Douglas is a building conservation professional with over thirty years of experience contributing to, and delivering built heritage activity through roles in the private, public and third sector.
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Robert is a Senior Public Affairs Manager for the Royal Insitution of Chartered Surveyors in Scotland.
Robert has responsibility for RICS’ public affairs remit across the built environment, including residential, commercial and land & rural. He also has a UK-wide public affairs remit for sustainability.
Before joining RICS in January 2023, he was public affairs manager at Four Communications, specialising in devising advocacy campaigns for charities and providing market access for global pharmaceutical companies.
He holds an MSc in Global Environment, Politics and Society from the University Edinburgh and a BA (Hons) in Politics and Philosophy from the University of Liverpool.
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Jo Parry-Geddes is a RIAS Advanced Conservation Accredited Architect and Director at Mill Architects in Edinburgh, with over 25 years’ experience working across Scotland’s built heritage.
Her career has been dedicated to the conservation, repair and adaptive reuse of historic buildings, from A-listed townhouses and landmark churches to community heritage projects and traditional tenements.
Jo has led more than 95 church fabric repair projects, alongside major conservation work on nationally significant sites including the Kirk of St Nicholas in Aberdeen, The Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh and John Knox House. Her expertise also extends to the climate-focused retrofit of traditional and listed buildings, underpinned by specialist training in energy efficiency and retrofit.
Alongside her practice work, Jo plays an active role in shaping the conservation sector. She is Chair of the Tenement Action Group, sits on the RIAS Conservation Committee, and serves on the National Churches Trust Steering Group. She has convened the Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum and continues to champion collaboration across the conservation sector through events, seminars and public engagement.
Jo is recognised for her ability to combine deep technical knowledge with strong leadership and advocacy. A passionate supporter of Scotland’s built environment, she brings to BEFS extensive hands-on conservation experience and a clear commitment to sustainability, collaboration and ensuring heritage remains central to the future of Scotland’s places
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Méabh works at the intersection of community ownership, community development, and the built environment.
Her current work involves supporting community groups to plan and deliver community-led housing projects, including the retrofit of vacant or historic buildings and the construction of new affordable homes.
Her path into this work reflects a blend of academic study and practical experience. Méabh holds a degree in Social Anthropology (University of Edinburgh) and an MSc in Transnational Crime, Justice and Security (University of Glasgow), through which she developed a strong understanding of how culture, identity, and place shape people’s lives. After her studies, she upskilled in Woodworking and went on to teach craft and practical skills to people with additional support needs, addictions, and involvement in the criminal justice system.
She has further strengthened her experience with certifications in Site Safety Management and Retrofit Coordination, complementing her community-outreach work with technical and legislative knowledge of construction and retrofit. This has equipped Méabh with a diverse skill set spanning group facilitation, stakeholder engagement, construction and design, business planning, funding and community consultation.
Méabh’s desire to serve on the BEFS Board is rooted in her passion for responsible land and building stewardship across Scotland. A community advocate at heart, she champions local leadership and genuine community collaboration. She recognises the importance of preserving buildings and spaces that hold stories, traditions, and cultural significance, and is committed to maintaining and developing the built environment in line with local needs and aspirations.
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Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations
BEFS NEWS
On Tuesday, Scotland’s finance secretary Shona Robison presented the pre-budget fiscal update, announcing substantial cuts to government spending. In relation to Government Spend and Capital Budget, of note was that due to inflationary impact on construction costs, spend will be focused on essential maintenance to infrastructure. Ms Robison confirmed the Programme for Government, which is being announced later today, will outline plans for fair, green economic growth. BEFS will continue to monitor and provide updates as they appear over the coming days.
A new suite of reports has been published by Historic Environment Scotland, highlighting the strength and contribution of Scotland’s historic environment and looking at the steps needed for future success. Following the launch of Our Past, Our Future: The Strategy for Scotland’s Historic Environment last year, BEFS welcomes this work as a significant milestone. We look forward to the strategy further supporting collaborative working and innovative approaches towards delivering the benefits of the historic environment for people and places.
BEFS congratulates The Scottish Traditional Building Forum who are celebrating the end of a very successful 12th Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival. This year’s event was hosted by Edinburgh World Heritage and the free talks, demonstrations and tours raising the profile of the skills, materials and knowledge required to repair and maintain traditional buildings were well attended.
We were very sad to note the loss of Euan MacDonald MBE. Euan’s ground-breaking work led to improved accessibility for millions of people, with Euan’s Guide freely sharing information and advice to help remove barriers to accessing and enjoying Scotland’s places, including sites of historic significance.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
See our Link to Parliamentary Questions and Answers and answers for recent questions regarding Short-term Lets, RAAC, Retrofitting and Permitted Development Rights.
CONSULTATIONS
Survey on Private Investment in Culture & Heritage
Creative Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and Museums Galleries Scotland are working together to develop understanding of private investment in the cultural and heritage sectors in Scotland. The survey includes questions on organisational policies and processes related to private investment, the sourcing and management of private investment and the recent focus on private investment in culture and heritage. Responses to the survey are gathered anonymously and no organisational information will be shared publicly. The survey should take around 15 minutes to complete.
Closes 6 September 2024
Managing Change Guidance Review
Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
HES is seeking feedback on their Managing Change guidance series to ensure it aligns with current policy and national priorities. The survey aims to understand how the guidance is currently used and how it can be improved as a tool to support decision-making in the historic environment. Feedback will inform priorities for new guidance topics and updates. The survey covers various aspects of the Managing Change guidance, including its use in planning, land management, and other decision-making processes.
Closes 17 September 2024
Draft Tall Buildings Design Guide Consultation
Glasgow City Council
The Glasgow City Centre Strategic Development Framework (SDF), adopted in 2021, provides flexible urban design guidelines and suggests creating specific guidelines for tall buildings to assist developers and planners. For sustainable growth, these projects need to focus on quality and clear goals. To help with this, the Tall Building Design Guidance was created, offering advice for developers and planning officers to make the pre-application process smoother and ensure buildings are well-designed and appropriately located. This consultation covers the areas as defined by the City Centre SDF and welcomes views from members of the public, technical experts, and Strategic Partners on the impact of tall buildings in the city centre and ways to improve the city in this modern environment.
Closes 30 September 2024
Building Regulations: Determining the principles for a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard: Stage 1 consultation
Scottish Government
Scottish building regulations set minimum standards applicable to new buildings and to new work to existing buildings. This consultation is the first of two which will consider the technical, commercial and wider policy implications of improvements to building regulations in the context of broader action by the Scottish Government on climate change, to further our ambition of becoming a net-zero society by 2045.
Closes 23 October 2024
Calanais Standing Stones – Improving community, economic and conservation benefits
Historic Environment Scotland
This consultation focusses on potential changes to access and charging arrangements at Calanais Standing Stones. HES are working to deliver a new combined visitor experience at the site, in collaboration with the local community-led trust Urras nan Tursachan (UnT), who independently own, manage and operate the Calanais Standing Stones visitor centre. Further information on the visitor centre redevelopment can be found here.
Closes 31 October 2024
Survey on barrier to retrofitting historic buildings
FuturHist project
Help identify the barriers to decarbonise historic buildings by completing the FuturHist Barrier Survey. Practitioners, heritage specialists, architects, researchers, building managers and owners are welcome to participate in the study led by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). The survey is part of FuturHist, a European project cofunded by the European Union and the UK Research and Innovation. FuturHist aims to develop integrated and replicable retrofit solutions for historic buildings, using a typology-based approach, to ensure their transition towards clean energy.
Closes 15 September 2024
PETITIONS
Ministerial submission on PE2089: Stop More National Parks in Scotland (Scot Gov 21/08/2024)
NEWS RELEASES
Celebrating the Launch of Scotland’s Vacant and Derelict Land Hub (Scottish Land Commission 14/08/2024)
Three sites announced as pilot locations in UKNC’s groundbreaking new Climate Change & UNESCO Heritage project (UK National Commission 15/08/2024)
Applications are open for the SPAB Fellowship 2025 (SPAB 28/08/2024)
AHSS Advocates for Heritage Protection in Response to Scottish Government’s New Permitted Development Rights (AHSS 28/08/2024)
Our response to the Scottish Parliament’s pre-budget scrutiny for 2025-26 (Museums Galleries Scotland 21/08/2024)
Evidence submitted to Holyrood details how Scottish museums and galleries are facing funding disadvantages compared to the rest of the UK and to Scotland’s wider culture sector.
The Big Conversation: Money (SEDA 30/08/2024)
The seventh film (in a series of 10) from 2045:The Big Conversation, focusing on how we manage our financial resources to deliver effective and fair change for all.
Profits from community windfarm to fund a million native trees in Hebrides (Guardian 31/08/2024)
New reports highlight the strength and contribution of Scotland’s historic environment (HES 02/09/2024)
SCVO Briefing to Scottish Parliament: Programme for Government 2024/25 (SCVO 02/09/2024)
Who wants what from Programme for Government 2024 (NewsDirect 03/09/2024)
PUBLICATIONS
Retrofit at Scale (Sustainable Development Foundation 31/07/2024)
Driving ‘natural’ renewal – the progressive case for restoring the natural environment (IPPR August 2024)
How a strengthened National Performance Framework can drive effective government in Scotland (Carnegie UK August 2024)
Scotland’s Historic Environment Audit 2024 (HES 29/08/2024)
National Report on the Scottish Social Housing Charter – Headline Findings – 2023-2024 (Scottish Housing Regulator 30/08/2024)
How the government can build more homes (Institute for Government 30/08/2024)
National Report on the Scottish Social Housing Charter – Headline Findings – 2023-2024 (Scottish Housing Regulator 30/08/2024)
Our Past, Our Future – Annual Report 2023-24 (HES 02/09/2024)
Our Past, Our Future Delivery Framework (HES 02/09/2024)
Our Past, Our Future Summary and Detailed Baseline Reports (HES 02/09/2024)
Our Past, Our Future Year 1 Report (HES 02/09/2024)
SCOTTISH & UK: GOVERNMENTAL & PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS
The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26: Submissions from the Local Government Information Unit, the Accounts Commission, the Scottish Human Rights Commission and Professor David Heald (Scot Parl August 2024)
Thematic analysis of responses to the inquiry on the National Performance Framework (SPICe 16/08/2024)
Non-domestic rates income statistics (Scot Gov 21/08/2024)
How to quantify the economic impact of the UK’s heritage (UK Gov 22/08/2024)
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group minutes: June 2024 (Scot Gov 27/08/2024)
The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) (Amendment) Order 2024 Impact Assessments (Scot Gov 29/08/2024)
Fixing unsafe buildings must be faster, Deputy Prime Minister tells roundtable of regulators and partners (UK Gov 29/08/2024)
Planning: Proportionality of Assessments Short Life Working Group minutes: June 2024 (Scot Gov 30/08/2024)
Short Term Lets in Scotland Licensing Scheme: Part 1. Guidance for Hosts and Operators (Scot Gov 30/08/2024)
Housing (Scotland) Bill: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment (Scot Gov 30/08/2024)
Correspondence between Ivan McKee and the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee on the work the government has taken to implement the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) (Scot Parl 30/08/2024)
Response from COSLA, Solace and CIPFA Directors of Finance to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee’s Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26 (Scot Parl 30/08/2024)
Correspondence between Paul McLennan and the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee regarding the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Amendment Order 2024 (Scot Parl 30/08/2024)
Delivering a wealthier, fairer and greener Scotland (Scot Gov 02/09/2024)
Culture Fair Work Taskforce minutes: July 2024 (Scot Gov 03/09/2024)
Housing (Scotland) Bill – clerks note (Scot Parl 03/09/2024)
Finance and Public Administration Committee: clerk’s note, SPICe summary of SFC publications, and meeting minutes (Scot Parl 03/09/2024)
Social Justice and Social Security Committee: clerk’s note (Scot Parl 04/09/2024)
Housing (Scotland) Bill – clerk’s note (Scot Parl 04/09/2024)
OPINION & COMMENT
‘This shouldn’t have happened’: Women into Construction shuts down (Construction News 16/08/2024)
A visit to Glasgow’s vibrant cultural heritage scene, created by people for people (European Heritage Hub 19/08/2024)
Edinburgh backs introduction of new ‘tourist tax’ (BBC News 22/08/2024)
National register needed of buildings with RAAC, say Lib Dems (STV News 25/08/2024)
Glasgow city council to consider case for tourist tax (The Herald 27/08/2024)
Can new towns give Keir Starmer the answer to Britain’s housing crisis? (The Observer 01/09/2024)
Will the Glasgow School of Art ever be rebuilt? (Apollo Magazine 02/09/2024)
Budget cuts will have ‘profound effect’ on Scottish services – Robison (BBC News 03/09/2024)
EVENTS
For further listings, please see BEFS events calendar
Doors Open Days 2024
Date & Time: 4 Weekends in September; see link for regional dates
Location: Throughout Scotland
The 2024 Doors Open Days festival programme is now live! Hundreds of events have been listed and more are being added each day. A fascinating variety of doors and sites will be open up and down the country. Be a tourist on your very own doorstep and unlock Scotland this September!
STP & HES – Improving places through heritage
Date & Time: Tuesday 10 September 2024; 12-1pm
Location: Online
This webinar, delivered by Historic Environment Scotland, will provide you with an overview of the sector strategy for the Historic Environment, Our Past our Future, as well as highlighting some key resources, including funding, available to support you in your plans to consider how heritage can improve your local places. The session will conclude with an opportunity for your questions and to enable you to share your thoughts on what is needed to meet the ambitions for the historic environment in your area.
Under One Roof – Preserving our tenements with East Lothian Council and Dunbar CARS
Date & Time: Thursday 12 September 2024; 5-7pm
Location: The Dunbar Townhouse, High St, Dunbar EH42 1ER
Presentations will cover managing common repairs, how to navigate roofing and gutter maintenance, dealing with mixed tenure repairs, and an update from Dunbar Conservation and Regeneration Scheme. Under One Roof will be joined by architect Jo Parry-Geddes of Mill Architects who will give a presentation on tenement roof repairs. There will also be a Q&A session at the end.
Ainmean Charraige – Carrick’s Gaelic Heritage
Date & Time: Saturday 14 September 2024; 9:15am-4:30pm
Location: The Carrick Centre, Culzean Rd, Maybole KA19 7DE
Ainmean Charraige/Carrick Names is holding a one-day conference on the subject of Carrick’s Gaelic Heritage. Carrick was Gaelic speaking for hundreds of years until comparatively recently – as the thousands of Gaelic place-names across the Earldom will testify. An expert panel of speakers has been arranged for the day in order to bring this hidden Gaelic heritage to life.
A&DS – What next for place?
Date & Time: Wednesday 18 – Thursday 19 September 2024
Location: Advanced Research Centre (ARC), University of Glasgow, 11 Chapel Lane Glasgow G11 6EW
Imagine a future where place-based policies and practices are driven by the stories and identities that make our communities unique. What if we could harness the power of design and creativity to forge meaningful and equitable partnerships? How can this collaborative approach lead to positive outcomes for people, the places we inhabit, and the planet itself? These are the critical questions at the heart of the “What next for place?” conference. This event, over one and half days, is a catalyst for advancing next practices in creating places. Practitioners and academics will meet for a collaborative exploration of these crucial themes and work together over the event to co-produce some suggested principles for future place-based practices.
SPAB – Scotland’s Churches
Continuing the SPAB Scotland series investigating practical measures for those thinking about taking on a church for sale, whether privately or as part of a community group.
Joseph Hansom’s Architecture
Date & Time: Thursday 19 September 2024; 12-1:30pm
Location: Online
This talk aims to highlight the richness of Scottish architecture in the ecclesiastical world. It complements an in-person Church Maintenance Day being hosted at St Mary at Lochee the following week.
Reading a Church
Date & Time: Thursday 3 October 2024; 12-1:30pm
Location: Online
If you know what to look for, it’s possible to uncover a building’s secrets by looking around for clues. This ‘reading’ of a building is a great skill, and this lecture by architect Ian Mitchell Davidson will follow the development of a single building from beginning to end, tracing its history and development through the centuries.
Heritage Trust Network – Conference 2024
Date & Time: Sunday 29 September – Tuesday 1 October 2024
Location: Dunfermline
Heritage Trust Network is bringing its conference to Dunfermline in 2024. Conference is always the highlight of the year, a fun and friendly mix of inspirational speakers, lively discussions and fascinating tours and visits to historic sites and community projects. Dunfermline has been chosen as the venue because of its fascinating mix of historic sites and the way local organisations are working together to make the most of its heritage assets following the granting of city status in 2022. The incredible philanthropic legacy of Andrew Carnegie is woven through the city’s cultural infrastructure. Network member, Fife Historic Buildings Trust, has recently been granted three-years of funding to help it develop restoration and re-use projects in Dunfermline.
Edinburgh 900 – Archaeology Conference 2024
Date & Time: Saturday 12 October 2024; 9am-5pm
Location: Lecture Theatre A, University of Edinburgh, 40 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JX
This conference is organised jointly by the City of Edinburgh Council Archaeology Service and the University of Edinburgh Department of Archaeology as part of the official celebrations for Edinburgh’s 900th Anniversary. The conference is open to all with an interest in our capital’s rich history. Attendees will hear and discuss the results of important archaeological fieldwork and scientific research on a wide range of topics, from the Burgh’s foundation in the 12th century through to the 20th century.
National Churches Trust – Building Sustainable Futures for Scottish Churches : Meet the Funders
Date & Time: Friday 1 November 2024; times tbc
Location: Paisley Abbey, Abbey Close, Paisley PA1 1JG
Join the National Churches Trust at Paisley Abbey to chat with funders and advisers all under one roof. They are there to help support all aspects of the work within your church building, whether it is from community, heritage, faith, tourism, or climate action sectors. Whether you are a congregation looking to repair a roof or to expand your community outreach; or a community organisation considering how to prepare a business plan and get advice on which insurance you will need, there will be someone there to help. Meet with the experts across the sectors and chat with churches, communities and organisations who have already tackled the challenges you are facing. A detailed programme is being compiled. Check this page for updates or sign up for updates below.
TRAINING
C&BS – Fundraising Matters: Introduction to Fundraising
Date & Time: Tuesday 10 September 2024 & Tuesday 17 September 2024; 9:30am-12:30pm
Location: Online
This introductory course, led by Pam Judson, gives you the best possible foundations for starting your fundraising career.
£120 + VAT for C&BS members. £190 + VAT for non-members
C&BS – Board Matters: Thinking of Joining a Board?
Date & Time: Thursday 12 September 2024; 12-1pm
Location: Online
Do you care about the culture sector and want to play a part in its future? Then being a board member or trustee just might be for you. This webinar with Catriona Reynolds will help you understand what being on the Board of a cultural charity is all about.
FREE for C&BS members. £35 + VAT for non-members.
SPAB – Maintaining Scotland’s Churches
Date & Time: Thursday 26 September 2024; 9:30am-3:45pm
Location: St Matthew’s Church, Tay Street, Perth PH1 5 LQ
Are you involved in caring for and maintaining a place of worship in Scotland? This introductory one-day course will explore how your historic church building works and the practical steps you can take to look after it. You’ll be able to put your new knowledge into action right away, with a practical exercise looking at the host building inside and out to identify maintenance issues and areas of vulnerability. There will also be the opportunity to discuss your own church building with the course tutors and others attending.
VACANCIES
Scottish Historic Buildings Trust seeks four new trustees with expertise in areas such as strategy, finance, heritage conservation, marketing, fundraising, property development and asset management. Help shape the future of this leading organisation dedicated to preserving Scotland’s historic buildings. 3-year term, 4 meetings per year. For more information visit www.shbt.org.uk. To apply, email CV and cover letter to maggie.wright@mwa.co
We’re truly grateful for your continued support and engagement. Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in us to deliver relevant and timely information about the built environment sector.Please consider forwarding this newsletter on to colleagues, friends and family who are part of the sector, so they know where to go for staying informed about built environment sector news, vacancies, insights, policies.If you’d like to receive the bulletin as a bi-monthly email, you can subscribe here.Your support helps us grow and improve our service to the existing Scottish built environment community. Thank you for being part of our journey!
Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations
BEFS NEWS
Due to annual leave and team recruitment BEFS are currently running at reduced capacity. Despite this, our full bulletin service will resume in September! In the meantime, please enjoy our round up of sector news.
BEFS is delighted to announce two new appointments: Ilona McAllister has been an invaluable member of BEFS team for some time, and has this month taken on the new role of BEFS Head of Operations. Ilona brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this crucial role in BEFS development.
We are also pleased to congratulate Hazel Johnson – previously BEFS Policy and Strategy Manager – who has been appointed BEFS Director after taking on the Interim role at the start of August. Both Ilona and Hazel look forward to working with BEFS Members and the wider sector in their new capacities.
Following the publication in May 2024 of the report Meeting Scotland’s Retrofit Challenge: solutions from the industry there has been cross party support for the report’s key policy recommendations to establish a Ministerial Oversight Group on Retrofit and to develop a long-term Retrofit Delivery Plan with a joined-up approach to funding, regulating and incentivising retrofit work across Scotland. The publication of the Scottish Law Commission’s discussion paper on the proposed scheme for owners’ associations was also welcomed, recognising that the paper follows the work and recommendations of the Tenement Maintenance Working Group, which was established to explore actions to improve the condition of Scotland’s tenements.
Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) Grants Funding Report 2023-24 was released in July, providing detailed information on how grant funding has supported communities and historic places all over Scotland. On average HES awards around £13.5 million in grants each year on behalf of the Scottish Government to projects that protect and promote the historic environment.
The theme of the annual SPAB-STBA Conference is New Ideas for Old Buildings: Education, Application & Innovation; exploring where tradition meets innovation, and how the past informs the future. Innovators and experts in the heritage and sustainability fields are being invited to submit contributions to present at the conference in York on Tuesday 5 November. They are keen to hear from professionals who can offer insights, share experiences, and present cutting-edge research on a wide array of topics within the theme: submissions need to be made via this form by 5pm on Monday 2 September 2024.
The Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA) has released the first of ten short films following their Big Conversation days held in February and March 2024. The films present the key points made by a broad range of stakeholders in the built environment at this key time when Scotland is working to deliver the Just Transition to Net Zero. The first film looked at how we think about our future and how ready we are to change and includes contributions from BEFS former Director Ailsa Macfarlane, Euan Leitch, CEO of SURF, Robert Toomey of RICS, and Chris Stewart, President of RIAS. The whole series of films can be found here as they are released.
The University of Edinburgh & Edinburgh World Heritage have published Retrofitting Historic Sash & Case Windows, a quick start guide for homeowners, based on actual retrofit experiences.
Applications for the Scottish Government’s Scottish Connections Fund 2024-25 are now open. Grants of up to £5,000 are available for new projects that help to build Scotland’s networks and international links. The Fund is available to any individual or organisation with a Scottish connection – whether those links are through business, education, heritage or a wider affinity with Scottish culture.
We will be back with our regular bi-monthly bulletin schedule from 4 September.
CONSULTATIONS
HES Heritage Directorate Stakeholder Survey
Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
Historic Environment Scotland is seeking feedback on the services provided by its Heritage Directorate. This includes their role in planning, designations, and recording services. The survey aims to understand stakeholder experiences and needs, helping HES prioritise their work effectively. Responses will be collected and analysed by JRS, an independent research company, ensuring anonymity and adherence to data protection regulations.
Closes 30 August 2024
Crofting consultation 2024
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is determined to ensure that crofting legislation enables and supports the sustainability of crofting, of crofters and crofting communities, and allows crofting to modernise, innovate, diversify, and adapt to help meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. This consultation seeks views on a range of proposals for crofting reform which will help to create opportunities for new entrants, encourage the active management and use of crofts and common grazings, and support rural population. The consultation paper contains full background information, including references to current legislation.
Closes 2 September 2024
Managing Change Guidance Review
Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
HES is seeking feedback on their Managing Change guidance series to ensure it aligns with current policy and national priorities, including its use in planning, land management, and other decision-making processes.The survey aims to understand how the guidance is currently used and how it can be improved as a tool to support decision-making in the historic environment. Feedback will inform priorities for new guidance topics and updates.
Closes 17 September 2024
Draft Tall Buildings Design Guide Consultation
Glasgow City Council
The Glasgow City Centre Strategic Development Framework (SDF), adopted in 2021, provides flexible urban design guidelines and suggests creating specific guidelines for tall buildings to assist developers and planners. For sustainable growth, these projects need to focus on quality and clear goals. To help with this, the Tall Building Design Guidance was created, offering advice for developers and planning officers to make the pre-application process smoother and ensure buildings are well-designed and appropriately located. This consultation covers the areas as defined by the City Centre SDF and welcomes views from members of the public, technical experts, and Strategic Partners on the impact of tall buildings in the city centre and ways to improve the city in this modern environment.
Closes 30 September 2024
Building Regulations: Determining the principles for a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard: Stage 1 consultation
Scottish Government
Scottish building regulations set minimum standards applicable to new buildings and to new work to existing buildings. This consultation is the first of two which will consider the technical, commercial and wider policy implications of improvements to building regulations in the context of broader action by the Scottish Government on climate change, to further our ambition of becoming a net-zero society by 2045.
Closes 23 October 2024
Calanais Standing Stones – Improving community, economic and conservation benefits
Historic Environment Scotland
This consultation focusses on potential changes to access and charging arrangements at Calanais Standing Stones. HES are working to deliver a new combined visitor experience at the site, in collaboration with the local community-led trust Urras nan Tursachan (UnT), who independently own, manage and operate the Calanais Standing Stones visitor centre. Further information on the visitor centre redevelopment can be found here.
Closes 31 October 2024
Barrier Survey
FuturHist
Help address the barriers to energy-efficient historic buildings by completing the FuturHist Barrier Survey. Practitioners, heritage specialists, architects, researchers, building managers, and owners are welcome to participate in the study led by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).
CONSULTATION RESPONSES
Scottish Law Commission : Discussion Paper on Compulsory Owner’s Associations – Consultation (BEFS 01/08/2024)
BEFS welcomes the paper as a significant milestone and output of one of the recommendations made by the Tenement Maintenance Working Group, towards action to improve the condition of tenement buildings in Scotland through a cohesive Owners Association management structure.
BEFS response highlights all three recommendations made the Tenement Maintenance Working Group, for reforming tenement law:
- a requirement for tenements to be subject to a building condition inspection every five years;
- the establishment of compulsory owners’ associations; and
- establishment of building reserve funds.
These recommendations are considered important, interlinked, and accompanying vehicles towards delivery.
Scotland’s Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030 : Analysis of consultation responses (Scot Gov 02/08/2024)
Pre Budget Scrutiny 2025 -26 : Funding for Culture (BEFS 09/08/2024)
BEFS comments on the budget not only look at what is within the cultural portfolio – but highlight how cultural heritage can be eroded through a lack of investment in data, in planning, and in regeneration; many of the aspects that help to support genuine place-based approaches. BEFS response also notes potential impacts of the Visitor Levy Bill, emphasising the central role that the historic environment specifically – and the built environment more widely – play as a direct contributor to the cultural tourism offer of Scotland.
Investing in Planning – A consultation on resourcing Scotland’s planning system Summary of responses to the consultation (Scot Gov 15/08/2024)
Climate Change Targets Bill: Consultation (BEFS 16/08/2024)
BEFS considers that providing portfolios both directly and indirectly relevant to the existing built environment with the means to support regeneration and investment in places, will ensure that the 2045 target can be met, in addition to contributing to a truly sustainable Scotland.
PETITIONS
Scottish Government Submission on PE2105: Safeguard Scottish Listed Buildings at risk of unnecessary demolition (Scot Gov 08/07/2024)
PE2113: Provide support to RAAC-affected communities (Scot Parl 23/07/2023)
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to provide support to communities affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
NEWS RELEASES
If Glasgow’s Walls Could Talk Series 3 (GCHT 27/06/2024)
SURF recommendations for the 24/25 programme for government (SURF July 2024)
SPAB-STBA Conference 2024: New Ideas for Old Buildings – Call for Contributions (SPAB 19/07/2024)
Proposal to designate Glasgow Central Mosque one of the first purpose-built mosques in Scotland, at Category A (HES 24/07/2024)
Housing Regulator publishes analysis of new homes, empty homes and lettings (Scottish Housing regulator 26/07/2024)
RIBA Stirling Prize Shortlist 2024 (RIBA 31/07/2024)
Six historic buildings in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire pass into community ownership protecting and revitalising historic harbour for future generations (The Architectural Heritage Fund 31/07/2024)
PUBLICATIONS
Retrofitting Historic Sash & Case Windows (The University of Edinburgh & Edinburgh World Heritage July 2024)
Retrofit Revisit: building performance evaluation project (2024) (CIBSE July 2024)
The SURF Awards: Learning from Success. An outcomes report from a series of SURF workshops in 2024 (SURF July 2024)
Historic Environment Scotland Grants Funding Report 2023-24 (HES 17/07/2024)
Private rent and house prices, UK: July 2024 (ONS 17/07/2024)
Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey and Map (Our Place 19/07/2024)
Challenges to Thatch Supply Threaten Vital Rural Industry (Historic England and HES 21/07/2024)
Briefing: Net Zeroing in on investment Priorities for the new Government in delivering a fair transition (Resolution Foundation 22/07/2024)
Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency (Historic England 23/07/2024)
Place Forum 4: Preventative design (Architecture & Design Scotland 24/07/2024)
The Crown Estate Integrated Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24 (The Crown Estate 24/07/2024)
Museums Galleries Scotland Annual Review 2023-24 (MGS 08/08/2024)
Construction output in Great Britain: June 2024, new orders and Construction Output Price Indices April to June 2024 (ONS 15/08/2024)
Economic activity and social change in the UK, real-time indicators: 15 August 2024 (ONS 15/08/2024)
Cultural Heritage, Creativity and the Creative Economy (Historic England 19/08/2024)
SCOTTISH & UK: GOVERNMENTAL & PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS
Climate Change Committee: 2024 Progress Report to Parliament (UK Gov 18/07/2024)
Heat in Buildings: Local Government Oversight Group minutes: April 2024 (Scot Gov 18/07/2024)
Building standard 3.3 – flooding and groundwater guidance review: research (Scot Gov 19/07/2024)
Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA): annual review 2023 to 2024 (Scot Gov 19/07/2024)
Planning and environmental appeals: quarterly performance statistics (Scot Gov 19/07/2024)
Scottish Housing Market Review Q2 2024 (Scot Gov 19/07/2024)
Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey – site register (Scot Gov 19/07/2024)
Correspondence between the Deputy Prime Minister and Defra Secretary of State to environmental NGOs on planning and infrastructure bill (UK Gov 21/07/2024)
Scotland’s New National Park Appraisal Panel: final report (Scot Gov 22/07/2024)
National Park in Galloway: proposal by Scottish Ministers (Scot Gov 22/07/2024)
Correspondence between Mairi Gougeon and the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee regarding the proposal for a new National Park in Galloway (Scot Parl 22/07/2024)
Scottish Connections Fund applications now open (Scot Gov 24/07/2024)
RAAC: Housing Stakeholder Meetings – November 2023; December 2023 & February 2024 (Scot Gov 25/07/2024)
Correspondence between Mairi Gougeon and the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee regarding Stage 2 amendments to Part 2 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 26/07/2024)
Planning permission appeals: housing development statistics (Scot Gov 30/07/2024)
Land reform community mapping tool: guidance (Scot Gov 30/07/2024)
Housing targets increased to get Britain building again (UK Gov 30/07/2024)
Housing (Scotland) Bill: Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment Summary (Scot Gov 31/07/2024)
Housing (Scotland) Bill Island Communities Impact Assessment Results (Scot Gov 31/07/2024)
Building regulations – energy and environmental standards: consultation on proposed changes (Scot Gov 31/07/2024)
Correspondence between Mairi Gougeon and the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee on the delegated powers in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill (Scot Gov 31/07/2024)
European Regional Development Fund: annual implementation report (Scot Gov 31/07/2024)
Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill: position paper (Scot Gov 02/08/2024)
Planning applications call-in: Ministerial statement (Scot Gov 02/08/2024)
Scotland’s Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030 : Analysis of consultation responses (Scot Gov 02/08/2024)
The Building Safety Act 2022 (Amendment Notices Transitional Provision) Regulations 2024 (UK Gov 05/08/2024)
Scotland’s Land Use Strategy Annual Progress Report – 2023/2024 (Scot Gov 16/08/2024)
Planning permission appeals: housing development statistics (Scot Gov 20/08/2024)
OPINION & COMMENT
How Edinburgh Tenements Became an Urban Housing Blueprint (Bloomberg 19/07/2024)
Record number of vacant Scottish homes brought back into use (The Times 22/07/2024)
Airbnb crackdown ‘has failed to reduce short-term lets’ (The Times 23/07/2024)
Abolish VAT on regeneration, refurbishment and retrofit projects (Scottish Housing News 25/07/2024)
No response from John Swinney on Scotland’s housing emergency (Third Force News 26/07/2024)
The ‘astonishing’ £130 billion bill for SNP Government’s green buildings target (The Scotsman 30/07/2024)
Why the Radical Road in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park needs to reopen now after being shut for nearly six years (The Scotsman 31/07/2024)
Angela Rayner doesn’t know what a ‘beautiful’ building is. Has she seen Siena? (The Times 01/08/2024)
How emails reveal Scottish Government officials expected schools Raac funding a year ago (The Scotsman 13/08/2024)
Housing chief intervenes after ministers warn of cuts (The Scotsman 14/08/2024)
Creative Scotland warns of ‘managed decline’ outlook for the arts after being targeted for new cuts (The Scotsman 14/08/2024)
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Link to Parliamentary Questions and Answers
MOTIONS
S6M-13928
Submitted by: Kevin Stewart, Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party.
Date Lodged: 22/07/2024
That the Parliament believes that the regeneration, refurbishment and retrofitting of Scotland’s buildings and housing stock is vital to maintain vibrant communities, to reduce energy costs and to achieve net zero ambitions; understands that new build projects are zero-rated for VAT, but that refurbishment and retrofit schemes are still subject to the standard rate of 20% VAT; believes that this creates an unlevel playing field and often stops regeneration works from happening to existing buildings, and calls on the UK Government to abolish VAT on the regeneration, refurbishment and retrofitting of buildings in order to help boost sustainable economic growth, to bring derelict buildings back into use. and to achieve Scotland’s net zero targets.
S6M-13943
Submitted by: Lorna Slater, Lothian, Scottish Green Party.
Date Lodged: 24/07/2024
That the Parliament welcomes the announcement of Galloway being selected as Scotland’s next national park; understands that there was considerable interest in the process, with bids from across the country, all carrying bold visions of people and nature thriving together, and welcomes what it sees as the transformative impact that this will have in terms of local nature, communities, investment, protections and opportunities, all to bring forward a fairer and greener country that sustains and celebrates Scotland’s biodiverse nature and landscapes.
S6M-14024
Submitted by: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
Date Lodged: 07/08/2024
That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the report, Meeting Scotland’s Retrofit Challenge: solutions from the industry, jointly published by 14 leading built environment sector organisations; recognises that this paper follows a “Retrofit Roundtable” meeting convened at the Scottish Parliament in May 2023; notes the support for the report’s key policy recommendations to establish a Ministerial Oversight Group on Retrofit and to develop a long-term Retrofit Delivery Plan with a joined-up approach to funding, regulating and incentivising retrofit work across Scotland, including in the Central Scotland region; further notes the calls on the Scottish Government to significantly increase the pace and scale of retrofit projects being undertaken across the country; welcomes the publication of the Scottish Law Commission’s discussion paper on the proposed scheme for owners’ associations; recognises that this discussion paper follows the work of the Tenement Maintenance Working Group, convened at the Scottish Parliament in March 2018, which was established to explore actions that could be taken to improve the condition of Scotland’s tenements; acknowledges that the Scottish Law Commission’s discussion project responds to the Tenement Maintenance Working Group’s recommendation that every tenement building in Scotland should have an owners’ association to coordinate work to the building and a corresponding reference received from the Scottish Government to that effect in January 2022, and notes the discussion paper’s proposals concerning the functions, powers and duties of a tenement owners’ association, including the role of an association manager, decision-making procedures, liability of owners for costs and the implementation of an annual budgeting system.
Current status: Achieved cross-party support
EVENTS
For further listings, please see BEFS events calendar
Scottish Heritage Social Media Group – How to Develop a Social Media Strategy
Date & Time: Wednesday 28 August 2024; 3-4pm
Location: Online (Zoom)
Join David Fettes, Social Media Manager at the National Trust for Scotland, to hear about the creation of the Trust’s social media strategy and learn about a framework and key takeaways that you can implement in your own strategy.
SURF Conference 2024 – Navigating Uncertainty: Community Regeneration and Resilience in Scotland
Date & Time: Thursday 29 August 2024; 10am-4pm
Location: COSLA Conference Centre, Edinburgh
SURF’s 2024 Annual Conference tackles the pressing challenges facing community regeneration in Scotland. Against a backdrop of national and international crises, constrained budgets, and potential public asset closures, the conference will explore strategies for resilience and regeneration. Drawing on 25 years of SURF Awards experience, discussions will focus on directing resources effectively, ensuring public benefit in asset management, and leveraging community-level responses. The event promises insights into navigating these uncertain times while fostering hope and practical solutions for Scotland’s communities.
Institution of Civil Engineers – Carbon management conversations: examples and application of the PAS 2080 standard
Date & Time: Thursday 29 August 2024; 9am-1pm
Location: University of Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre, Glasgow (hybrid event – also available online)
This event will showcase major developments in carbon management through debate, case studies, and best practice from industry experts. Learn about the PAS 2080 standard for carbon management in infrastructure and the built environment and hear how it is being applied to projects and organisations across Scotland. The event features insights into the 2023 update of PAS 2080, case studies on its application, and discussions on the future of carbon management in the industry. Speakers include experts from WSP, University of Strathclyde, and AECOM.
HES – Managing Change Guidance Programme Review
Date & Time: Thursday 29 August 2024; 10am-1pm and Tuesday 3 September 2024; 1-4pm
Location: Online (via Microsoft Teams)
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is conducting a review of their programme. These two identical online workshops are an opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback on the current guidance and help shape its future. The sessions will include break-out groups focusing on topics such as retrofit, accessibility, landscape, agriculture, and conservation areas. These workshops are designed for heritage, policy and planning professionals and organisations involved in decision-making processes related to the historic environment.
SPAB – Scotland’s Churches
Continuing the SPAB Scotland series investigating practical measures for those thinking about taking on a church for sale, whether privately or as part of a community group.
How to Care for Churchyards
Date & Time: Thursday 29 August 2024; 12-1:30pm
Location: Online
With many churches due to be sold over the coming years, and new owners taking these buildings on, this talk will investigate some of the common ownership scenarios, problems and legislation relating to graveyards.
High Level Maintenance & Steeplejacking
Date & Time: Thursday 5 September 2024; 12-1:30pm
Location: Online
A steeplejack is a craftsperson who scales tall buildings and church steeples to carry out repairs or maintenance. It’s a specialist trade and one that’s going through a period of change and modernisation, with new techniques and methods of access. Join this talk to hear a bit about the history of the trade, along with many fascinating stories of repairs.
Joseph Hansom’s Architecture
Date & Time: Thursday 19 September 2024; 12-1:30pm
Location: Online
This talk aims to highlight the richness of Scottish architecture in the ecclesiastical world. It complements an in-person Church Maintenance Day being hosted at St Mary at Lochee the following week.
Reading a Church
Date & Time: Thursday 3 October 2024; 12-1:30pm
Location: Online
If you know what to look for, it’s possible to uncover a building’s secrets by looking around for clues. This ‘reading’ of a building is a great skill, and this lecture by architect Ian Mitchell Davidson will follow the development of a single building from beginning to end, tracing its history and development through the centuries.
SGLH – AGM & Study Day at Cambo Gardens
Date & Time: Saturday 31 August 2024; 10:30am-3:30pm
Location: Cambo Gardens, Kingsbarns, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8QD
Scotland’s Garden and Landscape Heritage (SGLH) invites members and non-members to their annual AGM and study day. The event includes the AGM for SGLH members, lunch at Cambo Gardens Café, a talk on Cambo Estate’s history, and guided walks of the gardens and designed landscape led by Head Gardener Katherine Taylor. Cost: SGLH Members £20 (AGM attendance is free) / Non-members £25. Accessibility information available.
Doors Open Days 2024
Date & Time: 4 Weekends in September; see link for regional dates
Location: Throughout Scotland
The 2024 Doors Open Days festival programme is now live! Hundreds of events have been listed and more are being added each day. A fascinating variety of doors and sites will be open up and down the country. Be a tourist on your very own doorstep and unlock Scotland this September!
Under One Roof – Navigating tenement building repairs with East Lothian Council
Date & Time: Thursday 5 September 2024; 4-6pm
Location: Our Lady of Loretto Church, 17 Newbigging, Musselburgh, EH21 7AJ
Topics covered will include managing common repairs and dealing with mixed tenure repairs, as well as a presentation from East Lothian Council. After the presentations, there will be the opportunity to ask questions.
Under One Roof – Preserving our tenements with East Lothian Council and Dunbar CARS
Date & Time: Thursday 12 September 2024; 5-7pm
Location: The Dunbar Townhouse, High St, Dunbar EH42 1ER
Presentations will cover managing common repairs, how to navigate roofing and gutter maintenance, dealing with mixed tenure repairs, and an update from Dunbar Conservation and Regeneration Scheme. Under One Roof will be joined by architect Jo Parry-Geddes of Mill Architects who will give a presentation on tenement roof repairs. There will also be a Q&A session at the end.
A&DS – What next for place?
Date & Time: Wednesday 18 – Thursday 19 September 2024
Location: Advanced Research Centre (ARC), University of Glasgow, 11 Chapel Lane Glasgow G11 6EW
Imagine a future where place-based policies and practices are driven by the stories and identities that make our communities unique. What if we could harness the power of design and creativity to forge meaningful and equitable partnerships? How can this collaborative approach lead to positive outcomes for people, the places we inhabit, and the planet itself? These are the critical questions at the heart of the “What next for place?” conference. This event, over one and half days, is a catalyst for advancing next practices in creating places. Practitioners and academics will meet for a collaborative exploration of these crucial themes and work together over the event to co-produce some suggested principles for future place-based practices.
Heritage Trust Network – Conference 2024
Date & Time: Sunday 29 September – Tuesday 1 October 2024
Location: Dunfermline
Heritage Trust Network is bringing its conference to Dunfermline in 2024. Conference is always the highlight of the year, a fun and friendly mix of inspirational speakers, lively discussions and fascinating tours and visits to historic sites and community projects. Dunfermline has been chosen as the venue because of its fascinating mix of historic sites and the way local organisations are working together to make the most of its heritage assets following the granting of city status in 2022. The incredible philanthropic legacy of Andrew Carnegie is woven through the city’s cultural infrastructure. Network member, Fife Historic Buildings Trust, has recently been granted three-years of funding to help it develop restoration and re-use projects in Dunfermline.
Edinburgh 900 – Archaeology Conference 2024
Date & Time: Saturday 12 October 2024; 9am-5pm
Location: Lecture Theatre A, University of Edinburgh, 40 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JX
This conference is organised jointly by the City of Edinburgh Council Archaeology Service and the University of Edinburgh Department of Archaeology as part of the official celebrations for Edinburgh’s 900th Anniversary. The conference is open to all with an interest in our capital’s rich history. Attendees will hear and discuss the results of important archaeological fieldwork and scientific research on a wide range of topics, from the Burgh’s foundation in the 12th century through to the 20th century.
National Churches Trust – Building Sustainable Futures for Scottish Churches : Meet the Funders
Date & Time: Friday 1 November 2024; times tbc
Location: Paisley Abbey, Abbey Close, Paisley PA1 1JG
Join the National Churches Trust at Paisley Abbey to chat with funders and advisers all under one roof. They are there to help support all aspects of the work within your church building, whether it is from community, heritage, faith, tourism, or climate action sectors. Whether you are a congregation looking to repair a roof or to expand your community outreach; or a community organisation considering how to prepare a business plan and get advice on which insurance you will need, there will be someone there to help. Meet with the experts across the sectors and chat with churches, communities and organisations who have already tackled the challenges you are facing. A detailed programme is being compiled. Check this page for updates or sign up for updates below.
TRAINING
SLCT – Introduction to Stonemasonry
Date & Time: Tuesday 27 & Wednesday 28 August 2024; 9:30am-4:30pm
Location: Merryhill Training Centre, Charlestown, Dunfermline KY11 3DR
Taught by a time served Stonemason, this course is suitable for all abilities and covers an introduction to tools, techniques, and uses of basic stonemasonry. Learners can take away their practice stones at the end of the day.
SLCT – Introduction to Maintaining Traditional Buildings
Date & Time: Friday 30 August 2024; 10am-3pm
Location: Merryhill Training Centre, Charlestown, Dunfermline KY11 3DR
This course provides the perfect starting point if you are considering undertaking some simple repairs yourself. The course will outline the maintenance that traditional buildings require, and attendees will gain an understanding of traditional building techniques and the correct materials to use when undertaking repairs. This is also an excellent opportunity to speak to the SLCT’s expert tutors about your project.
C&BS – Sponsorship Matters: Managing Ethics and Risk
Date & Time: Tuesday 3 September 2024; 9:30am-12:30pm
Location: Online
A new training session to support fundraisers with concerns about ethics, due diligence and risk management around sponsorship.
£85 + VAT for C&BS members. £125 + VAT for non-members
C&BS – Fundraising Matters: Introduction to Fundraising
Date & Time: Tuesday 10 September 2024 & Tuesday 17 September 2024; 9:30am-12:30pm
Location: Online
This introductory course, led by Pam Judson, gives you the best possible foundations for starting your fundraising career.
£120 + VAT for C&BS members. £190 + VAT for non-members
C&BS – Board Matters: Thinking of Joining a Board?
Date & Time: Thursday 12 September 2024; 12-1pm
Location: Online
Do you care about the culture sector and want to play a part in its future? Then being a board member or trustee just might be for you. This webinar with Catriona Reynolds will help you understand what being on the Board of a cultural charity is all about.
FREE for C&BS members. £35 + VAT for non-members
VACANCIES
Scottish Historic Buildings Trust seeks four new trustees with expertise in areas such as strategy, finance, heritage conservation, marketing, fundraising, property development and asset management. Help shape the future of this leading organisation dedicated to preserving Scotland’s historic buildings. 3-year term, 4 meetings per year. For more information visit www.shbt.org.uk. To apply, email CV and cover letter to maggie.wright@mwa.co
We’re truly grateful for your continued support and engagement. Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in us to deliver relevant and timely information about the built environment sector.Please consider forwarding this newsletter on to colleagues, friends and family who are part of the sector, so they know where to go for staying informed about built environment sector news, vacancies, insights, policies.If you’d like to receive the bulletin as a bi-monthly email, you can subscribe here.Your support helps us grow and improve our service to the existing Scottish built environment community. Thank you for being part of our journey!
Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations
BEFS NEWS
The new 2024-2025 Heritage Careers Guide, compiled by Professor Ian Baxter in association with The Heritage Alliance and BEFS, is now available. This comprehensive resource lists a range of useful places to check for vacancies in the heritage sector, aiming to support students and job seekers in finding employment opportunities. The guide has been updated with new links and is freely available for viewing, downloading, and sharing.
With the recent changes in Westminster leadership, BEFS notes new pledges on housing delivery south of the border, with conversations about upcoming planning reform very much in the news. Topics discussed at the recent meeting between newly appointed UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney at Bute House, and Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ speech outlining plans to ‘fix the foundations’ of the UK economy could have implications for Scotland. While focusing on growth, planning reform, and infrastructure development, the Chancellor’s proposals, including changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and onshore wind policies, primarily target England. However, the emphasis on economic growth, increased housing targets, and infrastructure investments may influence policy discussions and decisions north of the border. BEFS will closely monitor any developments, assessing potential impacts on or opportunities for Scottish planning policies, on Scotland’s existing built environment, and any consequent shifts in the Scottish Government’s approach to planning, development, and economic strategy – and will keep members apprised of significant changes in this area.
A further note on planning – BEFS, on behalf of the Conservation Officers Group (COG), has written to the Minister for Public Finance, Ivan McKee and Chief Planner Fiona Simpson highlighting concerns around the recent implementation of phase 3 of Permitted Development Rights (PDR) in relation to Conservation Areas. Issues highlighted include increased pressures on planning authorities, loss of positive gains achieved through previous investment of public funds/grants, and ongoing work such as Heat in Buildings legislation and the EPC review, which could significantly interact with the detail and implementation of the PDR3 amendments.
As Edinburgh gears up for its festival season urbanists and heritage and built environment enthusiasts have a wealth of relevant events to explore. The Academy of Urbanism’s Young Urbanist Kathie Pollard has curated a selection of programmes from the Edinburgh Art, Book, and Fringe festivals that may interest those in the sector. From Thomas Heatherwick’s insights on design to explorations of local postcodes and global urban challenges, the festivals offer a unique opportunity to engage with urban issues through various cultural lenses. For full details and booking information, visit the Urbanist’s pick of the Edinburgh Art, Book and Fringe festival programmes.
Finally, we want to remind our readers and members that BEFS is following its summer bulletin schedule. This will be our last bulletin before the summer recess. To keep you abreast of any crucial developments, keep your eyes peeled for a concise summer update on 21st August, bridging the gap until our regular bulletin schedule resumes in September.
We’re grateful to have reached 1000 subscribers and counting – thank you for your continued support and engagement! We wish all our readers and members a pleasant and restorative summer ahead.
CONSULTATIONS
Review of charity regulation
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government ran a consultation in 2019 about proposals the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) had made on improvements to the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. In response to that consultation, it was noted that some respondents wanted a wider review of charity regulation. This consultation aims to understand if people still feel that way and if so, what they think should be the purpose and parameters for a review.
Closes 22 July 2024
Cultural engagement in Scotland: what is it and why does it matter?
Scottish Government
This survey has been developed to help the Scottish Government understand how people describe and enjoy culture, and what matters most to them. They are seeking views on the things that you enjoy doing and if you experience any challenges in accessing different activities and places. Scottish Government will use this information to better understand what everyday culture looks like and how it fits in your lives.
*NEW* Closes 29 July 2024
Tenement law: compulsory owners’ associations
Scottish Law Commission
In March 2018, a Scottish Parliament Working Group was convened to explore what actions could be taken to improve the condition of Scotland’s tenements. The Scottish Law Commission’s project follows from a reference under the Law Commissions Act 1965 received on 10 January 2022 from the (then) Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government (Shona Robison MSP). The reference asks for recommendations to be made to implement the Working Group’s recommendation that all tenements should have an owners’ association. Consultation is critical in all law reform projects to ensure that the final recommendations would, if implemented, result in law which is just, principled, responsive, and easy to understand.
Closes 1 August 2024
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26
Scottish Parliament
The Committee wants to gather views from individuals, groups and businesses operating in the culture sector to help make recommendations to the Scottish Government ahead of its Budget for 2025-26. The consultation focuses on planned budget increases, the culture strategy action plan, progress on innovative funding solutions, Creative Scotland’s multi-year funding programme and fair work.
Closes 9 August 2024
Flood resilience strategy
Scottish Government
Scotland’s climate has changed significantly and will continue to change for decades to come, resulting in the need to learn to live with and adapt to flooding in Scotland. The Flood Resilience Strategy will set out what needs to be done in the long term to create a flood resilient Scotland. The consultation paper sets out the principles guiding the strategy and the three key themes of people, places, and processes. These have been developed following a series of workshops and engagement with communities, practitioners, and researchers in 2023. The consultation paper contains full background information.
Closes 13 August 2024
Climate Change Targets Bill
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government has announced it will introduce legislation to amend its approach to setting targets for carbon emission reduction and move to a system of 5-yearly carbon budgets and away from a system of annual targets. This new legislation is expected to propose a new framework for re-setting interim emission reduction ambitions. The legislation is also likely to change the date by which the next Climate Change Plan (CCP) – the Government’s strategic delivery plan for meeting emissions reduction targets – is due. The Net Zero, Energy and Transport (NZET) Committee has agreed to carry out pre-legislative scrutiny in view of the Scottish Government’s stated intention to “expedite” the Bill through the Parliament and is inviting views for their consideration.
*NEW* Closes 16 August
Crofting consultation 2024
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is determined to ensure that crofting legislation enables and supports the sustainability of crofting, of crofters and crofting communities, and allows crofting to modernise, innovate, diversify, and adapt to help meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. This consultation seeks views on a range of proposals for crofting reform which will help to create opportunities for new entrants, encourage the active management and use of crofts and common grazings, and support rural population. The consultation paper contains full background information, including references to current legislation.
Closes 2 September 2024
Compulsory Purchase Reform
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government have committed to reform and modernise compulsory purchase legislation. As a first step, they have established an advisory group to help support the reform programme. The group, to be co-chaired by the Chief Planner and Roseanna Cunningham, brings together several expert practitioners with first-hand experience of the compulsory purchase process. They recognise, however, that a range of organisations have an interest in this area and are consulting broadly and are keen to hear from a wide range of voices as the work moves forward.
Please get in touch at CPO.Reform@gov.scot
VAT and Listed Buildings Survey
Historic Houses
Historic Houses, in collaboration with Harlow Consulting, has launched a survey to assess the impacts of VAT on the repair, maintenance, and restoration of heritage buildings. The survey aims to gather evidence to support the case for a potential VAT rebate scheme for listed buildings open to the public for at least 28 days a year. Owners or managers of listed buildings that operate as heritage attractions are encouraged to participate. The survey covers topics such as property details, VAT impacts, building condition, repair costs, and community engagement. If you have any questions about this survey, please contact James Legard at Harlow Consulting or Sarah Roller at Historic Houses.
CONSULTATION RESPONSES
Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill – Consultation Feedback (Scot Gov 09/07/2024)
NEWS RELEASES
Architecture and Design Scotland launches “Value of Design” campaign (Architecture & Design Scotland 27/06/2024)
PUBLICATIONS
New chancellor, new rules: How Rachel Reeves can improve the framework for fiscal policy making (Institute for Government 07/07/2024)
National Planning Framework 4: Guidance from the Courts (Morton Fraser MacRoberts 08/07/2024)
Heritage Careers Guide 2024-2025 (Ian Baxter, BEFS, The Heritage Alliance 13/07/2024)
SCOTTISH & UK: GOVERNMENTAL & PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS
Correspondence between the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee and Ivan McKee regarding an update on the government’s work to conduct a Local Governance Review (Scot Parl June 2024)
Correspondence between the Local Government, Housing and Planning and Ivan McKee regarding the annual review of NPF4 (Scot Parl 26/06/2024)
Correspondence between the Judicial Office For Scotland and the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee regarding the Housing and Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Scot Parl 27/06/2024)
Correspondence between the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee and COSLA, City of Edinburgh Council, South Lanarkshire Council, West Dunbartonshire Council, Scottish Borders Council, Local Authorities and Fife Council regarding the terms of an inquiry into the housing emergency (Scot Parl 28/06/2024)
Community right to buy – Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation: model template and guidance (Scot Gov 05/07/2024)
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC): Management Sub-group minutes – January 2024, Management Sub-group minutes – February 2024 and Management Sub-group minutes – April 2024 (Scot Gov 05/07/2024)
Speech: Chancellor Rachel Reeves is taking immediate action to fix the foundations of our economy (UK Gov 08/07/2024)
Culture Fair Work Taskforce minutes: May 2024 (Scot Gov 08/07/2024)
Public appointment: Members reappointed to the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Board (Scot Gov 08/07/2024)
Construction pipeline forecast tool: CPN 2/2024 (Scot Gov 08/07/2024)
Correspondence between the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee and Jamie Hepburn regarding an update on the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 08/07/2024)
Planning and Architecture: Compulsory Purchase Reform (Scot Gov 09/07/2024)
Building standards – Futures Board Programme: workstream information (Scot Gov 09/07/2024)
Research to Inform National Planning Framework 4: Planning and Climate Change Guidance Report Issue 3 (Scot Gov 09/07/2024)
Members reappointed to the Crown Estate Scotland Board (Scot Gov 12/07/2024)
Members reappointed to the Board of National Galleries of Scotland (Scot Gov 12/07/2024)
Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group: terms of reference (Scot Gov 12/07/2024)
Planning and environmental appeals: quarterly performance statistics (Scot Gov 12/07/2024)
Correspondence between Paul McLennan and the Social Justice and Social Security Committee regarding issues raised on housing and homelessness (Scot Gov 12/07/2024)
SPICe Briefing: One land, many functions: exploring ‘integrated land use’ (SPICe 12/07/2024)
OPINION & COMMENT
Scottish wind farms call for greater government subsidies (The Herald 08/07/2024)
‘Levelling up’ phrase to be erased, says minister (BBC News 09/07/2024)
Ministers warned £9bn needed for new homes to end housing emergency (The Herald 10/07/2024)
UK ministers preparing king’s speech containing at least 30 bills to include devolution, housebuilding and green energy (The Guardian 11/07/2024)
Governments working together to save Grangemouth (BBC News 12/07/2024)
How Scotland’s homes keep getting less affordable (BBC News 15/07/2024)
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Link to Parliamentary Questions and Answers
EVENTS
For further listings, please see BEFS events calendar
Scottish Government – Crofting Reform Meetings
Date & Time: Wednesday 3 July – Thursday 15 August 2024
Location: Scotland (various)
People across Scotland are being invited to have a say on how crofting is reformed and the Scottish Government is hosting an extensive programme of meetings stretching from Oban to Shetland. The consultation, which runs until 2 September 2024, seeks views on a range of proposals for crofting reform. Your views will help to create opportunities for new entrants, encourage the active management and use of crofts and common grazings, and support rural population.
Scotland’s Heritage Hub Project – The Future of Community Heritage in Scotland: Summer Get-Together
Date & Time: Tuesday 23 July 2024; 3-5.45pm
Location: Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL
Everyone is welcome to come along to look back on Scotland’s Heritage Hub Project so far and share some ideas about the future. Over recent months discussions have been held about the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland’s plans for developing a new space for people to learn about and contribute to Scotland’s heritage. You can read about some of these here. This event, will bring together some of the contributors and unpack some of the interesting ideas and proposals, including a brand new resource developed by Emily Johnston (FSAScot), PhD researcher at the University of Edinburgh.
Scottish Parliament & Scotland’s Futures Forum – Festival of Politics 2024
Date & Time: Monday 19 – Friday 23 August 2024
Location: Scottish Parliament Building, Horse Wynd, Edinburgh EH99 1SP
The Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics is a five-day programme of over 30 events, in the home of Scottish politics at Holyrood. The 20th Festival promises informed debate and inspiring topics on a range of social, political, and environmental issues facing the world today. Leading experts from the worlds of politics, the arts, business, the media, academia and the third sector will assemble for a deep dive into issues dominating the news agenda. Join in and have your say.
Keep Scotland Beautiful – National Conversation on Heritage and Place.
Date & Time: Tuesday 20 August 2024; 1-2pm
Location: Online (MS Teams)
Hear from those taking positive action to protect and improve Scotland’s heritage and places and be inspired to get involved. This free event will showcase the work of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Our Heritage, Our Future project, considering how communities can actively engage with local heritage using place planning techniques, community-focused heritage training, and school engagement. This event is part of the series of National Conversations which will bring together influential, knowledgeable, and inspiring people and organisations to share experiences, insight and learning across the four strategic themes that Keep Scotland Beautiful works towards.
Heritage Trust Network – High Street Regeneration: Finding new uses for old buildings.
Date & Time: Wednesday 21 August 2024; 9.30am-4.30pm
Location: The Art Department, 2-10 Causeyside Street Paisley PA1 1UQ
Empty buildings on our high streets often stir up passion in communities and feature in news headlines, however things aren’t as bleak as they may seem like communities are breathing new life into these buildings and reactivating their local areas. Join the Heritage Trust Network at the Art Department, a theatre space in a former department store in Paisley, to hear from those who have been there, done it and bought the t-shirt or who have kept an eye on UK high streets’ changing fortunes.
Scottish Heritage Social Media Group – How to Develop a Social Media Strategy
Date & Time: Wednesday 28 August 2024; 3-4pm
Location: Online (Zoom)
Join David Fettes, Social Media Manager at the National Trust for Scotland, to hear about the creation of the Trust’s social media strategy and learn about a framework and key takeaways that you can implement in your own strategy.
SURF Conference 2024 – Navigating Uncertainty: Community Regeneration and Resilience in Scotland
Date & Time: Thursday 29 August 2024; 10am-4pm
Location: COSLA Conference Centre, Edinburgh
SURF’s 2024 Annual Conference tackles the pressing challenges facing community regeneration in Scotland. Against a backdrop of national and international crises, constrained budgets, and potential public asset closures, the conference will explore strategies for resilience and regeneration. Drawing on 25 years of SURF Awards experience, discussions will focus on directing resources effectively, ensuring public benefit in asset management, and leveraging community-level responses. The event promises insights into navigating these uncertain times while fostering hope and practical solutions for Scotland’s communities.
For more information and booking, visit the SURF website.
Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) – Carbon management conversations: examples and application of the PAS 2080 standard
Date & Time: Thursday 29 August 2024; 9am-1pm
Location: University of Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre, Glasgow (hybrid event – also available online)
This event will showcase major developments in carbon management through debate, case studies, and best practice from industry experts. Learn about the PAS 2080 standard for carbon management in infrastructure and the built environment and hear how it is being applied to projects and organisations across Scotland. The event features insights into the 2023 update of PAS 2080, case studies on its application, and discussions on the future of carbon management in the industry. Speakers include experts from WSP, University of Strathclyde, and AECOM.
For more information and booking, visit the ICE website.
Heritage Trust Network – Conference 2024
Date & Time: Sunday 29 September – Tuesday 1 October 2024
Location: Dunfermline
Heritage Trust Network is bringing its conference to Dunfermline in 2024. Conference is always the highlight of the year, a fun and friendly mix of inspirational speakers, lively discussions and fascinating tours and visits to historic sites and community projects. Dunfermline has been chosen as the venue because of its fascinating mix of historic sites and the way local organisations are working together to make the most of its heritage assets following the granting of city status in 2022. The incredible philanthropic legacy of Andrew Carnegie is woven through the city’s cultural infrastructure. Network member, Fife Historic Buildings Trust, has recently been granted three-years of funding to help it develop restoration and re-use projects in Dunfermline.
National Churches Trust – Building Sustainable Futures for Scottish Churches : Meet the Funders
Date & Time: Friday 1 November 2024; times tbc
Location: Paisley Abbey, Abbey Close, Paisley PA1 1JG
Join the National Churches Trust at Paisley Abbey to chat with funders and advisers all under one roof. They are there to help support all aspects of the work within your church building, whether it is from community, heritage, faith, tourism, or climate action sectors. Whether you are a congregation looking to repair a roof or to expand your community outreach; or a community organisation considering how to prepare a business plan and get advice on which insurance you will need, there will be someone there to help. Meet with the experts across the sectors and chat with churches, communities and organisations who have already tackled the challenges you are facing. A detailed programme is being compiled. Check this page for updates or sign up for updates below.
TRAINING
SPAB – Limeworking at Saddell Castle
Date & Time: Saturday 27 July 2024; 10am-4pm & Sunday 28 July 2024; 9am-3pm
Location: Saddell Castle, Saddell, PA28 6QS Kintyre
Join SPAB Scotland for this weekend event at Category A listed Saddell Castle. Under the guidance of experts, you’ll learn traditional limeworking techniques and carry out real repairs on a live site, as part of a major conservation project run by the Landmark Trust. Richard Fraser and the team at LimeRich will be your tutors for the weekend. You will learn about hot mixing of lime mortar and harling, apply the harling and, if time allows finish with some lime washing. It’s not every day you get to say you repaired a castle. Places are limited, so book yours now!
SLCT – Introduction to Stonemasonry
Date & Time: Tuesday 27 & Wednesday 28 August 2024; 9.30am-4.30pm
Location: Merryhill Training Centre, Charlestown, Dunfermline KY11 3DR
Taught by a time served Stonemason, this course is suitable for all abilities and covers an introduction to tools, techniques and uses of basic stonemasonry. Learners can take away their practice stones at the end of the day.
SLCT – Introduction to Maintaining Traditional Buildings
Date & Time: Friday 30 August 2024; 10am-3pm
Location: Merryhill Training Centre, Charlestown, Dunfermline KY11 3DR
This course provides the perfect starting point if you are considering undertaking some simple repairs yourself. The course will outline the maintenance that traditional buildings require and attendees will gain an understanding of traditional building techniques and the correct materials to use when undertaking repairs. This is also an excellent opportunity to speak to the SLCT’s expert tutors about your project.
C&BS – Sponsorship Matters: Managing Ethics and Risk
Date & Time: Tuesday 3 September 2024; 9.30am-12.30pm
Location: Online
A new training session to support fundraisers with concerns about ethics, due diligence and risk management around sponsorship.
£85 + VAT for C&BS members. £125 + VAT for non-members
C&BS – Fundraising Matters: Introduction to Fundraising
Date & Time: Tuesday 10 September 2024 & Tuesday 17 September 2024; 9.30am-12.30pm
Location: Online
This introductory course, led by Pam Judson, gives you the best possible foundations for starting your fundraising career.
£120 + VAT for C&BS members. £190 + VAT for non-members
C&BS – Board Matters: Thinking of Joining a Board?
Date & Time: Thursday 12 September 2024; 12-1pm
Location: Online
Do you care about the culture sector and want to play a part in its future? Then being a board member or trustee just might be for you. This webinar with Catriona Reynolds will help you understand what being on the Board of a cultural charity is all about.
FREE for C&BS members. £35 + VAT for non-members.
VACANCIES
Salary: £20,160 per annum (equivalent to £33,600 full time)
Status: Part time (0.6 FTE, 21 hours per week); 2 Years (Fixed Term)
Location: Home based in Scotland, with travel throughout the country
Are you passionate about helping churches near you to remain open and thrive? If you can respond to enquiries and engage with stakeholders, you could make a massive difference to the churches, chapels, and meeting houses in Scotland as a Cherish Support Officer. Join the team in Scotland working to keep churches open and in use. In partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Cherish project supports capacity building and improving the condition of places of worship across Scotland. The Support Officer is responsible for the content and delivery of support and advice, and grant assessments, in collaboration with the wider Church Engagement team. The role involves giving presentations to church volunteers, helping them to care for their historic church buildings; building local connections and partnerships, and contributing to sector forums.
Download the information pack for more details.
Closing date: Friday 2 August 2024 at 5pmScottish Historic Buildings Trust – Trustee Roles
Scottish Historic Buildings Trust seeks four new trustees with expertise in areas such as strategy, finance, heritage conservation, marketing, fundraising, property development and asset management. Help shape the future of this leading organisation dedicated to preserving Scotland’s historic buildings. 3-year term, 4 meetings per year. For more information visit www.shbt.org.uk. To apply, email CV and cover letter to maggie.wright@mwa.co1000 readers and counting!
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Please consider forwarding this newsletter on to colleagues, friends and family who are part of the sector, so they know where to go for staying informed about built environment sector news, vacancies, insights, policies.
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Your support helps us grow and improve our service to the existing Scottish built environment community. Thank you for being part of our journey!
Your gateway to a career in heritage: discover job opportunities, key organisations, and expert advice in this comprehensive guide for students, graduates, and professionals in the heritage sector.
BEFS is pleased to present the latest edition of the Heritage Careers Guide, compiled by Professor Ian Baxter (Heriot-Watt University) in collaboration with The Heritage Alliance and BEFS.
This comprehensive resource is designed to support students, recent graduates, and professionals looking to start or advance their careers in the heritage sector. The guide offers:
- A curated list of job boards and vacancy announcement platforms specific to the heritage field
- Information on key organisations and institutions in the sector
- Tips for finding and applying for heritage jobs
- Insights into various career paths within the heritage industry
Whether you’re just starting your journey in heritage or looking to make a career change, this guide provides valuable information to help navigate the job market in this dynamic and rewarding field.
The 2024-2025 edition includes updated links and new resources based on feedback from users and industry professionals.
- Access the Guide here.
- Click here to download the Guide.
We encourage you to share this resource widely with colleagues, students, and anyone interested in pursuing a career in heritage.
For any questions or feedback about the guide, please contact info@befs.org.uk
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Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations
BEFS NEWS
BEFS welcomes Karen Anderson, who has become the new President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), with her two-year term of office formally beginning at the RIAS AGM.
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has opened nominations for two prestigious awards: the Building Craftsperson of the Year Awards and the Sustainable Heritage Awards. Both nomination processes opened on 20 June 2024, with a closing date of 31 July 2024.
Two significant bills have recently progressed through the Scottish Parliament:
The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill received backing from MSPs on 18 June 2024. This legislation aims to transform how the Scottish Government supports farming and food production, with a focus on sustainable and regenerative practices. Notably, the bill now includes provisions for the historic environment, following successful lobbying efforts by Archaeology Scotland, the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, the National Trust for Scotland, and BEFS.
The Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 26 June 2024. While the final version does not include specific provisions for construction materials, BEFS worked alongside the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) to raise awareness of this issue more broadly. The bill aims to support Scotland’s transition to a circular economy, focusing on reducing waste and promoting resource efficiency.
BEFS is pleased to announce its summer bulletin schedule, ensuring our readers and members stay informed during the holiday period:
- Our next comprehensive bulletin will be released on 17th July, providing you with the latest updates before the summer recess.
- To keep you abreast of any crucial developments, we’ll publish a concise summer update on 21st August, bridging the gap until our regular bulletin schedule resumes.
We appreciate your continued engagement and wish all our readers and members a pleasant and restorative summer.
CONSULTATIONS
Time limits for enforcement action for unauthorised Environmental Impact Assessment development
Scottish Government
Comments are invited on proposals to disapply Section 124 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (‘the 1997 Act’) concerning the time limits for taking enforcement action on unauthorised development, which requires an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This follows a case of unauthorised development in Northern Ireland for which an EIA was required, but not undertaken. The need for EIA was only identified after the time limit for enforcement had expired and the development was immune from enforcement action. As the Scottish planning system is like the system in Northern Ireland, the Scottish Government considers it is possible, although unlikely, that a similar situation could arise in Scotland.
Closes 11 July 2024
Review of charity regulation
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government ran a consultation in 2019 about proposals the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) had made on improvements to the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. In response to that consultation, it was noted that some respondents wanted a wider review of charity regulation. This consultation aims to understand if people still feel that way and if so, what they think should be the purpose and parameters for a review.
Closes 22 July 2024
Tenement law: compulsory owners’ associations
Scottish Law Commission
In March 2018, a Scottish Parliament Working Group was convened to explore what actions could be taken to improve the condition of Scotland’s tenements. The Scottish Law Commission’s project follows from a reference under the Law Commissions Act 1965 received on 10 January 2022 from the (then) Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government (Shona Robison MSP). The reference asks for recommendations to be made to implement the Working Group’s recommendation that all tenements should have an owners’ association. Consultation is critical in all law reform projects to ensure that the final recommendations would, if implemented, result in law which is just, principled, responsive, and easy to understand.
Closes 1 August 2024
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26
Scottish Parliament
The Committee wants to gather views from individuals, groups and businesses operating in the culture sector to help make recommendations to the Scottish Government ahead of its Budget for 2025-26. The consultation focuses on planned budget increases, the culture strategy action plan, progress on innovative funding solutions, Creative Scotland’s multi-year funding programme and fair work.
Closes 9 August 2024
Flood resilience strategy
Scottish Government
Scotland’s climate has changed significantly and will continue to change for decades to come, resulting in the need to learn to live with and adapt to flooding in Scotland. The Flood Resilience Strategy will set out what needs to be done in the long term to create a flood resilient Scotland. The consultation paper sets out the principles guiding the strategy and the three key themes of people, places, and processes. These have been developed following a series of workshops and engagement with communities, practitioners, and researchers in 2023. The consultation paper contains full background information.
Closes 13 August 2024
Crofting consultation 2024
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is determined to ensure that crofting legislation enables and supports the sustainability of crofting, of crofters and crofting communities, and allows crofting to modernise, innovate, diversify, and adapt to help meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. This consultation seeks views on a range of proposals for crofting reform which will help to create opportunities for new entrants, encourage the active management and use of crofts and common grazings, and support rural population. The consultation paper contains full background information, including references to current legislation.
Closes 2 September 2024
Compulsory Purchase Reform
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government have committed to reform and modernise compulsory purchase legislation. As a first step, they have established an advisory group to help support the reform programme. The group, to be co-chaired by the Chief Planner and Roseanna Cunningham, brings together several expert practitioners with first-hand experience of the compulsory purchase process. They recognise, however, that a range of organisations have an interest in this area and are consulting broadly and are keen to hear from a wide range of voices as the work moves forward.
Please get in touch at CPO.Reform@gov.scot
CONSULTATION RESPONSES
Building standards enforcement and sanctions: consultation outcome report (Scot Gov 07/06/2024)
Building standards enforcement and sanctions: consultation analysis (Scot Gov 07/06/2024)
Building standards enforcement and sanctions: consultation feedback (Scot Gov 12/06/2024)
Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 – proposed amendments: consultation analysis (Scot Gov 25/06/2024)
PETITIONS
SPICe briefing on PE1885: Make offering Community Shared Ownership mandatory for all windfarm development planning proposals.
NEWS RELEASES
Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre to become non-domestic retrofit demonstrator (BE-ST 30/04/2024)
Building Craftsperson of the Year Awards – Open for Nominations (SPAB 20/06/2024)
Sustainable Heritage Awards – Open for Nominations (SPAB 20/06/2024)
Keep Scotland Beautiful welcome two new Heads of Service and bid farewell to their Deputy CEO (Keep Scotland Beautiful 24/06/2024)
Karen Anderson is the new RIAS President (RIAS 26/06/2024)
General Election 2024 – Party Manifesto Pledges for Culture (Culture Counts 28/06/2024)
PUBLICATIONS
2022/23 Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Analysis Report (Edinburgh Climate Change Institute 28/05/2024)
Economic activity and social change in the UK, real-time indicators (ONS 20/06/2024)
The Foundations of the Housing Crisis: How our extractive land and development models work against public good (New Economics Foundation 27/06/2024)
How would the parties’ tax and spending plans affect Scotland and Wales? (Institute for Fiscal Studies 28/06/2024)
SCOTTISH & UK: GOVERNMENTAL & PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS
Correspondence between Kate Forbes and the Economy and Fair Work Committee regarding the government’s economic priorities (Scot Gov 17/06/2024)
Agriculture Bill to become law (Scot Gov 18/06/2024)
Committee Membership: New appointments to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee; Rural Affairs and Islands Committee & Economy and Fair Work Committee (Scot Parl 18/06/2024)
Strategic environmental assessment: pre-screening register (Scot Gov 18/06/2024)
Correspondence between Shirley-Anne Somerville and the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee regarding delegated powers contained within the Housing (Scotland) Bill (Scot Gov 18/06/2024)
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee: Official Report & Minutes (Scot Parl 18/06/2024)
Housing to 2040 Strategic Board minutes: February 2024 (Scot Gov 18/06/2024)
Màiri McAllan maternity cover (Scot Gov 19/06/2024)
Scotland’s Heat Network Fund: application guidance (Scot Gov 19/06/2024)
Correspondence between the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee and Paul McLennan regarding the government’s intended changes to the Housing (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 19/06/2024)
Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) guidance note (Scot Gov 20/06/2024)
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee: Official Report (Scot Parl 20/06/2024)
Correspondence between the Scottish Association of Landlords and the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee with supplementary evidence on the Housing (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 20/06/2024)
Correspondence between Citizens Advice Scotland and the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee with supplementary evidence on the Housing (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 20/06/2024)
Households and Dwellings in Scotland, 2023 (National Records of Scotland 20/06/2024)
Cladding Remediation Programme: Single Building Assessment specification (Scot Gov 21/06/2024)
Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Bill receives Royal Assent (Scot Parl 21/06/2024)
Housing (Scotland) Bill: equality impact assessment results summary (Scot Gov 21/06/2024)
Delegated powers contained in the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill following amendments made at Stage 2 (Scot Parl 21/06/2024)
Correspondence between the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee and Mairi Gougeon regarding delegated powers contained within the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 21/06/2024)
Housing (Scotland) Bill – clerks note (Scot Parl 25/06/2024)
Land Reform (Scotland) Bill – clerks note (Scot Parl 25/06/2024)
Quarterly Housing Statistics in 2023-24 (Scot Gov 25/06/2024)
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill at Stage 3: timed groupings of amendments (Scot Parl 25/06/2024)
Local Government 2023-24 Provisional Outturn and 2024-25 Budget Estimates (Scot Gov 25/06/2024)
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft] Official Report (Scot Parl 25/06/2024)
Correspondence between the Finance and Public Administration Committee and Paul McLennan regarding the Housing (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 25/06/2024)
Correspondence between the Finance and Public Administration Committee and John-Paul Marks regarding the co-design process of a bill moving through parliament (Scot Parl 26/06/2024)
Circular Economy Bill passed (Scot Gov 26/06/2024)
Tackling the climate emergency: speech by the Minister for Climate Action (Scot Gov 26/06/2024)
Updates to short-term lets licensing scheme approved (Scot Gov 26/06/2024)
Development plan correspondence: list (Scot Gov 27/06/2024)
Building standards – workforce data collection: analysis report 2023 (Scot Gov 28/06/2024)
Heat network projects: quarterly report – June 2024 (Scot Gov 28/06/2024)
Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme: June 2024 (Scot Gov 28/06/2024)
Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2023 (Scot Gov 28/06/2024)
Scottish City Region and Growth Deal Delivery Board: May 2024 (Scot Gov 28/06/2024)
Development plan examinations: list (Scot Gov 01/07/2024)
Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (ESJTP): letter to Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy (Scot Gov 01/07/2024)
OPINION & COMMENT
Scotland misses another climate change target (BBC News 18/06/2024)
Retrofit: What can we learn from Ireland? (BE-ST 24/06/2024)
The Importance of Planning Policy (The Cockburn Association 25/06/2024)
‘We want to enable more disabled people to discover Scotland’ (The Herald 27/06/2024)
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Link to Parliamentary Questions and Answers
MOTIONS
S6M-13759
Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party.
Date Lodged: 24/06/2024
That the Parliament reaffirms its unwavering commitment to tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss through a just and fair transition; believes firmly in, and accepts, climate science and expert advice and its importance in reaching net zero, and rejects, therefore, climate science denial.
Current status: Agreed to unanimously. Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday 26 June 2024.
S6M-13757
Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party.
Date Lodged: 24/06/2024
That the Parliament agrees that the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill be passed.
Current status: Agreed to unanimously. Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday 26 June 2024.
S6M-13792
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party.
Date Lodged: 25/06/2024
That the Parliament agrees that the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Amendment Order 2024 [draft] be approved.
Current status: Agreed with abstentions from the Conservatives and Labour (For 68, Against 0, Abstentions 46). Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, 26 June 2024
S6M-13784 & S6M-13782
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party.
Date Lodged: 25/06/2024
That the Parliament agrees that –
Gillian Mackay be appointed to replace Ross Greer as the Scottish Green Party substitute on the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee;
Lorna Slater be appointed to replace Mark Ruskell as the Scottish Green Party substitute on the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee;
Lorna Slater be appointed to replace Maggie Chapman as the Scottish Green Party substitute on the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, and
Patrick Harvie be appointed to replace Maggie Chapman as the Scottish Green Party substitute on the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.
Patrick Harvie be appointed to replace Mark Ruskell as a member of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, 26 June 2024.
EVENTS
For further listings, please see our events calendar
Date & Time: Wednesday 3 July – Thursday 15 August 2024
Location: Scotland (various)
People across Scotland are being invited to have a say on how crofting is reformed and the Scottish Government is hosting an extensive programme of meetings stretching from Oban to Shetland. The consultation, which runs until 2 September 2024, seeks views on a range of proposals for crofting reform. Your views will help to create opportunities for new entrants, encourage the active management and use of crofts and common grazings, and support rural population.Scottish Parliament & Scotland’s Futures Forum – Festival of Politics 2024
Date & Time: Monday 19 – Friday 23 August 2024
Location: Scottish Parliament Building, Horse Wynd, Edinburgh EH99 1SP
The Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics is a five-day programme of over 30 events, in the home of Scottish politics at Holyrood. The 20th Festival promises informed debate and inspiring topics on a range of social, political, and environmental issues facing the world today. Leading experts from the worlds of politics, the arts, business, the media, academia and the third sector will assemble for a deep dive into issues dominating the news agenda. Join in and have your say.
Heritage Trust Network – High Street Regeneration: Finding new uses for old buildings.
Date & Time: Wednesday 21 August 2024; 9.30am-4.30pm
Location: The Art Department, 2-10 Causeyside Street Paisley PA1 1UQ
Empty buildings on our high streets often stir up passion in communities and feature in news headlines, however things aren’t as bleak as they may seem like communities are breathing new life into these buildings and reactivating their local areas. Join the Heritage Trust Network at the Art Department, a theatre space in a former department store in Paisley, to hear from those who have been there, done it and bought the t-shirt or who have kept an eye on UK high streets’ changing fortunes.
Scottish Heritage Social Media Group – How to Develop a Social Media Strategy
Date & Time: Wednesday 28 August 2024; 3-4pm
Location: Online (Zoom)
Join David Fettes, Social Media Manager at the National Trust for Scotland, to hear about the creation of the Trust’s social media strategy and learn about a framework and key takeaways that you can implement in your own strategy.
Heritage Trust Network – Conference 2024
Date & Time: Sunday 29 September – Tuesday 1 October 2024
Location: Dunfermline
Heritage Trust Network is bringing its conference to Dunfermline in 2024. Conference is always the highlight of the year, a fun and friendly mix of inspirational speakers, lively discussions and fascinating tours and visits to historic sites and community projects. Dunfermline has been chosen as the venue because of its fascinating mix of historic sites and the way local organisations are working together to make the most of its heritage assets following the granting of city status in 2022. The incredible philanthropic legacy of Andrew Carnegie is woven through the city’s cultural infrastructure. Network member, Fife Historic Buildings Trust, has recently been granted three-years of funding to help it develop restoration and re-use projects in Dunfermline.
TRAINING
SPAB – Limeworking at Saddell Castle
Date & Time: Saturday 27 July 2024; 10am-4pm & Sunday 28 July 2024; 9am-3pm
Location: Saddell Castle, Saddell, PA28 6QS Kintyre
Join SPAB Scotland for this weekend event at Category A listed Saddell Castle. Under the guidance of experts, you’ll learn traditional limeworking techniques and carry out real repairs on a live site, as part of a major conservation project run by the Landmark Trust. Richard Fraser and the team at LimeRich will be your tutors for the weekend. You will learn about hot mixing of lime mortar and harling, apply the harling and, if time allows finish with some lime washing. It’s not every day you get to say you repaired a castle. Places are limited, so book yours now!
C&BS – Sponsorship Matters: Managing Ethics and Risk
Date & Time: Tuesday 3 September 2024; 9.30am-12.30pm
Location: Online
A new training session to support fundraisers with concerns about ethics, due diligence and risk management around sponsorship.
£85 + VAT for C&BS members. £125 + VAT for non-members
C&BS – Fundraising Matters: Introduction to Fundraising
Date & Time: Tuesday 10 September 2024 & Tuesday 17 September 2024; 9.30am-12.30pm
Location: Online
This introductory course, led by Pam Judson, gives you the best possible foundations for starting your fundraising career.
£120 + VAT for C&BS members. £190 + VAT for non-members
C&BS – Board Matters: Thinking of Joining a Board?
Date & Time: Thursday 12 September 2024; 12-1pm
Location: Online
Do you care about the culture sector and want to play a part in its future? Then being a board member or trustee just might be for you. This webinar with Catriona Reynolds will help you understand what being on the Board of a cultural charity is all about.
FREE for C&BS members. £35 + VAT for non-members.
VACANCIES
Scottish Historic Buildings Trust seeks four new trustees with expertise in areas such as strategy, finance, heritage conservation, marketing, fundraising, property development and asset management. Help shape the future of this leading organisation dedicated to preserving Scotland’s historic buildings. 3-year term, 4 meetings per year. For more information visit www.shbt.org.uk. To apply, email CV and cover letter to maggie.wright@mwa.co
Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations
BEFS NEWS
In mid-July, BEFS will bid farewell to Director Ailsa Macfarlane as she takes up a new role as Head of National and International Partnerships for National Museums Scotland. During her 7 years at BEFS, first in Policy & Strategy and then as Director, Ailsa has made significant contributions to the organisation and the wider built environment sector. The BEFS Board and team express their gratitude and wish Ailsa the very best in her new role.
Hazel Johnson will step into the role of Interim Director from August. For those interested in the position of BEFS Director, the recruitment pack is now available. Read our full statement here and access the job details here.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has announced the appointment of Katerina Brown as their new CEO. Joining from the National Trust for Scotland, where she currently serves as Chief Operating Officer, Ms Brown brings a wealth of experience from both national and international financial services, renewable energy, and property sectors. Her passion for Scotland’s historic environment and proven track record in business are thought to make her an outstanding candidate to lead HES in delivering Scotland’s ambitious heritage strategy.
With the UK general election campaign in full swing, political parties have revealed their plans for supporting the museums and heritage sectors in their recently published manifestos. Whilst culture and heritage are devolved matters in Scotland, it’s interesting to read the range of commitments: from improving access to cultural assets and protecting national heritage to boosting funding for creative projects and promoting regional culture, each party has outlined its unique approach to the sector. To learn more about the specific pledges made by the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green, Plaid Cymru, Reform, and SNP parties, read the full report by Museums + Heritage.
SAVE Britain’s Heritage has launched a public petition calling on the Scottish Parliament to host a national debate to bolster safeguards for threatened listed buildings. The petition, currently under consideration by the Scottish Parliament, seeks to address a perceived loophole that allows for the demolition of listed buildings without sufficient evidence. It calls for enhanced policy guidance and mandatory engagement with conservation accredited engineers in cases involving listed buildings.
The National Retrofit Hub are calling on professionals, researchers and practitioners to contribute their knowledge on International Retrofit Delivery Models. Whether you have detailed case studies or brief insights, your contribution is crucial. Please complete this form to share your expertise and help create a valuable repository that supports effective policy-making and project delivery.
BE-ST, in collaboration with Robert Gordon University and Construction Leadership Forum have launched a survey: Digital representation of buildings: towards Digital twins – National Existing Building Database questionnaire which aims to identify current practices in assessing and managing maintenance, repair, retrofit and other building related works in the social housing sector in Scotland.
BEFS Director recently attended the short conference, and now Scotland’s Futures Forum have published their conference report on Scotland’s Housing and Net Zero Conference. The report highlights the challenges that will be faced tackling the carbon emissions created by Scotland’s housing – which account for 13% of total emissions. Delivering clean heating systems and warm homes are problematic, especially for old tenement buildings and in rural areas, which will only be exacerbated by several local authorities in Scotland declaring housing emergencies.
RTPI Scotland has secured funds from the Scottish Government for 10 postgraduate bursaries worth £5000 each. The bursaries will support students who have a place to study on an accredited planning Masters in a Scottish University. Applications will open on 24 June and close on 9 August 2024. Further information here.
The 2024 SURF Awards were launched on 6 June at a special online event. The Awards are delivered each year by SURF, a regeneration forum with over 300 cross-sector member organisations across Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Government. The purpose is to highlight, celebrate and share the achievements of initiatives that address physical, social and economic challenges in communities across Scotland.
And finally, it’s been a busy week for meetings, BEFS thanks CIOB for organising the MSP Retrofit breakfast yesterday, sharing the collective recommendations from the report, and we thank all those who attended the BEFS-facilitated VAT and Listed Buildings workshop with HES. Both are important topics, with many policy links.
CONSULTATIONS
National Performance Framework: Inquiry into proposed National Outcomes
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Government must, by law, review the National Outcomes for Scotland at least every five years. The Scottish Parliament must be consulted on proposed National Outcomes and considers the consultation the Government has carried out. The Scottish Government’s Report on proposed National Outcomes and its consultation was published on 2 May 2024. The Finance and Public Administration Committee is leading in considering the proposed National Outcomes, although some other Committees will wish to consider evidence in their areas of interest. There is one consultation for all Committees which seeks your views on the Government’s proposed National Outcomes.
Closes 28 June 2024
Inventory of Historic Battlefields – Revisions to Selection Guidance
Historic Environment Scotland
HES is proposing revisions to the battlefields selection guidance in response to recommendations made by Lichfields UK in a report that was commissioned in 2021 to inform best practice in the designation and management of inventory battlefields in the planning system. Many organisations and individuals play an important role in looking after Scotland’s historic battlefields, and their views are being requested to help HES to shape the changes being made to guidance to be applied when designating inventory battlefields.
Closes 2 July 2024
Time limits for enforcement action for unauthorised Environmental Impact Assessment development
Scottish Government
Comments are invited on proposals to disapply Section 124 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (‘the 1997 Act’) concerning the time limits for taking enforcement action on unauthorised development which requires an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This follows a case of unauthorised development in Northern Ireland for which an EIA was required, but not undertaken. The need for EIA was only identified after the time limit for enforcement had expired and the development was immune from enforcement action. As the Scottish planning system is like the system in Northern Ireland, the Scottish Government considers it is possible, although unlikely, that a similar situation could arise in Scotland.
Closes 11 July 2024
Review of charity regulation
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government ran a consultation in 2019 about proposals the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) had made on improvements to the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. In response to that consultation, it was noted that some respondents wanted a wider review of charity regulation. This consultation aims to understand if people still feel that way and if so, what they think should be the purpose and parameters for a review.
Closes 22 July 2024
Tenement law: compulsory owners’ associations
Scottish Law Commission
In March 2018, a Scottish Parliament Working Group was convened to explore what actions could be taken to improve the condition of Scotland’s tenements. The Scottish Law Commission’s project follows from a reference under the Law Commissions Act 1965 received on 10 January 2022 from the (then) Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government (Shona Robison MSP). The reference asks for recommendations to be made to implement the Working Group’s recommendation that all tenements should have an owners’ association. Consultation is critical in all law reform projects to ensure that the final recommendations would, if implemented, result in law which is just, principled, responsive, and easy to understand.
Closes 1 August 2024
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26
Scottish Parliament
The Committee wants to gather views from individuals, groups and businesses operating in the culture sector to help make recommendations to the Scottish Government ahead of its Budget for 2025-26. The consultation focuses on planned budget increases, the culture strategy action plan, progress on innovative funding solutions, Creative Scotland’s multi-year funding programme and fair work.
*NEW* Closes 9 August 2024
Flood resilience strategy
Scottish Government
Scotland’s climate has changed significantly and will continue to change for decades to come, resulting in the need to learn to live with and adapt to flooding in Scotland. The Flood Resilience Strategy will set out what needs to be done in the long term to create a flood resilient Scotland. The consultation paper sets out the principles guiding the strategy and the three key themes of people, places, and processes. These have been developed following a series of workshops and engagement with communities, practitioners, and researchers in 2023. The consultation paper contains full background information.
Closes 13 August 2024
Crofting consultation 2024
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is determined to ensure that crofting legislation enables and supports the sustainability of crofting, of crofters and crofting communities, and allows crofting to modernise, innovate, diversify and adapt to help meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. This consultation seeks views on a range of proposals for crofting reform which will help to create opportunities for new entrants, encourage the active management and use of crofts and common grazings, and support rural population. The consultation paper contains full background information, including references to current legislation.
*New* Closes 2 September 2024
Compulsory Purchase Reform
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government have committed to reform and modernise compulsory purchase legislation. As a first step, they have established an advisory group to help support the reform programme. The group, to be co-chaired by the Chief Planner and Roseanna Cunningham, brings together several expert practitioners with first-hand experience of the compulsory purchase process. They recognise, however, that a range of organisations have an interest in this area and are consulting broadly and are keen to hear from a wide range of voices as the work moves forward.
Please get in touch at CPO.Reform@gov.scot
CONSULTATION RESPONSES
Building standards enforcement and sanctions: consultation analysis & consultation outcome report (Scot Gov 07/06/2024)
PETITIONS
Submission from the Scottish Government regarding PE2026/D: Eliminate Council Tax discounts for second homes and vacant properties Scottish Government submission (Scot Gov 22/05/2024)
Submission from the Scottish Government regarding PE2075: Prioritise local participation in planning decisions (Scot Gov 04/06/2024)
PE2105: Safeguard Scottish Listed Buildings at risk of unnecessary demolition
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to set a minimum evidence requirement to prevent unnecessary use of emergency public safety powers to demolish listed buildings.
Created by: Lydia Franklin on behalf of SAVE Britain’s Heritage
Considered from: 06/06 2024
NEWS RELEASES
2024 SURF Awards Launched Online (SURF 06/06/2024)
Manifesto launched calling on the next UK Government to prioritise a clean energy future (Scottish renewables 07/06/2024)
National Federation of Self Employed & Small Businesses General Election Manifesto 2024 (fsb50 07/06/2024)
SAVE calls for national debate on demolition of Scottish heritage (Save Britain’s Heritage 11/06/2024)
Historic Environment Scotland appoints new CEO (HES 13/06/2024)
What the party manifestos have to say about museums and heritage (M&H Advisor 13/06/2024)
PUBLICATIONS
Counting the Cost: The case for making older people’s homes safe (Centre for Ageing Better 20/05/2024)
New Homes: An alternative is possible: Measuring the impact of cooperatives (IPPR 13/06/2024)
Briefing: Levelling up process following the general election in 2019 (National Institute of Economic and Social Research 14/06/2024)
SCOTTISH & UK: GOVERNMENTAL & PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS
Correspondence between The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee and Paul McLennan concerning how the government plans to respond to the housing emergency (Scot Parl 04/06/2024)
Skills: Shared Outcomes Assurance Group minutes: 05 March 2024 (Scot Gov 04/06/2024)
Energy consents: application procedure and publicity requirements & how to support or object to an application (Scot Gov 05/06/2024)
Correspondence between Angus Robertson and the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee with an update on the Culture Strategy Action Plan (Scot Parl 05/06/2024)
Scotland’s Housing and Net Zero Conference Report (Scotland’s Futures Forum 05/06/2024)
Briefing Paper: Land Reform (Scotland) Bill (SPICe 05/06/02024)
Briefing Paper: The Housing (Scotland) Bill (SPICe 06/06/2024)
Correspondence between the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee and Shirley-Anne Somerville regarding the Housing (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 06/06/2024)
Correspondence between the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee and Paul McLennan regarding implementation of short-term let licensing (Scot Parl 06/06/2024)
Correspondence between Mairi Gougeon and the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee with a draft outline of the Rural Support Plan under the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill (Scot Gov 07/06/2024)
The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (Scotland) regulations 2020: ICIA (Scot Gov 10/06/2024)
Building standards – guidance changes April 2024: letter to local authority verifiers – 25 March 2024 (Scot Gov 10/06/2024)
Planning – Compulsory Purchase Reform Scotland Practitioner Advisory Group: terms of reference (Scot Gov 11/06/2024)
Proposals and appeals against non-domestic revaluations (Scot Gov 12/06/2024)
Stage 3 of the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill: grouping of amendments, marshalled list of amendments & revised explanatory notes (Scot Gov 12/06/2024)
SPICe Briefing: Housing (Scotland) Bill (SPICe 13/06/2024)
Cabinet sub-committees: factsheet (Scot Gov 13/06/2024)
Circular Economy Scotland Bill daily lists of amendments for Wednesday 12, Thursday 13 and Friday 14 (Scot Parl 14/06/2024)
Delegated powers in the agriculture and rural communities (Scotland) bill (as amended at stage 2) (Scot Parl 14/06/2024)
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee Meeting Clerk’s Note (Scot Parl 18/06/2024)
Planning permission appeals: housing development statistics (Scot Gov 18/06/2024)
OPINION & COMMENT
Fixing poor-quality homes could save the NHS and social care £1.5bn a year (Housing Today 20/05/2024)
Where the Heavens Meet the Stars: A Visionary Project for Doon Valley’s Future (The Scottish Beacon 05/06/2024)
HES urged to ‘wake up and smell coffee’ over climate crisis (Midlothian View 07/06/2024)
Cross-party group calls for immediate action to tackle Scotland’s housing emergency (Scottish Housing News 07/06/2024)
Energy boss calls for urgent reforms to hit UK green targets (Financial Times 09/06/2024)
Rent controls will make housing crisis worse, government agency warns (The Times 10/06/2024)
For new towns to contribute significantly to housing supply, design and delivery must both be right (Centre for Public Policy UK General Election Policy Insights 11/06/2024)
Will I need to spend a lot insulating my home to get a heat pump? (The Guardian 13/06/2024)
Charity calls on ministers to ‘step in and save’ historic battlefield site (The Herald 13/06/2024)
Scottish arts organisations braced for harsh cuts as exodus of talent already underway (The Scotsman 16/06/2024)
Hope and despair. The strange case of Scotland’s ‘protected’ buildings (The Herald 17/06/2024)
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Link to Parliamentary Questions and Answers
MOTIONS
S6M-13502
Submitted by: Paul McLennan, East Lothian, Scottish National Party.
Date lodged: 05/06/2024
That the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee recommends that the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Amendment Order 2024 [draft] be approved.
S6M-13647
Submitted by: Christine Grahame, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party.
Date lodged: 14/06/2024
That the Parliament notes that 25 out of 32 local authorities have empty homes officers; recognises what it sees as the valued service that they provide; notes their on-the-ground experience of the diversity and complexity of the issue of long-term empty homes, particularly in the private sector, estimated to be around 40,000 houses, and with experience that will vary in different parts of Scotland, and urges the Scottish Government to meet with them as, it believes, this would seem a good place to start to determine what is and is not working to bring as many of these houses back into occupancy as homes.
S6M-13679
Submitted by: Kate Forbes, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party.
Date lodged: 17/06/2024
That the Parliament recognises that Scotland’s abundant natural resources and hugely talented people mean that there is opportunity to build a strong, successful and inclusive economy that realises the new opportunities from the transition to net zero and the digital revolution; acknowledges that Scotland’s economic potential can be realised through actions to support entrepreneurs, promote science and technology and ensure that the track record of innovation is translated into new businesses and improvements in productivity in all sectors of the economy, and agrees that doing so will build Scotland’s global reputation as a great place to do business, grow exports and secure international and domestic investment.
S6M-13663
Submitted by: Mairi Gougeon, Angus North and Mearns, Scottish National Party.
Date lodged: 17/06/2024
That the Parliament agrees that the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill be passed.
EVENTS
For further listings, please see our events calendar
Date & Time: Wednesday 26 June 2024; 1-2:30pm
Location: Online
Join the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASPB) and the Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance (STBA) for a webinar exploring how natural fibre insulation can help meet the challenges of retrofitting traditional buildings. Followed by Q&A and an engaging panel discussion.Landscape Institute – Digital Practice & Technology for Landscape Conference
Date & Time: Thursday 11 July 2024; 9am-5pm
Location: Central London
The Landscape Institute is holding a one-day conference dedicated to harnessing digital practice and technological innovation in the landscape industry and related disciplines. The event will bring together professionals from across the built and natural environment sectors to discuss how advances in technology can improve business operations, project delivery, and management in landscape practice. Attendees will have the opportunity to see the latest products and services, hear from thought-leaders, learn how to gain value from tech innovations, participate in practical demos, and network with peers and industry leaders. For more information, please email the press office.
TRAINING
Scottish Lime Centre Trust – Introduction to Stonemasonry
Date & Time: Tuesday 25 & Wednesday 26 June 2024; 9:30am-4:30pm
Location: Merryhill Training Centre, Charlestown, Dunfermline KY12 3DR
Taught by a time-served Stonemason, this course is suitable for all abilities and covers an introduction to tools, techniques, and uses of basic stonemasonry. The course is designed for individuals with little or no experience in cutting and dressing natural stone; building contractors working on traditional stone buildings and structures who just want to learn the basic masonry skills for cutting and dressing sandstone; or a semi-skilled operative who needs to add to his skills set and be able to produce stone masonry units to plumb, level and plane with traditional tooling finishes.
VACANCIES
Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) is seeking a new Director to lead the organisation following the departure of Ailsa Macfarlane. The Director will play a crucial role in bringing together the diverse built environment sector to address strategic issues and support a vibrant and sustainable future for Scotland’s existing built environment. With significant experience and expertise, the successful candidate will continue BEFS’ important work in facilitating dialogue, collaboration, and advocacy across the sector.
For more information, visit BEFS Vacancy page and to download full job description and details on how to apply, please click this link.Scottish Historic Buildings Trust – Trustee Roles
Scottish Historic Buildings Trust seeks four new trustees with expertise in areas such as strategy, finance, heritage conservation, marketing, fundraising, property development and asset management. Help shape the future of this leading organisation dedicated to preserving Scotland’s historic buildings. 3-year term, 4 meetings per year. For more information, visit www.shbt.org.uk. To apply, email CV and cover letter to maggie.wright@mwa.co.
The Heritage Trust Network – Volunteering opportunities
Youth Forum
The Heritage Trust Network is seeking young people aged 18-30 who are interested in the rescue, restoration and management of historic buildings, structures and places who want their voice heard in the heritage sector. Volunteers will be involved in shaping the new Youth Forum; creating recommendations and advice to help members involve young people in heritage in a democratic way; co-designing, leading, and taking part in online and in-person events; and creating online content including social media posts, blogs, or vlogs.
If you are interested in joining, please fill out a short application form here.
Are you digitally skilled, interested in helping heritage organisations and available to volunteer? The Heritage Trust Network are seeking people based in Scotland to join their Digital Heroes project which matches up digitally skilled young people with one of their member organisations to help them undertake a digital project. Examples include doing social media posts, digitising an archive, or creating a digital marketing plan. If you are interested in volunteering as a digital hero, please fill out a short application form here.