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BEFS News

On a gloriously sunny day last week BEFS Director attended the Construction Skills Demonstration at the Scottish Parliament, organised by The Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF) and supported by Historic Environment Scotland (HES). The event took place on the 14^th and 15^th of May on the Landscaped Gardens and was sponsored by Gordon MacDonald and Alex Rowley. Pupils from Edinburgh, Stirling, South Ayrshire and North Lanarkshire received mini masterclasses in masonry, slate roofing, painting and decorating, electrical engineering, digital documentation – and more – with the event highlighting the many and varied careers in the construction sector. Attending MSPs had the opportunity to meet the apprentices and businesses delivering the demonstrations and hear about the importance of skills and training opportunities for the future of our built environment.

  Consultations

Climate change duties – draft statutory guidance for public bodies: consultation
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is gathering views to help inform new Statutory Guidance for public bodies, to support them in putting climate change duties into practice. The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (‘the 2009 Act’) places duties on relevant public bodies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contribute to delivery of the Scottish National Adaptation Plan, and to act in the most sustainable way. Under the 2009 Act, Scottish Ministers are required to provide public bodies with guidance, to support them in putting their climate change duties into practice. Statutory guidance was originally published in 2011 and now requires to be updated. This consultation seeks your views on new draft Statutory Guidance which has been developed for this purpose, and which will replace the 2011 guidance. The consultation paper contains a full draft of the proposed Statutory Guidance. The questions in this consultation are intended to gather your feedback on the content of the guidance. Please read or refer to the guidance while responding.
Closes 23 May 2025

Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill
Scottish Parliament
The Economy and Fair Work Committee wants to hear your views on the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill as set out in its accompanying Financial Memorandum. The purpose of this Bill is to ensure that CWB is implemented consistently across Scotland as an economic development tool. The Bill proposes to do three things: It would place a duty on the Scottish Ministers to publish a CWB statement which sets out the measures they will take to facilitate CWB. It would require local authorities and ‘relevant public bodies’ to publish and implement a CWB plan for their area. It would require ‘specified public bodies’ to have due regard to CWB guidance when developing their corporate plans and associated delivery strategies. The Scottish Government would like to hear views as to whether the Bill might achieve its aims, on the public bodies proposed, potential unintended consequences, and about benefits to local communities.
Closes 23 May 2025

Heritage Science Data Service: User Needs Survey
National Heritage Science Forum
The National Heritage Science Forum (NHSF) is undertaking a User Needs consultation on behalf of Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS), as part of the Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) programme. Heritage science is uniquely inter-disciplinary, covering disciplines including archaeology, conservation, materials science, art history, physics, robotics and computer science. The new HSDS provides core digital research services as part of the RICHeS programme, the UK’s Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science. If you create or use heritage science data as an employee, volunteer or student, you are encouraged to complete this survey. Your feedback will help shape and build the HSDS.
Closes 31 May 2025

Volunteer-involving heritage organisations survey
Historic Environment Scotland
Make Your Mark, a campaign to increase the number and diversity of heritage volunteers in Scotland, is running a survey with Volunteer Scotland and Our Past, Our Future, Scotland’s national strategy for the historic environment, to better understand volunteering in Scotland’s heritage sector. The survey is open to volunteer-involving heritage organisations and groups in Scotland and should be filled out by the person(s) who oversee the management/organisation of volunteers. Responses will inform what support is offered to volunteer-involving organisations, help advocate for needs within the sector, and help make heritage volunteering accessible, inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.
*NEW* Closes 16 June 2025

Developing an Ecosystem Restoration Code for Scotland
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is seeking views on developing an Ecosystem Restoration Code (ERC) for Scotland as a new high-integrity market mechanism to attract responsible private investment into nature restoration and biodiversity projects. This commitment, outlined in the 2024 Natural Capital Market Framework, is being delivered via a Scottish Government-NatureScot partnership project. An Engagement Paper has been published summarising the results of the Discovery Phase and setting out key issues to be explored during co-development with stakeholders. Responses to the survey will be analysed, alongside evidence from Engagement Phase events, to inform a series of recommendations for developing/writing the ERC during the later stages of this project.
Closes 29 June 2025

Skills Survey for Historic Environment Employers
Historic Environment Scotland
HES is seeking input from employers, sole traders and organisations in the heritage sector about skills needs, gaps, and training provision. The survey aims to monitor the skills health of the sector and inform planning for support programmes. This follow-up to the 2023 survey will help track trends and prioritise actions outlined in the Skills Investment Plan for the Historic Environment (SIP) published in April 2024. HES particularly wants to hear from those working in archaeology, heritage architecture, conservation, museums, traditional building skills, and related fields. Results will influence the direction of the SIP over the next four years.
Closes 30 June 2025

ECHOES Consultation
European Cloud for Heritage Open Science
The ECHOES project is building a shared digital space, the European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage (ECCCH), designed to support heritage professionals and researchers across Europe. To ensure this platform meets real-world needs, ECHOES has launched a consultation survey to better understand the priorities, challenges, and expectations of the cultural heritage community. The consultation is open to all cultural heritage stakeholders, including professionals, researchers, computer scientists/developers, umbrella organisations and institutions with a vested interest in the development and application of the Cultural Heritage Cloud.
Closes end of June 2025

Scotland’s protected historic places – consultation on a long-term strategy for heritage designation
Historic Environment Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is looking for your views on their strategy for how to identify and legally protect Scotland’s most important historic sites and places. Heritage designation is the system used to provide legal recognition and protection for historic sites across Scotland. More than 55,000 sites are currently protected in this way. The strategy sets out a long-term approach to delivering national-level heritage designations. HES is setting out their vision for designations in 2035, their mission, and priorities for the three-year period 2025-28. Download the strategy consultation paper.
*NEW* Closes 1 July 2025

Clean Heat Market Mechanism: revisions ahead of Scheme Year 2 (2026/2027)
UK Government
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has launched a consultation on the heat pump credit target for Year 2 of the Clean Heat Market Mechanism. It also explores views on proposals to name the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) the sole certification scheme for the Clean Heat Market Mechanism. The consultation seeks views on setting a Year 2 heat pump target level within the proposed range of 8-10% of relevant boiler sales.
*NEW* Closes 2 July 2025

Housing (Scotland) Bill
Scottish Government
This consultation seeks views on how powers within the Housing (Scotland) Bill could be used to exempt certain types of properties from rent control. It also looks into circumstances where rents could be increased above the level of the rent cap and scope for clarifying how joint tenancies in the private sector are ended. The Bill brings forward a package of reforms to help ensure people have a safe, secure and affordable place to live. It includes measures that provide a framework for a long-term system of rent control in Scotland. The consultation addresses three main areas: properties that should be exempt from rent control area restrictions; properties that should be subject to modified rent control area restrictions; and clarifying how joint tenancies in the private rented sector are ended.
Closes 18 July 2025

Rural Tourism in Scotland Survey
Historic Houses Scotland and Scottish Land & Estates
Member properties of Historic Houses Scotland and Scottish Land & Estates are invited to complete this survey to provide data for a major report on rural tourism in Scotland. The survey aims to gather evidence on the impact of rural tourism businesses on Scotland’s economy and address challenges and opportunities facing the sector. The report will feed into VisitScotland and the Scottish Government’s aims for growing tourism across Scotland in a sustainable way. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
No closing date specified

ScotLand Futures
Scottish Land Commission
ScotLand Futures is a national initiative led by the Scottish Land Commission exploring what a fully reformed approach to land in Scotland could look like and how to make it happen. The initiative aims to think big, tackle challenges, provide certainty for the future, and find practical solutions to ensure land benefits everyone. The Scottish Land Commission wants to hear from people across Scotland, whether they live in a city, town, village or rural area, about what land reform means to them and what changes they want to see.
No closing date specified

Consultation Responses

Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill
As stated above, the Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee issued a call for views on this Bill, introduced to Parliament in March 2025. BEFS drew attention to Members’ particular interests around Community Wealth Building principles relating to vacant and derelict buildings, local procurement and workforce development. The response cautioned that significant progress towards aspirations for enhanced nationwide activity and consistency in Community Wealth Building would be difficult to achieve without wider investments in the built environment.
(BEFS 16/05/25)

Petitions

Submission on PE1885: Make offering Community Shared Ownership mandatory for all windfarm development planning proposals (Scot Parl 02/05/2025)

Submission on PE2150: Amend the Scottish Housing Regulator’s mandate or create a body to protect owners of ex-council properties (Scot Parl 08/05/2025)

News Releases

British Academy Report: Value of social and cultural infrastructure ‘risks being neglected in decision-making’ without new measurement framework (The British Academy 30/04/2025)

What does the volunteer cohort of the heritage sector look like in 2025? (Historic England 06/05/2025)

Climate Ready Infrastructure Scotland Forum (Adaptation Scotland 07/05/2025)

Industry Update: 2025-26 Programme for Government – Key Headlines for Tourism and Hospitality Businesses (Scottish Tourism Alliance 07/05/2025)

What would abolishing the UK government’s department for culture mean for the arts? (The Art Newspaper 07/05/2025)

Edinburgh appoints visitor levy forum chair (City of Edinburgh Council 08/05/2025)

Apply for Europe’s most prestigious heritage awards (Europa Nostra 08/05/2025)

Prosperity begins at home: Scottish housing policies for faster, fairer economic growth (David Hume Institute 08/05/2025)

The Open University Scotland 2026 Scottish Parliament Election Manifesto (The Open University Scotland 08/05/2025)

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust and Leith Civic Trust Celebrate Community Partnership at Leith Custom House (SHBT 11/05/2025)

Bridging the retrofit skills gap (PBC Today 14/05/2025)

Dunbar backland support centre builds traditional skills (Urban Realm 15/05/2025)

Historic England warns of ‘significant barriers’ for disabled people in heritage sector (Arts Professional 15/05/2025)

Publications

Guidance for owners on the installation of solar panels, heat pumps or insulation in common parts of tenements in Scotland (Harper McLeod LLP March 2025)

A Brief Introduction to Semi-Detached Housing (Historic England 12/05/2025)

A Workforce Fit for the Future: Reforming Scottish skills and employability services to support growth (Our Scottish Future 12/05/2025)

Imagination infrastructures: Pathfinders: learnings from 2 years of supporting future-building practice (Joseph Rowntree Foundation 12/05/2025)

Sustainable infrastructure for a thriving Scotland 2025-30 Corporate Plan (Scottish Futures Trust 12/05/2025)

Scottish Futures Trust 2025-30 Business Plan (Scottish Futures Trust 12/05/2025)

A smarter approach to homelessness: Prioritising prevention in the 2025 spending review (Institute for Government 13/05/2025)

Housing Supply for a Growing Economy (Prosper 14/05/2025)

Scottish & UK: Governmental & Parliamentary Publications

For further listings, please see BEFS events calendar

Upright Gallery – Architecture Reassembled
Date & Time: Saturday 31 May – Friday 20 June
Location: Upright Gallery, 3 Barclay Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 4HP
This exhibition brings together two artists, Ros Lawless & Charles Young, whose interest lies in the built environment – both real and imagined. Ros Lawless’ practice is influenced by her immediate surroundings, in particular architecture, which she uses to organise pictorial space and form. Charles Youngs’ work has its basis in architectural model making and draws on the forms of the built environment. He focuses on the relationship between invented structures and the built history of the existing city.

SURF – Awards Launch Event
Date & Time: Thursday 5 June 2025; 2-2:45pm
Location: Online via zoom
Join SURF to find out more about the 2025 SURF Awards process and the 5 Award categories. Attendees will hear from former SURF Award Winners with their top tips for a successful application. If you have ever considered entering (or re-entering) the Awards or want to know more about this year’s process and what is involved, or to hear directly from projects who have gone through the process, then this event is definitely for you. Find out more about the SURF Awards here and follow this link to book.

Architecture Fringe 2025: Reciprocity – Opening Party
Date & Time: Friday 6 June 2025; 6-9pm
Location: The Briggait, 72 Clyde Street, Glasgow G1 5HZ
The Briggait plays host to the opening party for this year’s Architecture Fringe. In celebration of a jam-packed two week long festival programme come along to an evening of exhibitions, conversation, music and performance. Glasgow-based community brass band Brass, Aye? will be bringing some singing, dancing and carnival vibes. Award-winning independent choreographer and dance-maker Janice Parker will be responding to the space through dance and resident DJ at Scandal Glasgow BELLAROSA will be on the decks with a hypnotic set weaving together beats from across the globe. The Full Festival Programme for the Architecture Fringe 2025 has been made possible through the support of Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding, Moxon Architects, Helen Lucas Architects, and Collective Architecture.

Under One Roof – Navigating Tenement Building Repairs for Landlords, with Dundee City Council 
Date & Time: Tuesday 10 June 2025; 11am-12pm
Location: Online
Landlords in Dundee are invited to a free one-hour webinar to learn about basic tenement repair and maintenance. Topics covered include: understanding relevant legislation; the difference between individual, mutual and common repairs; and how to organise and pay for repairs with your co-owners and co-landlords.

IHBC – Annual School Shrewsbury. Heritage in Context: Value | Plan | Change
Date & Time: Thursday 12 – Saturday 14 June 2025
Location: Shrewsbury Theatre Severn, Frankwell, Shrewsbury SY3 8FT
And
Date & Time: Friday 13 June 2025; 9am-3:45pm
Location: Online
Join the IHBC for this year’s annual school in historic Shrewsbury, to explore the rich topic of ‘Heritage in Context’, and how context informs the way in which we understand, value, care for and change our historic environment. There will be a variety of opportunities to engage with the school, from the 3-day Full School which includes local tours and welcome reception for in person delegates, to the Friday Day School, available in person and online, and offering a fantastic programme of talks with expert speakers.

The Cockburn Association – Campaigning For Edinburgh Book Launch
Date & Time: Thursday 19 June 2025; 7-9pm
Location: Laigh Hall, Faculty of Advocates, Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RF
Join The Cockburn Association for the launch of their new publication, Campaigning for Edinburgh. To mark the 150^th anniversary of the Association in 2025, this publication outlines the many issues and campaigns in which the Association was involved. It reflects on Henry Cockburn’s legacy, who asked in 1849, “how will Edinburgh look in 1949, or 2049?”. The evening will include talks from the authors, an exhibit from the Faculty of Advocates’ collections on Lord Henry Cockburn, and a reception.

IHBC/RTPI – Finding the Balance: Built Heritage & Landscape Conservation in Development Planning
Date & Time: Friday 20 June 2025; 10am-4:15pm
Location: Dunkeld and Birnam
The neighbouring communities of Dunkeld and Birnam in Perthshire are locations for this training day. They benefit from multiple and overlapping heritage designations. This event will review the history of planning in Dunkeld and consider the challenges and opportunities facing today’s planners in allowing development while conserving their rich built heritage. Hosted by IHBC Scotland and RTPI Scottish Young Planners Network.

BEFS NEWS

Scotland’s Regeneration Forum (SURF) has announced the 2024 shortlist for the prestigious SURF Award national awards scheme, which showcases success in responding to regeneration challenges in communities across Scotland. Applications from Orkney to Dumfries and Galloway were whittled down to 15 projects by SURF’s panel of judges.

The Scotland Loves Local Awards finalists for Town of the Year have also been announced. Winners of these awards – alongside those for Place Leader of the Year and regional High Street Hero awards – will be announced in October.

Congratulations to all on the shortlist for both awards!

A new centre for retrofit: Historic Environment Scotland have announced plans and funding for a new dedicated national centre to champion the retrofit of traditional buildings, to improve energy efficiency, and play a key role in achieving Scotland’s net zero targets. £1m of funding has been secured from UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council to establish the new hub. As well as expanding HES’s technical research capabilities, the centre will focus on delivery of much-needed training and innovation in the use of low-carbon retrofit materials. Dr David Mitchell, Director of Cultural Assets at HES, has welcomed the funding as marking ‘a step-change in our work to help improve the energy efficiency of traditional buildings’.

As part of Climate Week, SEDA launched  Scotland’s Pathway, the tenth and final film in 2045: The Big Conversation series. This film examines how Scotland’s construction sector can achieve the huge changes needed to reach Net Zero over the next two decades. Featuring insights from Patrick Harvie MSP, then Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, and other key figures in the field, the documentary aims to spark discussions about the challenges and opportunities in delivering a Just Transition by 2045.

A new report by ClimateXChange explores data sources for monitoring compliance with proposed heating and energy efficiency standards in Scottish buildings. This research responds to the Scottish Government’s efforts to reduce emissions from buildings, as outlined in the recent Heat in Buildings Bill consultation. The study suggests combining and enhancing data from various sources to create a comprehensive central database.

Scottish Civic Trust is piloting new ways to engage with Scotland’s civic society. Starting in Glasgow, the Trust will host online forums with civic and local heritage groups to explore the issues and opportunities facing communities at a grassroots level. To register your interest, please email: sct@scottishcivictrust.org.uk. And in case you missed it, the Scottish Civic Trust are currently recruiting for their next Chair. For information about the role and how to apply, visit their website. Deadline for applications is 04 October 2024.

And finally, owing to the vast number of event submissions to this bulletin, we have only included events up to 5 November. But don’t worry – if you want to plan ahead, all other events can be viewed in the BEFS Events Calendar, and will be listed in our next bulletins.

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Please see our Link to Parliamentary Questions and answers for recent questions regarding housing, cladding remediation, energy efficiency, planning, land reform and historic environment sites.

CONSULTATIONS

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 Planning Policy
UK Government
This survey, conducted by Verian on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), previously the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is focused on national planning legislation, policy and guidance for decisions involving demolishing and redeveloping or retrofitting buildings. The data collected from this survey will allow MHCLG to collect robust evidence quickly, and in turn will be used to inform key policy development.
Closes 31 October 2024

Scotland’s City Region and Regional Growth Deals
Scottish Parliament
The Economy and Fair Work Committee will undertake an inquiry to look at the implementation and effectiveness of deals; considering how deals have contributed to addressing local issues, and supporting development and inclusive growth. As part of this work, the Committee will consider submissions made earlier this year to the Scottish Affairs Committee and are keen to hear a wide range of views to help with this work. They are particularly keen to hear from Scottish businesses, local authorities involved in deals and community groups.
Closes 14 November 2024

Scottish Building Safety Levy: consultation on proposals
Scottish Government
Responses to this consultation and the associated programme of engagement will support the policy development for a potential future Building Safety Levy in Scotland. If the powers to allow Scottish Ministers to introduce a building safety levy are devolved to the Scottish Parliament, then responses will also support development of a future Bill that provides for a devolved tax.
The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation.
*NEW* Closes 18 November 2024

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Development plan amendment regulations: consultation response summary (Scot Gov 19/09/2024)

Masterplan Consent Area Regulations: consultation responses summary (Scot Gov 19/09/2024)

Democracy Matters phase 2: analysis of responses (Scot Gov 19/09/2024)

NEWS RELEASES

Keep Scotland Beautiful: Our new ambassador (Keep Scotland Beautiful 16/09/204)
Stephen Jardine Appointed Ambassador.

Open Survey Gives Clear Mandate to Oppose Galloway Park Proposals (NFU Scotland 17/09/2024)

The Crown Estate announces Helen Price as new Chief Financial Officer (The Crown Estate 17/09/2024)

Colleges’ financial challenges increase  (Audit Scotland 19/09/2024)
Scotland’s colleges need more clarity from ministers on what parts of their role to prioritise, as the sector’s financial challenges mount.

2024 SURF Award Shortlist Revealed (SURF 20/09/024)

A Just Transition for Shetland (Just Transition Commission 24/09/2024)

Heritage talent recognised at Stirling ceremony (HES 26/09/2024)

PUBLICATIONS

Historic Environment Overview 2023-24 (Historic Environment Forum August 2024)

The Architectural Heritage Fund Impact Report 2023-24 (AHF September 2024)

Skills Needs Analysis for the Repair, Maintenance and Retrofit of Traditional (Pre-1919) Buildings in England, 2024 (Historic England 13/09/2024)

New report sets out socio-economic benefits of national parks for Scotland (Scottish Environment LINK 23/09/2024)

Wellbeing Economy in Action Report (Centre for Thriving Places 30/09/2024)

Transformation in Councils (Audit Scotland 01/10/2024)

SCOTTISH & UK: GOVERNMENTAL & PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture: Official Report and Minutes (Scot Parl 12/09/2024)

Correspondence between Paul McLennan and the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee on the government’s position on the policy relating to section 9(3) of the Housing (Scotland) Bill (Scot Gov 12/09/2024)

Protecting Gaelic and Scots: Scottish Languages Bill passes first stage (Scot Gov 17/09/2024)

Built Heritage and Listed Buildings (Protection) Portfolio Question Time (Scot Parl 18/09/2024)

Correspondence between Angus Robertson and the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee regarding Creative Scotland and the closure of the Open Fund for Individuals (Scot Gov 18/09/2024)

Building Standards Futures Board minutes: August 2024 (Scot Gov 19/09/2024)

Housing Investment Taskforce minutes: June 2024 (Scot Gov 19/09/2024)

Local Governance Review: joint statement – September 2024 (Scot Gov 19/09/2024)

New Build Heat Standard (NBHS): direction Wood Burners (Scot Gov 19/09/2024)

Official Reports and Minutes: Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture: Minutes and Official Report (Scot Parl 19/09/2024)

Correspondence between Gillian Martin and the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee regarding the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill (Scot Gov 20/09/2024)

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Impact Assessments  – EIA & FSDA (Scot Gov 20/09/2024)

Housing Bill presents an opportunity to prevent homelessness, but more detail required – Holyrood Committee (Scot Parl 20/09/2024)

Planning – work programme update: Chief Planner and Ministerial letter (Scot Gov 20/09/2024)

Investing in Planning – Next Steps (Scot Gov 23/09/2024)

The Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024: Impact Assessments (FSDA, BRIA, CRWIA, EIA, ICIA) (Scot Gov 23/09/2024)

Scottish Building Safety Levy: partial business and regulatory impact assessment (Scot Gov 23/09/2024)

The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 (Commencement No. 14) Regulations 2024 (UK Gov 23/09/2024)

The Town and Country Planning (Amendment of Local Development Plan) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (UK Gov 23/09/2024)

The Town and Country Planning (Masterplan Consent Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (UK Gov 23/09/2024)

Launch of the Scottish Building Standards Hub (Scot Gov 24/09/2024)

Quarterly Housing Statistics in the year to end of June 2024 (Scot Gov 24/09/2024)

Local Government, Housing and Planning Official Report and Minutes (Scot Parl 24/09/2024)

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Minutes (Scot Parl 24/09/2024)

Correspondence between Jamie Hepburn and the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee regarding the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill as a protected subject-matter (Scot Gov 24/09/2024)

Building climate resilience (Scot Gov 25/09/2024)

Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029 (Scot Gov 25/09/2024)

Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029: Island Communities Impact Assessment (Scot Gov 25/09/2024)

Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029: Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (Scot Gov 25/09/2024)

Correspondence between Gillian Martin and the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee regarding the development of the Climate Change Plan (Scot Gov 26/09/2024)

Community Rights to Buy: overview (Scot Gov 26/09/2024)

Strengthening Assessment of Competency for the Building Standards Profession (26/09/2024)

Delivery plan year 3 (2024–25) Corporate Plan 2022–27 (Registers of Scotland 30/09/2024)

Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy 2024 Update (Registers of Scotland 30/09/2024)

Building standards technical handbook April 2024: domestic (Scot Gov 30/09/2024)

Single Building Assessment Specification Task and Finish Group: final output and recommendations – March 2024; final output and recommendations – December 2023 (Scot Gov 30/09/2024)

OPINION & COMMENT

Mass Tourism: Discontents and Dilemmas (The Cockburn Association 20/09/2024)

Removal of RAAC at Edinburgh schools put on hold after contractor goes into administration (Edinburgh Evening News 21/09/2024)

Scottish Government and Creative Scotland in crisis talks to save jobs and organisations (Scotsman 23/09/2024)

Rural communities ‘missing out’ on ‘gold-standard’ legislation (The Herald 23/09/2024)

Scotland missing ‘low hanging fruit’ in reducing building emissions (Insider 23/09/2024)

Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, speech at Labour Party Conference 2024 (24/09/2024)

Campaigners ‘disappointed’ as Holyrood Park fails to ban cars (The Herald 25/09/2024)

Cycling and Banksy brings 25 million visitors to Glasgow (The Herald 25/09/2024)

Jocelyne Fleming: Retrofitting and tenement maintenance debate encouragingly collaborative, nuanced, and holistic (Scottish Construction Now 25/09/2024)

Is Labour’s arts policy a case of warm words, no cold hard cash? (Apollo Magazine 27/09/2024)

Are heat pumps the future or just a lot of hot air? (The Guardian 28/09/2024)

I’m drawn to these architecture awards, but picking a winner is hard (The Times 29/09/2024)

Climate change threatens to wipe out 700-year-old Scottish village (The Times 29/09/2024)

MOTIONS

S6M-14611
Submitted by: Keith Brown, Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Scottish National Party.
Date lodged: 23/09/2024
That the Parliament expresses concern over the reported demolition of Carsebridge House in Alloa on 18 September 2024; understands that the building was a category B listed property that dated back to the late 18th century, and was of significant historical and architectural interest; acknowledges that, following a recent fire that left the historic property severely damaged, an application for demolition had been submitted for consideration by the local planning authority; understands that the owner of the property allegedly carried out the demolition without authorisation and, despite being instructed to stop by the local authority, before the building could be fully assessed, and considers that those responsible should be fully held to account.

S6M-14652
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party.
Date lodged: 24/09/2024
That the Parliament agrees to consider the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill as follows—
Stage 1 on Thursday 10 October 2024, and subject to the Parliament’s agreement to the general principles of the Bill—
(a) that consideration of the Bill at stage 2 be completed by Tuesday 29 October 2024, and
(b) Stage 3 on Thursday 31 October 2024.

S6M-14644
Submitted by: Ivan McKee, Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party.
Date lodged: 25/09/2024
That the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee recommends that the Town and Country Planning (Amendment of National Planning Framework) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.

S6M-14719
Submitted by: Anas Sarwar, Glasgow, Scottish Labour.
Date lodged: 30/09/2024
That the Parliament believes that the Scottish Government has failed to respond adequately to the housing emergency that the Parliament declared in May 2024.
Current status: Due to be taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, 02 October 2024

EVENTS

Icon Scotland: Student Month – Tours of the stores of National Galleries Scotland & National Museums Scotland
Date & Time: Wednesday 9 October 2024; 11am-3:30pm
Location: Granton Art Centre (GAC), 242 West Granton Road, Edinburgh EH5 1JA
Join Conservators from National Galleries Scotland at the Granton Art Centre for a tour of their stores and to hear about the Arts Works project and future storage plans. With the opportunity for some informal networking, discussions about beginning a career pathway and issues affecting emerging professionals, the afternoon will continue with a tour of the National Museum of Scotland collection stores.

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.

AHSS Lecture – DJ Johnston-Smith: Echoes of Faith: Protecting Religious Built Heritage in Secular Scotland
Date & Time: Monday 14 October 2024; 6:30pm
Location: Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL (wheelchair accessible)
Note: Lecture will also be streamed online via Zoom
Scotland’s Churches Trust has been protecting and preserving the nation’s sacred buildings since 1978. Its current director, Dr DJ Johnston-Smith, discusses some of the innovative ways the Trust has championed Scotland’s religious built heritage over the past five decades, and how it is responding to the ongoing mass closure of Scottish churches and the emerging need to safeguard the country’s remaining collection of historic religious buildings.
Tickets available in advance or on the door: £6 / students £2 /

SHBT – Richard Murphy in Conversation: Challenging Conservation
Date & Time: Wednesday 16 October 2024; 6-7:30pm
Location: Riddles Court, 322 Lawnmarket Edinburgh EH1 2PG
Join SHBT’s Director Dr Sam Gallacher for an evening in conversation with celebrated architect, Richard Murphy OBE. Drawing on their personal knowledge of buildings from Scotland and further afield, Sam and Richard will explore the philosophy and practice of architectural preservation in a wide-ranging discussion. Do we have a cultural responsibility to progress? When is rebuilding justified? And how might our approaches to conservation – and design – evolve in the future?

GCHT –  Conserving Concrete CPD 
Date & Time: Thursday 17 October 2024; 1-2pm
Location: Online via Zoom & in-person at 54 Bell Street, Glasgow G1 1LQ
As more 20th-century concrete buildings reach heritage status, understanding how to properly maintain them has become an increasingly important part of caring for our historic built environment. In this CPD Peter Drummond, Director of Peter Drummond Architects, will delve into the complexities of conserving concrete, exploring essential repair approaches and techniques.

Under One Roof – Navigating tenement building repairs: West Lothian
Date & Time: Thursday 24 October 2024; 1-2pm
Location: Online
Join Under One Roof for a free and informative webinar on navigating tenement building repairs in West Lothian. Topics covered will include important tenement legislation, organizing common repairs, and dealing with non-payment. The session will end with a Q&A. Presenters include Mike Heffron, Chief Executive of Under One Roof, and Stephen Kelly, Education and Training Officer at Under One Roof. This webinar is suitable for anyone involved in tenement maintenance and repairs, including flat owners, landlords, and property managers.

AHSS Lecture – Fiona Sinclair: Streamlining the Streets
Date & Time: Thursday 24 October 2024; 7:30pm
Location: St Andrews West Church & Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4JP
Note: Lecture will also be streamed online via Zoom
A surprising amount of construction took place in Renfrewshire during the 1930s. Fiona Sinclair, architect and historian, will illustrate the wealth of buildings from the inter-war period in Renfrewshire and highlight the achievements of some remarkable architects.
Tickets available in advance or on the door: £6 / students £2 / season ticket for all 5 lectures: £25

Under One Roof – Tenement maintenance and repairs: Falkirk
Date & Time: Tuesday 29 October 2024; 3-4.30pm
Location: Online
Join Under One Roof for a webinar with Falkirk Council for flat owners, landlords, and letting agents across the Falkirk area. The webinar will cover tenement maintenance, organising common repairs, and includes a Q&A session.

The Cockburn Association – Responsible Tourism: Solutions for Edinburgh’s Future
Date & Time: Wednesday 30 October 2024;12-5pm
Location: Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL and Online
Join The Cockburn Association for an afternoon of discussion on Edinburgh’s tourism industry. Guests will include Dr Harold Goodwin, Director of the Responsible Tourism Partnership, Professor John Lennon, former Director of the Moffat Centre of Travel and Tourism Business Development, representatives from the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group, Edinburgh Living Rent, City Council officials, and more!

National Churches Trust – Building Sustainable Futures for Scottish Churches: Meet the Funders
Date & Time: Friday 1 November 2024; 10am-4pm
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.

SPAB-STBA Conference 2024: New Ideas for Old Buildings
Date & Time:  Tuesday 5 November 2024; 9:30am-5:15pm
Location:   The Hospitium, Museum Gardens, York YO30 7DR
Our traditional and historic buildings are facing unique challenges in the face of climate change, technological advancements, skills shortages, and economic pressures. This year’s theme will be exploring where tradition meets innovation, and how the past informs the future.? You’ll hear from a wide array of experts sharing the latest research, ideas, and innovations to give the built heritage a sustainable future.   Join SPAB to discover the latest on Materials for the Future, Educational Initiatives, Innovative Applications, Community Engagement, and Technological Advancements.

 

C&BS – Board Matters | Introduction to being a Board Member
Date & Time: Wednesday 9 October & Wednesday 16 October 2024; 4-7pm
Location: Online
Do you have new trustees on your Board, or have you taken on a trustee role yourself? If so, this is an essential course for launching or refreshing your Board career. C&BS Head of Board Development, Catriona Reynolds, takes new trustees and Board members through their paces in two information-packed, hands-on sessions. Over the two three-hour online sessions, you’ll explore: duties of charitable trustees/board members; different roles and responsibilities of board members and staff; meeting management and decision-making; advocacy and fundraising responsibilities; the trustee’s role in strategic planning; understanding the finances. This will be useful for new trustees and Board members seeking an introduction to their roles and responsibilities.

HES – Heritage Planning Day
Date & Time: Thursday 10 October 2024; 9:30am-4pm
Location: The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ
Members of Historic Environment Scotland’s Heritage Team and Stirling Council will discuss how they manage change to Scotland’s built heritage, both in strategic terms as well as practical matters. This includes how proposals to alter listed buildings or build new developments in conservation areas are reviewed, considered, and determined both fairly and transparently. A networking lunch will provide you with the opportunity to continue discussions and explore the Engine Shed.

PHAWM Project – Gen-AI for Cultural Heritage: Uses, Harms, Auditing
Date & Time: Friday 18 October 2024; 9:30am-12:30pm
Location: University of Strathclyde
Are you interested in Generative AI for Cultural Heritage? Are you concerned about potential harms of incorporating Generative AI within your sector? The PHAWM project is organising an interactive workshop to co-design approaches for auditing AI tools for the generation of metadata relevant to Cultural Heritage collections. This workshop is particularly relevant for cultural heritage professionals such as archivists, curators, librarians, and exhibition designers working with metadata or relevant policies.

RIAS – Conservation Seminar: Shared Responsibilities and Challenges
Date & Time: Tuesday 29 October 2024; 1-4:30pm
Location: Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ
Hear from Conservation/ Sustainability Accredited architects, Chartered Surveyors and Heritage Trusts Managers as they present on exceptional examples of multi-storey retrofit, maintenance, and regeneration with case study discussion at Woodside Flats, Glasgow, Stirling and Paisley.

C&BS – People Matters | Equalities within Boards
Date & Time: Wednesday 6 November 2024; 12-1pm
Location: Online
Equality, diversity, and inclusion are essential to ensuring the culture sector is the very best it can be.
In this sector insight, employment law specialist Barry Nichol will explore how to ensure that EDI policies carry through to board level. Topics covered include Legal obligations surrounding Equalities and Boards; Strategies for ensuring Boards are representative and inclusive including how to recruit; Strategies for ensuring Board governance is fair and equitable. This will be useful to anyone who is involved in governance at their organisation, who would like to ensure their Board is as inclusive and equitable as possible.

VACANCIES

Scottish Civic Trust – Chair
Scottish Civic Trust seeks a new Chair to lead its Board of Trustees, shaping strategic direction and championing Scotland’s built heritage. This voluntary role (1-2 days/month) requires proven leadership, excellent communication skills, and passion for heritage. For details and to apply, visit the Scottish Civic Trust website. The Trust is also piloting new engagement methods with civic society; to participate in online forums, please email: sct@scottishcivictrust.org.uk
Closing date: Friday 4 October 2024

Fife Historic Buildings Trust – Trustee Roles
Fife Historic Buildings Trust are recruiting new volunteers to join their Board of Trustees/Directors. Previous board or trustee experience is not necessary and applications are welcomed from all ages and backgrounds for the board to be representative of the beneficiaries the Trust serves. Based on a recent Board skills audit, knowledge or experience in any of the following areas would be of particular interest (but is not essential):

• Enterprise / business planning
• Equality & inclusion
• Fundraising
• IT & Cyber security
• Learning & education
• Legal
• Marketing & communications
• Natural heritage
• Organisational development
• Property management
• Sustainability & climate action

Find out more about the opportunity from the recruitment pack and if you have any questions, please contact Lorraine Bell, FHBT Manager:  lorraine@fifehistoricbuildings.org.uk or 07482 306218.
Closing date: Friday 18 October 2024

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