023
S6M-09190
That the Parliament believes that Scotland’s world-class heritage sector and its workforce have long been undervalued, and are now in jeopardy due to the cost of living crisis; considers that Scotland’s heritage sites, including those in the Lothian region, are well-loved by international visitors and locals alike; believes that Scotland must celebrate and champion its unique cultures; understands that the new generation of potential conservationists, archaeologists, curators and other specialists are also experiencing hardship, and that new trainees cannot even afford their rents; notes the view that better pay will mean that Scotland’s young people can aspire to have secure, long-term employment in the heritage sector, and further notes the calls for the Scottish Government to recognise the contribution that Scotland’s heritage workforce makes to local communities, the nations of the UK and the world.
Supported by: Monica Lennon, Paul Sweeney, David Torrance, Mercedes Villalba
Current status: Achieved cross-party support

Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party.
Date lodged: 13/06/2023
S6M-09431
That the Parliament congratulates Scotland’s Regeneration Forum on the launch of the SURF Awards 2023; notes that 2023 marks the 25th Anniversary of the SURF Awards programme, reportedly described by one past winner as “the Oscars of Regeneration”, with 1,069 entries submitted since 2005; notes what it sees as the importance of the awards in spotlighting and celebrating best practice examples of community regeneration projects across Scotland; commends all past nominees and winners for what it sees as the exceptional work that they do to empower, enrich and affect positive change for individuals and communities, despite the recent challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis; recognises the breadth of regeneration initiatives undertaken by organisations and community volunteers to address social and economic problems, from providing employment and training opportunities for people of all ages, to supporting wellbeing via arts, culture and creative activities; notes that the five award categories in 2023 reflect regeneration activity at all levels, and are Community Led Regeneration, Creative Regeneration, Housing and Regeneration, Improving Scotland’s Places and Removing Barriers to Employability; understands that applications must be submitted by 5.00 pm on 4 September 2023; believes that there are many examples of best practice, community-led regeneration initiatives in Edinburgh Northern and Leith, and encourages them, and others based across Scotland, to enter the SURF Awards 2023.
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Stephanie Callaghan, Maggie Chapman, Jackie Dunbar, Pam Duncan-Glancy, Annabelle Ewing, Emma Harper, Clare Haughey, Bill Kidd, Liam McArthur, Stuart McMillan, Marie McNair, Audrey Nicoll, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, David Torrance, Brian Whittle

EVENTS

For further listings, please see our events calendar.

Dig It! – Scotland Digs 2023 has launched a packed schedule of fieldwork events to celebrate world-class archaeology whilst highlighting budget-friendly activities for the public. For more information visit Scotland Digs 2023

Heritage Trust Network – Exploring Opportunities: Churches and Tourism
Date & Time: Thursday 6 July 2023; 7-8:30pm
Location: Online
Heritage Trust Network and Historic Churches Scotland have partnered with SCOTO to host the fifth event in their church series. Aimed at any group contemplating the future of their church building, this event will focus on how church buildings can play a part in your local tourism offering.

RICS WBEF – Heat resilience in urban environments: Making cities cooler
Date & Time: Wednesday 12 July 2023; 4-5pm
Location: Online
With the impact of climate change becoming more pronounced and the frequency of extreme heat events increasing, cities must find ways to mitigate prolonged periods of soaring summer temperatures. This webinar looks at the possible solutions from incorporating more green infrastructure and other passive options to active technologies, and how a multi-disciplinary approach by built environment professionals can make cities cooler.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh – What World Heritage Sites can do for you
Date & Time: Tuesday 18 July 2023; 12:30-1:30pm
Location: Online
As part of the “RSE investigates… conservation” series, Professor David Breeze will talk about conservation efforts and the Antonine Wall. In 2008, the Antonine Wall, a fortification built by the Romans and situated, between the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Forth became a World Heritage Site. The recognition of the Antonine Wall was in the framework of a project to make all the frontiers of the Roman Empire a World Heritage Site. This lecture will review the genesis of the project and the work undertaken to help move the international community to the ultimate target as well as looking forward to future activities and challenges.

TRAINING

Scottish Lime Centre Trust – Lime Pointing
Date & Time: Friday 4 August 2023; 9:30am-4:30pm
Location: Merryhill Training Centre, Charlestown, Dunfermline KY11 3DR
Would you like to undertake repointing works as part of a renovation project or simply as general maintenance to traditional masonry structures? This practical ‘hands on’ training day will give participants the skill to undertake repointing works with confidence. This course will provide a sound understanding of traditional building technology, repair techniques and the materials to use when carrying out repointing.

VACANCIES

Fife Employment Access Trust – Project Director for Silverburn Flax Mill Renovation
Budgeted Fee: Costs not to exceed £120,000
Status: Fixed term – from appointment in 2023 up to November 2026
Location: Leven, Fife
Fife Employment Access Trust are seeking an experienced Project Director within the built environment sector to lead the Silverburn Flax Mill Renovation Project, creating a Visitor Centre and Community Hub. The role involves leading the Project to deliver exemplar conservation and refurbishment that respects and preserves the original design intent, while maximising access and benefit for all. The Project Director will manage the project from initial construction works to project close in accordance with recognised Project Management processes, producing, circulating and maintaining all project controls and documentation with particular emphasis on governance, managing risk, quality, cost, programme and change. In addition, they will lead on the delivery of the overall Project Brief in consultation with internal teams and stakeholder groups.
Follow this link for more information and details on how to apply.
Closing date: Midday on Monday 10 July 2023

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland – Publications Officer
Salary: £23,832.79 to £26,193.43 p/a (pro rata)
Status: full-time; temporary – 7 months from September 2023
Location: Edinburgh; potential for hybrid arrangement
This is an excellent opportunity for someone at the beginning of a career in academic publishing. The ideal candidate will be familiar with standard academic publishing processes including peer review and open access and will have experience of working with researchers. They will be able to manage and prioritise a varied workload, with an eye for detail and design, and be willing to learn new systems quickly.
For more information, please see the detailed Job Description
Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 11 July 2023

Historic Environment Scotland – National Strategy Vacancies
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is recruiting for a new team, tasked with rolling out the new national strategy for Scotland’s historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.
All roles will be located in Edinburgh and the Lothians and are full-time (37hrs p/w) on a fixed 3-year term.
National Strategy Programme Manager
Salary: £43,960 – £49,953
An experienced and confident programme manager is required to lead the implementation of the new national strategy. Leading a small team to promote the strategy, identify and establish the structures needed to deliver it, manage strategy delivery, and monitor and report on activity, the successful candidate will have excellent planning, communication and influencing skills and will engage effectively with partners and key stakeholders across Scotland.
National Strategy Coordinator
Salary: £28,541 – £34,702
An experienced, confident and enthusiastic individual is being sought to support the Programme Manager with the roll out of the new national strategy. The role involves providing assistance to promote the strategy, identify and establish the structures needed to deliver the strategy, coordinate delivery, and monitor and report on activity. Candidates should have excellent planning, communication and facilitation skills to engage with a wide variety of partners and stakeholders across Scotland.
National Strategy Data Analyst
Salary: £36,418 – £41,866
An experienced and confident data analyst, reporting to the National Strategy Programme Manager, is being sought. The role involves responsibility for providing the data, intelligence and insights needed to support the new strategy’s implementation, delivery and performance reporting, whilst collaborating with colleagues across the organisation and with external partner organisations and networks.
Closing date for applications for all roles: Midday on Wednesday 12 July 2023

Fife Council – Built Heritage Officer
Salary: FC7 £29,245.89 – £36,547.97 (Graduate Built Heritage Officer)/ FC8 £36,547.97 – £40,245.94 (Built Heritage Officer) per year pro rata
Status: Full-time, permanent
Location: Fife House, Glenrothes, Fife
Fife Council has a vacancy for a Graduate Built Heritage Officer/Built Heritage Officer. Whether you have recently graduated or are looking to develop your career in planning and caring for the historic environment, Fife has a lot to offer. Providing specialist advice on the historic environment and built heritage in relation to applications for planning permission, conservation area consent, and listed building consent, the post also involves contributing to the development and delivery of the built heritage component of policies and programmes, including Fife’s development plan and the Fife Historic Environment Strategy in addressing the key issues of social, and economic equality and climate change action. For more information, please see the detailed Job Description or contact Dominick Mennie
Closing date: Monday 17 July 2023

Fife Historic Buildings Trust – Finance Officer
Salary: £30,000; full time or job share (pro rata)
Status: Permanent
Location: Kinghorn Town Hall, Fife/Potential for hybrid
Fife Historic Buildings Trust are recruiting for a charity finance professional to co-ordinate the financial activities of FHBT. Sound financial control underpins all the great work they do, and this is an opportunity to bring your experience to join a welcoming and high achieving team, and play your part in their work for people and historic places in Fife. See the detailed job description for more information and how to apply. Potential applicants are welcome to contact Lorraine Bell, FHBT Manager for an informal discussion.
Closing date: 5pm on Monday 31 July 2023

BACK

15 Jun 2023

Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations

BEFS NEWS

BEFS work on Tenement Maintenance continues, and you can see the updated webpage outlining activity here. BEFS and Under One Roof have worked together for several years, with UOR becoming BEFS Members recently. Both organisations share secretariat for the Tenement Working Group. Here, Anny from Under One Roof, Scotland’s only charity committed to providing free and impartial information on repairs, maintenance, and retrofit for tenement flat owner-occupiers, landlords, and housing professionals in Scotland – shares a bit more about UOR’s work and recent events.

BEFS Director took part in the RSGS and Zero Waste Scotland series 10 Big Climate Solutions – the Building Futures workshop highlighted 3 areas for action – these are captured within this report. BEFS will continue to be involved, with Zero Waste Scotland, on the strand related to evidence. This builds upon and supports the work relating to Housing and Land Data recently explored in a paper by Andy Wightman and an event with the David Hume Institute.

A new Report of Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape has been published which makes a range of recommendations for future adaptations to support the National Strategy for Economic Transformation. If implemented, key recommendations would radically change the skills delivery (and funding) landscape in Scotland.

The 2023 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration has been launched. The purpose of the Award is to highlight, celebrate and share the achievements of initiatives that address physical, social and economic challenges in communities across Scotland. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 4 September.

Doors Open Day Festival is inviting hosts to apply now to take part in this year’s event. For more information if you are considering taking part, please see their comprehensive online guide that answers all your queries, and to register an interest.

The winners of Europe’s top heritage awards 2023 have been announced by the European Commission and Europa Nostra. This year, 30 outstanding heritage achievements from 21 countries have been awarded in five categories: 1) Conservation & Adaptive Reuse; 2) Research; 3) Education, Training & Skills; 4) Citizens’ Engagement & Awareness-raising; and 5) Heritage Champions. The full list included two outstanding projects from the UK. The Call for Entries for the 2024 edition of the Awards is now open.

Congratulations to Stonemason, Luke Maher who was one of 10 winners of the Emerging Talent Award 2023 as announced at the recent Natural Stone Show in London. This is a great achievement by Luke, alongside MCU & the Stirling Skill’s Centre who got him to this point of top recognition by the UK Stone Industry.

CONSULTATIONS

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation: analysis report of responses to the consultation exercise (Scot Gov June 2023)

Land reform in a Net Zero Nation: consultation analysis (Scot Gov 02/06/2023)

New Build Heat Standard: consultation part two analysis (Scot Gov 09/06/2023)

Review of National Outcomes 2023 – SCVO response to call for evidence (SCVO 12/06/2023)

BEFS response to the Review of National Outcomes: call for evidence (BEFS 12/06/2023)
BEFS have submitted a response to the Scottish Government’s Review of National Performance Framework Outcomes: call for evidence consultation. BEFS response highlights the lack of appreciation for the cross-cutting benefits that come from cultural-heritage means many across the sector are continually explaining and reiterating the wide-reaching positive impacts of their work. It calls for greater alignment with the UN-SDGs particularly SDG 11.4: ‘Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage’. The additions of Targets and Outcomes, taking into account cross-sectoral inputs, could help to: incentivise, and enable, cross-portfolio working to deliver against net-zero, wellbeing and wider community aims.

PUBLICATIONS

Reviewing Residential Retrofitting Literature: An Explorative Mapping Study (CaCHE May 2023)

Architectural Heritage Fund – 2023-28 Strategy (AHF 22/05/2023)

RenoHUb Project Closing Report (RenoHUB 22/05/2023)
Establishment of the first one-stop-shop consulting office network in Hungary, aimed at supporting deep renovations managed by citizens.

For Churches – Strategy 2023-2026 (National Churches Trust 31/05/2023)

Measuring the Social Dimension of Culture: Handbook (MESOC June 2023)

Ex-ante Assessment of the Thematic Area “Greening Cities” under the Urban Agenda for the EU (European Commission 08/06/2023)

Ensuring inclusivity: parks and public spaces to be designed for girls and young women – Make Space for Girls webinar with PAS (PAS 10/06/2023)

SCOTTISH & UK GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

SPICe Spotlight: Scottish climate change adaptation policy (SPICe 01/06/2023)

SPICe Spotlight: Scottish climate change impacts in Scotland (SPICe 01/06/2023)

SPICe Spotlight: Net Zero; what does it mean and what happens afterwards (SPICe 01/06/2023)

List of special advisers who provide advice across all portfolio areas in the Scottish Government (Scot Gov 01/06/2023)

Letter from the Minister for Housing to the Convener of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee (Scot Parl 01/06/2023)
Update on enhancing the accessibility, adaptability and usability of Scotland’s homes.

Fit for the Future: developing a post-school learning system to fuel economic transformation (Scot Gov 07/06/2023)
Review considered skills functions and remits of Scotland’s national public bodies, making 15 recommendations for future adaptations to support National Strategy for Economic Transformation

Culture in Communities – Constitution, Europe, External Affairs And Culture Committee, 19th Meeting, 2023, Session 6 (Scot Parl 08/06/2023)
SPICe Briefing and written submission from Creative Scotland.

Letter from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition to the Conveners of Finance and Public Administration Committee and Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (Scot Parl 08/06/2023)
Update on implementation of the conclusions of the Joint Budget Review in relation to climate change.

Letter from the Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights to the Convener of the Economy and Fair Work Committee (Scot Parl 08/06/2023)
On the Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023.

Letter from Mr J Keith Robertson the to the Economy and Fair Work Committee (Scot Parl 09/06/2023)
On Registers of Scotland and the registration backlog June 2023.

Community Climate Action Hubs: response analysis (Scot Gov 09/06/2023)

Scotland’s National Innovation Strategy (Scot Gov 09/06/2023)

Scotland’s National Innovation Strategy: economic evidence paper (09/06/2023)

Growth sector statistics – Sustainable tourism (Scot Gov 09/06/2023)
Includes museum activities and operation of historical sites and buildings and similar visitor attractions.

Growth sector statistics – Creative Industries (Scot Gov 09/06/2023)
Including Heritage: Libraries and archive activities, Cultural education, Architecture and Desing activities.

Growth sector statistics – International Tourism (Scot Gov 09/06/2023)
Including Total Turnover (£Millions), 2008-2020 for Cultural Activities: Creative, arts and entertainment activities; Museum activities; Operation of historical sites and buildings and similar visitor attractions (in Table 2.1).

Scottish Central Government Energy Efficiency Grant scheme: form and guidance (Scot Gov 09/06/2023)

SPICe Spotlight: Trends in Funding for Culture (SPICe 12/06/2023)

Building standards – ministerial view: building insulation envelope (Scot Gov 12/06/2023)

Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 13/06/2023)
Màiri McAllan has introduced the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill. The bill will give ministers powers to set local recycling targets, devise statutory targets for the delivery of a circular economy, ban the disposal of unsold consumer goods and place charges on single-use items.

NEWS RELEASES

Europa Nostra Council appeal to 2nd Summit of the European Political Community in Moldova to include Culture and Cultural Heritage among future EPC priorities (Europa Nostra 31/05/2023)

The Call for Entries for the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2024 is now open! (Europa Nostra 13/06/2023)

Plans unveiled for new Archive House (HES 13/06/2023)
An existing building in the Sherwood Industrial Estate in Bonnyrigg, will be converted to a world-class facility

OPINION & COMMENT

What is the right approach for retrofitting? (Build Up – European Commission 16/05/2023)

Renovation and innovation solutions for monumental buildings (Build Up – European Commission 16/05/2023)

Eighteen properties evacuated and road closed as safety zone placed under St Ninians site (Daily Record 18/05/2023)

Geospatial Commission calls for upgrade in land use data (UKAuthority News 23/05/2023)

Place Standard Tool: Norwegian colleagues visit to Scotland (A&DS 26/05/2023)

Pioneering Programme Using Archaeology to Empower Young People (Historic England 28/05/2023)

Collapse in GCSE arts subjects gathers pace (Arts Professional 29/05/2023)

Roadside heritage to be more visible under National Highways plans (Museums & Heritage Advisor 31/05/2023)

SPAB Scholars: what stories can this old chapel tell? (SPAB 31/05/2023)

Agenda: Why it’s time to back urban planners (The Herald 01/06/23)

New Scottish building standards model piloted (RICS 01/02/2023)

Is there a future for Scotland’s National Performance Framework? (SCVO 02/06/2023)

EU’s green renovation wave faces backlash: Countries are wary of EU plans to slash emissions by retrofitting millions of homes (Politico 05/06/2023)
Includes renovation of older building stock in the UK and the EU that doesn’t meet modern standards.

Climate initiative cities boost renewables’ use, but still largely depend on fossil fuels (JRC 06/06/2023)

Left in ruins: Should we let historic buildings ‘gracefully die’? (Holyrood Magazine 07/06/2023)

Outer House finds Edinburgh’s short-term let licensing policy unlawful (Scottish Legal News 08/06/2023)

Historic England launches the country’s first online building stones database (HTN 08/06/2023)

New indicators will track climate change between IPCC reports (CarbonBrief 08/06/2023)
Dashboard to data visualisation is available at Climate Change Tracker here.

New Loch Ness immersive experience tourist attraction to open after £1.5m revamp (Sky News 08/06/2023)
The newly refurbished Loch Ness Centre is in a Category B listed building, previously the Drumnadrochit Hotel.

The EPC system is no longer fit for heritage buildings (Architects’ Journal 09/06/2023)

Credibility gap in net-zero climate targets leaves world at high risk (Science 09/06/2023)

Creative placemaking – necessary, not just nice to have (Place Design Scotland 09/06/2023)

Scotland: historic sites closed for two years over safety (The Herald 12/06/2023)

Building Futures in Rural Scotland (Halvorsen Architects 12/06/2023)

City of Edinburgh Council’s short-term lettings decision: full case report (Scottish Housing News 13/06/2023)

New rules for all new buildings to have zero direct emissions heating systems (Scottish Housing News 13/06/2023)
Please see the link to the Regulations which come into force on 1 April 2024

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 28/04/2023
S6W-17468
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with churches, regarding the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land) Regulations 2021, since 1 January 2023.
Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 31 May 2023

Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/05/2023
S6W-18141
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the independent review of the skills delivery landscape.
S6W-18143
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its vision for the college sector.
Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 31 May 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 12/05/2023
S6W-17911
To ask the Scottish Government how many green jobs currently exist in Scotland, broken down by the region in which they are located, and what the definition is that it uses for such jobs.
Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 1 June 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16/05/2023
S6W-17982
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15987 by Patrick Harvie on 23 March 2023, whether it will provide an update on when it will publish the data, in light of reports that it is already being used for policy formulation and implementation.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 June 2023

Katy Clark, West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 22/05/2023
S6W-18199
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17602 by Neil Gray on 12 May 2023, under the Fair Work First Framework on conditionality for public sector grants, which grant funders are subject to applying conditionality on (a) effective voice and (b) Real Living Wage under these rules, and whether there are any public sector grant funders that are exempt from doing so.
Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 1 June 2023

Willie Rennie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 18/05/2023
S6W-18068
To ask the Scottish Government when its new Warmer Homes Scotland scheme will be launched.
S6W-18069
To ask the Scottish Government for how long it had been planning to pause the current Warmer Homes Scotland scheme ahead of relaunching a new one.
S6W-18070
To ask the Scottish Government how much money will be available for homeowners to use through its new Warmer Homes Scotland scheme.
S6W-18071
To ask the Scottish Government how many households it estimates will be supported through its new Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 5 June 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 25/05/2023
S6W-18021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has established a Land Tax Working Group, and, if so, when the group will report.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 June 2023

Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/05/2023
S6W-18100
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a full appraisal of the Scottish Funding Council’s Upskilling Fund, from its inception in 2019, including details on (a) uptake, (b) type of learner, (c) level of qualification, (d) the (i) hours and (ii) credits of learning provided and (e) any employer engagement.
Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 6 June 2023

Sharon Dowey, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 22/05/2023
S6W-18203
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its innovation strategy.
Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 6 June 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 22/05/2023
S6W-17956
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16779 by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023, how households will be successfully engaged with, as part of Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) delivery plans, in order to take action to retrofit their homes with energy efficiency and low carbon heating measures.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 7 June 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 24/05/2023
S6W-18305
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent report by Changeworks, which reportedly found that homes in the Highlands and Islands have lower Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings than the rest of Scotland.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 7 June 2023

Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 24/05/2023
S6W-18312
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of office buildings that it owns that are fitted with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, and what funding has been made available to fix any such buildings.
S6W-18315
To ask the Scottish Government how many public buildings it has inspected since the start of 2021 to determine whether they were constructed with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), broken down by building type, and how many of these were confirmed to have been constructed with RAAC.
S6W-18316
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost of fixing any public buildings that it owns that are fitted with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 June 2023

Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 25/05/2023
S6W-18339
To ask the Scottish Government what collaboration it has undertaken with Research Data Scotland.
Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 June 2023

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 01/06/2023
S6W-18523
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can detail the planned (a) scope, (b) cost and (c) duration of the repair and maintenance works currently being carried out on the historic central tower and spire of Glasgow Cathedral.
Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 7 June 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 25/05/2023
S6W-18022
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to establish a City Centre Recovery Task Force.
Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 8 June 2023

Willie Rennie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 24/05/2023
S6W-18317
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding non-domestic rates, whether it will reduce the combined poundage rate for the largest properties, to match the equivalent rate in England, over the course of the current parliamentary session.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 June 2023

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 01/06/2023
S6W-18505
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of any additional financial pressures on local authority budgets being caused by inflation.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 June 2023

Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 25/05/2023
S6W-18368
To ask the Scottish Government which apprenticeship providers have delivered (a) Modern, (b) Foundation and (c) Graduate Apprenticeships in Scotland in each year since 2018-19, also broken down by occupational grouping.
Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 12 June 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 05/06/2023
S6W-18645
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to the maintenance of Scotland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites in each year since 2007, broken down by site.
Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 13 June 2023

Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 08/06/2023
S6W-18884
To ask the Scottish Government whether Japanese knotweed or other invasive species have been found at Historic Environment Scotland properties in the last five years, and, if so, whether it will provide a list of any such incidences.
Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 13 June 2023

Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 12/06/2023
S6W-19021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18315 by Shona Robison on 7 June 2023, when it anticipates that inspection surveys will (a) begin and (b) finish.
S6W-19022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18315 by Shona Robison on 7 June 2023, by what date its appointed specialist will have developed the scope for inspection surveys.
S6W-19023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18306 by Patrick Harvie on 7 June 2023, whether it (a) has provided and (b) plans to provide financial support to local authorities to undertake inspections of buildings for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Current status: Answer expected on 26 June 2023

Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 12/06/2023
S6W-19030 R
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress in developing a new energy efficiency ratings system to replace the current Energy Performance Certificate system, and when it will publish details of the proposed changes.
Current status: Answer expected on 26 June 2023
S6W-19031
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the Energy Performance Certificate ratings of buildings that are part of the Scottish Government estate.

MOTIONS

Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 05/06/2023
S6M-09340
Prioritising Scottish Tourism. That the Parliament believes that the tourism sector is a crucial element in the future sustainability of the Scottish economy; regrets the SNP-Scottish Green Party administration’s failure to prioritise tourism, and the weaknesses in Scotland’s infrastructure with the resulting detrimental effect on connectivity across rural and island areas, including failures in ferry services and the delay in progressing the dualling of both the A9 and the A96; notes the concern amongst the hospitality sector about the introduction of a visitor levy; condemns the flawed short-term lets policy and an anti-business agenda, which has resulted in additional costs and red tape for those across the tourism sector, and calls on the Scottish Government to bring forward an urgent blueprint to address the deep-seated concerns of the tourism sector and its related industries.
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 June 2023

EVENTS

IHBC Annual School 2023: Swansea – Climate Change and the Historic Environment – Resilience and Performance
Date & Time: Wednesday 21 – Saturday 24 June 2023
Location: Swansea and Online
Heritage insights for everyone with a range of different school formats to appeal to anyone with an interest in heritage, culture and conservation. The school offers an opportunity to understand and interrogate new approaches to coping with climate change challenges, including: complying with standards, energy management, retrofit, fuel poverty and traditional buildings, meeting energy targets and protecting buildings.

RTPI West of Scotland – Summer Social
Date & Time: Thursday 22 June 2023; 7-11pm
Location: The Maltman, 59-61 Renfield Street, Glasgow, United Kingdom, G2 1LF
Come and join the RTPI at their summer social at The Maltman in Glasgow, for drinks and networking.

Icon Scotland – Burrell Collection Conservation Tour
Date & Time: Thursday 22 June 2023; 10:45am-1pm
Location: Burrell Collection, Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Rd, Glasgow G43 1AT
Glasgow’s Burrell Collection recently reopened after a major refurbishment, which opened up more gallery space, allowing access to objects which have not been seen for decades or have never been on permanent display. The conservators at Glasgow Life are partnering with the Icon Scotland group to offer a tour with a conservation focus.

Under One Roof Scotland – Maintenance and retrofit for tenement owners
Date & Time: Monday 26 June 2023; 1-3pm
Location: Members Lounge at Woodhall House, Westburn Rd, Aberdeen, AB16 5GB
Come along to a free and informative event hosted by Under One Roof, Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeen City Council, aimed at owner-occupiers and landlords who want to learn more about maintaining and managing their tenement flats. Topics covered will include: the basics of tenement maintenance; knowing your neighbours and how to find them; the issues with patch repairs; the importance of building insurance and tips for self-factoring your building. Additionally, there will be discussion on energy efficiency and retrofit, as well as changes to government regulations affecting owner-occupiers and landlords.

Heritage Trust Network – Your Church, Your Community – Workshop 1
Date & Time: Tuesday 27 June 2023
Location: Online
Heritage Trust Network, Historic Churches Scotland and the Community Ownership Support Service are teaming up to deliver a 3-part workshop series to bring to life our new resource: Your Church, Your Community. This workshop series will feature a range of expert speakers who will bring these topics to life and offer the opportunity of live discussion and questions.
Save the date: Booking will open shortly but for now, do email Sarah Pearce to register your interest.

RTPI Grampian – Crathie – Moxon office site visit
Date & Time: Thursday 29 June 2023; 5:30-7pm
Location: Quarry Studios, Crathie, Ballater, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom, AB35 5UL
The event will feature a guided tour of the user designed Moxon Architects’ offices and associated café space at Crathie. The offices have been designed and built within a former brownfield site which has an interesting history, and the development has required to consider a number of environmental constraints being located adjacent to a Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Scenic Areas. Moxon will host the event and will discuss the evolution of the design and outcomes as well as an opportunity to discuss some of the other projects Moxon have worked on in the area.

Heritage Trust Network – Exploring Opportunities: Churches and Tourism
Date & Time: Thursday 6 July 2023; 7-8:30pm
Location: Online
Are you a community group thinking about taking ownership of your local church? Are you already managing your church for the benefit of the community? This free online event is for you. Heritage Trust Network and Historic Churches Scotland have partnered with Scottish Community Tourism to host the fifth event in a series aimed at any group contemplating the future of their church building. This event will focus on how church buildings can play a part in your local tourism offering; come along to jointly explore innovative ideas to keep these community-based buildings alive.

TRAINING

Culture & Business Scotland: Business Briefing: Tax update for the culture sector – VAT matters
Date & Time: Tuesday 20 June 2023; 12–1pm
Location: Online via Zoom
As tax issues continues to change and challenge the finances of organisations in the culture sector, Scott Craig (Partner and Head of VAT, Azets) will provide essential insight as well as highlighting issues and opportunities.

VACANCIES

The Ridge – Managing Director
Status: Full-time (flexible working possible)
Location: Dunbar
As the scale and scope of its work expands, The Ridge is looking to restructure its senior management, with the creation of a new Managing Director role within The Ridge Foundations CIC (the social enterprise construction company). To date, the whole of The Ridge (SCIO and CIC) has had a single Managing Director, but it is clear that more time, energy and focus is required to lead the company, with a direct role in heading up the Training team.
Follow this link for more information about The Ridge, and about this exciting new opportunity, including how to apply.
Closing date: Tuesday 20 June 2023

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland – Head of Practice
Salary: Band £45,000 – £50,000 p.a.
Status: Full-time (28/35hr)
Location: Edinburgh (flexible working potential)
The RIAS is looking to appoint a highly motivated individual to lead its Practice team. This is a key role for the Incorporation, to lead, develop, and manage the Practice Team creating a hub of technical information, learning and practice to support the membership, and supporting practices with advice on a wide range of topics. The successful applicant will lead RIAS flagship Practice Services, contribute to other streams of RIAS activities, and help to generate revenue to support the financial sustainability of the RIAS.
Closing date: Friday 30 June 2023

BACK

14 Jun 2023

In this BEFS blog, Anny Bush, Communications and Engagement Officer for Under One Roof shares more about their charitable work with tenement owners at their recent events.

Under One Roof is Scotland’s only charity committed to providing free and impartial information on repairs, maintenance, and retrofit for tenement flat owner-occupiers, landlords, and housing professionals in Scotland.

Recently, the Under One Roof team have been on the road delivering free events for tenement owners in collaboration with local authorities across Scotland.

“Thanks for a really useful event, I definitely learned things from it, it was well-run and engaging.”

In Scotland, there are around 895,000 properties legally defined as tenements. A tenement is any building or property that has been divided horizontally. Around a third of tenement flats were built prior to 1919, another third between 1919-1982, and the final third after 1982. Many tenement flats are in a state of critical disrepair, particularly those built before 1919.

Our work exists to change this and transform the repair culture from one that is reactive to proactive. We strive to make maintaining and managing tenement flats easier for owners by providing them with the knowledge and information needed to care for their building and work with their co-owners effectively.

The Under One Roof website hosts a wealth of information, with over 200 articles that cover a wide range of topics related to tenement maintenance and management, such as how to organise common repairs and share repair costs with your co-owners. Additionally, there are technical articles which include useful diagrams and information on tenement architectural features and how best to care for them.

Our website also has an enquiry service which enables owner-occupiers, landlords, housing professionals, or local authority staff to receive tailored answers to specific queries. Alongside the website and enquiry service, we provide free, informative online or in-person events for tenement owners, as well as bespoke training packages for local authority staff and factoring companies.

Our recent in-person events with various local authorities aim to inform tenement owners of their responsibilities and the key things to look out for when owning a flat. Presentations cover a variety of topics, such as organising common repairs, the importance of title deeds and building insurance, retrofit, and the challenges of making tenements energy efficient. Additionally, we discuss the steps being taken to address these challenges and upcoming legislative changes affecting tenement owners. After the presentations, there is the opportunity for attendees to receive specific information to their tenement-related questions during a Q&A and breakout session.

“Very useful, well-presented and balanced presentations. Highly recommended.”

So far, we have held events in six local authorities: East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, West Lothian, Perth & Kinross, North Lanarkshire, and North Ayrshire. There have been as many as 60 owner-occupiers, landlords, and housing professionals in attendance at these events, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with attendees noting that the presentations are engaging and informative.

The events have varied in structure with some involving presentations from Under One Roof’s tenement experts only, whilst others have included other presenters. For example, the event in Edinburgh involved speakers from the City of Edinburgh Council Shared Repairs team, the Novoville app, Trusted Traders, Home Energy Scotland, and the Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy team. These speakers provided additional information to tenement owners on how to go about maintaining and managing their property and energy efficiency and retrofit.

“Jacqueline was an excellent presenter, and the information was very useful presented in an accessible, informative manner. A thoroughly professional event in a great central location.”

We have several events with local authorities lined up in the coming months , including Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City, as well as additional training events for local authority staff scheduled. Check out our Eventbrite page for upcoming events and subscribe to our newsletter via our website to receive updates of events and other tenement-related news and information.

Our events can be tailored to the needs of each local authority, depending on the issues they face. If you would like to work with us to organise an online or in-person session focused on tenement management, maintenance and/or retrofit, free of charge, get into touch with Under One Roof’s Education and Training Officer at jacqueline@underoneroof.scot.

BACK

1 Jun 2023

Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations

BEFS NEWS

BEFS Director was part of a panel giving evidence to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs & Culture Committee – the inquiry focused on the idea of a ‘place-based approach’ to culture within communities in Scotland, with the aim of understanding good practice and barriers to place-based cultural policy. You can read the full report here and have a look at the Consultations section for community engagement in Local Development Planning.

Meanwhile, outside Parliament experts in construction and housing, and school pupils gathered to explore ways to tackle the retrofit challenge now and into the future. This saw over 30 MSP’s joining young people and construction industry representatives to showcase, and learn more about the importance of traditional building skills.

Aligning with the skills fair, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) held a Retrofit Roundtable event in Holyrood to advocate for a Retrofit Strategy to form a collaborative way forward for improving the energy efficiency of homes and buildings across the country.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen the housing conditions statistics – The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS): 2021 has just been released. This contains statistics based on a national survey of the housing stock. Due to the change in approach for the 2021 SHCS, the results are not directly comparable with previous waves of the survey. BEFS will be looking at statistics across the sector more broadly in the next Bulletin, but the key take-aways for now are that only 52% of Scottish homes were currently rated as EPC band C or better. And 16% of all Scotland’s dwellings had an urgent disrepair to critical elements, with pre-1919 dwellings having a rate of urgent disrepair to critical elements of 25%.

Thinking of funding, there’s news across the sector: Culture Secretary Angus Robertson announced that eight communities across Scotland are set to benefit from £863,050 area-based funding provided jointly by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and the National Lottery Heritage Fund (Heritage Fund).

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) and the National Lottery Heritage Fund announced a three-year partnership programme to save heritage across the UK. The new programme is looking to support a diverse range of organisations, at different stages of development. The new Heritage Development Trusts will receive a package of funding that includes three-year revenue grants between £55k-£70k per annum, as well as guidance from consultants and mentors to develop their skills and knowledge alongside peer-to-peer support.

The Nature & Culture Heritage Fund, led by NatureScot and funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) has awarded £375,926 to Archaeology Scotland – Working with the West Ardnamurchan Community to develop an Adopt-a-Monument scheme, called the Real Wild West, creating a trail, tourist hubs and physical and digital experiences, improve the condition and maintenance of 10 heritage sites and develop ‘slow tourism’ adventures for visitors.

So much of the funding above is related to partnerships – and the recent findings of the latest UK Heritage Pulse, has been published revealing that nearly all organisations agree they would benefit from more partnerships, but not all know how to create them. Read in more detail in the Spotlight on: Partnerships.

All those with premises across the sector and beyond should be aware that from 1 July 2023 Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) will no longer be attending automatic fire alarm (AFA) callouts to commercial business and workplace premises such as factories, offices, shops and leisure facilities, unless a fire has been confirmed. This change to call outs includes listed buildings.

BEFS Members, The Institution of Civil Engineers Scotland, is inviting applications from professionals to join as an Associate Member (AMICE). Membership is open to anyone working in the built environment who wants to improve their knowledge and develop new ways of delivering the infrastructure of the future. AMICE is valuable to the whole industry spectrum – from engineers to academics, procurement and legal experts, to architects and surveyors; find out more information here

Congratulations from BEFS go to – Barbara Cummins who has been appointed as Chair of the Cockburn Association. And we also applaud, Craig McLaren on his new role as the Improvement Service’s National Planning Improvement Champion. Craig will step down in August as RTPI director of Scotland, Ireland and English regions.

And news just in, RIAS have announced the winners of the 2023 awards, which include two new buildings for leading Scottish universities, and a new headquarters at the home of Scottish golf.

CONSULTATIONS

National Outcomes review 2023: Call for Evidence
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government want to hear from people and communities across Scotland about whether their National Outcomes continue to reflect the kind of Scotland we want to see. They would also like to hear about how the National Performance Framework could have a bigger impact.
Closes 12 June 2023 (deadline extended)

Call for Evidence – Coronavirus and Scotland follow-up
UK Government, The Scottish Affairs Committee
The Committee has launched an inquiry, following up on its inquiry into coronavirus and Scotland, to see whether sectors and industries across Scotland have recovered in the post-pandemic period and to assess the helpfulness of UK and Scottish government support.
Closes 14 June 2023

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Draft Energy Strategy And Just Transition Plan Consultation – A Common Weal Response (Common Weal Policy 23/05/2023)

PUBLICATIONS

New Uses For Former Church Buildings – A study of inspiration and hope (The Scottish Civic Trust March 2013)
This document, considering new uses for old churches, is as relevant today as when first published, providing innovative examples of re-use of religious buildings, which will have expanded over the years.

Conservation Skills Strategy 2023 (ICON April 2023)
Ensuring that the skills to effectively care for objects, collections and built heritage exist within the conservation workforce.

Scottish third sector tracker report: wave 5 findings, winter 2022 (SCVO May 2023)

Heat pump user survey report (Nesta May 2023)

Young People’s Engagements with Heritage Report (Institute for Community Research & Development and Arts Connect with Historic England May 2023)

A Net Zero workforce (Climate Change Committee May 2023)

Our Regulatory Framework (HES 16/05/2023)

Springboard Footfall Monitor – April Report – report for Scotland’s High Streets (Scotland’s Towns Partnership 18/05/2023)

Understanding Scotland: Economy tracker survey (David Hume Institute and the Diffley Partnership 23/05/2023)
Survey of economic attitudes and insights from more than 2,000 members of the Scottish adult population every 3 months to track changes over time.

The Cheviot, The Stag And The Black Black Carbon – Natural Capital, the Private Finance Investment Pilot and Scotland’s Land Reform by Alastair McIntosh BSc MBA PhD (Community Land Scotland 26/05/2023)

Heat Pumps in Historic Buildings (Historic England 26/05/2023)

Heritage Transformed in Wales and Northern Ireland – End of Programme Report 2020-23 (AHF 31/05/2023)

SCOTTISH & UK GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

Correspondence from The Keeper of the Registers of Scotland to the Economy and Fair Work Committee regarding the organisation’s May update (RoS 16/05/2023)

Place Directors representing Scottish Government in local authority and Community Planning Partnership areas: Factsheet Update (Scot Gov 17/05/2023)

Planning circular 1/2023: short-term lets and planning (Scot Gov 17/05/2023)

Evidence sessions on ‘culture in communities’ inquiry focusing on taking a place-based approach to culture (Session 6) (Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee 18/05/2023)

Families and households in the UK: 2022 (ONS 18/05/2023)

Evidence session on the role of local government and its cross-sectoral partners in financing and delivering a net-zero Scotland (Session 6) (Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee 23/05/2023)

Evidence session on Community Councils in their 50th year (Session 6) (Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee 23/05/2023)

Building standards: Standard 2.15 Automatic Fire Suppression System. Cost benefit analysis (Scot Gov 23/05/2023)

Local development planning guidance (Scot Gov 24/05/2023)

Effective community engagement in local development planning guidance: impact assessments (Scot Gov 24/05/2023)

Medium-Term Financial Strategy: Ministerial statement (Scot Gov 25/05/2023)

The Scottish Government’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy (Scot Gov 25/05/2023)

Visitor Levy legislation introduced (Scot Gov 25/05/2023)

Visitor Levy Bill: business and regulatory impact assessment (Scot Gov 25/05/2023)

Single Building Assessment programme: spending information (Scot Gov 26/05/2023)

Building Assessment Report (BAR) guidance (Scot Gov 30/05/2023)

Heat Network Zone (HNZ) guidance (Scot Gov 30/05/2023)

Scottish House Condition Survey: 2021 Key Findings – updated fuel poverty rates, energy efficiency ratings and data on external disrepair (Scot Gov 30/05/2023)

Climate change adaptation programme: progress report 2023 (Scot Gov 30/05/2023)

Climate change monitoring report 2023 (Scot Gov 30/05/2023)

Planning and Environmental Appeals Stakeholder Forum minutes: November 2022 (Scot Gov 30/05/2023)

NEWS RELEASES

Winners of the Icon Photography Competition – images that capture the everyday magic of conservation (ICON 15/05/2023)

Edinburgh Local Heritage Network launched by the Lord Provost (City of Edinburgh Council 17/05/2023)

Review of British Tourist Authority underway – operator of VisitEngland and VisitBritain is being independently reviewed (UK Gov 18/05/2023)

Obituary: Hugo Burge, visionary behind the restoration of historic Marchmont House (The Scotsman 19/05/2023)

Construction industry experts call on the Scottish Government to develop a long-term, joined-up retrofitting strategy (CIOB 19/05/2023)

Mortgage rate cut for energy efficient homes under government-backed trials – £4.1 million awarded to green finance projects to help homeowners make their homes more energy efficient (UK Gov 19/05/2023)

New research finds cultural creative hubs key to supporting local communities during crises (University of Stirling 22/05/2023)

Empowering people and places – £5 million funding boost for new Heritage Development Trusts to revive unused historic buildings across the UK (AHF 24/05/2023)

Local Authorities chosen for new Key Agencies Group support offer revealed (A&DS 24/05/2023)

Meet the European Heritage Hub and engage on social media (Europa Nostra 25/05/2023)

STA Statement: Scottish Tourism Alliance response to introduction of Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament (STA 25/05/2023)

Pioneering £22m fund leaves lasting legacy for Highlands and Islands tourism – the Natural & Cultural Heritage Fund (NCHF) (NatureScot 30/05/2023)

Applications invited for grants up to £10million (Heritage Fund 30/05/2023)
Increased upper limit of National Lottery Grants for Heritage to support larger-scale heritage projects across the UK.

The Central Scotland Green Network ‘Growing Food Together’ Fund 2023 is now open (CSGN 01/06/2023)
Funded by the Scottish Government, projects can apply for part of the £100,000 fund that aims to foster community engagement.

OPINION & COMMENT

Scotland will be able to build an energy-efficient future – Hugh Franklin (The Scotsman 17/05/2023)

Financing Climate Adaptation—and Deciding What to Let Go (Harvard Magazine 17/05/2023)
Long-term spatial planning in the US which will involve difficult conversations about “what to protect and what to let go”.

Austrian town that inspired Arendelle from ‘Frozen’ erects fence in bid to stop selfies (The Independent 19/05/2023)

Construction body calls for long-term retrofitting plan for Scotland’s draughty housing stock (Scottish Housing News 19/05/2023)

Why construction of the past can help us to build a better future (The National 20/05/2023)

The Church of Scotland will have to close hundreds of churches in the coming years, the Kirk’s trustees have warned as it stages its annual General Assembly (BBC News 20/05/2023)

Lanarkshire MSP promotes apprenticeships in traditional building skills (Daily Record 20/05/2023)

20-minute neighbourhood: A return to our past, not a conspiracy (The National 21/05/2023)

Skills for Greener Places: The future of landscape (pbc today 22/05/2023)

The Great Heat Pump Mystery: Where’s The COP? (CaCHE 22/05/2023)

New partnership to target empty homes for remote essential worker housing (Scottish Housing News 22/05/2023)

Increased funding for local land ownership – £1 million increase to the Scottish Land Fund – a flagship scheme that helps communities take ownership of local land and buildings (Scottish Rural Network 24/05/2023))

Get up to speed on embodied carbon now, say leading developers (Architects’ Journal 25/05/2023)

Involve communities or face ‘carbon clearances’, says new report (The Press & Journal 26/05/2023)

Hawick pupils get hands-on construction skills masterclass (Border Telegraph 26/05/2023)

Scheme launched to explore how to help communities move quickly for local assets (Place Design Scotland 27/05/2023)

Scott Hogan: Why Scotland’s property relief changes are policy in a vacuum (Scottish Construction Now 31/05/2023)

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 04/05/2023
S6W-17685
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16420 by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023, for what reason there is no accreditation for contractors carrying out masonry repairs in Scotland.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 19 May 2023

Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 04/05/2023
S6W-17710
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to public authorities to remove any asbestos from their buildings.
S6W-17711
To ask the Scottish Government whether it keeps a central register of buildings containing asbestos.
S6W-17712
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has done to consider any (a) costs and (b) benefits of establishing a central register of buildings containing asbestos.
S6W-17713
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on (a) how many and (b) what proportion of public buildings contain asbestos, broken down by sector.
S6W-17716 R
To ask the Scottish Government whether Home Energy Scotland grants and loans provide funding for removal of asbestos during retrofit.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 19 May 2023

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 09/05/2023
S6W-15691
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to amending the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 to grant communities equal rights of appeals, in light of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC) recently accepting the admissibility of a complaint by the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, Planning Democracy, RSPB and Friends of the Earth Scotland, reportedly stating that there is a lack of equal rights of appeal in the planning system, which is unfair and in breach of the convention.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 19 May 2023

Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 09/05/2023
S6W-17726
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16434 by Lorna Slater on 25 April 2023, whether any representatives of community ownership organisations were involved in the workshops referred to on alternative ownership models; who (a) organised and (b) attended the workshops; whether a record of the workshop (i) discussions and (ii) decisions will be made publicly available, and whether the workshops were arranged specifically to further the work flowing from the Memorandum of Understanding with NatureScot.
S6W-17728
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) its and (b) NatureScot officials are providing to landowners and managers any introductions to the private financiers involved in the Memorandum of Understanding with NatureScot.
Current status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 19 May 2023

Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 05/05/2023
S6W-17756
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01910 by Michael Matheson on 20 August 2021, how much it estimates it will cost (a) on average and (b) in total to bring such properties up to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least band C, in line with its net zero and just transition ambitions.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 22 May 2023

Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 22/05/2023
S6M-09107
Debate on the Scottish Connections Framework
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 May 2023

Alasdair Allan, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 12/05/2023
S6W-17920
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the current Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) to ensure that it is able to effectively support community renewable projects in Na h-Eileanan an Iar.
Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 May 2023

Willie Rennie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 10/05/2023
S6W-17815
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason referrals to Warmer Homes Scotland have been paused from 31 March 2023 until October 2023.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 24 May 2023

Kaukab Stewart, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 24/05/2023
S6W-18499
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress towards securing an agreement on the Scottish Safer Buildings Accord.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 25 May 2023

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 12/05/2023
S6W-17952
To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates the three legislative stages of its proposed Circular Economy Bill will conclude.
Current status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 25 May 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 12/05/2023
S6W-17960
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16779 by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023, how additional demands on other local authority services, such as planning and building control, will be resourced, particularly in light of the reported national shortage of planners.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 25 May 2023

Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 12/05/2023
S6W-17942
To ask the Scottish Government how many of its buildings do not have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least band C, and whether it will list them.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 May 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 12/05/2023
S6W-17955
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16779 by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023, how funding to pay for household measures will be (a) coordinated and (b) delivered, and, specifically, what it anticipates will be the role of local authorities in this.
S6W-17957
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16779 by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023, whether there will be a national public communications programme to ensure that the general public understand the proposed upcoming changes to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) requirements, and what role Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) delivery plans will play in any such programme.
S6W-17958
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16779 by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023, who will be responsible for managing the coordination of suppliers at local level, to ensure that they have the skills and quality marks required, in time for the roll-out of delivery plans, and what it anticipates will be the role of local authorities in this.
S6W-17959
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16779 by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023, where there are any specific anticipated functions for local authorities to deliver elements of the Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) delivery plans, such as communication, coordination, monitoring and complaints, what funding will be made available for the fulfilment of any such functions that is commensurate with the cost.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 30 May 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 25/05/2023
S6W-18021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has established a Land Tax Working Group, and, if so, when the group will report.
S6W-18022
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to establish a City Centre Recovery Task Force.
Current status: Answers expected on 12 June 2023

MOTIONS

John Swinney, Perthshire North Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 17/05/2023
S6M-08942
Congratulating the Scottish Crannog Centre on Winning the Visitor Welcome Award
That the Parliament acknowledges what it sees as the outstanding achievement of the Scottish Crannog Centre on being awarded the Visitor Welcome Award at the Museum and Heritage Awards 2023; recognises the prestige of this international award, which spotlights excellence in the museum, galleries, and heritage visitor attractions sector; commends the dedicated staff and volunteers of the Scottish Crannog Centre for their continuous efforts in delivering a world-class visitor experience; appreciates the centre’s contribution in promoting Scottish heritage and culture, and in boosting local tourism, and extends its heartfelt congratulations to all those involved in what it sees as this remarkable achievement.

Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 25/05/2023
S6M-09080
That the Parliament notes the view that there is a need for urgent action to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings through repair and maintenance, to ensure that they are windproof and watertight, comfortable to live in, and affordable to heat; understands that the built environment sector is facing a shortage of people with the correct skills, knowledge and materials to undertake these projects; notes the view that increased support from the Scottish Government is required to address what it sees as this skills gap; further notes the view that training provisions are required throughout Scotland, including in the Lothian region, to ensure that young people have equal access to roles within the construction industry; notes the view that a sustainable model must be found to ensure that there is a skilled workforce across the whole construction industry, to give homeowners the opportunity to repair and maintain their buildings, and therefore reduce their carbon emissions; believes that this issue is of nationwide importance, and notes the calls on all political parties to collaborate to ensure that there is a sustainable, skilled construction workforce in Scotland.

EVENTS

For further listings, please see our events calendar.

Architectural Heritage Fund – Heritage Development Trusts programme – Information Sessions
Dates & Times: 2-14 June 2023
Location: Online
These events are about finding out about the new UK Heritage Development Trusts programme – now open for Expressions of Interest.
Session 2. Friday 2 June 2023; 10-11am: Presented by Kelcey Wilson-Lee from the Architectural Heritage Fund with guest Darren Barker from Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust.
Session 3. Thursday 8 June 2023; 1-2pm: Presented by Gavin Richards from the Architectural Heritage Fund with guest Martin Hulse from Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust.
Session 4. Wednesday 14 June 2023; 10-11am: Presented by Gavin Richards from the Architectural Heritage Fund with guest Rob Kenyon from Heritage Lab Ramgate.

Architecture and Design Scotland – Place Forum: towards zero carbon places – making it happen
Date & Time: Wednesday 7 June 2023; 11am-1pm
Location: Online via Teams
The second Place Forum focuses on the role of retrofit and zero-carbon buildings in creating carbon conscious places in Scotland. This event brings together a variety of speakers from across the country to share their experiences of delivering projects related to retrofit and zero-carbon buildings in Scotland and examples of collaborative approaches to carbon conscious places.

SURF – 25th Anniversary SURF Awards Launch Event
Date & Time: Thursday 8 June 2023; 1:30-4pm
Location: Billiard Hall, The Pearce Institute, 840-860 Govan Road, Glasgow G51 3UU
2023 marks the 25th Anniversary of SURF’s annual SURF Award programme. Join SURF to mark this anniversary, when you will be able to hear more about the history of the SURF Awards, ask questions to previous SURF Award Winners, find out about how to apply for the 2023 Awards and hear from some of the SURF Award partners. It will also provide an opportunity for networking.

RTPI Central Scotland – Tour of Stirling Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme
Date & Time: Thursday 8 June 2023; 6-8pm
Location: The Burgh Coffeehouse, 4 King St, Stirling FK8 1AY
The Stirling Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme is a £3.1 million project funded by Historic Environment Scotland and Stirling Council. This guided tour, led by Alex Collins – Project Officer, will visit the two main project sites – Stirling Arcade, Kings Street/Murray Place and Cowanes House, St.Mary’s Wynd. The tour will also provide information and opportunities for discussion on a range of issues, including logistics for making a CARS bid, project assessment and funding distribution criteria, consenting processes and project implementation issues.

Under One Roof Scotland – Maintenance and retrofit for tenement owners
Date & Time: Friday 9 June 2023; 1pm-3pm
Location: Atrium Business Centre, North Caldeen Road, Coatbridge, ML5 4EF
Come along to a free and informative event hosted by Under One Roof and North Lanarkshire Council, aimed at owner-occupiers and landlords who want to learn more about maintaining and managing their tenement flats. Topics covered will include: the basics of tenement maintenance; knowing your neighbours and how to find them; the issues with patch repairs; the importance of building insurance and tips for self-factoring your building. Additionally, there will be discussion on energy efficiency and retrofit, as well as changes to government regulations affecting owner-occupiers and landlords.

Under One Roof Scotland – Maintenance and retrofit for tenement owners

Date & Time: Tuesday 13 June 2023; 1pm-3pm
Location: The Townhouse, High Street, Irvine, KA12 0AL
Come along to a free and informative event hosted by Under One Roof and North Ayrshire Council, aimed at owner-occupiers and landlords who want to learn more about maintaining and managing their tenement flats. Topics covered will include: the basics of tenement maintenance; knowing your neighbours and how to find them; the issues with patch repairs; the importance of building insurance and tips for self-factoring your building. Additionally, there will be discussion on energy efficiency and retrofit, as well as changes to government regulations affecting owner-occupiers and landlords.

Historic Religious Buildings Alliance – BIG UPDATE 2023
Date & Time: Wednesday 14 June 2023; 10am-4:30pm
Location: St John’s Waterloo, 73 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8TY
The ‘Big Update’ is about keeping up to date with what’s happening to secure the future of historic places of worship. The programme will follow the usual format of 20 minute talks, shorter talks and videos covering a wide range of topical and inspirational subjects including the popular ‘Your Big Update’ session when anyone can have the floor for three minutes.

TRAINING

Culture & Business Scotland: Tell your story, sell your idea – copywriting training for fundraisers
Date & Time: Tuesday 6 & Wednesday 7 June 2023; 10am-1pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Move from a blank page to a compelling case for support in the capable hands of professional copywriter, Allison Traynor. Packed with tips, tools and techniques and delivered in two sessions over two days. (Previously called ‘Telling it like it is’.)

Culture & Business Scotland – Marketing, fundraising and data protection laws: keeping yourself right
Date & Time: Tuesday 13 June 2023; 9:30am–1.30pm
Location: Online via Zoom
As more of us are keeping in touch with our audiences, supporters and followers online than ever before, it’s essential to ensure your practices are lawful, as well as to provide privacy, security and transparency to maintain the trust of your audiences.??This one-day course provides a clear understanding of the law, explores practical examples to help reflect on an organisation’s current approaches and processes, and will allow consideration of any changes that might be needed.

VACANCIES

National Churches Trust – Support Officers
Salary: £32,000 p.a.
Status: Full-time, Three Years (Fixed Term)
Location: 3 Posts based in Wales, Scotland & North West England
Are you passionate about helping churches near you to remain open and thrive? If you can respond to enquiries and engage with stakeholders, you could make a massive difference to the churches, chapels and meeting houses in your nation or region. The NCT are hiring 3 Support Officers to undertake delivery of the new National Lottery Heritage Funded Cherish project. Reporting to the new Support Project Manager, the post holders will work full-time on a three-year fixed-term contract overseeing the project in either Scotland, Wales or North-West England. Work will be undertaken within your country or region, but occasional travel to the London office will be expected.
Further information can be found here.
Closing date: Monday 12 June 2023 at 9am

Stirling City Heritage Trust – Traditional Buildings Health Check Retrofit Inspector
Salary: £34,000 – £37,000 (depending on experience)
Status: Full-time, fixed-term to 30 June 2025
Location: Stirling
The Traditional Buildings Health Check (TBHC) is a proactive building maintenance service operated by Stirling City Heritage Trust, who provide advice and inspection services to traditional property owners in Stirling. The service is expanding to provide energy efficiency and retrofit advice to traditional building owners. As such, the Trust are seeking a Retrofit Inspector to undertake inspections of traditional buildings to establish the current EPC rating and explore ways to help building owners take appropriate retrofit measures to improve the EPC rating.
For further information on the role and to apply go to SCHT Careers; or for an informal chat please contact the Trust Manager, Lindsay Lennie
Closing date: Wednesday 14 June 2023 at noon

Stirling City Heritage Trust – Traditional Buildings Health Check Retrofit Grants & Education Officer
Salary: £29,000 – £31,500 (depending on experience)
Status: Part-time (28 hours per week) fixed-term to 30 June 2025
Location: Stirling
The Traditional Buildings Health Check (TBHC) is a proactive building maintenance service operated by Stirling City Heritage Trust, who provide advice and inspection services to traditional property owners in Stirling. The service is expanding to provide energy efficiency and retrofit advice to traditional building owners. As such, the Trust are seeking a Grants & Education Officer to deliver the Trust’s grant initiative for retrofit for TBHC member properties, assessing grant applications, forming recommendations, and managing an ongoing caseload of repair grants, including site visits and meetings with owners, building professionals and contractors.
For further information on the role and to apply go to SCHT Careers; or for an informal chat please contact the Trust Manager, Lindsay Lennie
Closing date: Wednesday 14 June 2023 at noon

Loco Home Retrofit – Retrofit Planner
Salary: starting at £25,000 p.a.
Status: Full-time; 37.5 hours
Location: Glasgow
Join one of Scotland’s newest and most innovative third sector organisations addressing the climate crisis. Loco Home Retrofit are looking for a buildings professional to deliver a retrofit planning service. The role involves surveying condition, heritage, fabric efficiency and heating systems, whilst employing software and professional judgement to produce recommendations and, through discussion with the households, arriving at an outline improvement plan.
To apply and for more information.

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18 May 2023

Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations

BEFS NEWS

BEFS Director Ailsa Macfarlane was part of a panel giving evidence today to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs And Culture Committee with Craig McLaren, Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), Johanna Boyd, Planning Aid Scotland (PAS) and Euan Leitch, Scotland’s Regeneration Forum (SURF). The Committee was undertaking an inquiry focused on the idea of a ‘place-based approach’ to culture within communities in Scotland, with the aim of understanding good practice and barriers to place-based cultural policy. Written submissions from the RTPI and PAS as well as a SPICe briefing are available here.

BEFS was also delighted to support the RSA conference this week on Heritage: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions. With a wide range of international and national speakers and presenters – we heard provocations, tales from the ‘coalface’ and debated architectural conservation and contemporary trends; as well as highlighting the skills shortages facing the sector.

Thinking of skills, if you have time today (Thursday 18 May) do head to the grounds of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to see the Scottish Traditional Building Forum and many partners providing a skills demonstration – engaging young people with traditional building skills, and ensuring parliamentarians recognise the importance of these skills for the future of all our places.

The Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2022 has been published and figures show that more sites were brought back into use for residential (including housing) purposes than any other use (140 of the 262 reused sites). Where the funding source was known, 11% used public sector funding only, 50% used private sector funding only and 21% involved a mix of public and private funding.

The 197th Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition opened on 6 May, with a section of the exhibition space devoted to showcasing several of Scotland’s best-known architects. Comprising 3D models, drawings and materials used, the exhibition, including the Architecture Viewing Room, is also accessible online.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) released a short video explaining why retrofit is important, the means we have to retrofit traditional buildings and the skills required; with options tested for renewables and heating systems. This draws attention to the Guide to Energy Retrofit of Traditional Buildings published in 2021, describing retrofit measures which can be used to improve the energy efficiency of traditional buildings, whilst maintaining as much of their historic fabric as possible thus creating healthy indoor environments.

HES also have a survey for stakeholders, designed to shape plans during delivery of HES Corporate Plan (closing on 19 May).

The RTPI’s Sir Patrick Geddes Commemorative Lecture returns on 25 May 2023, and this year Imandeep Kaur, Founder and Director of CIVIC SQUARE will talk about the social and ecological transition, and the critical role of our homes, streets, and neighbourhoods.

BEFS member The Ridge launched “Constructing Futures”, a new Pre-Apprenticeship Programme. This 16 week-long, no cost construction and life skills programme was designed by The Ridge and funded by Historic Environment Scotland, with the aim of helping participants develop an understanding of apprenticeship opportunities in the construction trades. Participants will gain knowledge of various career opportunities within the trades, basic entry-level skills, construction experience through work placements with local employers, plus familiarity with trade tools, terminology and basic principles.

CONSULTATIONS

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Building Community Wealth in Scotland (BEFS 09/05/2023)
BEFS supports action and initiatives that enable and support communities to benefit from their places and spaces. Adapting, repurposing, and reusing our current building stock presents enormous opportunities for skilled employment, carbon solutions, good places, healthy town centres and more homes; solutions which provide benefits to economy, people and place.

Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (BEFS 09/05/2023)
BEFS response reiterates the role of the built and historic environment in providing solutions towards net zero and a just transition. The Improvement Service response can also be found here.

SCVO response to Building Community Wealth consultation (SCVO 15/05/2023)

Culture Counts response to Recommendations for Scotland’s International Culture Strategy (CC 15/05/2023)

PUBLICATIONS

Global review of training funds: spotlight on levy-schemes in 75 countries (UNESCO 2022)

The landscape character assessment database for the UK and Ireland (Landscape Institute March 2023)
The openly available resource was developed with the support of Natural England, NatureScot, Natural Resources Wales, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and DAERA Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). The database is available here.

By All, For All: The Power of Partnership – AHRC Creative Communities Deep Dive Report 2023 (Creative Communities April 2023)

Scottish Tourism Alliance & Tourism Updated Fact Sheet (STA 25/04/2023)

Equality Progress and Monitoring Data Reports – Mid-term Equalities Report 2023 (HES 30/04/2023)

Infographics – insights and learnings from Rebuilding Heritage’s Cost of Living Crisis support phase: Nov 2022-Apr 2023 (Rebuilding Heritage 04/05/2023)

Energy Efficiency in Scotland’s Traditional Buildings | Energy Retrofit – YouTube (HES 05/05/2023)

Lessons from successful ‘turnaround’ cities for the UK: Navigating Economic Change (Resolution Foundation 15/05/2023)

Interim State of the Profession 2023 (RTPI 16/05/2023)

HES Regulatory Framework (HES 16/05/2023)

SCOTTISH & UK GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

Evaluation and data report for the Culture Recovery Fund (UK Gov April 2023)
Including cultural organisations and heritage sites.

Regeneration Capital Grant Fund – stage one 2024 to 2025: application form (Scot Gov 02/05/2023)

Housing to 2040 Strategic Board meeting March 2023: FOI release (Scot Gov 03/05/2023)

Planning appeal decisions 2022-23: EIR release (Scot Gov 03/05/2023)

Building standards – non-domestic buildings – ventilation: research (Scot Gov 03/05/2023)

Building standards – ventilation guidance: research (Scot Gov 03/05/2023)

Correspondence from The Keeper of the Registers of Scotland to the Economy and Fair Work Committee regarding the organisation’s latest quarterly update (Scot Parl 05/05/2023)

Rural Research worth millions to Scotland, helping to cut emissions and create jobs (Scot Gov 08/05/2023)

Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2022 (Scot Gov 10/05/2023)

Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey – site register (Scot Gov 10/05/2023)

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group minutes: March 2023 (Scot Gov 11/05/2023)
Including the role and sense of what ‘community’ means, climate change and data driven decision making.

Net Zero, Energy And Transport Committee Report On The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (Interim Target) Amendment Regulations 2023 [Draft] (Scot Parl 12/05/2023)

Tourism and Hospitality Leadership Group: terms of reference (Scot Gov 16/05/2023)

Unlocking the Value of Public Sector Data for Public Benefit minutes: February 2023 (Scot Gov 16/05/2023)

Local government in Scotland: Overview 2023 (Audit Scotland 17/05/2023)

Place Directors: factsheet (Scot Gov 17/05/2023)

Planning circular 1/2023: short-term lets and planning (Scot Gov 17/05/2023)

How have Scottish sectors recovered from Covid-19 and was government support sufficient? (UK Parl 17/05/2023)

Radical change is needed across Scotland’s councils (Audit Scotland 17/05/2023)

NEWS RELEASES

Scotland’s Garden and Landscape Heritage’s Spring Newsletter (May 2023)

Over £573k awarded to 20 Museums to support their resilience (Museums Galleries Scotland 04/05/2023)

PHS welcomes delegation from Norway to learn more about the Place Standard Tool (Public Health Scotland 04/05/2023)

Green Home Festival 2023 – First shows confirmed and tickets made available (GHF 04/05/2023)
Including the Festival of fabric first and discussions around retrofit projects.

Welsh Government invests £1.7 million to transform museums and libraries in Wales (Welsh Gov 05/05/2023)

Architectural exhibition opened in Edinburgh (Place Design Scotland 09/05/2023)

Become a RoSS consultant and support heritage across the UK (NLHF 09/05/2023)

VAT Month at Heritage Trust Network (HTN 10/05/2023)

Architecture and Design Scotland launch their Climate Action Towns Project with a film by Bircan Birol capturing the work across nine climate action towns (A&DS 11/05/2023)

European Heritage Hub inaugurated in Brussels to support Europe’s green, social and digital transformation through cultural heritage (Europa Nostra 16/05/2023)

Culture Secretary announces over £850,000 investment in eight communities (HES 17/05/2023)

OPINION & COMMENT

Shifting from consultation to co-production with communities – Nick Wright (Place Design Scotland 28/04/2023)

Stone blocks collapse onto road from bank building in Thurso (BBC News 01/05/2023)

The changing face of Princes Street – see how it has evolved over the centuries, keeping step with social, economic and architectural fashions (HES 02/05/2023)

Energy efficiency standards and traditional buildings (The Engine Shed 03/05/2023)

Glasgow city centre regeneration frameworks approved (Austin-Smith:Lord 04/05/2023)

Council to urge Scottish Government to boost community planning appeal rights (The Ferret 05/05/02023)

Urquhart Castle: Visitor centre closed due to safety fears (The Herald 05/05/2023)

Mark Smith: The death of a building that says everything about Glasgow (The Herald 08/05/2023)

Designing an Accessible, Inclusive Environment for People with Disabilities Podcast #70 (RICS 08/05/2023)

A Wee Guide to Intangible Cultural Heritage (Traditional Arts & Culture 09/05/2023)
Intangible Cultural Heritage includes traditional skills relating primarily to the built or historic environment.

Coworking worth millions to Scotland’s town and city centres (STP 10/05/2023)

Ex-SNP minister says ‘urgency is lacking’ to pull in net zero funds (The Herald 10/05/2023)

‘Leeds 2023’: can investment in culture improve a city’s health? Yes, but more ambition is needed (The Conversation 10/05/2023)

Making parks safe for women and girls (greenspace scotland 11/05/2023)

New charges for Stirling planning applications (Scottish Construction Now 12/05/2023)

Helping to keep a critically endangered craft alive (SPAB 12/05/2023)

Climate emergency: Scotland needs an Office for Net Zero with real teeth if we are to tackle carbon emissions (The Scotsman 15/05/2023)

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 05/04/2023
S6W-16780
To ask the Scottish Government how the new National Public Energy Agency will work with local government on area-based delivery.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 May 2023

Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 12/04/2023
S6W-16397
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on training providers has been of the reported apprenticeship freeze in early 2023.
S6W-16400
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement the 14 recommendations from the report, Impact of Scotland’s Developing Young Workforce Strategy on Employer Engagement, and, if so, whether it will provide a timescale for the implementation
Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 4 May 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/04/2023
S6W-17268
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on its aim for at least 124,000 homes to have low-carbon heating systems installed by 2026.
S6W-17269
To ask the Scottish Government, as of 13 April 2023, how many homes have low-carbon heating systems installed.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 May 2023

Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 20/04/2023
S6W-17301
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to bring derelict and empty homes in rural and island communities back into habitable use.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 4 May 2023

Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 02/05/2023
S6W-17601
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Historic Environment Scotland sites are not equipped with CCTV, and whether it will provide a list of any such sites.
Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 10 May 2023

Katy Clark, West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 02/05/2023
S6W-17617
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review or amend the law to ensure that local authorities are prohibited from closing or selling public museums unless alternative premises have been identified for their replacement.
Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 10 May 2023

Katy Clark, West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 02/05/2023
S6W-17618
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to review tiers of local democracy and whether reform is needed.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 May 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 14/04/2023
S6W-17035
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it anticipates publishing its response to the results of the Scottish Highly Protected Marine Areas public consultation, after it closes on 17 April 2023.
Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 May 2023

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 28/04/2023
S6W-17467
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is planning any future engagement with churches regarding the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land) Regulations 2021.
Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 17 May 2023
S6W-17468
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with churches, regarding the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land) Regulations 2021, since 1 January 2023.
Current status: Holding Answer by Mairi Gougeon on 16 May 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/04/2023
S6W-17277
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent ministerial appointments, what the membership is of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Climate Emergency.
Current status: Awaiting answer

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 12/05/2023
S6W-17955
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16779 by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023, how funding to pay for household measures will be (a) coordinated and (b) delivered, and, specifically, what it anticipates will be the role of local authorities in this.
S6W-17957
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16779 by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023, whether there will be a national public communications programme to ensure that the general public understand the proposed upcoming changes to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) requirements, and what role Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) delivery plans will play in any such programme.
S6W-17958
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16779 by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023, who will be responsible for managing the coordination of suppliers at local level, to ensure that they have the skills and quality marks required, in time for the roll-out of delivery plans, and what it anticipates will be the role of local authorities in this.
S6W-17959
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16779 by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023, where there are any specific anticipated functions for local authorities to deliver elements of the Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) delivery plans, such as communication, coordination, monitoring and complaints, what funding will be made available for the fulfilment of any such functions that is commensurate with the cost.
S6W-17960
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16779 by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023, how additional demands on other local authority services, such as planning and building control, will be resourced, particularly in light of the reported national shortage of planners.
Current status: Answers expected on 30 May 2023

EVENTS

Under One Roof Scotland – Maintenance and retrofit for tenement owners with Perth & Kinross Council
Date & Time: Monday 22 May 2023; 3-5pm
Location: Civic House, 2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH
Come along to a free and informative event hosted by Under One Roof and Perth & Kinross Council, aimed at owner-occupiers and landlords who want to learn more about maintaining and managing their tenement flats. Topics covered will include: the basics of tenement maintenance; knowing your neighbours and how to find them; the issues with patch repairs; the importance of building insurance and tips for self-factoring your building. There will be discussion on energy efficiency and retrofit, as well as changes to government regulations affecting owner-occupiers and landlords.

RTPI Scotland – Sir Patrick Geddes Commemorative Lecture 2023
Date & Time: Thursday 25 May 2023; 12:30-1:30pm
Location: Big Marker Webinar (details on sign up)
This year’s lecture ‘The social and ecological transition, and the critical role of our homes, streets, and neighbourhoods’ will be delivered by: Imandeep Kaur, Founder and Director of Civic Square. Immy’s career has focused on building community, the role of citizens in radical systemic change, and how we create more democratic, open source social and civic infrastructure.

SURF – Taking creative approaches to regenerate communities: SURF Awards Shared Learning Workshop
Date & Time: Thursday 25 May 2023; 10am-1pm
Location: Kinning Park Complex, Glasgow
This free SURF Awards workshop event provides an opportunity to explore successful approaches towards linking creative arts and culture into regeneration initiatives. The winning and highly commended projects from the ‘Creative Regeneration’ category highlighted in the 2022 SURF Awards process will provide commentary on their experiences and transferable learning.

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland – Archaeological Research in Progress Conference 2023
Date & Time: Saturday 27 May 2023; 9am–5:30pm
Location: Hybrid format (in-person at Augustine United Church and livestreamed via Zoom)
For this year’s ARP conference, the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Archaeology Scotland are proud to present 12 talks covering exciting new research and best practice in archaeology from across Scotland. With special thanks to sponsor of the event: Forestry and Land Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, GUARD Archaeology Ltd, Association of Local Government Archaeology Officers, and the Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers.

SPAB – Scotland Finzean Watermills Working Party
Date & Time: Wednesday 7–Sunday 11 June 2023
Location: Finzean Watermill, Banchory AB31 6PP
The 2023 SPAB Scotland Working Party will once more be in Finzean, Aberdeenshire, and will have a carpentry theme this year; with thanks to Historic Environment Scotland for the funds to support this work. Work will be done for three full days (8, 9, 10 June) before the site closes on Sunday 11 June. There will be a celebration ceilidh on the final Saturday evening – an event not to be missed!
To book and for more information.

TRAINING

Culture & Business Scotland – Business Briefing: Employment Law & HR Update
Date & Time: Tuesday 23 May 2023; 12-1pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Barry Nichol, Director and a specialist in employment law at Anderson Strathern, will provide an essential employment law and HR update in this one-hour webinar, addressing important topics such as flexible and atypical working, family-friendly rights and the Fair Work Framework.

SPAB – Repair of Old Buildings Course (RC1 23)
Date & Time: Monday 22 – Friday 26 May 2023
Location: Museum of the Home, Kingsland Road, London E2 8EA
This popular short course has been presented by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings since the 1950s. Run over five days, this course delivers an intensive programme of lectures and visits to building repair projects. Presented by leading building conservation professionals, the Repair Course considers British and international approaches to the conservation of old buildings.

Scotland’s Churches Trust – Scotland’s Closing Churches Recording Project – Training Session
Date & Time: Saturday 3 June 2023; 1-3pm
Location: Cramond Kirk, Cramond Glebe Road, Cramond EH4 6NS
Around 400 churches are expected to close by 2025 and in response, Scotland’s Churches Trust has developed, with support from Historic Environment Scotland, a quick and simple church recording methodology for volunteers to record the moveable contents of these closing public buildings before they are sold and their contents scattered. Join SCT at Cramond Kirk for a practical demonstration of the methodology and to find out how you can help with the project.

VACANCIES

BACK

4 May 2023

Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations

BEFS NEWS

Historic Environment Scotland published its Annual Operating Plan 2023-24 setting out priorities for the coming year to support economic recovery, tackle ongoing challenges brought by COVID-19 and climate change, and to deliver real public benefit. The focus for the 2023-25 period will include Wellbeing; Inequality and access; Managing Heritage Assets (including High-Level Masonry, Properties In Care Strategy); A stronger, fairer, greener economy; Sector recovery and Net Zero.

The Scotland + Venice Partnership is gearing up for the 18th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia 2023 in Venice, Italy. The A Fragile Correspondence exhibition investigates how a closer relationship between land and language can help architecture be more attuned to the environment in which it operates. The exhibition explores alternative perspectives and new approaches to the challenges of the worldwide climate emergency as well as highlighting cultures and languages that have a close affinity with the landscapes of Scotland. This short film reflects on the exhibition’s themes, introducing the contributing cultural heritages and locations across Scotland.

Scotland’s Churches Trust welcomed the news from the Church of Scotland General Trustees that they are introducing a new internal category of “Historic Signature Churches” into their portfolio, which might see some further safeguarding of notable churches that would otherwise have likely been subject to disposal.

BEFS welcomes the appointment of six new Honorary Fellows to the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS); honoured in recognition of their significant contribution to Scotland’s cultural, academic, business or political life. The new RIAS Honorary Fellows are: Sue Evans MBE FLI, Dr Will Maclean MBE RSA RSE, Sir Geoff Palmer, Dame Seona Reid FRSE, Steve Evans & Gail Evans.

The long awaited Scottish Household Survey (SHS) 2021 has been published.
The key findings report, and accompanying data tables cover a range of topics: housing, neighbourhoods and communities, environment, volunteering, culture and heritage; noting the trust placed in applicable institutions. Highlights of the findings have been released with the caveat that whilst the 2020 and 2021 survey results are not comparable to 2019 or earlier, the 2021 survey will be broadly comparable to 2020.

The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee (LGHP) has been convened to consider evidence on Damp and Mould in Social and Private Rented Housing. Evidence already provided by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and Shelter Scotland highlights the extent of the issues caused by damp and mould, stressing the need for legislation on a new common housing standard to be prioritised.

And finally, Vernacular architecture and buildings have always employed traditional construction techniques and craft skills, using local, natural materials. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is looking to recruit a Vernacular Building Craft Fellow to learn and use traditional building construction by sourcing natural materials and building using traditional construction methods, working with The Scottish Crannog Centre team to support the building of a new Crannog and ‘Iron Age Village’.

CONSULTATIONS

Community Wealth Building
Scottish Government
Views are being sought on the internationally recognised Community Wealth Building (CWB) approach to economic development, as a key practical means for the Scottish Government to make progress towards realising the wellbeing economy vision outlined in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET).
Closes 9 May 2023

Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan
Scottish Government
This consultation seeks views on the vision and the actions to transition to an affordable, resilient and clean energy system set out in the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan as well as understanding how maximum social and economic benefits from the energy transition for Scotland can be secured.
Closes 9 May 2023

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Our Past, Our Future – Consultation Reports (HES 28/04/2023)

PUBLICATIONS

The Multi-Themed City: The Urban Challenge – a short guide to the urban challenge event series (Urban Design Learning February 2023)

Economy, People and Skills: April 2023 (Skills Development Scotland April 2023)

Historic Environment Scotland – Annual Operating Plan 2023-24 (HES 19/04/2023)

“Scottish Churches – A conservation crisis” 1981 Conference (Scotland’s Churches Trust 21/04/2023)
Recently digitised cassette recordings of five of the speakers at a conservation conference the SCT helped organise in Edinburgh in 1981 The speakers were noted architects James Simpson, Ian Begg and Larry Rolland, historian Ian B. Cowan and an unknown expert in Parliamentary Churches.

The Preventative State – Rebuilding Our Local, Social And Civic Foundations (Demos 26/04/2023)

Our Past, Our Future – The Strategy for Scotland’s Historic Environment (HES 28/04/2023)
Strategy published ahead of formal launch in June 2023.

SCOTTISH & UK GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

Joint Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition and the Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning to the Convenor of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (Scot Parl 20/04/2023)
Response to the committee’s inquiry into the role of local government and its partners in delivering a net zero Scotland.

Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme: capital projects – March 2023 (Scot Gov 21/04/2023)

SPICe Spotlight: The First Minister’s Statement on “Our Priorities for Scotland” (SPICe 21/04/2023)

New report shows success of government’s support for cultural sector during pandemic (UK Gov 21/04/2023)

Development plan examinations: list (Scot Gov 24/04/2023)

Building and Fire Safety Working Group minutes: January 2023 (Scot Gov 25/04/2023)

Net zero : Investor Panel minutes – March 2023 including Heat in Buildings (Scot Gov 25/04/2023)

Delivering thriving local communities (Scot Gov 27/04/2023)

Scottish Household Survey 2021 – telephone survey: key findings (Scot Gov 25/04/2023)

SPICe Spotlight: What is a “wellbeing economy”? (SPICe 26/04/2023)

Local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods – draft guidance consultation: impact assessment report update (Scot Gov 27/04/2023)

Community right to buy – Company Limited by Guarantee: model template and guidance (Scot Gov 27/04/2023)

Public procurement strategy: 2023 to 2028 (Scot Gov 28/04/2023)

Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Statistics stakeholder feedback survey 2023: results (Scot Gov 28/04/2023)

Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme – Phase 3a Summary Report (UK Gov May 2023)

Planning application appeals: EIR release (Scot Gov 02/05/2023)

NEWS RELEASES

European Heritage Hub and European Data Space for Heritage discussed at Alliance 2023 Spring meeting in Brussels (Europa Nostra 21/03/2023)

£3.5 million boost for Scotland’s historic environment (HES 24/04/2023)
National Trust for Scotland, Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Scottish Civic Trust amongst those receiving funding from Historic Environment Scotland

Visitor numbers to Cadw sites on track to full recovery post-Covid (Welsh Gov 24/04/2023)

Society Grants Add Colour to Scotland’s Past (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 25/04/2023)

Enriching Scotland’s architecture scene: RIAS names six new Honorary Fellows (RIAS 26/04/2023)

Future of Scotland’s first National Park up for discussion as consultation gets underway (Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park 26/04/2023)

Climate action hubs: apply to set one up (Scot Gov 26/04/2023)
A national network of climate action hubs is being set up to support communities to take forward climate action in their areas.

Now open: areas of Caernarfon Castle that have not been accessed for centuries, thanks to £5 million investment (Welsh Gov 26/04/2023)

Funding Success for Society Projects! (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 27/04/2023)

OPINION & COMMENT

How cartographers of the early Ordnance Survey mapped the length and breadth of Britain, capturing elements of the cultural heritage (The Economist 06/04/2023)

UK insulation scheme would take 300 years to meet government targets, say critics (The Guardian 09/04/2023)

Museums and Chill – How Architecture Shapes The Museum Experience – podcast (ICOM 14/04/2023)

Scotland’s move toward a Passivhaus standard (E&T 14/04/2023)

A Fragile Correspondence – Scotland + Venice (A&DS 14/04/2023)

Retrofit mustn’t ignore the tragic health impacts of damp and mould (Architects’ Journal 19/04/2023)

Future of heritage sector comes under the spotlight in Inverness (The Press & Journal 20/04/2023)

Heat Pumps in the UK – State of the Conversation (CaCHE 21/04/2023)

Spotlight on traditional building skills (DnG24 21/04/2023)

Climate crisis poses risk to Scotland’s World Heritage site (The Herald 23/04/2023)

Designing for people’s lives (A&DS 25/04/2023)

Charles Rennie Mackintosh heritage leader’s concern over buildings (Glasgow Times 28/04/2023)

Bid to force purchase of empty properties for Scotland’s homeless (The Herald 02/05/2023)

Black’s Blog: A new minister… a new beginning? (Scottish Housing News 03/05/2023)

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Debate on VAT: Building Repairs and Maintenance (Retro-fitting)
UK Parliament – Lords Chamber
Date: 19 April 2023

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 05/04/2023
S6W-15640
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing an equal right of appeal in the planning system.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 April 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 05/04/2023
S6W-16777
To ask the Scottish Government what specific steps it is taking to address the reported long-term decline in the number of local authority-employed planners, in light of such planners having a significant role in delivering the ambitions of the new National Planning Framework.
S6W-16778
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce planning apprenticeships, and, if so, when.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 April 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 06/04/2023
S6W-16871
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the question S6W-12216 by Neil Gray on 24 November 2022, whether the National Partnership for Culture will continue to exist, following its meeting on 14 December 2022, and, if so, when it will next meet.
S6W-16874
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to “carry out cross-portfolio engagement to scope where culture may be able to link into the Place Standard tool”, as outlined in its response to the National Partnership for Culture recommendations.
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 20 April 2023

Evelyn Tweed, Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 20/04/2023
S6W-17459
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when an updated version of the revised Planning with People: Community engagement and participation guidance will be published.
Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 April 2023

Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 06/04/2023
S6W-16889
To ask the Scottish Government what additional support will be made available to support the construction of social housing when the Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard is introduced.
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 24 April 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17/04/2023
S6W-17083
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in providing the powers to local authorities to introduce a Transient Visitor Levy.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 25 April 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 18/04/2023
S6W-17137
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects (a) Kisimul Castle, (b) the Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace and (c) Kilchurn Castle to reopen to the public.
Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 25 April 2023

Sue Webber, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 19/04/2023
S6O-02138
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Historic Environment Scotland sites that remain closed.
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 April 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 18/04/2023
S6W-17028
To ask the Scottish Government what its most recent assessment is of the allocation of resources to Community Planning Partnerships in each local authority area.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 26 April 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/04/2023
S6W-17261
To ask the Scottish Government whether the consequences of climate change were factored into the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 26 April 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 05/04/2023
S6W-16779
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will clarify what role local authorities will play in an area-based approach to heat decarbonisation, and what additional support it will offer to local authorities for the preparation and delivery of their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies.
S6W-16781
To ask the Scottish Government when it will communicate to the public its ambition for homes to aim to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least C from 2025.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023

Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 06/04/2023
S6W-16420
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that only accredited contractors carry out masonry repairs.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 12/04/2023
S6W-16994
To ask the Scottish Government when property valuation will next be reviewed for the setting of (a) domestic and (b) non-domestic rates.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 27 April 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 05/04/2023
S6W-16773
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a comprehensive roadmap for the delivery of net zero in key areas, as set out in the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee report, The role of local government and its cross-sectoral partners in financing and delivering a net-zero Scotland.
S6W-16774
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to establish a local government-facing climate intelligence unit to provide specialist help to local authorities in areas where there may be a lack of in-depth specialist knowledge, and, if so, when such a unit will be established.
S6W-16775
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ensure that there are larger, fewer and more flexible challenge fund streams for net zero-related projects at a local level that are better configured to support a holistic and place-based response to climate change.
Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 28 April 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17/04/2023
S6W-17075
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13155 by Patrick Harvie on 10 January 2023, whether it will bring forward its proposed Housing Bill prior to the summer parliamentary recess.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 28 April 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/04/2023
S6W-17276
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on preparing detailed sectoral transition plans.
Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 28 April 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 13/04/2023
S6W-17023
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme, what plans it has to review the definition of “long-term vacant”, which is currently 15 years for derelict properties and land.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 2 May 2023

Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 18/04/2023
S6W-17154
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many homes have been returned to use with support from the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership since 2022, and whether it can provide a breakdown of the information by local authority area.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 2 May 2023

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 18/04/2023
S6W-17168
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the Scottish Training Federation has warned that thousands of young people across Scotland have been “left in limbo” as no new modern apprenticeships will be available “for the foreseeable future”, as a result of delays in Scottish Government funding to Skills Development Scotland, which is reportedly resulting in employers putting their recruitment plans on hold, and training providers looking at laying off staff due to the shortage of work.
Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 2 May 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/04/2023
S6W-17256
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to identify the skills needed in the construction sector to reach net zero targets on a geographical basis.
S6W-17260
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on identifying the skills required in sectors of the economy that are key to achieving net zero.
Current status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 2 May 2023

Sharon Dowey, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
S6M-07369
Date lodged: 06/01/2023
Impact of long-term, historical closures of sites managed by Historic Environment Scotland
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 May 2023

Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 06/04/2023
S6W-16888
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to enhance the financial support available to (a) individual developers and (b) community groups for Rural and Islands Housing Fund projects, in the event that the introduction of a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard adds additional costs to construction in rural and island areas.
Current status: Answer expected on 5 May 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/04/2023
S6W-17254
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any green skills gap in each local authority area.
S6W-17255
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to identify the skills needed in the energy sector to reach net zero targets on a geographical basis.
S6W-17268
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on its aim for at least 124,000 homes to have low-carbon heating systems installed by 2026.
S6W-17269
To ask the Scottish Government, as of 13 April 2023, how many homes have low-carbon heating systems installed.
S6W-17277
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent ministerial appointments, what the membership is of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Climate Emergency.
Current status: Answers expected on 4 May 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 27/04/2023
S6W-17174
To ask the Scottish Government what the average award per property has been for funding awarded from the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund, since the fund was established.
Current status: Answer expected on 15 May 2023

Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 27/04/2023
S6W-16522
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to Freedom of Information request FOI/ 202200321870, what its response was to the recommendation contained in the Gateway Review documents that a “portfolio approach” to cladding remediation is required.
Current status: Answer expected on 15 May 2023

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 28/04/2023
S6W-17467
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is planning any future engagement with churches regarding the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land) Regulations 2021.
S6W-17468
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with churches, regarding the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land) Regulations 2021, since 1 January 2023.
Current status: Answer expected on 16 May 2023

EVENTS

For further listings, please see our events calendar.

Glasgow City Heritage Trust – The Knight Map of Glasgow: Tracing the Transformation
Date & Time: Saturday 6 – Sunday 14 May 2023; 11am-5pm daily
Location: New Glasgow Society, 1307 Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8TL
This exhibition will showcase GCHT’s new map by artist Will Knight, alongside the 1864 Sulman map of the city. Viewers will be able to explore how the city has changed in the last 150 years and ponder what will happen in the future, as well as have the opportunity to see the incredible detail of the map whilst learning about how it was created.

Historic Environment Scotland – Equalities Sessions: Apprenticeships in Scotland
Date & Time: Wednesday 10 May 2023; 12-1pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Join HES and Skills Development Scotland to learn about the Apprenticeship family in Scotland, highlighting the differences in the apprenticeships on offer, the benefits of each and how they are funded. This session will cover Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships, the benefits to the company and school pupils of a Foundation Apprenticeship, steps to be taken to look at introducing an apprentice to the business or using the apprenticeship schemes to upskill existing staff.

RSA Fellows’ MCICH Network: Built and Landscape Heritage – Terminology and Public Engagement
Date & Time: Thursday 11 May 2023; 6-7:30pm
Location: Online via Zoom
RSA Fellows and guests of any discipline or location across the public, private and third sectors, are invited to register for this event, one in a series of online discussions within the overall theme of “Heritage: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions”, the subject of a future conference. Discussion will begin with brief perspectives from panel members followed by Q&A with the audience.

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland – “Reapproaching Celts”
Date & Time: Thursday 11 May 2023; 6-7pm
Location: Hybrid format (in-person at Augustine United Church and livestreamed via Zoom)
Presented by Dr Rachel Pope FSAScot. The lecture will discuss newly published work by the author that provides an enhanced framework for our understanding of the European Iron Age on the Continent, via the development of new contextual method that works to combine archaeology (primarily status burial data) with Classical textual references, whilst also focusing on the distinctly regional nature of Iron Age social organisation.

Under One Roof Scotland – Maintenance and retrofit for tenement owners with West Lothian Council
Date & Time: Monday 15 May 2023; 12-2pm
Location: Howden Park Centre, Howden, Livingston EH54 6AE
Come along to a free and informative event hosted by Under One Roof and West Lothian Council, aimed at owner-occupiers and landlords who want to learn more about maintaining and managing their tenement flats. Topics covered will include: the basics of tenement maintenance; knowing your neighbours and how to find them; the issues with patch repairs; the importance of building insurance and tips for self-factoring your building. Additionally, there will be discussion on energy efficiency and retrofit, as well as changes to government regulations affecting owner-occupiers and landlords.

SURF – Exploring place-based regeneration initiatives: SURF Awards Shared Learning Workshop
Date & Time: Thursday 18 May 2023; 10am-1pm
Location: Clyde Community Hall, 41 Whitefield Road, Govan, G51 2YB
An opportunity to explore successful current approaches towards regenerating Scotland’s places with two winning projects from the ‘Improving Scotland’s Places’ category winner Living Alloa and ‘Community Led Regeneration’ category winner Bressay Development Ltd – Speldiburn highlighted in the 2022 SURF Awards process.

RTPI – South East Scotland Chapter Annual Pub Quiz
Date & Time: Wednesday 24 May 2023; 6-10pm
Location: Frankenstein’s Bier Kellar, 26 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EN
The RTPI Annual Pub Quiz is back and the prestigious SES Chapter Pub Quiz Champions Trophy is up for grabs once more! Teams will be up to six people, and people without a team can be matched up. Thanks to Geddes Consulting for sponsoring the event with a bar tab and food. Book now!

TRAINING

Birse Community Trust – Two-day Lime Pointing Course
Date & Time: Thursday 18 & Friday 19 May 2023; 9am-4pm
Location: Finzean Old School (Aberdeenshire)
This two-day lime mortar workshop, aimed at beginners, will provide you with the practical skills and confidence to carry out your own mortar repointing works as part of repairs or more extensive renovation projects to traditional masonry structures and buildings. Led by tutor Andy Newcombe, a time served stone mason with 20 years’ experience working with and repairing traditional buildings.
Cost: £60 for the two days for BCT members / £80 for non-members Booking essential via BCT Office.

Birse Community Trust – Lime Pointing Taster Day
Date & Time: Saturday 20 May 2023; over two sessions – either 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm
Location: Finzean Old School (Aberdeenshire)
This course, aimed at beginners, will provide a taste of the practical skills required to carry out your own repointing works as part of repairs or more extensive renovation projects to traditional masonry buildings. The session will be led by tutor Andy Newcombe, a time served stone mason with 20 years’ experience working with and repairing traditional buildings. Cost: Free
Booking essential via BCT Office.

VACANCIES

Edinburgh World Heritage – Donor Engagement Manager
Salary: £29,840-£31,900 p.a.
Status: Part-time (0.5/0.6 FTE); permanent
Location: Edinburgh
Edinburgh World Heritage are seeking a Donor Engagement Manager to play a vital part in organisational core resilience, through ownership of international and corporate income targets, developing on a good early foundation in these engaging and impactful areas of work. This is a fantastic opportunity to work with a dynamic and energetic team striving to support a more entrepreneurial approach to securing a future as custodians of, and ambassadors for, Edinburgh’s outstanding world heritage. Further information on applications can be found here.
Closing date: 9am, Monday 8 May 2023

Historic Environment Scotland – Vernacular Building Craft Fellow
Salary: £21,052-£21,872 p.a.
Status: Full-time; 37 hours per week
Location: Perthshire, Kinross and Angus
This post will be part of a wider programme of Craft Fellowships across Scotland.
Vernacular buildings reflect local building traditions, they are created using local, natural materials, using traditional construction techniques and craft skills. Craft Fellows have the opportunity to gain practical experience, learn from experts in their chosen field or craft, increase knowledge of the wider conservation sector, expand their professional network and have access to a wide range of learning resources and opportunities from the Engine Shed, Scotland’s dedicated Conservation Resource Centre. This role involves working with The Scottish Crannog Centre team, to support the building of the new ‘Iron Age Village’ and Crannog at The Scottish Crannog Centre’s new site at Dalerb, and gain experience in traditional building construction by sourcing natural materials and building using traditional construction methods. The role will also provide the opportunity to learn about green wood working, thatching, and stone and turf wall building.
Further information and applications.
Closing date: Midday, Tuesday 9 May 2023

Heritage Trust Network – Heritage Trainee (Graduate)
Salary: Pro rata – £20,000 p.a.
Status: Full-time (37 hrs per week)
Location: Working from home or from an agreed shared workspace anywhere in the UK.
Heritage Trust Network is recruiting for a new post of Heritage Trainee (Graduate) for a fixed term of 6 months. This exciting post has been designed to help the successful graduate develop on-the-job skills, knowledge and networks to help them gain early-career access to the heritage sector. The post is perfect for someone who has recently graduated and has an interest in heritage and the regeneration of communities through the use of historic buildings, structures and spaces. Training and equipment will be provided. Job description and recruitment pack.
Closing date: Monday 15 May 2023

National Churches Trust – Church Support Project Manager
Salary: £37,000 p.a.
Status: Full-time; 3 years fixed-term
Location: Home or office-based
Are you an experienced Project Manager who wants to help keep churches well maintained, valued and in use? You could make a massive difference to the UK’s churches, chapels and meeting houses by joining the National Churches Trust team. The NCT are seeking a Church Support Project Manager to oversee delivery of a new National Lottery Heritage Funded Cherish project. Reporting to the Head of Church Engagement, the post holder will work full-time on a three-year fixed-term contract overseeing the project in Scotland, Wales and North-West England. There is the option of working at home or in the London office, but some travel will be required.
Information pack to apply.
Closing date: 10am, Friday 19 May 2023

The Cockburn Association – Chair
The Cockburn Association is seeking to recruit a new Chair to replace Professor Cliff Hague OBE, who retires from the position in May 2023 following 6 years of excellent service. In 2025, the Cockburn will celebrate its 150^th anniversary. The new Chair will help frame the celebrations of this significant landmark event, which will include a major civic reception and publication. A key objective of the Chair is to drive the development of the Cockburn ‘brand’, increasing the support base and reaching out to stakeholders across the city, existing and new. The Chair will be expected to bring their own network into the Association where possible and act as a figurehead to members and supporters.
Further information and a role description is available from the Director, Terry Levinthal: 0131-557-8686

BACK

20 Apr 2023

Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations

BEFS NEWS

This week the First Minister set out his priorities in a new policy document – outlining what the government plans to achieve by 2026. This set of aims is built around the values of equality, opportunity and community; and is broken down by portfolio. (See BEFS Blog on the new Scottish Government roles for further detail on the portfolios). BEFS Director has provided a brief overview of activity in the new policy document covering the main areas of interest for BEFS Members, Associates and Bulletin readers.

Just as the Scottish Parliament have been debating the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan and the contribution it may make to Scotland’s next Climate Change plans, Audit Scotland has published its report on the arrangements of the Scottish Government to deliver climate change goals. Key messages of the report highlight that the Scottish Government has improved how, as an organisation, it supports the delivery of its climate change goals since declaring a climate emergency in 2019. However, the government needs to identify the key risks to meeting its climate change goals, and take effective action to address them. The report also has recommendations for improving climate change governance and risk management arrangements.

In related news: The Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) assessments of World Heritage properties in Scotland was piloted in 2019 by assessing the Heart of Neolithic Orkney site. Since then, CVI has been applied to four of Scotland’s World Heritage sites, assessing a diversity of heritage – from the Neolithic to the 20th century. Historic Environment Scotland recently published an overview summary of the application of the CVI to Scottish properties and detailed CVI assessment reports for the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh as well as the Antonine Wall.

In order to mark the publication of the new reports and give an opportunity to look behind the scenes of the projects for the first time, Dr Rebecca Jones, Visiting Professor at Heriot-Watt University wrote a guest blog. In this she explains the reason for using CVI in Scotland, introduces the diversity of Scotland’s World Heritage, and describes the challenges unique to Scotland.

Looking to the future, the final selection of the seven places in the UK being considered for World Heritage Site status has been published. And you can also discover which European sites are under threat, as Europa Nostra released this year’s list of Europe’s 7 Most Endangered Heritage Sites.

When considering the sector more broadly: Responses from the UK Heritage Pulse survey on volunteering have been published, providing insights in to the current relationship between volunteering and the heritage sector. And, The Scottish Civic Trust trialled two My Place Marketplace heritage surgeries in March to gain insight into the biggest challenges for heritage organisations today. Further to their survey findings, they have compiled a directory of helpful resources for local heritage groups.

CONSULTATIONS

PAS 2035 Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency – Specification and guidance
British Standard Institute
Comments sought to inform the development of PAS 2035 on the requirements for retrofit of dwellings as part of a British Standard Institute (BSI) Standards Solutions projects.
Closes 26 April 2023

International Culture Strategy: Survey
Scottish Government
Views sought to inform the development of a strategy to support the international aspirations and potential of Scotland’s culture sector.
Closes 26 April 2023

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Delivering Scotland’s Circular Economy – route map to 2025 and beyond: consultation analysis (Scot Gov 18/04/2023)

PUBLICATIONS

Cost of NOT ZERO in 2022 (Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit January 2023)

Affordable Warmth: Next steps in clean heat in Scotland (WWF Scotland 17/01/2023)
Includes heritage homes.

Policy Atlas of Sustainable Urban Development for Small Urban Areas (Publications Office of the European Union 15/03/2023)
Download of the: Landscape of policy approaches, including heritage environment and retrofitting, state of decay of the built environment and 7 case studies across the European Union.

Energy performance of Scottish public buildings and its impact on their ability to use low-temperature heat (Science Direct 13/04/2023)

Briefing Note: How people living in poor quality housing have fared during the cost of living crisis (Resolution Foundation 15/04/2023)

Scotland’s World Heritage and Climate Change: An overview of the application of the Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) (HES 17/04/2023)

Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) Assessment for the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh (HES 17/04/2023)

Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) Assessment for the Antonine Wall (HES 17/04/2023)

How the Scottish Government is set up to deliver climate change goals: Governance and risk management arrangements for net zero targets and adaptation outcomes (Audit Scotland 20/04/2023)

SCOTTISH & UK GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP): application form (Scot Gov 06/04/2023)
Guidance and application form for applicants at stage 1.

Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022: equality impact assessment (Scot Gov 06/04/2023)

The UK Government announces the seven places it is backing to win UNESCO World Heritage Status (UK Gov 10/04/2023)

Building standards approved energy assessment software: guidance (Scot Gov 11/04/2023)

Scottish Connections Framework: setting out a cohesive and cross-cutting approach to diaspora engagement (Scot Gov 11/04/2023)

European Regional Development Fund: annual implementation report 2019 (Scot Gov 14/04/2023)

Just Transition Commission – letter to Cabinet Secretaries: 14 April 2023 (Scot Gov 17/04/2023)

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee Report – Building Safety update session (Scot Parl 18/04/2023)

Equality, opportunity, community. New leadership – A fresh start for Scotland (Scot Gov 18/04/2023)

Bringing empty homes back into use: Approaches and interventions – an evidence scoping review (Scot Gov 18/04/2023)

National Planning Framework 4: integrated impact assessment post adoption statement (Scot Gov 18/04/2023)

A fair economy supporting Scotland’s people (Scot Gov 19/04/2023)

NEWS RELEASES

Driving long-term positive change through place-based funding (Heritage Fund 03/03/2023)

Call for evidence: buildings that have received colourless water-repellent treatments (SPAB 01/04/2023)

Industry Update: Domestic demand drives visitor attraction recovery (Scottish Tourism Alliance 07/04/2023)

Europe’s 7 Most Endangered Heritage Sites 2023 announced (Europa Nostra 13/04/2023)

FOI Request: Information released confirming Scottish Government overturned 4 in 10 planning appeals last year (The Ferret 17/04/2023)

International Day for Monuments and Sites 18 April 2023: Explore UNESCO World Heritage sites with Google Arts & Culture (UNESCO 18/04/2023)

OPINION & COMMENT

Scotland’s new permitted development rights will facilitate town centre regeneration (Colliers 30/03/2023)

NPF4 – the incompatibility conundrum (Lichfields 03/04/2023)

Christina McKelvie named as Scottish culture minister in reshuffle (Museum Association 04/04/2023)

Placemaking: how to make cities we feel we belong to? – YouTube webinar (Design to Connect 05/04/2023)

Loss and damage: How can culture and heritage loss be measured and addressed? (CarbonBrief 05/04/2023)

The UK’s Net Zero Strategy risks entrenching inequality (New Economics Foundation 06/04/2023)

Funding delay halts new Scottish apprenticeships (BBC News 08/04/2023)

Is the UK prepared to let its rural churches rot – or can they be saved? (The Observer 08/04/2021)

Scotland iron age settlement among seven UK sites given Unesco world heritage status backing (The Scotsman 10/04/2023)

Let’s Turn Buildings Inside-Out – Opening Up the Ground Floors of Buildings Can Move Us Towards an Architecture of Place (Social Life Project 12/04/2023)

Deadly Design: 5 cases for careful conservation (Heritage Open Days 13/04/2023)

Low heat pump uptake ‘an embarrassment’ (The Times 14/04/2023)

Historical site shutdowns ‘damage businesses, tourism and jobs’ (The Herald 17/04/2023)

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 22/03/2023
S6W-16087
To ask the Scottish Government what routes it has made available for local residents to appeal planning application decisions made by its reporters, in cases where they cannot afford the legal fees and are not entitled to legal aid.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 23/03/2023
S6W-16108
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop and support a town planning apprenticeship scheme.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 28/03/2023
S6W-16305
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has held with chairs of planning authorities regarding the implementation of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 28/03/2023
S6W-16307
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has held with Heads of Planning Scotland regarding the implementation of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 21/03/2023
S6W-16061
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason grant and loan support is not available through Home Energy Scotland for air-to-air heating systems.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 11 April 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 28/03/2023
S6W-16313
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting Historic Environment Scotland in its efforts to preserve historic buildings.
S6W-16314
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provided to (a) Historic Scotland and (b) Historic Environment Scotland in each year since 2007.
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 11 April 2023
S6W-16312
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has provided to Historic Environment Scotland for the financial year 2023-24.
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 12 April 2023

Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour,
Date lodged: 20/03/2023
S6W-15861 R
To ask the Scottish Government whether any Unique Property Reference Numbers, that are used in the property registers held by Registers of Scotland or any other publicly available property registers for which it is responsible, match across all of the registers, and what information it has on whether these numbers match with any Unique Property Reference Numbers used in the Scottish Energy Performance Certificate Register.
S6W-16025
To ask the Scottish Government which (a) property registers held by Registers of Scotland and (b) other publicly available property registers for which it is responsible, use Unique Property Reference Numbers, and what information it has on whether the same of similar Unique Property Reference Numbers are used in the Scottish Energy Performance Certificate Register.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 April 2023

Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 29/03/2023
S6W-16455
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to work with local authorities to develop an interlinked strategy for tackling any problems facing Scotland’s town centres, in light of the recent Economy and Fair Work Committee’s Inquiry into Retail and Town Centres in Scotland.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 14 April 2023

Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 28/03/2023
S6W-16322
To ask the Scottish Government whether the level of information required from third sector organisations for grant applications has increased compared with previous years, and, if so, what the reasons are for this, and what consideration it has given to the ability of these organisations to access funding.
Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 05/04 2023
S6W-16773
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a comprehensive roadmap for the delivery of net zero in key areas, as set out in the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee report, The role of local government and its cross-sectoral partners in financing and delivering a net-zero Scotland.
S6W-16774
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to establish a local government-facing climate intelligence unit to provide specialist help to local authorities in areas where there may be a lack of in-depth specialist knowledge, and, if so, when such a unit will be established.
S6W-16775
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ensure that there are larger, fewer and more flexible challenge fund streams for net zero-related projects at a local level that are better configured to support a holistic and place-based response to climate change.
S6W-16777
To ask the Scottish Government what specific steps it is taking to address the reported long-term decline in the number of local authority-employed planners, in light of such planners having a significant role in delivering the ambitions of the new National Planning Framework.
S6W-16778
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce planning apprenticeships, and, if so, when.
S6W-16779
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will clarify what role local authorities will play in an area-based approach to heat decarbonisation, and what additional support it will offer to local authorities for the preparation and delivery of their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies.
S6W-16780
To ask the Scottish Government how the new National Public Energy Agency will work with local government on area-based delivery.
S6W-16781
To ask the Scottish Government when it will communicate to the public its ambition for homes to aim to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least C from 2025.
Current status: Answers expected on 4 May 2023

Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 06/04/2023
S6W-16419
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to mitigate the dangers of falling masonry, in light of recent occurrences of high winds.
S6W-16420
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that only accredited contractors carry out masonry repairs.
Current status: Answers expected on 5 May 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 06/04/2023
S6W-16870 R
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09920 by Mairi Gougeon on 18 August 2022, whether it will provide an update on how much funding (a) it allocated to and (b) was distributed to successful grant applicants from the Croft House Grant scheme in 2022-23.
S6W-16871
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the question S6W-12216 by Neil Gray on 24 November 2022, whether the National Partnership for Culture will continue to exist, following its meeting on 14 December 2022, and, if so, when it will next meet.
S6W-16874
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to “carry out cross-portfolio engagement to scope where culture may be able to link into the Place Standard tool”, as outlined in its response to the National Partnership for Culture recommendations.
Current status: Answer expected on 5 May 2023

EVENTS

For further listings, please see our events calendar.

UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence – Delivering Scotland’s fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4)
Date & Time: Monday 24 April 2023; 10am-4pm
Location: Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow, 11 Chapel Lane, Glasgow G11 6EW
Scotland’s fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) seeks to prioritise projects that will help to tackle the climate crisis and reach net zero through the sustainable development of communities and the economy. Attention now turns to delivering NPF4 and what it will take to do this effectively. Concerns remain around resourcing, monitoring and evaluation, to name a few.

RSA Fellows’ MCICH Network: Built Heritage – Purposes and Pragmatism
Date & Time: Monday 24 April 2023; 6-7:30pm
Location: Online via Zoom
This on-line event is one in a series of four under the title of “HERITAGE: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions” and all the events are open to all irrespective of discipline or location and delegates from outwith the UK are also most welcome. Panel includes Matthew McKeague (Architectural Heritage Fund), Audrey Carlin (WASPS) and RSA Fellow Dr Deborah Mays Hon FRIAS (Historic England).

RICS Scotland Conference
Date & Time: Wednesday 26 April 2023; 8:30am-4:30pm
Location: The Technology and Innovation Centre, Glasgow G1 1RD
The programme will focus on sustainability and the role of professionals in helping achieve net zero in Scotland, with presentations and a choice of break-out sessions covering topics across land, property and the built environment. There will be key-note speeches from Professor Sir John Curtice, University of Strathclyde, Roger Esson MRICS, Head of Industry & Partner Network, Net Zero Technology and Morag Angus FRICS, Chief Surveyor and Head of Property and Construction, The Scottish Government Centre, as well as RICS new President, Ann Gray FRICS.

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland – April Lecture and Fellowship Election
Date & Time: Thursday 27 April 2023; 6-7pm
Location: Hybrid format (in-person at Augustine United Church and livestreamed via Zoom)
This event will feature two short presentations given by Early Career fellows on their research linked to Scotland’s past. The first given by Dr Julie Holder FSAScot on “Displaying ‘National’ Antiquities in the mid-19th century: Scotland, England, and Ireland”, and the second given by Dr Ralph St Clair Wade FSAScot on “’Old Scotch’: The Early Work of David Bryce (1803-1876)”. This event will also feature the Spring Election of new Fellows to the Society outside of our Anniversary Meeting on St Andrew’s Day.

RSA Fellows’ MCICH Network: Conservation – US and UK Perspectives
Date & Time: Wednesday 3 May 2023; 6-7:30pm
Location: Online via Zoom
RSA Fellows and guests of any discipline or location across the public, private and third sectors, are invited to register for this event, one in a series of online discussions within the overall theme of “Heritage: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions”, the subject of a future conference. Discussion will begin with brief perspectives from panel members followed by Q&A with the audience.

The Patrick Geddes India Scotland Talks
Date & Time: Thursday 4 May 2023; 10am–5pm
Location: The Patrick Geddes Centre, Riddles Court, 322 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2PG
This free event presents guest speakers from India, France & Scotland who will share their thoughts on a major renewal project in Dehli, ecological studies in Kolkata at the botanical gardens and how a historic farm in Edinburgh has been transformed by Geddesian concepts and community inspiration into a multi-faceted Social Resource Centre.

SURF – Successful approaches to housing led regeneration – SURF Award Shared Learning Event
Date & Time: Thursday 4 May 2023; 10am-1pm
Location: Wheatley House, 25 Cochrane Street, Glasgow, G1 1HL
This free SURF Awards workshop event offers an opportunity to explore successful approaches to housing led regeneration initiatives providing wider community outcomes. The winning and highly commended projects from the ‘Housing and Regeneration’ category highlighted in the 2022 SURF Awards process will provide commentary on their experiences and transferable learning.

Institute of Historic Building Conservation – Aberdeen meeting & Deeside conservation study tour
Date & Time: Friday 12 & Saturday 13 May 2023; 7:30-9:30pm Friday and 9am-4pm Saturday
An evening reception at Aberdeen Advocates Library on Friday 12 May, with short presentations and a networking opportunity for people professionally involved in the historic built environment, will be followed by a tour on Saturday. Travel via minibus to NTS Craigievar Castle, currently scaffolded to allow a close look at the harl, and on to Finzean sawmills. £20 each day – email to book.

TRAINING

Social Enterprise Academy– Steps to Sustainability: Skills Sessions
Date & Time: 16 March-11 May 2023
Location: Online
Range of training sessions for those working in the Heritage Sector covering: Retail Management Essentials, Digital Engagement, Fundraising, Marketing & PR, and Alternative Sources of Finance.

Icon Scotland – Creating Conservation Videos Workshop
Date & Time: Thursday 11, 18 & 25 May 2023; 9-11am
Location: Online via Zoom
Over three sessions, learn about creating conservation video content to be used to educate, promote and share the profession. The workshop will cover the start-to-finish workflow for creating conservation videos, ethical and legal considerations of sharing conservation content, platforms and methods that support video content, and tips and tricks, such as repurposing footage. Sessions will take place one week apart and will allow attendees to create their own videos and receive feedback from the instructor.

VACANCIES

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20 Apr 2023

In this long read guest blog, Dr Rebecca Jones, Visiting Professor at Heriot-Watt University writes about the application of the CVI process to Scotland’s World Heritage properties and explains the challenges unique to Scotland in the case of Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, the Antonine Wall and St Kilda. She highlights the key points of the stakeholder engagement and gives a brief summary on the results and on what comes next for New Lanark and the Forth Bridge.

What is the CVI?

The Climate Vulnerability Index, or CVI for short, was developed to rapidly assess the risks of climate change to World Heritage globally. Using approaches from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) it differs from other risk assessments in that it also assesses the Community Vulnerability of the World Heritage property alongside vulnerability of the site’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV – the reason for the property’s inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage list).

Designed to be rapid, systematic and repeatable for all types of cultural and natural heritage, it is also flexible to meet the needs of a diverse set of stakeholders. The key mantra behind the CVI is that it is values based, science-driven and community-focused, enabling wide applicability.

Why use it in Scotland?

Early in 2019, thanks to the work of Professor Jane Downes (University of the Highlands & Islands (UHI) Archaeology Institute) who was a member of the International Council on Monument and Sites (ICOMOS) Climate Change and Heritage Working Group ] , the suggestion was made that the Heart of Neolithic Orkney (HONO) World Heritage property be used as a trial for a new Climate Vulnerability assessment.
The CVI had first been trialled at the natural World Heritage property of Shark Bay in Western Australia and ICOMOS were looking for a cultural World Heritage pilot. Orkney fitted the bill very well in terms of being cultural but also known to be vulnerable to the effects of climate change and being in a completely different part of the world to Shark Bay. The developers of the CVI – Dr Scott Heron and Dr Jon Day from James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville, Queensland – together with Adam Markham from the Union of Concerned Scientists, approached Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and other partners with a view to trialling it in Scotland. This was agreed and a Steering Group was set up, regularly meeting on Zoom (before it became a global necessity).

The workshop for HONO took place in April 2019 as a partnership between HES, UHI, Orkney Islands Council, ICOMOS, the Union of Concerned Scientists and James Cook University. Over three days, we had an excellent mix of over 30 stakeholders with a wide range of expertise including archaeology, planning, science, climate, site management, renewable energy and tourism, with over half based on Orkney itself but also with international representation from Ireland, Norway, Australia and the US.

The workshop also included a half-day visit to the four sites which make up the HONO World Heritage property, which proved a useful opportunity for the delegates to discuss key challenges on site, as well as providing filming opportunities for Scottish news coverage.

Dr Scott Heron of James Cook University being interviewed by Scottish TV at the Ring of Brodgar on Orkney (© Rebecca Jones)

The methodology of the CVI is to get the participants to select the three key climate drivers that present the greatest threat to the site, consider a timescale (2050 was chosen) and consider the key values of the property as defined in its statement of OUV. For HONO, the workshop participants determined that the OUV vulnerability of the property was in the highest category (High) but the community vulnerability was in the middle category (Moderate), acknowledging the high level of adaptive capacity within the community. Compounding factors such as volume tourism add extra cumulative impact to the pressures of climate change.

One key output of the workshop was the production of a report which was then presented by ICOMOS to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in Baku, Azerbaijan, in July 2019. But additional outputs included the increased awareness of the threats of the climate emergency and a discussion about actions as a result.

The pilot on Orkney was deemed to be a success, and the CVI has gone on to being applied to several other properties including the Wadden Sea World Heritage property (Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands), two properties in Africa (Sukur Cultural Landscape in Nigeria and the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and the Ruins of Songo Mnara, Tanzania), the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles and a first nations property in Australia. (see more: https://cvi-heritage.org/resources)

Diversity of Scotland’s World Heritage

Having applied the CVI to Orkney, we recognised that it would be valuable to also apply it to the range of properties inscribed in Scotland. In order to take this idea further, our partnership between HES and James Cook University applied to the Royal Society of Edinburgh for a Research Network Grant which was successfully awarded for 2021-23. Scotland currently has six diverse World Heritage properties (with a seventh in application – the Flow Country in Caithness and Sutherland). These are as follows:

The Heart of Neolithic Orkney
The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh
The Frontiers of the Roman Empire: the Antonine Wall
St Kilda
New Lanark
The Forth Bridge

Between them, the sites represent a diverse range of criteria for inscription, different locations, populations, owners, managers and stakeholders. The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, an urban capital city; the Antonine Wall, a Roman earthwork (with elements in stone) running through central Scotland, is part of a transboundary World Heritage property; the remote islands of St Kilda are the UK’s only mixed property, inscribed both for cultural and natural criteria; New Lanark is a model industrial village in Clydesdale; and the Forth Bridge is inscribed as a masterpiece of engineering.
As a result of the research network grant, we decided to prioritise Edinburgh, the Antonine Wall and St Kilda for the next phase of CVI assessments as each would represent a new challenge for the methodology.

Edinburgh

The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh (ONTE) was selected first as the timing worked well with the development of the next Management Plan for the site as well as a Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) project being undertaken by Edinburgh World Heritage. It would also represent the first application of the CVI to an urban World Heritage property. Due to continued Covid restrictions, the workshop was planned online over five mornings (evenings in Queensland) in May-June 2021. Over 40 people gave up their time to contribute to the workshop representing a wide range of expertise including local community council members, tourism, business, climate, built heritage (including BEFS), planning, archaeology, academia and representatives from the three key partner organisations managing the World Heritage property (the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh World Heritage and HES), who formed a steering group for the project. (Also see previous BEFS Blog Climate Vulnerability Index – implementation in an urban setting.)

The participants determined that the vulnerability of ONTE to the impacts of climate change was in the middle category (Moderate) and that of the local community also in the category of Moderate, recognising the level of adaptive capacity of the community. The results have fed into the new Management Plan and led to additional research on the flood mapping of the property. The final report of the ONTE CVI has just been published.

The Frontiers of the Roman Empire: the Antonine Wall

The Antonine Wall represents the only transboundary property in Scotland with two partners: Hadrian’s Wall in England and the Upper German-Raetian Limes in Germany. It runs for some 40 miles through five local authority areas in central Scotland and comprises an earthwork rampart on a stone base, a deep wide ditch to the north and numerous forts, fortlets and other structures attached to its rear.
Whilst the CVI had been previously applied to a transboundary property (the Wadden Sea in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands), that site was a broadly contiguous natural property and the Antonine Wall represented the first application of the CVI to a component part of a transboundary World Heritage property. The challenges of this were readily apparent in the pre-workshop tasks of agreeing the key values from a Statement of OUV which covered three different properties.
As with ONTE, the workshop was held online in the mornings (in February 2022) but spread over six mornings this time, recognising the complexity of undertaking the assessments of community vulnerability only over two mornings and learning lessons from ONTE – so this was extended to three.

The participants determined that the vulnerability of the Antonine Wall to the impacts of climate change was in the highest category (High) and that of the local community in the middle category (Moderate). The results will feed into the forthcoming Management Plan and the final report of the workshop has just been published.

The challenges of St Kilda

The fourth property in Scotland to benefit from the CVI process was the archipelago of St Kilda, the UK’s only dual World Heritage property, inscribed for both cultural and natural significance and managed by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS). This was yet another first for the CVI process: the first time it had been applied to a mixed / dual property. Key values for St Kilda identified were its scenery and landscape, seabird population, its genetic interest and rarity, the marine environment and its relic cultural landscape. Its remoteness, lying over 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides, presents numerous management challenges and the NTS coordinate and manage a series of relationships to ensure the appropriate conservation and management of the islands.

The lifting of Covid restrictions meant that Dr Scott Heron and Dr Jon Day were able to travel over from Queensland on this occasion and the weather was good enough in September 2022 for us to take a day boat out to the islands– being able to see a property in person provides valuable insights which were brought to the workshop.

Visit to St Kilda in September 2022, from left: Jon Day, Alice Lyall, Rebecca Jones, Scott Heron and Clare Henderson (the NTS St Kilda Archaeologist) (© Rebecca Jones)

We were also fortunate to be able to host the workshop in the newly opened Cnoc Soilleir on South Uist with a hybrid format, enabling some participants to attend in person and most others online (including the NTS’s three St Kilda Rangers who logged in from St Kilda). The excellent facilities in Cnoc Soilleir meant that this ran smoothly over three full days.

The participants determined that the vulnerability of St Kilda to the impacts of climate change was in the middle category (Moderate) and that of the local community was in the lowest (Low). The new Management Plan for St Kilda had been completed prior to the workshop, but the results will feed into ongoing management and research.

Stakeholder engagement

The format of the workshop, particularly now we have moved to online / hybrid options, enables a wide range of participants, but we recognise that it is a time commitment and are extremely grateful to all our workshop contributors. In addition, we have been keen to inform the wider local community of the discussions and results. Following the final day of the St Kilda workshop, we held an open evening of presentations, chaired by Dr Rebecca Rennell of UHI Outer Hebrides, where Dr Rebecca Jones (formerly HES), Susan Bain (NTS) and Dr Scott Heron (JCU) discussed the results. Despite its late advertisement, we were impressed that over 20 members of the local community turned out including two local councillors.

For ONTE, Nick Hotham of Edinburgh World Heritage (EWH) hosted an online conversation in late June 2021 to discuss the results of the workshop, together with Dr Scott Heron (JCU), Dr Rebecca Jones, David Harkin (HES), Yann Grandgirard (EWH) and Jenny Bruce (ONTE coordinator). The recording is available to view online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVdgJ_HPQaY&t.

The results

Whilst all four workshops have demonstrated the vulnerability of Scotland’s World Heritage properties to the impacts of climate change, a major bonus of the process has been the way it has acted as a catalyst for wider discussions about climate change and sustainable adaptation. For the in person workshops, there was a noticeable buzz in the room and climate change formed the main discussion item in the breaks as well as in the sessions. They brought together a range of stakeholders who together have identified areas for future collaboration and research, some of which have already been put into practice. All four workshops invited current students and recent graduates to participate and be note-takers for the plenary and small group sessions. We are grateful to all for the work that they put in and hope that they found it a useful experience which they will develop in their future careers.

It is unsurprising in Scotland that all four workshops identified the issues of rainfall (precipitation) as a key stressor, combined with other storm, temperature and sea (levels and currents) stressors. (For more see the Scotland’s World Heritage and Climate Change overview.)

Key climate stressors selected for each of the four properties and the assessment of the OUV and Community vulnerability on a traffic-light scale (low/Moderate/High) (© Historic Environment Scotland)

An additional bonus of the research network funding from the Royal Society of Edinburgh was that the opportunity was taken in March 2022, whilst Dr Scott Heron and Dr Jon Day were en route to Norway, to visit the Flow Country and conduct a snapshot CVI for the World Heritage nomination of that property (which was submitted by the UK government to UNESCO in January 2023).

Snapshot CVI workshop for the Flow Country in March 2022, from left: Scott Heron, Steven Andrews, Cara Donald and Jon Day (© Rebecca Jones)

What next?

The workshops themselves were really the start of a process which will inform the future management of these properties as well as help identify research priorities. It is through recognising the likely threats and impacts of climate change that we can consider what our adaptation methods need to be now and in the future.
In turn, the workshops in Scotland have helped our Australian partners to continue to develop and refine the methodology. Two World Heritage properties in Scotland – New Lanark and the Forth Bridge – are yet to have the CVI process applied but that is certainly something that we should plan for in the near future.

Acknowledgements

This project has been very much a team effort which has been enabled thanks to support from the Union of Concerned Scientists and ICOMOS and the grant from the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and expertly led by Dr Scott Heron and Dr Jon Day from James Cook University. Steering Groups were set up for each project, and we would particularly like to acknowledge those members and report authors: Dr Steven Andrews, Susan Bain, Jenny Bruce, Dr Mairi Davies, Prof Jane Downes, Julie Gibson, Yann Grandgirard, David Harkin, Molly Harkins, Dr Ewan Hyslop, Alice Lyall, Riona McMorrow, Adam Markham and Kirstie Wright.

In addition to the above:

Our breakout group leaders: Dr Lisa Brown, Dr Emily Gal, Dr Kevin Grant, Dr Rebecca Rennell, Stefan Sagrott and Dr Lyn Wilson
Additional presenters at the workshops and pre-workshops: Dr Hazel Blake, Dr Brenda Ekwurzel, Dr Joe Hagg, Andrew Potts, Dr Alistair Rennie, Dr Tanja Romankiewicz and Dr Ben Russell
Our note takers: Amy Baker, Aura Bockute, Naomi Bouche, Alanis Carag Buhat, Max Carnie, Euan Cohen, Elizabeth Gallagher, Alex Hiscock, Roland Láposi, Mairi MacLean, Francesca Morri, Rachel Nicholson, Shane O’Neill, Diya Pavithran, Marion Ratier, Farrah Skimani, Craig Stanford and Chujun Yan
Our colleagues who supported the workshops and reports: Chloe Ames, Alistair Burns, Rory Cameron, Max Carnie, Fin Cunningham, Mike Elliot, Nick Hotham, Scott Johnson, Riccardo Losciale, Laura Mackenzie, Mairi Mackenzie, Sarah Malikov, Michelle Moore, Claire Mullaney, Sean Page, Frank Thomas, Taruna Venkatachalam and Patricia Weeks

And all our participants who gave up their valuable time and expertise.

References

The reports are available through the links but if you need a quick bib ref guide it is here:

Bruce, J, Grandgirard, Y, Day, JC, Harkin, D, Jones, RH, Davies, M, Hyslop, E and Heron, SF (2023) Climate Vulnerability Index Assessment for the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage property. Historic Environment Scotland, Edinburgh and Climate Vulnerability Index, Townsville www.historicenvironment.scot/onte-cvi

Day, J C, Heron, S F, Markham, A, Downes, J, Gibson, J, Hyslop, E, Jones, R H, Lyall, A (2019) Climate Risk Assessment for Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage property: An application of the Climate Vulnerability Index. Historic Environment Scotland, Edinburgh www.historicenvironment.scot/hono-cvi

Jones RH, Day JC, McMorrow R, Harkin D, Harkins M, Davies M, Hyslop E and Heron SF (2023) Scotland’s World Heritage and Climate Change. Historic Environment Scotland, Edinburgh www.historicenvironment.scot/cvi-overview

Jones RH, Day JC, McMorrow R, Harkin D, Harkins M, Davies M, Hyslop E and Heron SF (2023) Climate Vulnerability Index Assessment for the Antonine Wall component of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage property. Historic Environment Scotland, Edinburgh and Climate Vulnerability Index, Townsville www.historicenvironment.scot/aw-cvi

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