BEFS News

The Scottish Government has published the draft Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), alongside a consultation which runs until Thursday 31 March. An accompanying explanatory report on the framework’s Housing Land Requirement has also been published.

A letter from the Convener of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee proposing a collaborative approach to committee scrutiny forms useful additional context.

BEFS will organise a virtual event in early January ahead of a consultation response, giving Member organisations opportunity before then to digest the detail of the draft. BEFS notes that, currently, the Historic Environment largely sits within ‘Distinctive Places’, and there is an opportunity to flag the role that the existing built environment can and should play within Sustainable, Liveable, and Productive Places. BEFS looks forward to further discussion with Members.

Meanwhile, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scotland along with Heads of Planning Scotland have written to Finance Secretary Kate Forbes urging her to address the need for investment in the planning service in forthcoming Scottish budget.

Historic England and Historic Environment Scotland have announced the launch of a new AHRC-funded cross-border research pilot programme, ‘Outreach to Ownership’. Across the course of the next year a total of £125,000 will be given in grants to up to eight delivery partner organisations to support research into diverse approaches to inclusive community engagement in the culture sector. Applications are invited from a range of culture sector organisations of all sizes and governance structures in Scotland and England.

Registrations are also encouraged to the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s new research panel, UK Heritage Pulse. This collaborative data and insight project aims to bring people together from across the UK heritage sector with a view to informing strategy, recovery and reinvention post-Covid.

As we continue to look to the future beyond COP26, John McKinney of the Scottish Traditional Building Forum introduces ‘Build Your Future’ on the BEFS Blog. This suite of online and in-person activities is designed to promote construction as a career of choice to young people. Underlining the importance of traditional skills, it was good to see a visit to Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) Engine Shed from Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth.

HES have launched their first dedicated climate change adaptation plan, as well as a new Climate Change Explorer app. They are also partners in a new film from the National Library of Scotland, #ClimateNeedsCulture.

The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2022 now open for submissions, with five categories revised to reflect the latest developments in heritage policy and practice in Europe. Read more and submit your applications here.

Congratulations to all those shortlisted for the Archaeological Achievement Awards, and to Gordon Castle Walled Garden in Moray, who have won the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award with a record public vote.

Finally, Dig It! and Edinburgh-based game design company Dungeons on a Dime have teamed up to combine the latest archaeological research with a new tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) that will enable the public to learn more about life in Scotland 1,300 years ago. The Carved in Stone crowdfunding campaign launched on Saturday 13 November on Kickstarter with a range of digital, printed, and special rewards for supporters. The campaign has hit its first crowdfunding goal — but there’s still more adventure to unlock!

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Consultations

Scottish Building Regulations: Proposed changes to Energy Standards and associated topics, including Ventilation, Overheating and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Closes 26 November 2021

Draft Heat Networks Delivery Plan
*NEW* Closes 13 December 2021

Building Regulations – Compliance And Enforcement: Consultation
*NEW* Closes 4 February 2022

Draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) – Public Consultation
*NEW* Closes 31 March 2022

Publications

Scotland’s Garden and Landscape History (SGLH): Autumn 2021 Newsletter

Scotland’s Churches: from surfeit to shortage? (Scotland’s Churches Trust, in collaboration with the National Churches Trust)

A 20 Minute Future: A Planning Concept for Urban Growth (RTPI Scotland, 10/11/2021)

Guide to Energy Retrofit of Traditional Buildings (Historic Environment Scotland, 11/11/21)

From Retrofit to Regeneration (Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance, 11/11/21)

Heritage Fund Local Area Guidance: Designed to help you meet our priority outcome: the local area will be a better place to live, work or visit. (National Lottery Heritage Fund)

Climate Ready Historic Environment Scotland (HES, 18/11/2021)

Creative Industries and Tourism Beyond Economic Development (UK National Commission for UNESCO and PRAXIS at the University of Leeds)

New SEDA guides on Air Quality in Airtight Homes (October 2021)

Historic Environment Scotland Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020-21 (23/11/2021)

Architectural Heritage Fund Annual Review 2020-21 (23/11/2021)

Scottish Government News Releases

The Draft Fourth National Planning Framework (Draft NPF4) 

Hydrogen action plan: draft (10/11/2021)

Subordinate Legislation

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2021

News Releases

Glasgow man ‘hasn’t switched on heating for two years’ after high flats refurbishment (Glasgow Live, 15/11/21)

Research captures and enhances value of UK culture and heritage: AHRC and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will support a new study to measure the value of UK culture and heritage (UKRI 19/11/2021)

Bowhill House to be heated by one of Scotland’s largest heat pumps (Historic Houses, 22/11/2021)

Opinion & Comment

We can save Britain’s heritage and embodied carbon (The Developer, 08/11/21)

Not just a pretty face — why preserve London’s facades? (Financial Times, paywall 12/11/21)

Cool reception for Edinburgh Castle’s solar panel proposal (The Times, paywall 16/11/21)

Global heating is destroying rock art tens of thousands of years old, experts warn (The Guardian, 16/11/21)

Neat enough for Pepys: Magdalene college Cambridge’s inventive new library (The Guardian, 23/11/21)

Podcast: When did you last change your mind? (RSA Bridges to the Future)

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

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

S6W-04031: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 28 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that older buildings, which may be subject to stricter planning regulations, can become energy neutral, and what support it can offer to the owners of these buildings to help make their properties energy neutral.
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 11 November 2021

S6W-04067: Sharon Dowey, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party 
Date lodged: 3 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to introduce appropriate remuneration for board members of national culture and heritage public bodies, as referred to in A Culture Strategy for Scotland.
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 November 2021

S6W-03774: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 14 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its Heat in Buildings Strategy, what it is doing to ensure that colleges and schools have sufficient trained professionals to teach the skills required to deliver the strategy; what planning is taking place to create and provide such courses; what it is doing to encourage potential students to undertake such training; what it estimates the cost will be to local authorities of providing such training; where it anticipates local authorities will fund this from, and whether it will provide any financial support to local authorities for this.
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 11 November 2021

S6W-04058: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party  
Date lodged: 1 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the percentage of non-electrical heat demand that is met by renewable technologies.
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 15 November 2021

S6W-04183: Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour 
Date lodged: 5 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to announce the composition of the Green Heat Finance Taskforce.
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 19 November 2021

S6O-00383: John Mason, Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 10 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what role Passivhaus homes and off-site manufacturing have in the Glasgow Shettleston constituency in supporting its aim to achieve net zero by 2045.

Motions

Motion ref. S6M-02029
Glasgow Traditional Building Forum Hosts COP26 Skills Demonstration Event
Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour.
Date lodged: Thursday, November 11, 2021

Motion ref. S6M-02200
Net Zero and Construction: Perspective and Pathways
Submitted by: Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour.
Date lodged: Friday, November 19, 2021

Events

For the full list of BEFS Members’ upcoming events see our events calendar.

Cupar Development Trust: AGM and Lecture 
Date & Time: 30 November, 1745 for 1800
Online: via Zoom
The AGM agenda will be dealt with briskly, and the formalities will be immediately followed by a lecture by Euan Leitch, Chief Executive of SURF – Scotland’s Regeneration Forum.

Icon Scotland Group: 24th Annual Plenderleith Memorial Lecture
Date & Time: 2 December, 19:00 – 20:15
Online
Join Icon Scotland for our 24th annual lecture in memory of Dr Harold Plenderleith, one of the key founders of modern conservation. This year, our invited speaker is Sir Geoff Palmer OBE, Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, renowned scientist and human rights activist, who currently chairs the Scottish Government as part of Empire, Slavery & Scotland’s Museums Steering Group. Sir Geoff will share his perspective on the steps the heritage sector is taking to come to terms with and address racism and invisible histories, and the challenges we must face to ensure more equal and representative material heritage in the future.

Archaeology Scotland: Dunfermline Abbey Churchyard Workshops
Date & Time: 4 – 5 December 
Location: Dunfermline Abbey 
The Abbey Churchyards’ books are the gravestones, ready to entertain us with tales of love, human tragedies and heroic acts. Sadly today, too many of these stories have not been checked out and are long overdue for new readers. This project shines a light on these forgotten tales so these stone books can become familiar and well-loved classics and treasured tombs for future generations to enjoy. Join us for two workshops to continue checking and photographing the records for the New Churchyard, start mapping and looking at the reinstatement of the buried stones excavation area.

ICE: John Rennie and the Aberdeenshire Canal
Date & Time: 6 December, 18:00 – 19:00
Online
For a number of years prior to 1793, the building of a canal from Aberdeen into the heart of Aberdeenshire had been a topic for discussion. In that year, a group of interested parties arranged for a feasibility study to be carried out in relation to the building of a canal from Aberdeen harbour to just short of Inverurie and thence to Monymusk. The Institution of Civil Engineers invite you to join them for an exploration of the role that Scottish engineer John Rennie played in the building of the Aberdeenshire Canal.

SHSMG: Using Social Media to Help with Fundraising
Date and Time:  7 December, 15:00
Online
The final Scottish Heritage Social Media Group virtual event of 2021 will see Kenneth McElroy, Director at the Caithness Broch Project and Education & Volunteer Officer at Kilmartin Museum discuss how he’s used social media to promote and run large online crowdfunders and smaller creative fundraising projects for organisations in the heritage sector, all while sharing tips that you can apply to your own work.

SoAoS: Presbyterianism and Philhellenism, 1821–56
Date & Time: December 13^th 6:00pm to 7:30pm GMT
Both in-person at NMS Auditorium and online via YouTube live.
Short description of event: This lecture explores the philhellenic writings and initiatives of these figures during the period between the outbreak of the Revolution and the end of the Crimean War, evaluating their significance within their wider Scottish, British imperial, and Greek contexts. It argues for the existence of a distinct, dissenting Presbyterian missionary philhellenism that was in turn linked with Britain’s political and colonial interests in the eastern Mediterranean.

Training

Arts & Business Scotland: Hybrid working
Date & Time: 9 December, 12:00 – 13:30
Online: via Zoom
This webinar will provide practical guidance and insights into the move towards hybrid working and flexible working arrangements and the employment law implications. Delivered by Employment Lawyers from Anderson Strathern, the session will cover:
•     Top tips on managing a hybrid working policy.
•     How discrimination risks can be identified and mitigated
•     How can mental health and capability issues be appropriately managed
•     Can staff be made to work from home?
•     What if everyone wants to work from home?
•     What if the home is outside the UK

•    Essential clauses including those covering cancellations and restrictions due to COVID-19.

Vacancies

National Lottery Heritage Fund: Head of Investment (Scotland)
The NLHF are looking for a Head of Investment to lead their grant-making team in Scotland. The role will ensure excellent grant-making through leadership of the Fund’s Investment Team, effectively managing an annual grants budget of around £15m and working collaboratively with partner organisations and stakeholders.
Closing date: 28 November

Heritage Trust Network: Heritage Trainee (Graduate)
The Heritage Trust Network is recruiting for a new post of Heritage Trainee (Graduate) for a fixed term of 6 months. This post has been designed to help the successful graduate develop on-the-job skills and knowledge to help them gain early-career access to the heritage sector.
Closing date: 13 December 

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BEFS News

BEFS is delighted to officially welcome Ilona McAllister to our team. Ilona has joined us as Company Secretary and Business Administrator, bringing extensive experience of operations from 17 years in London working in politics, media and finance. BEFS sends warm thanks to Fionnuala Douglas, who leaves us after 5 years, and wishes her luck in her new appointment.

COP26 is into its final days, and this edition of the Bulletin is packed full of climate-related events, talks, and blogs. But what will be the legacy of all this activity? BEFS Director Ailsa Macfarlane offers a personal reflection on how big promises translate into national and local policies – and why it’s time for the sector to change the conversation.

BEFS will be Feature Hosts at the IHBC@COP26 ‘Conservation Helpdesk+’ this afternoon. Join us from 4pm as we discuss advocacy and introduce a viewing of Heritage and Sustainability: A Journey Down the Royal Mile, a film made with partners across the sector and launched for this year’s Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival. The IHBC’s ‘Climate and Conservation’ Podcast, consisting of 10 episodes featuring expert leads and practitioners from the US and Europe across COP26, can be accessed through Spotify, Amazon Music, and their podcast website.

There’s still time to book your free place for Tenement Maintenance = Sustainable Homes this Friday 12 November at SpACE in Edinburgh. BEFS, Under One Roof, and Novoville will tackle shared repairs, owners’ associations, and support to get started – don’t miss the chance to put your questions to the experts over some post-work refreshment.

Tenements are in the spotlight at the moment, with a recent article in The Times (paywall) considering the issues inherent in retrofitting these buildings in line with net zero ambitions. Despite many salient points, no mention is made of embodied carbon or longevity, in contrast to the Empty Homes and the Climate Emergency report which emphasises the environmental case for refurbishment.

BEFS was interested to see the publication of a new set of guidance from the Scottish Futures Trust which aims to support public bodies in achieving net zero carbon targets on construction projects. The standards have been developed in partnership with the Scottish Government, Zero Waste Scotland and NHS National Services Scotland with input from sectoral stakeholders and public bodies.

Celebrating Archaeology in Scotland 2021 has been released. This magazine style report showcases the fantastic work taking place across Scotland and promotes how people from all corners of the heritage sector are delivering the aims of the Archaeology Strategy. There’s also still time to book a free ticket to the online Edinburgh Lothian and Borders Conference to be held on the 20 November.

It’s the last chance to register for the Heritage Trust Network’s 2021 Conference. Join them tomorrow for a day of online talks on the theme of Recovery, Sustainability, Wellbeing, followed by two days in Coventry 19-20 November.

We’re delighted to see that BEFS Members, Edinburgh World Heritage, recently met with the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson.

Congratulations to Ochiltree Community Hub and The Swan, Banton, winners of the Scottish Civic Trust My Place Awards, which celebrate . Ochiltree Community Hub was recognised for its efforts in building a new community centre, while The Swan was recognised for its efforts in saving the pub from demolition and attracting new investment to the area. All the winners and entrants of the My Place Awards and My Place Photography Competition  at the My Place 2021 Exhibition in Glasgow until 22 November.

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Consultations

HES Covid-19 Survey
Closes 21 November

Scottish Building Regulations: Proposed changes to Energy Standards and associated topics, including Ventilation, Overheating and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Closes 26 November 2021

Publications

Adapting To The Climate Crisis: The Scottish Civic Trust’s Response (May 2020)

Transforming Planning in Practice: updated planning reform implementation programme (SG 29/10/21)

Scotland’s Road to Net Zero – Tracking Scotland’s Performance (The Fraser of Allander Institute, 1/11/21)

The Impact of Arts-Based Education (RSA, 1/11/21)

New net zero guidance published to dramatically reduce climate impact of future public buildings (Scottish Futures Trust 4/11/21)

Climate Heritage Network Resource Library (Climate Heritage Network)

Communicating Climate Heritage Toolkit (with Advocacy Guide, Mission Statement, Resource mapping and analysis)

Levelling up – an opportunity for coherent regional policy or a constitutional ruse? (Academy of Social Sciences)

Local housing manifestos: Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow (Shelter Scotland)

Heritage, Mental Health and Wellbeing (UNESCO)

Building a Heritage-Led Green Recovery (Historic Houses)

A Toolkit for Successful Town Centres (Scotland’s Towns Partnership)

Scottish Government News Releases

Chief Planner Letter: stakeholder update – November 2021

Empowering communities on climate action – Seven towns chosen for the Climate Action Towns programme (SG 7/11/21)

UK Government News Releases

Levelling Up Fund: first round successful bidders. Successful bidders for round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund include Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh & Inverness.

News Releases

UK Green Building Council picks 17 “exemplary sustainable projects” for COP26 virtual pavilion (Dezeen 25/10/21)

UK Green Building Council launches new network in Scotland (UKGBC, 4/11/21)

Climate Beacons for COP26 (Creative Carbon Scotland)

Opinion & Comment

Who owns Scotland? Mapping the land in our towns and cities (BBC 24/10/21)

Insulate Britain won’t be stopped by people who think you can grow concrete (Insulate Britain, The Guardian, 27/10/21)

Climate Change, architecture and winter clothes (Marcus Patton, Ulster Architectural Heritage, 1/11/21)

Michael Palin is praying for survival of church buildings (Paywall – The Times, 1/11/21)

COP26: Climate Resilience Heritage Summit (Icon’s Chief Executive Sara Crofts shares some reflections on adaptation, 3/11/21)

Building for the future: The challenge of decarbonising Scotland’s homes (Holyrood Magazine, 8/11/21)

We can save Britain’s heritage and embodied carbon (The Developer, 8/11/21)

Grade I to net zero: can historic houses be made energy efficient? (Paywall – Financial Times)

Empty Homes and the Climate Emergency (Empty Homes Partnership)

New Angle: Voice – Pioneering Women of American Architecture (Podcast – Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation)

SCAPE: three-minute #ClimateHeritage video exploring how eroding coastal archaeology inspired the revival of salt making in a Scottish Highland village.

Is this how a Pictish fort looked 1,000 years ago? (BBC)

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

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

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge & Chryston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it expects to publish the draft National Planning Framework 4, and on the timeframes for (a) consultation on and (b) adoption of the framework.
Minister for Public Finance, Planning & Community Wealth, Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government intends to lay the draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) in the Scottish Parliament later in autumn this year for a scrutiny period of up to 120 days. Public consultation on the NPF4 will run alongside the Parliamentary process, and the Scottish Government is keen to hear the views of as wide a range of people as possible. The final adoption date will depend on the approval of NPF4 by the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Government is currently aiming to lay a finalised version for approval by summer 2022.

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) 
Draft Heat in Buildings Strategy:
S6W-03772 Impact of on remote and rural communities.
S6W-03777 Research into cost effectiveness
S6W-03776 Temperature of air source heat pumps vs gas boilers
S6W-03771 Financial support for homeowners
S6W-03773 Total cost of the project
Answered by Patrick Harvie (04/11/2021)

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the funding allocated to the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme will be sufficient to meet its ambitions for the deployment of heat networks.
Answered by Patrick Harvie (04/11/2021)

S6W-02606: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 28/09/2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce or reintroduce any empty homes grants that aim to bring properties back into the social rental sector.
Answered by Shona Robison (26/10/2021)

Other Parliamentary Activity

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee Pre-budget scrutiny 2022-23 – 26 October 2021

The Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee Pre-budget scrutiny: culture sector funding

Fife MSP Alex Rowley is drawing up a proposal for a private member’s bill that would see all new housing constructed in Scotland built with high performing materials, using a construction method that would ensure greater levels of energy efficiency, lower energy bills and alleviate fuel poverty.

Motions

Motion ref. S6M-01786: Clackmannanshire Stonemason, Liam Macaulay
Submitted by: Alexander Stewart, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
Date lodged: Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Events

For the full list of BEFS Members’ upcoming events see our events calendar.

HES & Partners: Visions of Climate Heritage
Explore the story of Scotland’s climate heritage, past and present, in this crowdsourced exhibition. Enter your best photographs and artwork for the chance to win a prize.
Closing date: 30 November 2021
Information session and photography top tips

Date & Time: 1 – 12 November, Mon, Wed, Fri – 12.30pm
Online: Scottish Civic Trust YouTube, Facebook and Twitter
Although marginalised communities bear the brunt of the impacts of climate change, they are often excluded from discussions about sustainability. Join Scottish Civic Trust for an online lecture series about the intersection of heritage, equity and the climate crisis. Speakers will be touching on a range of topics, including Indigenous approaches to sustainable management of heritage sites, involving children in the sustainable management of World Heritage Sites, heritage as a social and multi-species practice and more!

Heritage Trust Network: Recovery, Sustainability, Wellbeing
Date & Time: 11 November – Online, 19 and 20 November – Coventry
Join Heritage Trust Network for our annual Conference in the 2021 City of Culture and online. This year our speakers will focus on how we can develop our projects and approaches to heritage regeneration whilst thinking about our environmental impact, our people and our long term survival. Join us at the in-person event for a day of interactive workshops, followed by a day of walking tours and building visits.

Archaeology Scotland: The Bedrule Heritage Project – Dig & Workshops
Date & Time: 11 November – 20 November
Location: Bedrule Castle, Hawick TD9 8TE
A new project conducted by Archaeology Scotland in partnership with Campaign for a Scottish Borders National Park will investigate and excavate the remains of Bedrule Castle among other sites part of ‘The Twelve Towers of Rule’ in the Scottish Borders. Open to anyone interested, the Bedrule Heritage Project, named after the dig site, will aim to unpack more of its history and the lives of the people of Rule Water. It will achieve this through a series of workshops and an archaeology dig at Bedrule Castle between November 11-20.

BEFS, Under One Roof, & Novoville: Tenement Maintenance = Sustainable Homes
Date & Time:  12 November 18:00 – 19:30
Location: SpACE, Lauriston Fire Station, ECA, Edinburgh
Join us for a free evening event at SpACE – Edinburgh’s pop-up Space for Architecture + Carbon + Environment – exploring why tenement maintenance is important for sustainable homes. Come along to hear from our speakers about organising repairs and sharing information with your neighbours, explore how to form owners’ associations, and find out what support is out there to help you get started – as well as looking at how maintaining your home plays an important role in tackling climate change.

Scottish Civic Trust: Construction Collage
Date & Time: 12 November, 13:00 – 16:00
Location: South Block, 60-64 Osborne Street, Glasgow, G1 5QH
Pop into Scottish Civic Trust’s offices to participate in Construction Collage, a collaborative workshop on the topic of how construction can respond to the challenges of climate change. Groups of 4-8 will play together to explore the environmental and social issues of the construction industry.

Community Heritage Conversations #9: Celebrating Community Heritage
Date & Time: 13 November 10:00 – 12:30
Online
Scotland’s Community Heritage Conversations is a new series of digital events to bring together volunteers, community groups and heritage professionals, providing them with a stage to share experiences, inspire and support one another with ideas and plans, and to celebrate the places that matter to us all. This event will showcase the diverse range of activities being delivered by our local communities and how they have come together to celebrate and highlight the tangible and intangible aspects of their local area.

Jedburgh & Hawick CARS: Treatment of the Dead at Jedburgh Abbey Ramparts
Date & Time: 16 November, 18:00
Online 
Recent repair works at the Jedburgh Abbey Ramparts have helped uncover the site’s history whilst also unearthing human skeletal remains from the former Abbey graveyard. Ian Hill of HARP Archaeology presents the findings of these works, providing further detail on what we have learned from the human remains uncovered.

Edinburgh, Lothians & Borders Archaeology Conference 
Date & Time: 20 November 10:00 – 15:00
Online
This annual archaeology conference is organised by City of Edinburgh Council, East Lothian Council and Scottish Borders Council.  It provides an important opportunity to hear and discuss first hand accounts of the archaeological fieldwork and research being undertaken in Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.

Scotland’s Towns Conference 2021
Date: 22-26 November
Online:  Hopin
The Scotland’s Towns Conference 2021 will focus on Greater, Greener, Fairer: A New Future for Scotland’s Towns and discuss key recommendations from the Town Centre Action Plan Review group . The conference will be grounded by core sessions on: 1) Policy, Planning, Place, 2) Financing, and 3) Delivering.Hosted by Journalist and Broadcaster Rona Dougall, the programme includes inspirational keynotes and whiteboard conversations, lunch + learn sessions, international learning, exhibition, Scotland Loves Local Awards and new ways to network and connect through 1-2-1s.

AHSS: Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures – Scotland’s Historic Buildings and the Climate Emergency
Date & Time: 22 November, 18:30 – 20:00
Location: SpACE, Edinburgh, and Online
Please join us, in person at the SpACE pop-up (ECA Fire Station, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh), or on-line, to hear our expert panel discuss the problems and challenges of historic buildings in relation to the climate emergency, and to consider any new aspects or commitments which may have arisen as a result of COP26.

IHBC: COTAC Conference 2021 – Protecting our World, Protecting our Heritage
Date & Time:  23-24 November, 10.00-13.00 both days
Online:  GoToWebinar
Day 1 will explore the expected impact of climate change on the built heritage, and the potential impact of climate change mitigation on the built heritage.  Day 2 will explore ways to support development of the training, skills, and expertise needed to protect the built heritage and reduce emission of greenhouse gases.

Vacancies

FHBT: Interpretation for Inverkeithing Heritage Regeneration Project
Fife Historic Buildings Trust invites tenders to design, produce and install a range of interpretive outputs in Inverkeithing: external interpretation boards, a refreshed guide book, text for carving into new sculptural features, interpretation in the historic Town House, and for use by local businesses.
Closing date: 15 November

GBPT: Director
Glasgow Building Preservation Trust is a registered charity which was established almost 40 years ago with the mission to rescue, repair, and restore historic buildings at risk across the city.
The Trust now seeks a new Director who can work with the staff team and board to deliver regeneration and restoration projects across the city of Glasgow.
Closing date: 15 November

Landscape Institute: Policy and Partnerships Manager (Scotland)
The Landscape Institute (LI) seek a Scotland-based Policy and Partnerships Manager for a 12-month maternity cover role. The LI is looking to build its external presence, and you will work on policy, research and insight, campaigns, and networking to grow LI’s influence and help build the profession in Scotland. The post will work with the Head of Policy and LI membership to develop policy positions, prepare expert briefings, build the LI network, and ensure that the voice of landscape is heard by decision-makers.
Closing date: 17 November

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BEFS News

COP26 is now just around the corner, and preparations are continuing apace. For those organising events, there is still time to register your event on the Culture at COP website, which will showcase all COP26-related art, culture and heritage events (in-person and virtual) for diverse audiences.

As a Supporting Member of the Climate Heritage Network, BEFS is a signatory of their manifesto: Accelerating Climate Action through the Power of Arts, Culture and Heritage. It’s fantastic to see the Historic Environment Forum in England publishing a report which is designed to ensure the positive, solutions-focused place of heritage in relation to climate change and net zero is better understood.

BEFS, Under One Roof, and Novoville will present a joint event, Tenement Maintenance = Sustainable Homes at SpACE, Edinburgh’s pop-up Space for Architecture + Carbon + Environment, on Friday 12 November. We’re inviting tenement-dwellers to join us for some after work refreshment and to hear about how good maintenance helps to keep buildings warm and dry – and helps to tackle the climate emergency.

BEFS will also host a Feature Session at the IHBC@COP26 Conservation Helpdesk+ from 4-5pm on Wednesday 10 November.

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has brought together their members’ initiatives, including tidal walks, shop front exhibitions, events and material markers to highlight the importance of how and what we build. Their website hosts events & activities throughout Scotland to explore the important role of the built environment in the climate emergency. Meanwhile, VisitScotland have brought together Scotland’s 13 UNESCO designations into a single trail, from Global Geoparks to World Heritage Sites.

Novoville have published a consultation to gather fresh data on Scottish homeowners’ awareness about and readiness for the energy efficiency work that will be required in this decade. They are encouraging as many people as possible to respond via their survey on automated webchat.

A planning update: legislation has now been published for Local Place Plans and the draft National Planning Framework 4 is surely about to arrive, given the Participation Statement is now live. BEFS raised several concerns previously about the resourcing of LPPs – and these concerns still stand. Community planning, and engagement with the planning system is to be championed, but whether legislation will meaningfully enhance this process remains to be seen.

Awards season continues, with nominations closing on 31^st October for the Archaeological Achievement Awards, which celebrate accomplishments from across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The five award categories (and one overall outstanding achievement award) are designed to show how archaeology relates to wider society, health and wellbeing, and place.

Finally, BEFS sends warm congratulations to Pam Alexander OBE, who has been announced as the new Chair of The Heritage Alliance from 4 November.

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Consultations

Local Government, Housing & Planning Committee Licensing Scheme for Short-Term Lets
Closes 29 October

UK Government Review of Architects Regulation: Call for Evidence
Closes 8 November 2021

HES Covid-19 Survey
Closes 21 November

Scottish Building Regulations: Proposed changes to Energy Standards and associated topics, including Ventilation, Overheating and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Closes 26 November 2021

Consultations Responses

BEFS Response: Domestic Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) Reform Consultation(6/10/2021)

Publications

Meanwhile Use of Vacant Buildings as a positive disruption for regeneration of Irish Town Centres (anois, October 2021)

A New Landscape For Heritage Professions – Preliminary Findings (CHARTER Alliance)

Built for the Environment report (RIBA, 26 October 2021)

The Venice Call To Action: For A New European Renaissance (Europa Nostra, September 2021)

Civic Charter (Scotland’s Climate Assembly)

Heritage Responds – Taking Positive Action on Climate Change (Historic Environment Forum, October 2021)

Communications and Outreach Strategy 2021-2024 (IHBC May 2021)

Chief Planning Officers (RTPI Thinkpiece, 21 October 2021)

The Climate Crisis – A Guide for Local Authorities on Planning for Climate Change (TCPA, October 2021)

Architecture & Design Scotland Planning Performance Framework Report 2020-21 (September 2021)

Scottish Government News Releases

The Town and Country Planning (Local Place Plans) (Scotland) Regulations 2021

Community Land Week Funding (SG, 13 October 2021)

Digital Planning: PlaceBuilder (SG Planning and Architecture Division Blog, 14 October 2021)

National Planning Framework 4 – Participation Statement (SG, 26 October 2021)

UK Government News Releases

Home Heating: The UK Government set out plans to bring down the cost of low carbon heating technologies such as heat pumps by providing £5,000 grants to households in England and Wales as part of a £3.9bn funding package to decarbonise heat and buildings; the grants will be available from April 2020.

Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener 
This strategy sets out policies and proposals for decarbonising all sectors of the UK economy to meet its net zero target by 2050.

Welsh Government News Releases

Cadw’s Historic Buildings Maintenance and Repair Capital Grant Programme 2021/22 will offer financial assistance towards the maintenance and repair of historic community assets, such as village and community halls, institutes, libraries, war memorials and places of worship that are open for wider community use.

News Releases

Yester Castle closed after ‘substantial theft’ of stone’ in East Lothian (BBC News)

Opinion & Comment

Podcast: Volunteering in the arts: the fine line (Build Back Fairer: The Creative & Cultural Skills Podcast, 12 October)

Cream teas at dawn: inside the war for the National Trust (The Guardian, 16 October)

‘Faithful reinstatement’ preferred option for Mackintosh Building (Scottish Construction Now, 22 October)

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

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

Question S6W-03349: Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 28/09/2021
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the potential job losses in (a) Scotland and (b) the West Scotland region as a result of its proposed short-term lets licensing scheme and planning control area legislation.
Answered by Shona Robison (22/10/2021)

Question S6W-03496: Beatrice Wishart, Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 05/10/2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the business and regulatory impact assessment (BRIA) for its short-term lets licensing scheme and planning control area legislation, how the draft short-term lets licensing proposals support the (a) National Performance Framework and (b) Scottish Government’s commitment to being a Wellbeing Economy Government.
Answered by Shona Robison (22/10/2021)

Motions

Motion ref. S6M-01630 Restoration Yard in Dalkeith Wins Best Store Design Award
Submitted by: Colin Beattie, Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party.
Date lodged: Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Motion ref. S6M-01627 Stirling’s UK City of Culture 2025 Bid
Submitted by: Dean Lockhart, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
Date lodged: Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Events

For the full list of BEFS Members’ upcoming events see our events calendar.

The Cockburn Association: ‘By leaves we live’ – seeing grassroots climate strategies in Edinburgh – Conference
Date & Time: Saturday 30^th October from 11am
Online
After a century and a half of discussion, planning and apparently endless piecemeal strategies about environmental ambitions the current climate emergency demands immediate achievable actions.
This latest one-day FREE online Cockburn Conference on Saturday 30 October will discuss some of the many well-intended environmental and sustainability schemes, policy documents and political initiatives that have been produced over the last few decades and seek to identify some long overdue actions that will have the grassroots support necessary to make a difference. It is time to dig in where we stand!

Date & Time: 1 – 12 November, Mon, Wed, Fri – 12.30pm
Online: Scottish Civic Trust YouTube, Facebook and Twitter
Although marginalised communities bear the brunt of the impacts of climate change, they are often excluded from discussions about sustainability. Join Scottish Civic Trust for an online lecture series about the intersection of heritage, equity and the climate crisis. Speakers will be touching on a range of topics, including Indigenous approaches to sustainable management of heritage sites, involving children in the sustainable management of World Heritage Sites, heritage as a social and multi-species practice and more!

RTPI & Partners: The Race to Net Zero – Why We Need To Plan The World We Need
Date & Time:  8 November 18:00 – 20:30
Location: The Studio, 67 Hope Street, Glasgow, G2 6AE
An event organised during COP26 by the Royal Town Planning Institute in partnership with the Global Planners Network, Commonwealth Association of Planners and the International Society of City and Regional Planners. This face to face and webcasted event will show how planners and planning system across the world are tackling climate change and working to achieve net zero.

Sustainable Stories: Capturing an Age of Change in Community Archives Heritage Groups
Date & Time: 10 November 10:00 – 17:00
Location: The Point Community Hub, Glasgow, or Online
Join the newly formed Community Archives Heritage Group Scotland in Glasgow for our first conference on 10 November, or watch the live streaming online. With an exciting day of talks and workshop, we want to take the opportunity to hear from you and discuss how community archives and heritage groups can engage with critical questions around the environment and sustainability.

BEFS, Under One Roof, & Novoville: Tenement Maintenance = Sustainable Homes
Date & Time:  12 November 18:00 – 19:30
Location: SpACE, Lauriston Fire Station, ECA, Edinburgh
Tenement-dwellers are invited to join us for a free evening event to explore why good building maintenance is important for sustainable homes. Come along to hear from our speakers about organising repairs and sharing information with your neighbours, explore how to form owners’ associations, and find out what support is out there to help you get started – as well as looking at how maintaining your home plays an important role in tackling climate change.

Community Heritage Conversations #9: Celebrating Community Heritage
Date & Time: 13 November 10:00 – 12:30
Online
Scotland’s Community Heritage Conversations is a new series of digital events to bring together volunteers, community groups and heritage professionals, providing them with a stage to share experiences, inspire and support one another with ideas and plans, and to celebrate the places that matter to us all. This event will showcase the diverse range of activities being delivered by our local communities and how they have come together to celebrate and highlight the tangible and intangible aspects of their local area.

Edinburgh, Lothians & Borders Archaeology Conference 
Date & Time: 20 November 10:00 – 15:00
Online
This annual archaeology conference is organised by City of Edinburgh Council, East Lothian Council and Scottish Borders Council.  It provides an important opportunity to hear and discuss first hand accounts of the archaeological fieldwork and research being undertaken in Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.

Training

Arts & Business Scotland: Developing Creative Partnerships – Introductory Course 
Date & Time: 28 and 29 October 09:30 – 12:30
Online
This ‘how-to’ guide to sponsorship will take you through the key steps to sponsorship from understanding why businesses sponsor the arts through to nurturing and developing long lasting cultural and business partnerships. If you have little experience or just want a refresher on this area of fundraising, then this seminar is aimed to help you on your journey to sponsorship success.

ICON Scotland Group: Introduction to Photogrammetry
Date & Time: 29 October, 14:00 – 17:00
Online
Learn about this 3D imaging technique, and how it can be used to record historic artefacts. This event will introduce participants to methods of 3D digital documentation of historic objects. The session will cover basic data capture procedures, to create an understanding of the requirements, capabilities and limitations of the technology, and will show the possibilities of 3D documentation for a range of objects and materials.

Arts & Business Scotland: Telling It Like It Is – Effective Copywriting
Date & Time: 2 and 9 November, 10:00 – 13:00
Online 
This training session is aimed at anyone looking to improve their copywriting skills to support their fund-raising activities. Offering a combination of project-based, hands-on writing exercises with tips, techniques and critical theory, the session explores the five stages of the copywriting process over two half-day sessions. While the training provides a specific focus on writing a case for fundraising & support, the resulting learning can be applied to all kinds of fundraising communications.

Heritage Trust Network: Recovery, Sustainability, Wellbeing
Date & Time: 11 November – Online, 19 and 20 November – Coventry
Join Heritage Trust Network for our annual Conference in the 2021 City of Culture and online. We’re still recovering from the effects of the last year and we think you are too! So this year our speakers will focus on how we can develop our projects and approaches to heritage regeneration whilst thinking about our environmental impact, our people and our long term survival. Join us at the in-person event for a day of interactive workshops, followed by a day of walking tours and building visits.

Arts & Business Scotland: Business Briefing: Museums & Galleries Exhibitions Tax Relief (MGETR)
Date & Time: 3 November, 10:30 – 12:30
Online 
This 2-hour Museums & Galleries Exhibitions Tax Relief (MGETR)?seminar is a must?for anyone who wants to understand more about whether they qualify and how to collate the information to make a claim.  The MGETR relief is available to charities which maintain a museum, gallery or library, this could include arts centres with a gallery or exhibition space or historic houses with collections.?The relief is designed to recognise the unique cultural value that museums and galleries bring to the UK and encourage greater and more diverse exhibitions.

Vacancies

HES: Research Project – Properties in Care and the British Empire
Historic Environment Scotland is seeking an individual or group of researchers to undertake an 18-month commission to investigate and understand the imperial connections of the 336 Properties in Care (PICs), by situating the historical landowners within the activities of the British Empire, including the transatlantic slave economy and other colonial activities.
Closing date: 12:00 on 27 October 2021

RIAS: Head of Marketing and Communications
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland is looking for a Head of Communications to work with the CEO, RIAS President, senior staff, RIAS members (individually and through committees) to deliver the RIAS Marketing and Communications Plan.
Closing date: 31 October 

FHBT: Interpretation for Inverkeithing Heritage Regeneration Project
Fife Historic Buildings Trust invites tenders to design, produce and install a range of interpretive outputs in Inverkeithing: external interpretation boards, a refreshed guide book, text for carving into new sculptural features, interpretation in the historic Town House, and for use by local businesses.
Closing date: 15 November

GBPT: Director
Glasgow Building Preservation Trust is a registered charity which was established almost 40 years ago with the mission to rescue, repair, and restore historic buildings at risk across the city.
The Trust now seeks a new Director who can work with the staff team and board to deliver regeneration and restoration projects across the city of Glasgow.
Closing date: 15 November

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BEFS News

Autumn was traditionally a busy time across the sector, and it seems like 2021 is proving this to be true. Surveys, awards, and events aplenty fill this edition of the Bulletin.

After two surveys in 2020 HES are asking ‘How are you doing, heritage sector?’ 18 months into the pandemic, and as restrictions ease – they’re seeking a new snapshot of the sector. Find the full survey – here.

Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy want to know about your experience of Open Access Publications – the short survey will support Aim Two of the strategy. Full information, and the survey can be found on this page.

GCHT are looking for contributors to share their thoughts and memories for their new podcast series, If Glasgow’s Walls Could Talk, which explores the relationships that exist between Glasgow’s historic buildings and places and the city’s communities.

The Scottish Government National Performance Framework (NPF) team is looking for feedback on the use of the NPF. They’d like to find out how you currently use the National Performance Framework (or don’t), and what could make it more useful. Their short survey will be open until 20 October.

There are several vacancies across the sector this month (see Vacancies below) – but of note in terms of the related research project is the HES research projectinvestigating the British Empire connections of the Properties in Care. We look forward to seeing the final reports!

HES and partners Heritage Trust Network and Scottish Council on Archives are asking members of the public to help tell Scotland’s climate story via Visions of Climate Heritage competition – full details can be found here.

We’re delighted to see that BEFS Members Historic Houses Scotland met with Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth recently.

ICE and the Rochester Bridge Trust have launched a new website about one of the greatest engineers of his age, John Rennie. Explore his life and work through this new website.

It’s awards season!
Winners have been announced for the A&DS and RIAS Student Awards for Architecture 2021, along with the winners of the Scottish Civil Engineering Awards, organised by CECA Scotland and the Institution of Civil Engineers Scotland.

Meanwhile, the shortlist for the 2021 Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award was announced by RIAS, and the SPAB have opened nominations for their Heritage Awards (their John Betjeman Award includes a category specifically for conservation of Scottish faith buildings of any denomination). The Scottish Civic Trust My Place awards and the Scotland’s Towns Partnership Scotland Loves Local Awards are both coming up in November, so there is much to look forward to.

And finally – there are still a few places left in some of the FREE training courses being provided as part of the Surviving to Thriving programme led by MGS and in partnership with BEFS and greenspace scotland. Please look for the City of Glasgow College October workshops on MGS upcoming events page.

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Consultations

Local Government, Housing & Planning Committee Licensing Scheme for Short-Term Lets
Closes 29 October

*NEW* HES Covid-19 Survey – Closes 31st October 2021

UK Government Review of Architects Regulation: Call for Evidence
Closes 8 November 2021

Scottish Building Regulations: Proposed changes to Energy Standards and associated topics, including Ventilation, Overheating and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
*Deadline Extended* Closes 26 November 2021

Consultations Responses

Local Place Plans – proposals for regulations: consultation analysis (SG 30/09/2021)

Energy efficiency, zero emissions and low carbon heating systems, microgeneration and heat networks – skills requirements: consultation analysis (SG 7/10/2021)

Publications

Flats: Management, Maintenance and Repairs (SPICe, 09/09/2021)

Welsh Government, local planning authorities and developers to direct development away from areas at risk of flooding and coastal erosion. (Welsh Govt 27/09/2021)

The SURF Awards: Learning from Success – An outcomes report from a series of SURF workshops in 2021 (SURF, 01/10/2021)

Wellbeing Economy Alliance report on failure of economic growth model (WEAll Sept 2021)

ASVA – Survey of Scottish Visitor Attractions: Current Business Performance and Prospects, and Recovery Prospects (ASVA Sept 2021)

UNESCO – Using digital technology to innovate in heritage research, policy and practice.(UNESCO 7/10/2021)

The National Monument Audit, produced by Monument Lab in partnership with The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, assesses the current monument landscape across the United States.  (Monument Lab Sept 2021)

Scottish Government News Releases

Heat in Buildings Strategy – achieving net zero emissions in Scotland’s buildings (SG 7/10/2021)

Renewable and zero emissions heating systems in affordable housing projects: evaluation (SG 7/10/2021)

Scottish Government announces first projects to fast-track net zero infrastructure (SG 8/10/2021)

Short-term lets licensing order changes: letter to stakeholder working group (SG 8/10/2021)

Local Place Plans – A big step closer (SG 7/10/2021)

News Releases

Europe’s first ‘smart canal’ wins Scotland’s top civil engineering award (ICE, 30/09/2021)

Nationwide heritage upskilling project launched by Industrial Museums Scotland
(Museums & Heritage Advisor, 05/10/2021)

Sweet music brings end to Royal High School saga (Scottish Construction Now 07/10/2021)

Opinion & Comment

PLANET PAPERS: Cities to the rescue (The Herald, 04/10/2021)

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

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

Question ref. S6W-02978 Miles Briggs, Lothian, Date lodged: 14 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has only recently begun its consultation, Building standards (fire safety) – external wall systems, on the introduction of a ban on the use of combustible cladding and insulation on the external facades of certain residential high-rise buildings, in light of such a ban being introduced in England in 2018.
Answered by Shona Robison on 29 September 2021

Question S6W-02867: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 09/09/2021
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02205 by Michael Matheson on 8 September 2021, what percentage of Scotland’s GDP is spent on infrastructure.
Answered by Michael Matheson (30/09/2021)

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20/09/2021
To ask the Scottish Government, on the proposed National Towns of Culture scheme:
Question S6W-03093: launch date – Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29/09/2021
Question S6W-03094: aims and objectives – Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29/09/2021
Question S6W-03095: funding – Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 29/09/2021

Question ref. S6W-03065 Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 September 2021
“To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the actions set out in Annex A of the Draft Heat in Buildings Strategy from February 2021, what the (a) timescale for delivery, (b) current status and (c) expenditure to date is for each of the actions.”
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 October 2021

Question ref. S6W-03159 Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 September 2021
“To ask the Scottish Government what (a) number and (b) percentage of domestic and non-domestic buildings taller than 11m have external wall systems with combustible insulation and/or cladding (i) in total and (ii) that required a BS 8414 certificate, and what work it has undertaken to establish centrally held estimates of these figures.”
Answered by Shona Robison on 29 September 2021

Question ref. S6W-03022 – 03027: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 September 2021
Short term lets – several.
Answered by: Shona Robison on 1 October 2021

Question S6W-03142: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20/09/2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it plans to introduce a high street voucher scheme similar to that in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Tom Arthur (01/10/2021)

Question S6W-03140: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20/09/2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish a response to the review of the Town Centre Action Plan.
Answered by Tom Arthur (01/10/2021)

Question S6W-03146: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20/09/2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish the conclusions and recommendations of its City Centre Recovery taskforce.
Answered by Kate Forbes (04/10/2021): 
We will publish the conclusions and recommendations of the City Centre Recovery Task Force this autumn.

Question S6W-03150: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20/09/2021 R
To ask the Scottish Government how it will update its strategy, Housing to 2040, in light of the commitments in its shared policy programme with the Scottish Green Party, and how it plans to review progress against the strategy.
Answered by Shona Robison (04/10/2021)

Other Parliamentary Activity

FMQs 30 September: Miles Briggs asked for a response to reports that, in the last year, ministers overturned almost 50% of planning applications. Nicola Sturgeon refuted this claim and said local authorities had granted over 25,000 planning applications in the last year, with only 135 of them being referred to and determined by government planning reporters. Miles Briggs then expressed concerns from local authorities about further centralisation of powers over drug and alcohol partnerships and child services, along with claims the government would further centralise planning powers through NPF4. Nicola Sturgeon refuted claims of further centralisation of powers and that the government worked to support local authorities.

Motions

Motion ref. S6M-01418
Fraserburgh Shortlisted for Regeneration Award
Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
Date lodged: Thursday, September 30, 2021
Supported by: Alexander Burnett, Sharon Dowey, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Paul Sweeney, Tess White

Motion ref. S6M-01499
Glasgow’s Smart Canal Wins Greatest Contribution to Scotland Award
Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour.
Date lodged: Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Motion ref. S6M-01500
Glasgow Queen Street Station Wins Best Building Award 
Submitted by: Kaukab Stewart, Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party.
Date lodged: Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Supported by: Stephanie Callaghan, Bob Doris, Jackie Dunbar, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Rona Mackay, Ruth Maguire, John Mason, Stuart McMillan, Paul Sweeney

Events

For the full list of BEFS Members’ upcoming events see our events calendar.

Edinburgh Archaeological Field Society: 50^th Anniversary Exhibition
Date & Time: 1^st October 2021 – 15^th January 2022
Location: Museum of Edinburgh, Cannongate, Edinburgh
Don’t miss this great opportunity to go along and see what Edinburgh Archaeological Field Society have been doing over the last 50yrs. Access is free.

Countdown to COP Exhibition – Ian McHarg: Scottish Environmentalist and Author: A Celebration of Influence and Legacy
Date & Time: 12^th – 24^th October
Location: Mitchell Library main foyer, Glasgow
The third of the Landscape Institute Scotland COP26 events around climate change & sustainability. This exhibition hopes to raise awareness of the Scot, Ian McHarg, his great positive influence within the wider narrative of the Scottish environmental tradition and his legacy that continues with the current work of landscape professionals in tackling climate change and creating resilient communities leading up to and beyond the COP26 Climate Change summit in Glasgow November 2021

Managing Imperial Legacies: Empire, Community and Scotland’s built environment
Date & Time: 15 October, 12:30 – 14:00
This online talk will discuss the work of community organisations who are highlighting stories of Empire within Scotland’s built environment. Speakers from the Edinburgh Caribbean Association, West of Scotland Regional Equality Council (WSREC) and The Birse Community Trust will discuss their recent projects, and how further support and engagement can help better address conversations on race through Scotland’s built heritage.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/empire-community-and-scotlands-built-environment-tickets-164342102653

HES: Climate Resilience Heritage Summit
Date & Time: 27 October, 10:00 – 16:00
Online
Join HES and partner organisations for an interactive day of discussions, presentations and workshops focussing on climate risk and resilience of UK heritage. Public sector bodies and charities are working together to understand the impacts of climate change on the places in their care. This event will bring together academics and practitioners, regulators and charitable bodies to discuss and present their efforts to explore the exposure, vulnerability and impacts of climate hazards on the historic environment.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/climate-resilience-heritage-summit-tickets-180113112167

Cupar & District Annual Lecture 2021 – Environmental Shocks and Resilient Communities, Prof. Sir Ian Boyd.
Date & Time: Wednesday 27^th October, 7pm
Online
Sir Ian will address the challenges facing small communities, and the opportunities they have. Communities, being local and collaborative, can contribute to solving mankind’s greatest crisis. They can also meet the needs of their own communities in these post-Covid times.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cupar-district-annual-lecture-2021-tickets-186004042097

The Cockburn Association: ‘By leaves we live’ – seeding grassroots climate strategies in Edinburgh – Conference
Date & Time: Saturday 30^th October from 11am
Online
After a century and a half of discussion, planning and apparently endless piecemeal strategies about environmental ambitions the current climate emergency demands immediate achievable actions.
This latest one-day FREE online Cockburn Conference on Saturday 30 October will discuss some of the many well-intended environmental and sustainability schemes, policy documents and political initiatives that have been produced over the last few decades and seek to identify some long overdue actions that will have the grassroots support necessary to make a difference. It is time to dig in where we stand!
https://www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/event/by-leaves-we-live-cockburn-conference/

Scottish Civic Trust: My Place 2021 Exhibition
Date & Time: 1 – 26 November, Mon – Fri 09:00 – 17:00
Location: South Block, 60-64 Osborne Street, Glasgow, G1 5QH
Come celebrate the winners and entrants of Scottish Civic Trust’s My Place Awards and My Place Photography Competition! The My Place Awards celebrate community-led built environment projects that have transformed their locality and the My Place Photography Competition is a Scotland-wide built environment photography competition for school age young people (4-18).
https://myplacescotland.org.uk/about-my-place-awards/

EWH: Witch-Hunting in Edinburgh with Professor Julian Goodare
Date & Time: 7 November, 18:00 – 19:00
Online
Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries was indelibly marked by witch-hunting. With the advent of the Reformation, and the development of the modern state, people acted on ancient fears and superstitions and persecuted thousands of largely innocent women, many of whom were burned at the stake. In his new talk on this fascinating subject, Professor Julian Goodare of the University of Edinburgh will explore the Edinburgh’s role in the great witch-hunt, painting a picture of the panic and superstition which haunted the streets of the capital during this dark period in its history.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/edinburgh-and-the-scottish-witch-hunt-with-professor-julian-goodare-tickets-171075460307

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Culduthel: An Iron Age craftworking centre in North-East Scotland
Date & Time: 8 November 18:00 – 19:30
Online & In Person at NMS, Edinburgh
The Iron Age craftworking site of Culduthel was identified near Inverness in 2005. The results of this excavation have now been published and reveal a vivid picture of an Iron Age community engaged in developed and sustained production of iron, bronze and glass objects between the late First Millennium BC and early First Millennium AD. Dr Candy Hatherley will take us on a tour of the site and discuss what Culduthel means for Iron Age studies in Scotland and beyond.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/culduthel-an-iron-age-craftworking-centre-in-north-east-scotland-tickets-168226998481

AHSS & SGLH: Roads, bridges, landscapes and new towns on the Highland Circuit 1720-1830
Date & Time: 8 November 18:30
Landscape historian Christopher Dingwall will describe the intensive programme of road building which took place in the Southern Highlands of Scotland between the completion of Wade’s military roads in the 1720s and the arrival of the railways in the 1830s.  With the help of previously unpublished archival material, Christopher will illustrate the developments which occurred at the four great Highland landscapes associated with Inveraray Castle, Taymouth Castle, Blair Castle and Dunkeld House.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/roads-bridges-landscapes-and-new-towns-on-the-highland-circuit-1720-1830-tickets-169662752861

Training

Arts & Business Scotland: Culture & Business Fund Scotland – Online Roadshow
Date & Time: 26 October 11:00 — 13:30
Online
Designed to give attendees from across the arts, heritage, third, public and business sectors the opportunity to learn about the fund, the session will explain how the new CBFS COVID-19 Recovery & Renewal strand provides more flexible support through a period of recovery and renewal over the next three years. This session includes changes to the criteria and guidelines that potentially increases the levels of match funding over that period. CBFS Case studies and a walk through the online application process will also provide participants with the necessary knowledge on how to develop and submit a successful application.
https://www.aandbscotland.org.uk/events/2021/10/26/culture-and-business-fund-scotland-roadshows-a-source-of-support-for-covid-19-recovery-and-renewal-6/

ICON Scotland Group: Introduction to Photogrammetry
Date & Time: 29 October, 14:00 – 17:00
Online
Learn about this 3D imaging technique, and how it can be used to record historic artefacts. This event will introduce participants to methods of 3D digital documentation of historic objects. The session will cover basic data capture procedures, to create an understanding of the requirements, capabilities and limitations of the technology, and will show the possibilities of 3D documentation for a range of objects and materials.
https://www.icon.org.uk/events/scotland-group-introduction-to-photogrammetry.html

Mark Your Mark: Green Volunteering Knowledge Share
Date & Time: 5 November, 10:00 – 13:00
Online
As the impacts of climate change increase and threaten our buildings and places, it is critical that we all work together to build a more sustainable future. At this free event for volunteer-involving heritage organisations, speakers from across the UK heritage sector will discuss developing digital and home-based volunteering roles, supporting volunteers to use sustainable travel methods to get on-site, involving volunteers in activities around sustainability and the environment and more! Organised by Make Your Mark, a campaign to increase the number and diversity of heritage volunteers in Scotland.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/green-volunteering-make-your-mark-knowledge-share-registration-169133852907

Heritage Trust Network: Recovery, Sustainability, Wellbeing
Date & Time: 11 November – Online, 19 and 20 November – Coventry
Join Heritage Trust Network for our annual Conference in the 2021 City of Culture and online. We’re still recovering from the effects of the last year and we think you are too! So this year our speakers will focus on how we can develop our projects and approaches to heritage regeneration whilst thinking about our environmental impact, our people and our long term survival. Join us at the in-person event for a day of interactive workshops, followed by a day of walking tours and building visits.
https://htnconference.eventbrite.co.uk

IHBC: COTAC Conference 2021 – Protecting our World, Protecting our Heritage
Date & time:  23-24 November, 10.00-13.00 both days
Online:  GoToWebinar
Day 1 will explore the expected impact of climate change on the built heritage, and the potential impact of climate change mitigation on the built heritage.  Day 2 will explore ways to support development of the training, skills, and expertise needed to protect the built heritage and reduce emission of greenhouse gases.
https://events.ihbc.org.uk/?tribe_events=cotac-conference-2021-protecting-our-world-protecting-our-heritage

Vacancies

Fife Historic Buildings Trust: Project Officer
A new full-time fixed term post, funded by Historic Environment Scotland. FHBT are a Building Preservation Trust whose mission is to create viable futures for heritage buildings and their communities, by inspiring and enabling visionary conservation projects across Fife. Bring your skills and to deliver new historic environment regeneration projects in Fife, principally the restoration and re-use of historic buildings at risk.
Closing date: 17:00 on 18 October 2021
https://fifehistoricbuildings.org.uk/latest-news/opportunities-at-fife-historic-buildings-trust/

Stirling City Heritage Trust: Membership & Marketing Officer
Stirling City Heritage Trust are seeking a Membership & Marketing Officer for the Traditional Buildings Health Check. You will administer and market the service and be the first point of contact for the service. Your role will involve the day-to-day management of the service and will be expected to deliver a high quality, efficient and informative service to members. You will also work proactively on broader aspects of the service such as its marketing strategy and database.
Closing date: Noon – 25^th October 2021
www.stirlingcityheritagetrust.org/about-us/careers/job-opportunity-marketing-and-membership-officer/

HES: Research Project – Properties in Care and the British Empire
Historic Environment Scotland is seeking an individual or group of researchers to undertake an 18-month commission to investigate and understand the imperial connections of the 336 Properties in Care (PICs), by situating the historical landowners within the activities of the British Empire, including the transatlantic slave economy and other colonial activities.
Closing date: 12:00 on 27 October 2021
https://www.befs.org.uk/latest/hes-properties-in-care-british-empire/

RIAS: Head of Marketing and Communications
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland is looking for a Head of Communications to work with the CEO, RIAS President, senior staff, RIAS members (individually and through committees) to deliver the RIAS Marketing and Communications Plan.
Closing date: 31 October
https://www.befs.org.uk/latest/iras-head-of-marketing-communications/

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BEFS News

In a new BEFS blog, The Heritage Alliance introduce this year’s Digital Attitudes and Skills for Heritage (DASH) Survey. The survey, which is free to access, is the first comprehensive measure of digital skills in the sector, offering UK heritage organisations vital insight into the needs of their staff, trustees, and volunteers. The survey closes on 7 November.

The Scottish Tourism Alliance and partners are collaborating to develop a knowledge resource for Scottish tourism. They are currently conducting research to provide a clear picture of the needs and wants for data/information from the tourism and events industry using a short survey which will inform the design of the new resource. Read BEFS Vice Chair Ian Baxter’s thoughts on what the launch of a ‘tourism observatory’ could mean for the heritage sector on our website.

The IHBC will offer their IHBC@COP26 ‘Conservation Helpdesk+’ service and platform daily during COP26, offering advice and learning to the global network on all aspects of the conservation of buildings and places around the key theme ‘Conserving our Places Conserves our Planet’. Organisations interested in partnering to host a Helpdesk+ session are invited to get in touch with IHBC.

Is your organisation looking for volunteers? Make Your Mark, a campaign to increase the number and diversity of heritage volunteers in Scotland, has just launched a free portal to help you recruit and manage volunteers. The portal is easy to use and has tools to help Scottish heritage organisations advertise opportunities, communicate with volunteers, recognise volunteers for their contributions and report on the success of your volunteer programme.

Scottish heritage organisations are asked to contribute to an in-depth survey as part of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Scottish Heritage Project, AHRC-funded and led by the University of Strathclyde and supported by Museums Galleries Scotland and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. The qualitative questionnaire explores current practice across the Scottish Heritage sector in the fields of race equality, diversity and inclusion. Read more about the project here.

Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scotland has launched a series of thinkpieces that aim to stimulate debate and discussion on key challenges and opportunities arising from the National Planning Framework and the Planning Act. The first two discussion papers focused on the NPF4 and Rural Planning and the new Planning Coordinator role.

The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland’s Dig It! summer dig season has concluded, with the fieldwork celebrated in a series of specially commissioned images.

SURF, Scotland’s Regeneration Forum, has announced the shortlist for the 2021 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration.

The latest newsletter from Scotland’s Churches Trust focuses on their building Fabric Grants available for Scottish churches.

The programme for the Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders Archaeology Conference, on 20 November 2021, has been released. Meanwhile, it’s the last chance to book for the Scottish Salt Symposium, which will bring historians, archaeologists, enthusiasts and salt producers together in Brora, Sutherland, on the 16-17 October.

Finally, BEFS congratulates Dr Fiona Simpson, who has been appointed as the Scottish Government’s Chief Planner with immediate effect. Dr Simpson had been filling the role on an interim basis.

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Consultations

Domestic Energy Performance Certificates Reform Consultation
Closes 8 October 2021

Home Energy Efficiency: Equity Loan Pilot – Call for Evidence
Closes 8 October 2021

Scottish Building Regulations: Proposed changes to Energy Standards and associated topics, including Ventilation, Overheating and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Closes 15 October 2021

*NEW* The Local Government, Housing & Planning Committee has opened a consultation about the suggested Licensing Scheme for Short-Term Lets.
Closes 29 October.

UK Government Review of Architects Regulation: Call for Evidence
Closes 8 November 2021

Publications

Cities like Paris may be the optimal urban form for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (Edinburgh Napier University, 16/08/2021)

Dynamic Coast: Coastal Erosion in Scotland – The National Overview (2021) (CREW, 27/08/21)

Heritage From the Bottom Up (IHBC Context 169, 31/08/2021)

The National Planning Framework 4 and Rural Planning (RTPI Scotland Thinkpiece 16/09/21)

No Place Left Behind: The Commission into Prosperity and Community Placemaking Report (Create Streets Foundation 20/09/21)

Book Review: Architectural regeneration, edited by A. Orbasli and M. Vellinga (Taylor & Francis Online, 20/09/21)

The Office of the National Planning Improvement Coordinator (RTPI Scotland Thinkpiece, 21/09/2021)

Economic Development in Scotland (SPICe 21/09/2021)

Reducing Inequalities and Decolonising Heritage Practices: People-Centred Approaches (Heritage and Our Sustainable Future Series, 24/09/21)

Why Do Historic Places Matter? Emotional Attachments to Urban Heritage (University of Glasgow, 09/2021)

Retrofit Internal Wall Insulation: Guide to Best Practice (UK GOV Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy 09/2021)

Year of Stories 2022: Themed Year Marketing Toolkit (Visit Scotland, 09/2021)

Scottish Government News Releases

Dr Fiona Simpson has been appointed as the Scottish Government’s Chief Planner with immediate effect. Dr Simpson will lead the work of Planning and Architecture Division, bringing together SG work on planning reform, spatial planning and policy, performance and casework, place and digital transformation of the planning system to deliver on national outcomes. Fiona can be contacted at chief.planner@gov.scot

High pressure laminate cladding – data collection: summary report (SG 14/09/21)

Building standards – annual verification performance report 2020 to 2021 (SG 15/09/21)

Community Ownership in Scotland 2020 (SG 28/09/21)

News Releases

Record 20 places bid for prestigious UK City of Culture 2025 title (UK GOV 20/08/21)

Coastal Erosion could put £1.2bn of Scotland’s buildings and infrastructure at risk (16/09/21)

Fife companies invited to hire modern apprentices in traditional skills with financial backing (17/09/21)

Antonine Wall project highlighted in prestigious European heritage award (17/09/2021)

CSIC launches new £450,000 programme to boost green skills drive (20/09/21)

Aberdeen approves new empty homes compulsory purchase policy (20/09/21)

Planning and historic environment law to be simplified as part of Welsh Government programme to make law more accessible (Welsh Government, 22/09/2021)

European Commission and Europa Nostra announce Europe’s top heritage award winners 2021 (Europa Nostra, 23/09/2021)

Chapel collapse highlights need to care for historic buildings (Shropshire Star, 27/09/2021)

Opinion & Comment

Podcasts to build together the After Covid City (AfterCovid.City, 08/2021)

Five numbers that lay bare the mammoth effort needed to insulate Britain’s homes (The Conversation 14/09/21)

Stirling prize shortlist: from mosque stunner to neo-neolithic flats (The Guardian 16/09/21)

Uncommon Markets: Leveraging the Power of Marketplaces in Post-Covid Revival (AfterCovid.City, 17/09/21)

The return of the cladding crisis (The Times 19/09/21)

We don’t need UNESCO listing, says new Liverpool heritage chief (The Guardian, 23/09/2021)

Parliamentary Questions

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

Question ref. S6W-02978 Miles Briggs, Lothian, Date lodged: 14 September 2021
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has only recently begun its consultation, Building standards (fire safety) – external wall systems, on the introduction of a ban on the use of combustible cladding and insulation on the external facades of certain residential high-rise buildings, in light of such a ban being introduced in England in 2018.

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20/09/2021
To ask the Scottish Government, on the proposed National Towns of Culture scheme:
Question S6W-03093: launch date
Question S6W-03094: aims and objectives
Question S6W-03095: funding

Question ref. S6W-03065 Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 September 2021
“To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the actions set out in Annex A of the Draft Heat in Buildings Strategyfrom February 2021, what the (a) timescale for delivery, (b) current status and (c) expenditure to date is for each of the actions.”
Further questions from Mark Griffin on the Draft Heat in Buildings Strategy.

Question ref. S6W-03159 Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 September 2021
“To ask the Scottish Government what (a) number and (b) percentage of domestic and non-domestic buildings taller than 11m have external wall systems with combustible insulation and/or cladding (i) in total and (ii) that required a BS 8414 certificate, and what work it has undertaken to establish centrally held estimates of these figures.”

Question S6W-03146: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20/09/2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish the conclusions and recommendations of its City Centre Recovery taskforce.

Parliamentary Questions and Answers

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

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/09/2021
On the National Partnership for Culture / 2020 Culture Strategy for Scotland:
Question S6W-02774: Measuring change group, Answered by Jenny Gilruth (22/09/2021)
Question S6W-02773: Meeting dates, Answered by Jenny Gilruth (22/09/2021)
Question S6W-02771: Review of cultural workforce, Answered by Jenny Gilruth (22/09/2021)

Question S6W-02772: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/09/2021
To ask the Scottish Government how it is helping the culture and heritage sector meet its 2025 Fair Work Nationtarget.
Answered by Jenny Gilruth

Question S6W-02955: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 14/09/2021
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent by each local authority in each year since 1999 on energy efficiency for homes.
Answered by Patrick Harvie

Question S6W-02127: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 09/08/2021
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the economic impact on communities of the closure of local historic buildings.
Answered by Jenny Gilruth (24/09/2021)

Question S6W-02554: Sharon Dowey, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 27/08/2021
To ask the Scottish Government what number of empty homes were acquired using compulsory purchase ordersin (a) 2018-19, (b) 2019-20, (c) 2020-21 and (d) 2021-22, to date.
Answered by Shona Robison (24/09/2021)

Question S6W-02953: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 14/09/2021
To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to help diversify high streets.
Answered by Tom Arthur (24/09/2021)

Question S6O-00166: Kaukab Stewart, Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 08/09/2021
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in supporting the removal of flammable cladding.
Answered by Shona Robison (16/09/2021)

Motions

Motion ref. S6M-01046 Improving Energy Efficiency in Scotland’s Private-rented Sector
Submitted by: Mark Griffin R, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour.
Date lodged: Monday, September 6, 2021 R
Current status: Achieved cross-party support

Motion ref. S6M-01037 50th Anniversary of Edinburgh World Heritage
Submitted by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour.
Date lodged: Monday, September 6, 2021

Motion ref. S6M-01188 Work of Glasgow City Heritage Trust Awarded £240,000 in Council Funding
Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour.
Date lodged: Tuesday, September 14, 2021 R

Events

For the full list of BEFS Members’ upcoming events see our events calendar.

Make Your Mark: Have Your Say: Green Volunteering
Date & Time: 4 October, 14:00 – 15:30
Online 
Do you volunteer at a museum, gallery, archive, natural or historic site or cultural organisation in Scotland? Have your say on how we make it green! Join this free online event to meet other volunteers, share your experiences and feed back on how to make volunteering more environmentally friendly. Your comments will be summarised and presented at a UK-wide event for heritage volunteer organisers during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), so this is your opportunity to shape the future of volunteering.

GCHT: Gruesome Glasgow
Date & Time: 20 October, 19:30
Online 
Join Judith Bowers as she tells the tale of Dr Edward William Pritchard, the Human Crocodile. The last man to be publicly hanged in the city for poisoning not just his wife, but his mother-in-law as well. A Dr who had more pregnant patients than any other Dr in Scotland. A man so vain he handed photographs of himself to ladies at his own execution…

SoAoS: Rhind Lectures 2021: Untimely Ends
Date & Time: 22 October to 24 October
Location: Both in-person at NMS Auditorium and online via YouTube live.
Sponsored by AOC Archaeology Group, the 2021 Rhind Lectures “Untimely Ends” will be delivered by Professor John Hunter OBE BA PhD FSA FSAScot MCIfA FCSFS, focusing on his research interests in the study of the dead and forensic archaeology. This will be the Society’s first hybrid event with the Rhind Lectures that is taking place in the NMS auditorium and online.

RIAS Conservation Autumn Seminar 2021 – adapt, retrofit, re-use 
Date & Time: 26 October 13:00 – 16:35
Online 
Presentations will cover HES heritage priorities, Glasgow’s re-located structures, an approach to existing building retrofit and the sustainable, low energy refurbishment of traditional and historic buildings supported by case studies, application of the building regulations when considering the conversion of a listed office building to flats and salvaging and re-use of materials in the circular economy.

AHSS: Virtual AGM & Lecture: “Old buildings, why bother?”
Date & Time: 28 October 18:00
Online
Join us online for our 65th AGM and a talk by our outgoing President, Simon Green: “Old buildings, why bother? – a celebration of Scotland’s rich listed and unlisted built heritage.”

Training

The Ridge: Traditional Skills Training for Construction
Date & Time: Six-week course starting 4 October 2021
An amazing opportunity to learn more about much sought after practical skillsets including joinery, stonemasonry and greenwood working, with helpful advice and training to develop employability skills, including external site visits and talks from industry professionals. Numbers are limited so get in touch if you are interested in learning more or booking yourself on the course. Applicants must be 25 years or older and currently not working, or facing redundancy. The training will take place in East Lothian but is available for Edinburgh referrals. Travel costs will be reimbursed.
For more information contact: training@the-ridge.org.uk

Arts & Business Scotland: Culture & Business Fund Scotland – Online Roadshow
Date & Time: 26 October 11:00 — 13:30
Online
Designed to give attendees from across the arts, heritage, third, public and business sectors the opportunity to learn about the fund, the session will explain how the new CBFS COVID-19 Recovery & Renewal strand provides more flexible support through a period of recovery and renewal over the next three years. This session includes changes to the criteria and guidelines that potentially increases the levels of match funding over that period. CBFS Case studies and a walk through the online application process will also provide participants with the necessary knowledge on how to develop and submit a successful application.

Arts & Business Scotland: Culture & Business Fund Scotland – Monthly Surgeries
Date & Time: 27 October 11:00 — 13:00 & 24 November 11:00 — 13:00
Online
Have you got questions about the Culture & Business Fund Scotland? Whether you are from the arts, heritage, third, public or business sectors we are offering monthly online surgery sessions to ask those questions about the fund and how your organisation can benefit from this match funding scheme, which has been specially adapted to provide more flexible support for the sectors through a period of recovery and renewal throughout 2021 and beyond.

ICON Scotland Group: Introduction to Photogrammetry
Date & Time: 29 October, 14:00 – 17:00
Online
Learn about this 3D imaging technique, and how it can be used to record historic artefacts. This event will introduce participants to methods of 3D digital documentation of historic objects. The session will cover basic data capture procedures, to create an understanding of the requirements, capabilities and limitations of the technology, and will show the possibilities of 3D documentation for a range of objects and materials.

IHBC at COP26 – Conserving our Places Conserves our Planet
Date & Time: 1-12 November
Online: Podcast
A podcast series to raise awareness and understanding of how conservation philosophy and practice contributes towards meeting the challenge of climate change.  Episodes released throughout the UN Climate Change Conference 2021 in Glasgow COP26 feature sectoral experts sharing their expertise, experience, and views on what’s being done now and what’s to come.

Vacancies

Fife Historic Buildings Trust: Project Officer
A new full-time fixed term post, funded by Historic Environment Scotland. FHBT are a Building Preservation Trust whose mission is to create viable futures for heritage buildings and their communities, by inspiring and enabling visionary conservation projects across Fife. Bring your skills and to deliver new historic environment regeneration projects in Fife, principally the restoration and re-use of historic buildings at risk.
Closing date: 5pm on Monday 18 October 2021

Fife Council / Fife Historic Buildings Trust
Tender Opportunity: Fife Historic Environment Evaluation & Strategy
Fife Council, in partnership with Fife Historic Buildings Trust, are commissioning an Historic Environment Strategy for the protection, enhancement and management of Fife’s historic environment – including an evaluation of its impact/benefits and a framework for making the most effective use of resources and the best use of our heritage.
Closing date: 5pm on Friday 8 October.

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BEFS News

BEFS was delighted to see the Parliamentary Motion from Gordon MacDonald congratulating the Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival. The motion, which highlighted collaboration as well as the focus on our existing environment and the skills necessary to maintain our environment, received excellent support.

In a new blog post, BEFS Director Ailsa Macfarlane takes a look at the Scottish Government’s 2021-22 Programme for Government, and gives an overview of where our existing built environment sector might find areas of potential influence and opportunity.

Based on discussion at the Historic Environment Working Group (HEWG) and taking into account Member views expressed, BEFS submitted responses to the Historic Environment Scotland Grants Refresh Consultation (02/09/21) and the Culture Sector Funding Call for Views (08/09/21).

A new online platform has launched to enable culture and heritage organisations to publicise initiatives they are organising in connection with COP26. ‘Culture at COP’ will showcase all COP26 – related art, culture, and heritage events (in-person and virtual) for diverse audiences. It will be designed to link to the COP26 themes and key COP26 Policy Issues as identified by the Climate Heritage Network.

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) have announced fourteen outstanding new Scottish buildings as winners of Scotland’s national architecture awards. Bell Street Stables, a conversion of a Victorian council depot to create 52 new homes for affordable rent in the centre of Glasgow, was the winner of Historic Environment Scotland’s Conservation and Climate Change Award, a Special Category Award of the RIAS Awards. Five Scottish projects were also amongst the winners of the RIBA National Awards.

RIAS are currently preparing for their annual convention, Draw Together, 28 September – 1 October. Mark your diaries too for their Conservation Autumn Seminar 2021: Adapt, Retrofit, Re-use on 26 October – further details forthcoming. Meanwhile, the Architectural Society of Scotland Forth & Borders Group have released details of their programme of Winter Lectures 2021-22.

Glasgow City Heritage Trust have launched their new project Gallus Glasgow, inspired by Thomas Sulman’s 1864 ‘bird’s eye view’ map of the city. An interactive microsite featuring a zoomable version of the map enables viewers to explore it in great detail, and the project also features a series of events.

Historic Churches Scotland have released the first edition of a new e-newsletter. Settle down for a read and enjoy insightful articles from the charity’s current volunteers, founding Trustees, and Executive Director Victoria Collison-Owen.

Volunteers are sought by Scotland’s Churches Trust to help with the task of recording the exterior and interior features of Scotland’s at risk church buildings, with the aim of capturing their history and context as part of a national record.

The SCAPE Trust have released a refreshed coastal archaeology Sites at Risk map and app. New features include an historic map slider, a search function and the ability to download records.

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Consultations

Domestic Energy Performance Certificates Reform Consultation
Closes 8 October 2021

Home Energy Efficiency: Equity Loan Pilot – Call for Evidence
Closes 8 October 2021

Scottish Building Regulations: Proposed changes to Energy Standards and associated topics, including Ventilation, Overheating and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Closes 15 October 2021

UK Government Review of Architects Regulation: Call for Evidence
Closes 8 November 2021

Consultation Responses

BEFS – HES Grants Refresh Consultation Response (02/09/21)

BEFS – Culture Sector Funding Call for Views Response (08/09/21)

Edinburgh World Heritage have responded to the Draft 2030 Climate Strategy for Edinburgh (10/09/21)

Publications

David Hume Institute: A Scotland of Better Places (06/21)

SEDA: A New Vision for Land Use in Scotland – 6 Conversations (08/21)

BMJ: Associations between community cultural engagement and life satisfaction, mental distress and mental health functioning using data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS): are associations moderated by area deprivation? (03/09/21)

Historic England and the York and North Yorkshire LEP: Celebrating Our Distinctive Heritage Report (07/09/21)

Historic England: Theft of Metal from Church Roofs: Prevention and Response (10/09/21)

AHF: Our commitments to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

Scottish Government News Releases

Schools buildings across Scotland are in their best condition since recorded figures began (SG 07/09/21)

First grants awarded from £50m fund to transform derelict land (SG 10/09/21)

Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP): 2022-23 application form (SG 10/09/21)

News Releases

Repair plan to save Leith’s historic Victoria Swing Bridge (BBC 06/09/21)

Opinion & Comment

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland: Christie’s clarion call can’t wait another decade (7/09/21)

Parliamentary Questions

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

Question S6O-00166: Kaukab Stewart, Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 08/09/2021
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in supporting the removal of flammable cladding.

Parliamentary Questions and Answers

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

Question ref. S6W-02313 Asked by: Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Date lodged: 17 August 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when National Planning Framework 4 will be published.
Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 September 2021
Answer: The Scottish Government are continuing to progress work on a draft NPF4 and will lay it in the Scottish Parliament in Autumn 2021. Public consultation will run alongside Parliamentary scrutiny.

Question ref. S6W-02110 Asked by: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 9 August 2021 R
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the estimated number of (a) empty private residential properties, (b) empty public sector residential properties, (c) second homes and (d) self-catering units there currently are.
Answered by: Shona Robison on 3 September 2021

Question ref. S6W-02111 Asked by: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 9 August 2021 R
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the consultation on its short-term lets draft Licensing Order and Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), what method it used to estimate that there are 32,000 short-term lets in Scotland, and whether it will provide a breakdown of this figure by how many are (a) a single room in a property, (b) a shared room in a property, (c) an entire property and (d) unconventional accommodation such as an outhouse or yurt.
Answered by: Shona Robison on 3 September 2021

Question S6W-02389: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23/08/2021 R
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the commitment in the Scottish National Party election manifesto, what action it is taking to ensure that Scotland’s historic estate meets its net zero obligations.
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 September 2021

Question S6W-02155: Joe FitzPatrick, Dundee City West, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 10/08/2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether the climate emergency is a material consideration in Scotland’s planning system.
Answered by Tom Arthur on 6 September 2021

Question S6W-02126: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 09/08/2021
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has allocated to Historic Environment Scotland to enable historic sites to be made safe for reopening to members of the public, and what the timescales are for the reopening of these sites.
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 September 2021

Question ref. S6W-02205 Asked by: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 12 August 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its most recent estimate is of government investment in infrastructure, and what information it has regarding how this compares with other OECD countries.
Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 September 2021

Other Parliamentary Activity

CaCHE (UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence) is taking over the secretariat duties of running the Scottish Parliament cross party group (CPG) on housing, convened by Graham Simpson MSP.

The Local Government, Housing & Planning Committee is still to confirm its work programme but has agreed on some immediate issues including taking evidence on boundary reviews and considering draft laws on the licensing of short-term lets in November.

Events

For the full list of BEFS Members’ upcoming events see our events calendar.

SCHT: McLuckie & Walker – the Men Who Built Stirling
Date & Time: Thursday 16 September, 18:00
Online
Join Stirling City Heritage Trust’s Dr Lindsay Lennie for an online talk to discover more about Stirling’s taste for roller skating, as well as its historic hospitals, pubs, and stylish villas. This webinar follows on from the McLuckie & Walker Exhibition which was produced with the assistance and archival material from Stirling Archives, The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Stirling Local History Society, and The British Newspaper Archives, and was hosted by ‘Made In Stirling’ throughout June 2021.

GCHT: Paint your Zoom Room
Date & Time: 23 September, 14:30-16:00
Online
This workshop encourages participants to draw a section through the interior of their chosen room, using the same architectural drawing conventions that would have been used when the dwelling was first designed and constructed. However, this drawing will show finishes, furniture, decoration and contents; expressing the room as the lived in experience it is in 2021.

SHBT: Doors Open Day – Custom House, Leith
Date & Time: 25 September, 10:30 – 16:30
Location: Edinburgh
The oldest custom house in Scotland, now an A-listed Georgian Building, is delighted to open its doors to the public as part of Doors Open Day. Visitors will enter in timeslots to ensure smooth movement around the building, and will have an opportunity to hear about the ongoing restoration project before visiting our tenants’ studios and seeing the building’s historic features. Booking is essential.

GCHT: Atlantic Slavery Hidden in Plain Sight in a Victorian City
Date & Time: 29 September, 19:30
Online
Sulman’s Bird’s Eye View of Glasgow was completed in 1864, thirty years after chattel slavery was abolished in the British West Indies, and one year before slavery was abolished in the United States of America. Join Dr Stephen Mullen as he explores how transformation of the Victorian city was shaped by elites wealthy from Atlantic slavery, revealed by the panoramic detail of Sulman’s map.

SoAoS: Searching for the Ice Age Pioneers: Excavations at Rubha Port an t-Seilich, Isle of Islay
Date & Time: 11 October 18:00-19:00
Online: YouTube Live.
The Society of Antiquaries of London and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland are delighted to announce a joint online lecture for this autumn. Professor Steven Mithen FSAScot will present a lecture focusing on his work at Rubha Port an t-Seilich, Isle of Islay, Scotland.

AHSS: Not Dead Space: Edinburgh’s Five World Heritage Site Graveyards
Date & Time: 11 October, 18:30
Both Online and In-Person at Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh.
Five council-owned graveyards lie within the Edinburgh World Heritage Site, each contributing to the Site’s outstanding universal values. This talk with Dr Susan Buckham describes the history, development and significance of the five WHS burial grounds over their long lifetimes and explores how best to breathe new life into them in a sustainable way, in order to support their heritage values and their role as urban greenspaces.

SCAPE: Scottish Salt Symposium
Date & Time: 16 & 17 October, 09:30 – 17:30
Location: Brora, Sutherland
A two-day event in Brora, Sutherland will bring historians, archaeologists, enthusiasts and salt producers together to celebrate the once vital, but little-known, Scottish salt industry. Keynote speaker historian Professor Chris Whatley, author of The Scottish Salt Industry 1570-1850, will be followed by wide-ranging programme of talks and field trips.

Training

IHBC CPD – Conservation Engineering with Ian Hume
Date & Time: 28-29 September, 10.00-13.00 both days
Online: GoToWebinar
The sessions are intended to help conservation professionals understand some of the structural engineering problems and solutions which historic buildings might have.  The sessions will attempt to put conservation professionals in a position to hold informed discussions with project structural engineers, some of whom may not be particularly familiar with the constraints which conservation might put on their structural solutions.

IHBC at COP26 – Conserving our Places Conserves our Planet
Date & Time: 1-12 November
Online: Podcast
A podcast series to raise awareness and understanding of how conservation philosophy and practice contributes towards meeting the challenge of climate change.  Episodes released throughout the UN Climate Change Conference 2021 in Glasgow “COP26” feature sectoral experts sharing their expertise, experience, and views on what’s being done now and what’s to come.

IHBC: COTAC Conference 2021 – Protecting our World, Protecting our Heritage
Date & time:  23-24 November, 10.00-13.00 both days
Online: GoToWebinar
Day 1 will explore the expected impact of climate change on the built heritage, and the potential impact of climate change mitigation on the built heritage.  Day 2 will explore ways to support development of the training, skills, and expertise needed to protect the built heritage and reduce emission of greenhouse gases.

Vacancies

Edinburgh World Heritage: Communications Officer
Edinburgh World Heritage is looking to appoint an ambitious and creative Communications professional who is looking to further develop a wide range of key communication skills, from classical PR/media management, to extending the reach and impact of EWH’s large digital footprint, as well as helping design and promote heritage-themed events and other city-wide initiatives.
Closing Date: 17 September 2021

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