BEFS News

BEFS would like to draw Members’ attention to two new funding streams. The first for nationally important heritage: The National Heritage Memorial Fund’s COVID-19 Response Fund is now open. This £40million fund will address the long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic on nationally important heritage assets.

The second, is new funding from NLHF and is for Digital Volunteering. Previous research (DASH) found that the sector is calling out for digital innovation to help it move into a more resilient, creative future, and identified an opportunity to create new forms of volunteering to support this. Read all about the digital volunteering funding stream here.

This week UNESCO withdrew World Heritage Status from Liverpool. Edinburgh World Heritage have reflected on the warning this presents to Edinburgh.

BEFS team have had a busy time – and look forward to welcoming their new Communications and Membership Manager to the team in August. Until then, keep your eyes peeled for announcements of the programme for Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival, as BEFS are working with the Scottish Traditional Building Forum to highlight aspects of sustainability at this year’s festival.

As Covid restrictions are now lifting across Scotland there is a marked increase in events and organisational activity. Many of BEFS Members have got in touch to tell us what their plans are for the Summer – see below, as well as further details in both the Events and Training sections of the Bulletin.

The Scottish Civic Trust My Place Awards which celebrate community-led built environment projects that have transformed their locality, are now open for entries. The 2021 Awards have two categories: the general Award honours recently completed projects (2018-2020); and the Sustainability Award honours projects completed between 2001 and 2011 that demonstrate continued fitness for purpose, as well as having a robust approach to climate readiness.

More details are regularly being released about COP26 – with the high-level Presidency Programme now released. The final timetabled day focuses on Cities, Regions and the Built Environment. With much detail for the Green and Blue zones still to be finalised, and the hybrid nature of all events continually in flux, BEFS looks forward to the sustained focus that can be placed on the climate benefits which our existing environment can provide (environmentally, economically, and socially) – but, how to harness this global focus into meaningful outcomes remain unclear.

If your civic trust or local heritage society is making plans COP26 you can book rooms in the Scottish Civic Trust’s Glasgow City Centre offices free of charge to host exhibitions, events or meetings related to COP26.

NLHF are seeking Committee Members – including one for the Scotland Committee. This is an exciting opportunity to be involved with heritage grant making across Scotland. Full details – here.

After a successful Summer School for 2021 (clips are now available) IHBC would like to remind readers that the Gus Astley Student Awards submissions will close 31st July. Prizes include a place at IHBC’s 2022 Aberdeen School.

Nominations are closing soon for RTPI 2021 elections – including the Scottish Executive Committee vacancies for 2022. See more detailshere.

BEFS would also like to extend their congratulations to John Gerrard, on his recent IHBC Marsh award.

BEFS Bulletin is taking its own mini Summer Recess and will return on the 19th of August.

Consultations

Petition: To create a tax incentive to favour retrofit instead of demolition and new build
Closes 8 August 2021.

Consultation: Short term lets Regulation information
Closes 13th August 2021

Draft 2030 Climate Strategy – Edinburgh
Closes 12 Sep 2021.

Consultation – Building Standards Fire Safety, External Wall Systems
Opened 16th July 2021 – Closes 8th October 2021

Publications

Context – IHBC Journal – Applying Digital Technology (IHBC 07/2021)

Business Energy & Industrial Strategy Committee (UK) report on the steps required to tackle climate change. (UKPARL 08/07/2021)

Annual Report British Tourist Authority trading as VisitBritain and VisitEngland (UK HoC 14/07/2021)

ONS Economic Output and Productivity report (ONS 15/07/2021)

Centre for Policy Studies – Reshaping Spaces, Building back better (CPS 16/07/2021)

Principles of Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment IEMA, IHBC CIfA (IEAM 20/07/2021)

Sustainability Tools in Cultural Heritage STiCH

Scottish Government News Releases

Planning and Environmental Appeals: annual review 2020 to 2021

Planning Performance Statistics 2020/21: Quarterly (October 2020 To March 2021)

Impact of Developer Contributions in Scotland

Planning Circular – promotion and use of mediation, guidance.

News Releases

Scottish Futures Trust Construction Pipeline Forecast Tool 
The Construction Pipeline Forecast Tool provides a look forward as to the anticipated public sector spend within construction. The forecast tool has been developed by the Scottish Futures Trust in partnership with industry and public sector bodies.

Public Health Scotland Covid 19 Research Repository
Public Health Scotland (PHS) has collaborated with universities to create a comprehensive repository of pandemic-related data. The platform, which contains research about Covid-19 in Scotland in a range of formats, is a fully accessible and searchable digital resource. It reduces duplication of effort and makes research easier for policymakers, researchers and the public to find and use.

Art Fund – Museum of the Year 
Art Fund Museum of the Year, the world’s largest museum prize, returns. A celebration of the UK’s museums and galleries, the 2021 prize will reflect the resilience and imagination of museums throughout the pandemic.

Opinion & Comment

Adaptive Reuse of Fortified Churches in Transylvania – Challenges & Opportunities (07/2021)

CHARTER Brainstorm in Riga – joint venture in building a conceptual matrix for cultural heritage (07/2021)

Scotland’s travel sector looking to new tourism minister to help with recovery. (Holyrood 12/07/2021)

Murray Pittock: Culture is a huge part of the Glasgow economy – let’s not lose that (Herald 18/07/2021)

Funding cuts to go ahead for university arts courses in England (Guardian20/07/2021)

Liverpool loses Unesco World Heritage status over waterfront development (i 21/07/2021)

Parliamentary Questions

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

S6W-01482 Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date Lodged: 15 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what powers it will devolve to local authorities to help them meet climate change targets, in response to calls made at the International Net Zero Local Leadership Summit.
S6W-01470 Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date Lodged: 15 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has received regarding how material shortages and increased contractor prices in the construction sector are impacting householders redeeming Home Energy Scotland Loan offers.

UK – Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – World Heritage Sites

Other Parliamentary Activity

The Scottish Parliament is in recess from 26^th June 2021 – 29^th August 2021
The UK Parliament is in recess 22^nd July 2021 – 6^th September 2021

Statement by the UK Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government – Building Beautiful Places 20th July 2021  – Related UK publications include: National Model Design Code  and an updated Planning Framework

The UK Government Community Ownership Fund Round 1 has opened. Deadline Mid-August

First evidence session of the Sustainability of the Built Environment inquiry,for the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC)

Parliamentary Motions

Motion: S6M-00615 That the Parliament congratulates The Ridge in Dunbar on its recent award of £250,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Motion S6M-00603 That the Parliament recognises that Dunbar Battery, which is based at the town’s harbour, was one of five finalists in the Exterior Spaces category of the European Award for Architectural Heritage Intervention

Events

AHSS – Principles are Principles, but Variety is the Spice of Life – James Simpson
Date: 29^th July – 5pm
Online
The joy of conservation practice, whether one is a textile conservator, a botanist or an architect lies in the range of tasks one has to face. Each project and each day are different: ‘variety is the spice of life’!
In this talk, work to three buildings will be described, the survival of which has taken massive effort, but each has proved to be far more valuable in the end than seemed likely at the beginning.

Pathways to Traditional Skills; A European Perspective
Date: Tuesday 24 August 2021 – one day conference
Online
Historic Environment Scotland has led a research outcome of the Erasmusplus Traditional Building Skills project working with Scottish and EU partners comparing educational routes into building craft skills and developing new courses in schools and colleges. This conference will report the findings from this work, assess how we can learn from other models and consider the future of building craft skills and how they can be passed on to the next generation.

SURF Annual Conference – Partners in Place
Dates: 24^th, 25^th, 26^th August 2021
Booking now open for a series of three 90min virtual sessions focusing on: Post-Covid Recovery; Place-based Regeneration and Climate Change.

HTN & HCS At the Heart of the Community – A Future for Your Church
Session Three: Finding New Uses (you do not need to have attended the previous sessions)
Date: Wednesday 1^st September 2021, 10-11.30am
Online
In this event we will hear from Harriet English from the Plunkett Foundation, who will introduce the new Community Businesses in Places of Worship project and the support available. We will then go on to have an informal discussion with attendees on the topic of finding new uses, challenges and successes.

SPAB: Inverness Castle Pre-Works Visit
Date: 18th September 2pm
Location: Inverness Castle
This is a unique chance to take part in a tour of this fascinating group of buildings before major conservation and development works start. The buildings have been stripped out of previous modern fittings, and this will be an interesting moment to see the original shapes of the buildings.

Training

HES are now recruiting for an MSc in technical building conservation. Full details here.

Architectural Conservation CPD: Timber Decay and Repair in Traditional Buildings
Date & time: Wed. 25 August, 12:30-13:30 (from 12:15).
Online via Microsoft Teams, streamed live from Lower City Mills, Perth.
The more technical second half of the 2020 CPD programme opens with this session on timber decay and repair. Delivered by Historic Environment Scotland’s Technical Research Manager Roger Curtis, this CPD will look at the use of timber in traditional construction, decay processes, remedial measures and repair techniques to structural and finishing timber. Sessions are hosted online with Q&A and networking opportunities and delivered using live and recorded content by industry accredited professionals and are recognised CPD by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) and Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF).

Scottish Lime Centre Trust: The Structural Repair of Historic buildings
Date & time: 24^th September, 9:30 -16:30
Location: Charlestown Workshop
This masterclass led by Ian Hume, aims to provide professionals with a sound understanding of the philosophy of conservation.  Suitable for: This masterclass is suitable for anyone involved in the structural repair of historic buildings. Conservation officers, architects, engineers, site managers and others would find this seminar helpful.

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

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

Vacancies

The Cockburn Association: New Treasurer for governing Council
The Cockburn Association is looking for a new Treasurer to join the governing Council of the Association.  Information and details available – contact Terry Levinthal.

Fife Historic Buildings Trust – Project Development Officer
A new full-time fixed term post, funded by Historic Environment Scotland, to work with the FHBT team to develop new historic environment regeneration projects in Fife, principally the restoration and re-use of historic buildings at risk. Closing Date: noon – Thursday 29th July 2021

Edinburgh World Heritage – Graveyards Engagement Officer
Edinburgh World Heritage is looking to appoint a Graveyards Engagement Officer to play in key role in engaging audiences in one of our five historic burial sites in the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site. Closing Date: Friday 30^th July at 12noon

Edinburgh World Heritage – Operations & Finance Manager
Edinburgh World Heritage is looking to appoint an Operations & Finance Manager who is responsible for managing the operation of the charity, leading on the delivery of finance, governance, HR and office objectives to enable the organisation to run smoothly and efficiently.
Closing Date: Monday 16th August at 5pm

Heritage Trust Network: Board of Directors
Heritage Trust Network is recruiting new members to its Board of Directors. This is a unique opportunity to join the leadership of one of the fastest growing organisations in community-led heritage regeneration. You could help steer their ambitious strategy to strengthen the organisation and help their members succeed.
Closing Date: 23rd August 2021

Director of Scotland’s Churches Trust
Due to the retirement of the present post holder at the end of 2021, it is looking to recruit a Director who will be responsible for the day to day running of the Trust and related activities, and who will report to the Board of Trustees. Closing Date: 1 September 2021

Volunteer with North Lanarkshire Doors Open Days – Coordinator 
This is a great opportunity to help people in your local area freely access heritage sites and events; network with professionals across Scotland’s heritage sectors; and develop skills in project management, communication and website management. You will be supported by a friendly national network of Doors
Closing date: applications accepted on a rolling basis.

BEFS News

At the end of May BEFS took part in a cross-sector Climate Vulnerability (CVI) workshop, assessing the Edinburgh World Heritage Site.  With facilitators from James Cook University Australia, Historic Environment Scotland, and Edinburgh World Heritage, participants were invited (over 5 sessions) to explore vulnerabilities caused by climate change, in relation to the world heritage site’s Outstanding Universal Value and the wider community.
BEFS was particularly interested in the application of the CVI process to an urban site and the wider aims to identify where capacity and opportunities for climate change adaptation and achieving net zero targets might lie. Applying a risk-matrix and rapid-assessment approach and considering the different aspects of the World Heritage property in detail was a valuable exercise. Just as valuable perhaps, was the chance to hear different perspectives and voices from a wide range of participants. BEFS looks forward to seeing how the CVI informs a draft climate action plan for the Old and New Towns!
In our guest blog you can read about the process from the perspective of those directly involved with managing the world heritage site. Read more here.

New funding for the sector – #COP26Conversations Fund
This fund has been designed to help cultural and heritage organisations begin to raise their profile as spaces for communities to engage with the climate challenge and explore positive actions. The fund is being delivered in partnership between Museums Galleries Scotland, the Scottish Library and Information Council and Historic Environment Scotland, it will offer small grants (up to £1,000) to museums, libraries and historic environment organisations to host small scale, community focused events and activities in the build up to and during COP26.

The most recent edition of the Scottish Planner, RTPI’s Journal contains articles by BEFS past and present Directors, as well as a review of regeneration from SURF’s past Chief Executive. Full access here.

BEFS was part of the audience for the well-attended Scotland’s Towns Partnership launch of the Town Toolkit. It’s clear that there are some fantastic examples and case studies – especially around turning empty spaces into business spaces and how to use vacant property. The toolkit is intended to be a resource of practical advice, and it links to a funding finder within the tool kit. Honest feedback is being sought – and the team welcome any useful information and case studies from users – feed back here.

The Managing Imperial Legacies group ran an informative webinar on Decolonising Heritage at the start of July. BEFS was there to understand the depth of organisational change that is necessary to provide more equitable narratives, narratives that address our links and legacies to the transatlantic slave trade, whilst embracing the discomfort of those changes. There was appreciation for all those furthering this progress, and adapting to discomfort, as part of our collective and individual stories. A conference is planned for 2022.

Equity and the climate crisis in on the mind of Scottish Civic Trust who are looking for speakers for their lecture series on Heritage, Equity and the Climate Crisis – full details here.

BEFS recently responded to the recent Local Place Plan Regulations consultation. BEFS response supports the Regulations as they stand, but notes that many of the concerns around LPPs remain unaddressed by the consultation. Guidance and further clarity is needed around a number of issues. Read BEFS and Member responses here.

Historic Environment Scotland are now seeking a new Chair – details can be found here Closes 16th August

BEFS corresponding organisation south of the border, The Heritage Alliance are also currently advertising for a new Chair, see details here Closes 31st July

Last, but very much not least – BEFS are delighted to welcome newest Associate Member Stirling City Heritage Trust. We’ll hear more from them directly in due course, but until there’s a full introduction, please see their website – and also note the opportunity to work with them in the vacancies section below.

Consultations

Petition: To create a tax incentive to favour retrofit instead of demolition and new build
Closes 8 August 2021.

Draft 2030 Climate Strategy – Edinburgh
Closes 12 Sep 2021.

Consultation Responses

Scotland’s Fourth National Planning Framework Position Statement – Analysis of responses to the consultation (SG 25/06/21)

Planning Performance and Fees Consultation – Analysis of Responses

Publications

Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk (CCC 16/06/2021)

Parks for People: why should we invest in parks? (NLHF 07/2021)

Green Heat in Greenspaces (GHiGs) project data (IS 07/2021)

ALVA Tourism Recovery Tracker (via STA 07/2021)

Briefing on Climate Change (SPICe 07/2021)

Building a Green Recovery (IfG 07/2021)

Healthy Homes Scotland (PHS via CaCHE 05/07/2021)

Scottish Government News Releases

Infrastructure Investment: Andrew Watson, director for budget & public spending at the Scottish Government, has written to the Public Audit Committee with the latest report on the progress of Major Capital Projects for the six months ending March 2021.

Building Standards Futures Board minutes: June 2021

Scottish Government Advice & Guidance on returning to offices (Covid 19) 

Environmental Standards: The instrument establishing Environmental Standards Scotland has been formally lodged by the UK Government.

News Releases

Europa Nostra – Call for Nominations – 7 Most Endangered Programme
Launched in 2013 and starting its 7th edition, the 7 Most Endangered Programme is a civil society campaign to save Europe’s endangered heritage. It raises awareness, makes independent expert assessments, proposes recommendations for action and seeks to rally support to save the selected endangered sites. Being on the 7 Most Endangered List often serves as a catalyst for positive change and as an incentive for mobilisation of the necessary public or private support.

CivTech Alliance Challenge 7 – School Building Use
We currently do not fully understand how the physical spaces in schools and educational buildings are utilised beyond timetabling and term-time considerations, and without full understanding, effective planning and management is not possible. This has the potential to detrimentally impact many aspects of the building’s performance – for example in terms of air quality, which if not optimal has the potential to spread diseases such as Covid 19.
However if we could understand how our educational buildings are being used, we could make informed decisions on how we plan, invest in, and utilise them to best effect. So we want to gain an understanding about how people travel through buildings, and how they occupy rooms, spaces and external facilities, and in doing so realise a number of benefits including increased pupil wellbeing, identifying new capacities within buildings for growth and expansion, and improving the learning environment through data driven building management decisions.

Opinion & Comment

How we measure energy efficiency in our homes isn’t working (01/07/2021)

Architecture & Design Scotland – Whole Place Approach 29/06/2021 

National Trust for Scotland – Shaking Off the Past (National 04/07/2021)

Carbon cost of demolishing Derby Assembly Rooms (AJ 06/2021)

Construction groups unite with proposed new carbon reporting rules (RICS 05/06/2021) 

Parliamentary Questions

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

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

Question ref. S6W-00749 Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many homes in each local authority area in the South Scotland parliamentary region have been returned to use with support from the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, in each year since 2011.
Answered by Shona Robison (29/06/2021)

Other Parliamentary Activity

The Scottish Parliament is in recess from 26^th June 2021 – 29^th August 2021
The UK Parliament will be in recess 22^nd July 2021 – 6^th September 2021

UK Renewable Energy: The Scottish Affairs Committee has published its notes from its visit to Orkney from Sunday 27 – Monday 28 June as part of its renewable energy in Scotland inquiry.

UK Withdrawal Agreement: The first UK-EU annual report on the functioning of the Withdrawal Agreement has been published.

UK Building Safety: The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has published the Building Safety Bill. The legislation aims to ensure there are people responsible for safety during the design, build and occupation of high-rise buildings.

Events

For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: In Conversation with David Walker
Date & time: Wednesday 14th July 2021 | 7.30pm BST
Online.
In GCHT evening lecture series ‘Transforming Glasgow’, we are looking to the past for inspiration and possible solutions. The series focuses on how Glasgow has changed and reinvented itself in a variety of ways from the latter half of the 20th century onwards to today. How have these changes come about and what has the impact been? What lessons can be learned?
Join us for a screening of our interview with Professor David Walker, a leading figure from the early days of conservation in Glasgow & Scotland, as we explore the huge amount of work that was done in the 1960s and since to protect Glasgow’s heritage and impress upon the people in power how significant it is to the city.

CIfA Ethics workshop
Date & time: July 21st, 2021 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Online
Using case studies developed from real-life experiences in archaeological practice, participants will use ethical guidance and experience to formulate and discuss their reactions and solutions to these ethical quandaries. This represents a valuable opportunity for participants to undertake Continuing Professional Development/Education and it can help professional archaeologists to gain facility in setting about and responding everyday ethical situations.

Pathways to Traditional Skills; A European Perspective
Date: Tuesday 24 August 2021 – one day conference
Online
Historic Environment Scotland has led a research outcome of the Erasmusplus Traditional Building Skills project working with Scottish and EU partners comparing educational routes into building craft skills and developing new courses in schools and colleges. This conference will report the findings from this work, assess how we can learn from other models and consider the future of building craft skills and how they can be passed on to the next generation.

SURF Annual Conference – Partners in Place
Dates: 24^th, 25^th, 26^th August 2021
Booking now open for a series of three 90min virtual sessions focusing on: Post-Covid Recovery; Place-based Regeneration and Climate Change.

Training

CPD: Heritage Impact Assessments with Georgina Allison
Date & time: Tues.13th July, 12:30-1:30pm
Online: GCHT Zoom Meeting
Join GCHT for this CPD lecture delivered by conservation accredited architect Georgina Allison, covering the process, expertise and importance involved in a Heritage impact assessment, along with some case studies, to gain knowledge pertinent to all architects and conservation professionals undertaking work on historic buildings.
This CPD is being delivered as part of GCHT’s “THE GREENEST BUILDING HAS ALREADY BEEN BUILT” programme, in line with COP26 2021.

Architectural Conservation CPD: Timber Decay and Repair in Traditional Buildings
Date & time: Wed. 25 August, 12:30-13:30 (from 12:15).
Online via Microsoft Teams, streamed live from Lower City Mills, Perth.
The more technical second half of the 2020 CPD programme opens with this session on timber decay and repair. Delivered by Historic Environment Scotland’s Technical Research Manager Roger Curtis, this CPD will look at the use of timber in traditional construction, decay processes, remedial measures and repair techniques to structural and finishing timber. Sessions are hosted online with Q&A and networking opportunities and delivered using live and recorded content by industry accredited professionals and are recognised CPD by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) and Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF).

Vacancies

Tender Opportunity – Stirling City Heritage Trust
Stirling City Heritage Trust is seeking a suitably qualified consultancy to help develop a 5 year Strategic Plan. Closing Date: Wednesday 13 July 2021, 12 noon

Fife Historic Buildings Trust – Project Development Officer
A new full-time fixed term post, funded by Historic Environment Scotland, to work with the FHBT team to develop new historic environment regeneration projects in Fife, principally the restoration and re-use of historic buildings at risk. Closing Date: noon – Thursday 29th 2021

Edinburgh World Heritage – Graveyards Engagement Officer
Edinburgh World Heritage is looking to appoint a Graveyards Engagement Officer to play in key role in engaging audiences in one of our five historic burial sites in the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site. Closing Date: Friday 30^th July at 12noon

Director of Scotland’s Churches Trust
Due to the retirement of the present post holder at the end of 2021, it is looking to recruit a Director who will be responsible for the day to day running of the Trust and related activities, and who will report to the Board of Trustees.
Closing Date: 1 September 2021

Volunteer with ?Glasgow Doors Open Days
Become a part of one of Glasgow’s largest annual cultural events, by volunteering with Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival! Meet new people, boost your CV, get involved in our city’s heritage and help others enjoy their time at the festival.

BEFS News

Last week the Conservation Officer’s Group (COG) met for the first time with the purpose of creating a forum and network for knowledge sharing and good practice. BEFS is the secretariat and ‘host’ to this neutral space for discussion, with the aim of enhancing policy capacity and advocating for the sector. It is intended there will be 3-4 (virtual) meetings per year and all those working with a built heritage and conservation remit within a local and planning authority context are encouraged to take part. Find out more and get involved.

This week, the Places of Worship Forum (POWF) met for the first time. POWF is a non-denominational, strategic forum, for organisations that are considering the transition pathways, and collectively seeking sustainable future uses (within, and beyond worship) for places of worship within Scotland. Membership is open to any overarching organisation that owns, manages or runs places of worship; any national organisation that does/could fund places of worship; any national organisation that has an interest in the sustainability of communities who may become owners of places of worship, and national bodies giving advice relevant to places of worship. Find out more.

BEFS will be responding to the Local Place Plan consultation closing this Friday, details will be on the BEFS Consultations page shortly after. Thanks to all Members sharing their views to inform BEFS response.

The Scottish parliamentary committees have been named and membership proposed. The Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee’s (previously the Culture, Tourism, Europe & External Affairs Committee) remit covers: the Scottish Government’s EU and external affairs policy; policy in relation to the UK’s exit from the EU; the international activities of the Scottish Administration, including international development; and any other matter falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and any matter relating to inter-governmental relations within the responsibility of the Deputy First Minister. This suggests the remit for tourism will move back alongside enterprise, mirroring the ministerial set-up. This committee change is proposed as temporary until 31 Dec 2021 or until a motion making the change permanent is brought forward from the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments, when formed.

Consultations

RTPI Digital Skills Online Survey

Local Place Plan Regulations consultation
Closes 25 June 2021.

Petition: To create a tax incentive to favour retrofit instead of demolition and new build
Closes 8 August 2021.

Draft 2030 Climate Strategy – Edinburgh
Opened 14 Jun 2021 and closes 12 Sep 2021.

Consultation Responses

Scottish Land Court and the Lands Tribunal for Scotland: consultation analysis

Publications

Housing: subject profile (SPICe 14/06/21)

Tourism Recovery Plan (DCMS 11/06/21)

Annual Operating Plan 2021-22 (HES 11/06/21)

Beyond COP26: The UK’s Green USPs (PE 09/06/21)

Healthy housing for Scotland A briefing paper setting out the fundamental link between housing and public health (PHS 08/06/21)

Edinburgh publishes draft climate strategy (ECC 07/06/21)

Open for Business: Gaining business support for transforming city centres (Transform Scotland 06/21)

The future of the planning system in England – First Report of Session 2021–22 (HoC 27/05/21)

Scottish Government News Releases

New fund opens for island communities (SG 17/06/21)

Businesses and community groups located across Scotland’s inhabited islands are now able to apply for grants of up to £150,000 through the new Island Communities Fund (ICF) for projects focussed on supporting sustainable island economies and the journey towards net zero.

Sustainable economic recovery (SG 16/06/21)
An initial 25 projects designed to help meet skills needs in a range of sectors will receive a share of up to £20 million as part of the second phase of the National Transition Training Fund (NTTF).

More than 100,000 affordable homes delivered (SG 15/06/21)
Scotland has delivered more than 100,000 affordable homes since 2007, marking a major milestone on the path to a fairer, more equal nation.

New plan sets out how historic environment will support Scotland’s recovery (HES 11/06/21)
We have published our new Annual Operating Plan for 2021/22, which sets out how the organisation will champion the role of the historic environment to bring positive social, environmental and economic impacts for communities across Scotland

Accelerating green growth (SG 09/06/21)
A new investment programme to help deliver Scotland’s just transition to a net-zero emissions economy has been launched.

Strengthening links with Europe (SG 08/06/21)
Researchers based in Scotland and Europe can apply to a new £3 million scheme aimed at repairing research links with the EU following the damaging impact of Brexit.

Funding to restore Scotland’s iconic peatlands (SG 05/06/21)
Projects to restore Scotland’s peatlands will get a share of £22 million this year to significantly reduce carbon emissions and support biodiversity as part of the government’s climate change plan.

Climate campaign launches (SG 02/06/21)
The Let’s do Net Zero campaign highlights the benefits a net zero society will bring for our economy, health and environment.

News Releases

Scotland’s Summer Dig Season is Back (DigIt! 21/06/21)
From 21 June to 22 September, #ScotlandDigs2021 will shine a spotlight on our world-class archaeology by bringing together events and live updates from Dumfries & Galloway to Shetland.

HEF COP26 Task Group: Call for climate change and sustainability case studies (EHF 21/06/21)
Inspired by the COP26 summit’s aim to ‘unite the world to tackle climate change’ the Historic Environment Forum created a task group to focus on heritage and climate change, using COP26 as a catalyst. The task group will create a sector and public-facing shared statement on climate change and collate best practice case studies to support and strengthen this work.

A&DS and RIAS Scottish Student Awards for Architecture 2021 (A&DS & RIAS 18/06/21)
The student awards are a mark of the continuing high standards of Scottish architectural education and ensure that both construction professionals and the public can enjoy the creativity and vision of Scotland’s future architects.

Greener Towns Focus for New Strategic Partnership (STP 14/06/21)
A new strategic partnership has been announced between Scotland’s Towns Partnership and the Green Action Trust which is set to boost environmental outcomes in towns the length and breadth of Scotland.

New plan to drive rapid recovery of Scottish tourism sector (DCMS 11/06/21)
Measures including a rail pass for UK “staycationers” and a voucher scheme for tourist attractions are part of the plan to boost tourism across the country.

New heritage toolkit to improve community input in conservation (STIR & HES 09/06/21)
A new toolkit for heritage professionals is helping them understand and assess how people and communities value and relate to Scotland’s historic environment.

2021 SURF Awards Formally Open for Applications (SURF 03/06/21)
The prestigious national 2021 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration were launched today (03/06/21) by the Scottish Government at an online event, in partnership with the Glasgow Canal Co-op and the ‘Year of Coasts and Waters’.

Search for the next UK City of Culture launched (DCMS 29/06/21)
UK Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has today launched the competition to find the UK’s next City of Culture. The competition is now live and applications are encouraged from towns and cities across the UK. Winner will have baton passed to them from Coventry – UK City of Culture 2021.

Introducing a new content hub – http://MyLand.Scot (SLC 06/21)
Connecting Scots to the land around them & inspiring them to talk about all things land related. Shining a light on various local orgs that are making a positive impact to their community .

Opinion & Comment

A brand new podcast The Lay of The Land by the Scottish Land Commission exploring the different ways land is used by the people of Scotland (SLC 06/21)

Reflecting on the DCMS Tourism Recovery Plan (Heritage Futures 14/06/21)

How has the pandemic changed the way we look at our places? (A&DS 06/21)

Parliamentary Questions

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

Question S6W-00574: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 10/06/2021 R
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any workforce shortages in the housebuilding sector that is impacting on the construction of affordable homes, and what support it can provide to that sector to identify and train new staff.

Question S6W-00694: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 14/06/2021 R
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has established the necessary governance process and a monitoring framework to assess progress towards the vision of its Housing 2040 (H2040) strategy.

Question S6W-00749: Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 15/06/2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many homes in each local authority area in the South Scotland parliamentary region have been returned to use with support from the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, in each year since 2011.

Question S6W-00967: Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 22/06/2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that increasing the Scottish Land Fund significantly in the early years of the current parliamentary session will be the most effective way of ensuring that communities can compete for the ownership of land, given that there is an increasing number of wealthy private owners expressing interest in buying land.

Question S6W-00968: Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 22/06/2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers current land ownership patterns to be socially and economically just.

Question S6W-00969: Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 22/06/2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that increased community ownership of land and other assets will increase community wealth, and if so, how it considers that this will be achieved.

Question S6W-00971: Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 22/06/2021
To ask the Scottish Government when it will carry out a consultation on its proposed Land Reform Bill.

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Government in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.

Question S6W-00440: Pam Gosal, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 03/06/2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether planning regulations need reforming, and what its response is to reports of decisions by East Dunbartonshire Council being overturned by Ministers, leading to pressure on local infrastructure and loss of greenbelt land.
Answered by Tom Arthur (16/06/2021)

Question S6W-00917: Kaukab Stewart, Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 18/06/2021
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with introducing the Single Building Assessment, which was announced in a ministerial statement on 19 March 2021.
Answered by Shona Robison (18/06/2021)

Events

For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.

Belief, Burial, Tombs & Tourists: the past & future of Greyfriars Kirkyard
Date & time: Sat, 26 June 2021 from 10:00 – 16:00.
Online.
Greyfriars Kirkyard is famous worldwide for the lasting impressions it makes on researchers and visitors alike. This conference celebrates the role of Greyfriars in shaping Scottish history, religion and architecture and shines a light on the site’s value to visitors today, captivated by links to Harry Potter, Greyfriars Bobby, and dark tourism. Through a wide-ranging programme, the kirkyard’s past, present and future will be explored by leading academics, community researchers and heritage professionals. At the heart of the discussion will be the question: how can the enduring appeal and value of Greyfriars be harnessed to create a sustainable future for this unique and treasured historic greenspace?

Study Day: The Hill House and Hermitage Park, Helensburgh
Date & time: 31st July 2021, 10.30am – 3pm.
Cost: £18.00 – SGLH Members / £25.00 – Non-members.
An opportunity to visit The Hill House in the morning and walk the Hill House Box gantries, with lunch provided at The Hill House on the roof-top cafe comprising soup, sandwich, tea, coffee and a sweet treat.  After lunch there is a guided tour of the town’s recently restored Hermitage Park led by project landscape architect Jon Simmons, CMLI between 1.30-2.30pm.  Mackintosh’s Hill House is a half mile walk up hill from the main line Helensburgh train station.  A taxi rank is located at the railway station.  Hermitage Park is a half mile walk down the hill.  Meet at the park Pavilion from 1pm onwards.  The guided walk, or walks depending on numbers, will begin at 1.30pm.

Training

CPD: An Introduction to Architectural Conservation with Dr. Cristina Gonzalez-Longo
Date & time: Monday 28th June 2021 | 12.30-1.30pm.
Online: GCHT Zoom Meeting.
Conservation is a growing area of work within architecture. As well as creativity and design skills, it requires specialist education and training in conservation to be able to develop in practice the competences required. Architecture is by nature an interdisciplinary field and a specialisation in conservation requires further multidisciplinary knowledge and skills, as well as a collaborative and critical approach. The most difficult aspects in a conservation project are not the resolution of technical problems, but the capacity to make good judgements about the buildings and their settings and to develop a specific intervention criteria that allows to take good project decisions, based on an appropriate understanding of the philosophy of conservation and a scientific analysis of the evidence. Join us for this CPD with Dr Cristina Gonzalez-Longo to explore the challenges of conserving built heritage, the philosophy of conservation and a look at some case studies of Dr Gonzalez-Longo’s work, highlighting the importance of history, design ideas, innovation, scientific approach and care.

Architectural Conservation CPD: Statutory Protection and Managing Change to Listed Buildings
Date & time: Wed. 30 June, 12:30-13:30 (from 12:15).
Online via Microsoft Teams, streamed live from Lower City Mills, Perth.
The third session in the 6-part CPD programme focuses on listed buildings and the legislative framework that protects them. Delivered by Historic Environment Scotland’s Head of Designations Elizabeth McCrone, this session will cover the role of designation, recent reviews, applying for listed building consent and general approached to managing change to listed buildings with examples. Whether you are starting out in a buildings related career, looking to refresh your conservation knowledge, encounter historic buildings as part of your work portfolio, or have limited knowledge of the best conservation practice to employ on a project involving traditionally constructed buildings, this is the CPD programme for you. Sessions are hosted online with Q&A and networking opportunities and delivered using live and recorded content by industry accredited professionals and are recognised CPD by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) and Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF).

Architectural Conservation CPD: Timber Decay and Repair in Traditional Buildings
Date & time: Wed. 25 August, 12:30-13:30 (from 12:15).
Online via Microsoft Teams, streamed live from Lower City Mills, Perth.
The more technical second half of the 2020 CPD programme opens with this session on timber decay and repair. Delivered by Historic Environment Scotland’s Technical Research Manager Roger Curtis, this CPD will look at the use of timber in traditional construction, decay processes, remedial measures and repair techniques to structural and finishing timber. Whether you are starting out in a buildings related career, looking to refresh your conservation knowledge, encounter historic buildings as part of your work portfolio, or have limited knowledge of the best conservation practice to employ on a project involving traditionally constructed buildings, this is the CPD programme for you. Sessions are hosted online with Q&A and networking opportunities and delivered using live and recorded content by industry accredited professionals and are recognised CPD by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) and Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF).

Vacancies

Director of Scotland’s Churches Trust
Due to the retirement of the present post holder at the end of 2021, it is looking to recruit a Director who will be responsible for the day to day running of the Trust and related activities, and who will report to the Board of Trustees.
Closing Date: 1 September 2021.

Volunteer with ?Glasgow Doors Open Days
Become a part of one of Glasgow’s largest annual cultural events, by volunteering with Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival! Meet new people, boost your CV, get involved in our city’s heritage and help others enjoy their time at the festival.

BEFS News

BEFS is delight to welcome our new Policy & Strategy Manager, Hazel Johnson, into post. Hazel has previously worked for Historic Environment Scotland and has extensive experience in both the arts and heritage. Find out more about her professional background here. 

As a new member joins BEFS team, an old one departs. After 5 years as BEFS Communications Manager, Saskia Smellie is off to pursue her research interests full time. Therefore, we are now seeking a new Communications & Membership Advocate. Find out details and how to apply here.

In the last few weeks BEFS has attended events that speak to the bigger actions (climate) and that consider the bigger picture (indicative Regional Spatial Strategies) for our places. The Climate Vulnerability Index, designed by specialists at James Cook University, now working with Edinburgh World Heritage, Historic Environment Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, has meant that this innovative process is being run in an urban setting for the first time. These intense workshops look at both the outstanding values of the Old & New Town World Heritage Site and consider what effects climate change may have within that context. We look forward to sharing more thoughts once the series of events is complete. 

BEFS was also delighted to take part in the Place element of a series of Scottish Government run events on indicative Regional Spatial Strategies (iRSS) in relation to NPF4, facilitated by Kevin Murray Associates. These well attended round-tables involved rapid prototyping of specific issues related to pre-determined geographic areas (different spatial iterations being formed for events relating to Place, People, Carbon and Work); which will then inform both each other, and be considered alongside the iRSS previously submitted for consideration.

RTPI Scotland are working with Digital Planning and Ekos to examine the operating environment to embed digital planning in Scotland. They are asking people working in or with the Scottish planning system to fill out a short online survey.

Opening this June, Scotland’s only independent architecture festival the Architecture Fringe invites you to explore, interrogate and (un)learn about the world of architecture, as it could be. Returning in a new biennial hybrid format across in-person and digital platforms, the festival responds to the thematic provocation of (Un)Learning, bringing together a vibrant and diverse range of practitioners and activists from across the world. Find out more here.

Want the latest updates from world-class Scottish archaeological research? Visit the Archaeological Research in Progress (ARP)  to discover brochs, Romans, prehistoric rock art and more. The APR is a conference presenting new research findings and best practice in archaeology covering all periods from across Scotland and beyond. It is organised in alternate years by Archaeology Scotland and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

In 2016 BEFS supported research carried out by Volunteer Scotland on volunteering in Scotland’s historic environment sector. Key findings indicate that 17,100 people gave their time for free during 2015 and that 46% of organisations surveyed would not exist were it not for volunteers. It is estimated that this figure would now be higher. So, this #VolunteersWeekScot we celebrate and thank the fantastic and dedicated volunteers that work tirelessly to protect, maintain and sustain Scotland’s built and #historicenvironment for all of us to enjoy!

Consultations

The Role of LABSS within the Building Standards System

RTPI Digital Skills Online Survey

Local Place Plan Regulations consultation
Closes 25 June 2021.

Petition: To create a tax incentive to favour retrofit instead of demolition and new build
Closes 8 August 2021.

Publications

Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme: Progress Report 2021 (SG 27/05/21)

AHF 2020/21 Impact Report (AHF 26/05/21)

National Outcomes: planning and architecture contribution (SG 26/05/21)

Land measurement for planning and development purposes, global guidance note, 1st edition (RICS 25/05/21)

Building Standards Self-assessment Tool for Verifiers April 2021 (SG 24/05/21)

Building Standards (Fire Safety) Review Panel 2021 (SG 05/18/21)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Impact on Scottish Household Survey and Scottish House Condition Survey fieldwork in 2020 and 2021 (SG 18/05/21)

Scottish Government News Releases

News Releases

Parliamentary Questions

Events

For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.

Training

Vacancies

Operations Manager
We are looking to recruit an Operations Manager who will be responsible for ensuring integration and co-ordination across PAS and developing the organisation’s delivery of services in collaboration with the Chief Executive, and other members of the management team. Deadline for applications: 23.59 on Monday 14 June.

Communication and Engagement Officer
Under One Roof are looking for someone from a communication or architectural background whose skills will help expand the organisation’s reach and impact, particularly with tenement flat owners.
Applications received after noon on the 14th will not be considered.

Volunteer opportunity – Shetland Doors Open Days coordinator
Doors Open Days is looking for an enthusiastic volunteer or group of volunteers to help coordinate Doors Open Days in Shetland. This is a great opportunity to help people in your local area freely access heritage sites and events, network with professionals across Scotland’s heritage sectors, and develop skills in project management, communication and website management. You will be supported by a friendly national network of Doors Open Days coordinators.
Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

BEFS News

The First Minister is returned to post, Cabinet Secretaries have been announced, and new Ministers have been appointed.  It’s all change for culture, heritage and our existing and built environment. BEFS give an overview of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election outcomes, and consider the initial implications of the changes we’ve noted so far – read more here.

BEFS response to Historic Environment Scotland’s consultation on Managing Change Guidance Note: Working on and near to scheduled monuments supports and reiterates points made by Member organisations. Read the full response here.

IHBC have been considering inclusion and the barriers to engagement and learning: What started as an enquiry from the IHBC, in relation to a conference where BEFS Director had already booked a place – has turned into a blog from IHBC Director, Sean O’Reilly. IHBC were keen to raise awareness across BEFS’ community and voluntary-sector membership, especially of the new access and outreach opportunities at their virtual day conference ‘Historic Places: People Places’. The barriers towards engagement can often tied to past legacy, tradition, and expectation. BEFS was keen to participate and thought that BEFS Bulletin readers could benefit from hearing more about the approach the IHBC have taken. Both in how they’ve framed their approach to a virtual conference, including their innovative approach to the ‘learning’ marketplace, and their pricing structure.

The programme for the Architecture Fringe 2021 (Un)Learning is now live! With 58 projects and events across Scotland and online, from 4 to 20 June, you are invited to (un)learn, to interrogate your own behaviours, beliefs and biases, to acknowledge how the world really is to then reimagine how it could be. Full details here.

Check out the range of fantastic built environment events coming up in the events section below of via our online calendar.

Consultations

Local Place Plan Regulations consultation
Closes 25 June 2021.

Petition: To create a tax incentive to favour retrofit instead of demolition and new build
Closes 8 August 2021.

Consultation Responses

Scottish Enterprise’s position statement response to the NPF4 consultation (SG 10/05/21)

Publications

Building standards – verifiers: professional competency framework (SG 10/05/21)

Community right to buy – re-registering a community interest in land: form (SG 09/05/21)

Strategy to address racism against people of colour (SCT 05/05/21)

Mainstreaming and 2021-25 Equality Outcomes Report (HES 30/04/21)

Doors Open Day 2020 Report (SCT 05/21)

Brexit, Intellectual Property Rights and Heritage: What you need to know (HD 03/21)

Bennet Institute for Public Policy, Townscapes, the Value of Public Infrastructure (BIPP 05/21)

Working Better Together in Place – collaborative report from Inspiring Scotland (IS 05/21)

Scottish Government News Releases

Scottish Government release details of new cabinet.

News Releases

Events

Training

Vacancies

BEFS News

BEFS is delighted to welcome Director Ailsa Macfarlane into post this week. Coming from a cultural-heritage project management background, Ailsa has wide-ranging experience with partnership working and stakeholder collaboration across Scotland. Find out more about her background here.

BEFS has compiled an overview of  in the party manifestos that will have implications for Scotland’s built environment. Various heritage and built environment organisations, including a number of BEFS members, produced manifestos ahead of today’s election. The manifestos outline information on specific strategic issues, facts and details, and the corresponding language and messaging that can be adapted and adopted to advocate for the built environment with your newly elected parliamentarians. For advice on becoming an advocate for the built environment check out our Advocacy Toolkit.

BEFS outgoing Director Euan Leitch reflects on why retaining our existing built environment is beneficial and potentially transformative for communities and how crucial it is that we evidence the benefits that arise from investing in heritage going into a new parliament, in our first blog this week.

BEFS submitted a response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on Scottish skills requirements for energy efficiency, zero emissions and low carbon heating systems, microgeneration and heat networks for homes. It strongly supports the primary focus around retrofitting existing buildings. BEFS also submitted a response to the Scottish Government’s Heat in buildings strategy – achieving net zero emissions consultation, highlighting that Scotland’s home-owners, businesses, suppliers, and manufacturers need as clear an understanding as possible of who needs to do what, and by when. Both responses can be read in full here.

In a final contribution as Director, Euan Leitch, shares his observations about the extended permitted development rights consultation process, motivations, and unexpected outcomes in our second blog this week.

To help promote the reopening of museums and galleries across Scotland, Museums Galleries Scotland have launched the #MuseumsAreGo reopening campaign, on behalf of and with the sector to help reassure and encourage people to visit, as well as support, their local museum and gallery and other museums across Scotland. We are also offering the sector marketing support to those museums who need it most, including an online toolkit and marketing support surgeries in May and June.

Consultations

Scotland’s Churches Trust: Helping Sustain Our Places Of Worship Survey

Working On and Near to Scheduled Monuments
Closes 6 May 2021.

Local Place Plan Regulations consultation
Closes 25 June 2021.

Petition: To create a tax incentive to favour retrofit instead of demolition and new build
8 August 2021.

Publications

Construction Industry Coronavirus Forum – Hustings (CICV 14/21)

The Resolution Foundation Housing Outlook (04/21)

Election Hub – Planning the Scotland We Need (04/21)

Housing in Scotland: Evidence for Scottish Government 2021-26 (UKCCfHE 04/21)

Context – Urban Design (IHBC March 2021)

News Releases

Short-term fixes with long-term consequences (Cockburn Association 03/05/21)
Our thoughts on the long-term implications of recently suggested short-term fixes for the Scottish planning system.

Flow Country: hopes of pressing case for world heritage site at COP26 (FMS 28/04/21)
The Flow Country Partnership is seeking to have the renowned area of peatland stretching across Caithness and Sutherland recognised alongside the Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef as a natural world heritage site.

Volunteer army put tech boots on ground to save high street (FS 28/04/21)
A new ‘digital footfall’ scheme has been launched in an East Lothian town this week by a volunteer tech army in response to the devastating impact of Covid-19 on the high street.

Archaeology Scotland’s Student Prize 2021 (AS 25/04/21)
Archaeology Scotland are delighted to announce that, thanks to a generous anonymous donation, we are running a competition to give recognition to excellence in written work on Scottish archaeology produced in the 2020–21 academic year.

Over £150 million funding to kickstart self-building revolution (MHCLG 24/04/21)
New ‘Help to Build’ scheme will make it easier and more affordable for people to build their own homes.

A New Chief Executive for the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS 22/04/21)
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) is delighted to announce that Tamsie Thomson has been appointed as its new Chief Executive.

RTPI Awards for Research Excellence 2021 (RTPI 2021)
The RTPI Awards for Research Excellence are now open for entries. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Monday 17 May 2021. The RTPI Awards for Research Excellence recognise and promote high quality and impactful spatial planning research from RTPI accredited planning schools and planning practitioners in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and internationally.

Opinion & Comment

Podcast: Building Sustainability – Fellowships – Karen Ridgewell

Events

For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.

Midsteeple Quarter
Date & time: Sat, 8 May 2021, 14:15.
Online event.
Join Matt Baker, founder and board member of the Midsteeple Quarter project, for a talk on this innovative community-led initiative to revitalise Dumfries High Street! Midsteeple Quarter is a Community Benefit Society set up and run by the people of Dumfries. Their aim is to help shape a new future for our town centre; one that responds to the needs of our community and is run for their benefit. The core principle is that local people have the innovative solutions for our town and that a significant local stake in the future of the town through community ownership and control is the best route towards a sustainable prosperity that is shared fairly amongst everyone.

Insanitary City: Dr Henry Littlejohn and the condition of Edinburgh
Date & time: Thu, 13 May 2021; 18:00 – 19:00.
Online event.
In 1865, Dr Henry Littlejohn – Police Surgeon, Crown witness in murder cases and medical advisor to the Scottish Poor Law authorities – published his Report on the Sanitary Condition of Edinburgh. His meticulous research produced penetrating insights into the links between poverty, employment and public health in Victorian cities.It had a significance far beyond the city of Edinburgh and Victorian society. In our latest online event, Edinburgh World Heritage is delighted to welcome Richard Rodger, Professor of Economic * Social History, University of Edinburgh, and co-author of ‘Insanitary City: Henry Littlejohn and the Condition of Edinburgh.’ Please join us as he explores the terrible slum conditions of Victorian Edinburgh and the extraordinary work of Dr Henry Littlejohn.

Developing a heritage project – National Lottery Heritage Fund Webinar
Date & time: Tue 25th May 2021 at 10:00.
Online event.
Join the Scotland team online to find out more about our small grants programme – National Lottery Grants for Heritage £3,000 to £10,000. Are you interested in developing a heritage project? The National Lottery Heritage Fund Engagement team in Scotland are running an informal webinar session on Tuesday 25 May at 10am. At this event we will give an overview of our small grants programme (£3,000 to £10,000), guidance for developing a heritage project and information about our application process. There will also be an opportunity to share your project ideas and ask any questions.

(1) Church Recording and Volunteering / (2) Repair & Maintenance
Date & time: Thursday, May 27th at 10.00am
Online: Zoom
Scotland’s Churches Trust is involved, together with other bodies, in a project to record the contents of our historic churches. This is now more important than ever with buildings closing at a rate not seen before. This is done through photographs and detailed description and sent to a central database. Volunteers are always needed! A second event in conjunction with the National Churches Trust (date to be decided), will focus on fabric maintenance and repair of places of worship.

2021 SURF Awards Launch Event
Date & time: 3rd June, 2pm-3.30pm.
Online: Zoom.
The prestigious national 2021 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration will launch at a virtual event on the 3rd June in partnership with the Glasgow Canal Cooperative, as part of the Glasgow Canal Regeneration Partnership, to celebrate and promote the Scottish Government Year of Coasts and Waters. The SURF Awards are delivered each year by SURF 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.

RIAS Inclusive Design Seminar
Date & time: Tuesday 8th June 2021, 1.00pm to 4.15pm.
Online: Zoom.
Cost: £5.00 / Free for RIAS Student Members
Join RIAS for this seminar which looks at planning for inclusivity at the outset to deliver high quality environments. Our speakers will cover a range of topics relating to inclusive design and how we can produce external spaces, buildings, interiors and products that are as accessible as possible for a diverse population. Speakers: Eugene Mullan, Smith Scott Mullan Associates; Annie Pollock; Colin Wishart, City of Edinburgh Council; Rick McCluggage, Smith Scott Mullan Associates, Emma Berry & Angel Morales Aguilar, LDN Architects, Joann Russell, Historic Environment Scotland; Lucy Richards, StudioLR.

Training

Architectural Conservation CPD: Historic Shopfronts
Date & time: Wednesday 26 May, 12:30-13:30 (log-on from 12:15).
Online: Microsoft Teams, streamed live from Lower City Mills, Perth.
Marking 10 years since ‘The Historic Shopfronts of Perth’ was published, the second session in the 2020 CPD programme is a historic shopfront feature delivered by shopfronts expert Lindsay Lennie. Whether you are starting out in a buildings related career, looking to refresh your conservation knowledge, encounter historic buildings as part of your work portfolio, or have limited knowledge of the best conservation practice to employ on a project involving traditionally constructed buildings, this is the CPD programme for you. Sessions are recognised CPD by the IHBC and Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF).

Architectural Conservation CPD: Statutory Protection and Managing Change to Listed Buildings
Date & time: Wed. 30 June, 12:30-13:30 (log-on with light refreshments from 12:15).
Online: Microsoft Teams, streamed live from Lower City Mills, Perth.
The third session in the 6-part CPD programme focuses on listed buildings and the legislative framework that protects them. Delivered by Historic Environment Scotland’s Head of Designations Elizabeth McCrone, this session will cover the role of designation, recent reviews, applying for listed building consent and general approached to managing change to listed buildings with examples. Sessions are hosted online with Q&A and networking opportunities and delivered using live and recorded content by industry accredited professionals and are recognised CPD by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) and Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF).

Vacancies

Creative Programme Manager, Creative Project Officer and freelance associates
greenspace scotland is looking to recruit an experienced and creative Programme Manager, Project Officer and freelance associates to lead the development and delivery of this important national initiative working with artists, cultural organisations and communities to commemorate and reflect on Scotland’s experiences during the pandemic.
Closing date for applications for both posts: 3pm on Wednesday 19 May 2021.

Development Officer for Northern Ireland
The Heritage Trust Network is recruiting for a new part-time post of Development Officer based in Northern Ireland. The Network has a varied range of members in Northern Ireland including major building preservation trusts in the cities, towns and villages and community and arts organisations.
The deadline for applications is Monday 24th May.

BEFS News

BEFS is delighted to welcome Hazel Johnson into the role of BEFS Policy & Strategy Manager. From late May Hazel will be joining the team having previously worked for Historic Environment Scotland. Her broad range of sector knowledge, experience, and policy work makes her a fantastic addition to BEFS. We look forward to letting Hazel introduce herself once she starts – for now we’ll just say a big HELLO from the whole team.

BEFS has undertaken an overview of policy commitments that would have implications for Scotland’s built environment found in the manifestos of political parties ahead of the Scottish parliamentary elections, with some yet to the published. The most significant change to previous manifestos is that most are giving significant attention to the climate emergency. Read more here.

BEFS has also collated manifestos produced by heritage and built environment organisations. The most recent additions include contributions from the National Trust for Scotland and the Cockburn Association. For advice on becoming an advocate for the built environment check out our Advocacy Toolkit.

BEFS is delighted to share that its application to Rebuilding Heritage was successful. Members of BEFS team will be attending the Rebuilding Leadership Training and the Inclusion in the Workplace Training. The Rebuilding Heritage programme provides invaluable training, free resources and webinars and BEFS would encourage heritage and built environment organisations to apply when round 6 opens in July 2021.

BEFS, Museums Galleries Scotland and greenspace Scotland are delighted that the ‘Surviving to Thriving’ Business Support Programme kicks off next week. To celebrate the programme starting, and our Scotland wide action towards increasing the resilience of the sector, we’d love to hear what resilience looks like to you and your organisation. Find out what participating organisations have to say about resilience on social media and share your thoughts on Monday 26th April with #Thriving and by tagging @MuseumsGalScot, @TheBEFS, @greenspacescot.

BEFS responded to Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) consultation on the draft ‘Talking About Heritage’ guidance, which closed mid-December 2020. HES are now in the process of incorporating the feedback they received, with a view to publishing the final guidance as an online resource later this year. You can find a summary of the feedback, and an update on what they plan to do next, online at We Asked, You Said, We Did.

HES, Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIFA) and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) have joined forces to support heritage organisations to create new jobs for young unemployed people though the KickStart programme. They are looking for heritage organisations of all types including third, public and private sector that can offer six months of meaningful work to a young unemployed person. Kickstart will cover minimum wage salary up to 25 hours a week and NIC’s, an additional £1000 will be available for the employer to spend on training or equipment needed as part of the programme. The programme will run until December 2021 and jobs can start anytime within this period.

BEFS extends condolences to all those mourning the sudden passing of Peter Ainsworth. We know our colleagues at many organisations, but particularly The Heritage Alliance who were privileged to have him as their Chair, will feel his loss keenly. A heritage giant has been lost and our thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Consultations

Scotland’s Churches Trust: Helping Sustain Our Places Of Worship Survey

Consultation on Scottish skills requirements for energy efficiency, zero emissions and low carbon heating systems, microgeneration and heat networks for homes.
Closes 30 April 2021.

Heat in buildings strategy – achieving net zero emissions: consultation
Closes 30 April 2021.

Inquiry: Local government and the path to net zero
You can submit evidence until Friday 30 April 2021.

Working On and Near to Scheduled Monuments
Closes 6 May 2021.

Local Place Plan Regulations consultation
Closes 25 June 2021.

Petition: To create a tax incentive to favour retrofit instead of demolition and new build
8 August 2021.

Publications

Coronavirus (COVID-19): tourism and hospitality sector guidance (SG 16/04/21)

Scottish Planner – The Journal of RTPI Scotland (RTPI Scotland 04/21)

European Cultural Heritage Green Paper – Full Paper (EN 22/03/21)

European Cultural Heritage Green Paper – Executive Summary (EN 22/03/21)

News Releases

UK enshrines new target in law to slash emissions by 78% by 2035 (DBEIS 20/04/21)
The UK’s sixth Carbon Budget will incorporate the UK’s share of international aviation and shipping emissions for the first time, to bring the UK more than three-quarters of the way to net zero by 2050..

Tesco Community Grants open for applications! (GS 20/04/21)
Tesco Community Grant scheme will award grants to charities and community organisations to fund local good causes whose focus is on supporting children and families.

Apply now for the Scottish Charity Awards 2021! (SCVO 19/04/21)
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is calling for charities and individuals across the country to apply for its annual charity awards.

Call on politicians to protect battlefields (NTS 16/04/21)
We’re calling on politicians to support Culloden’s bid to become a recognised World Heritage Site and increase protection for Scotland’s historic battlefields.

SPAB Receives Culture Recovery Fund Award (SPAB 12/04/21)
We are absolutely delighted to announce that the SPAB is one of the 476 heritage organisations who will share £44M from the Culture Recovery Fund.

Preserving Cultural Heritage, Supporting the Green Transition (ICON 12/04/21)
Icon Chief Executive, Sara Crofts, offers some reflections on amplifying messages about the need to mainstream climate action into cultural heritage.

Placing People at the Heart of Heritage for the Week of World Heritage Sites (EWH 11/04/21)
Europe’s historic cities are individually unique and beloved for their original architecture, varied settings, and distinctive history and heritage. But they face increasingly common problems.

Scottish finalists unveiled for RTPI Awards 2021 (SCN 08/04/21)
Projects, individuals and teams from across Scotland are in the running to win at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2021, it has been announced.

Europa Nostra and EIB Institute announce Europe’s 7 Most Endangered heritage sites 2021 (EN 08/04/21)
Europa Nostra – the European voice of civil society committed to cultural and natural heritage – together with its partner, the European Investment Bank Institute, this morning announced the List of 7 Most Endangered monuments and heritage sites in Europe for 2021.

The Arts and Cultural Impact Fund calls for more applicants (NLHF 07/04/21)
The Arts and Culture Impact Fund was established to provide loans which will help organisations in the arts, cultural and heritage sectors to build financial resilience and sustainability and support local communities.

How Europe’s World Heritage Cities are tackling common challenges (EWH 04/21)
From the effects of over-tourism, and the need to better conserve our valuable ancient buildings, to addressing the challenges post-COVID-19, there is clearly an opportunity to better manage our historic cities by learning from each other and sharing best practice.

Putting Europe’s shared heritage at the heart of the European Green Deal (EN 22/03/21)
Tackling climate change is this generation’s defining task and Europe’s rich and diverse cultural heritage can help.

Opinion & Comment

Steven Tolson: Housing to 2040 – a dream or promise for real deeds? (SHC 16/04/21)

Urbanistica Podcast: The making of smarter and more livable cities

Putting Town Centres First Podcast Series: Alison Harvey, from the Heritage Council, speaks with Jamie McNamara, Chair of SPAB Scotland

Events

For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.

Icon Scotland Group: Take 5 Webinar, Spring Sessions
Date & time: 5 May 2021, 16:00-17:00.
Online: Via Zoom.
A new instalment of Icon Scotland Group’s ideas-sharing events, with 5 new 5 minute presentations by conservators of different disciplines about some of their recent projects: 1) Senses Working Over Time: tactile engagement for written heritage, by Victoria Stevens ACR; 2) Conservation of an Iranian Tile Panel at the National Museums of Scotland, by Holly Daws; 3)Learn by doing: the casting, finishing and patinating of bronzes, by Heleen van Santen; 4) Conservation Live: public engagement from a digital distance, by Lesley Stevenson ACR FIIC; 5) Conditional Confusion: considering variations in language used for object documentation, by Beth Gillions.

Date & time: 6pm, Thursday 13 May 2021
Online: Zoom
Victorian Edinburgh was a melting pot of industry and people. The industrial revolution created new work, attracting migrants searching for a better life. The reality however was often different, with many families having no choice but to live in the filthy, disease-ridden, overcrowded slums of the Old Town. In our latest online event, Edinburgh World Heritage is delighted to welcome Richard Rodger of the University of Edinburgh as he explores the terrible slum conditions of Victorian Edinburgh and the extraordinary work of Dr Henry Littlejohn.

IHBC Annual School 2021 Brighton: Historic Places, People Places – Making the best of the places we have today, for those who live with them tomorrow
Dates: 17 – 18 June 2021.
All places have history – in landscapes, built fabric and memories – and that history shapes how people live, use and work with them, today and in the future. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, billions of pounds were being invested to support struggling urban and rural places, old and new, and their surrounding areas. Not only has the pandemic exacerbated these familiar problems, but it has also highlighted new ones. The IHBC’s Brighton 2021 School will address these and related challenges, seeking data, connecting thinking and shaping solutions.

Training

Architectural Conservation CPD: Historic Shopfronts
Date & time: Wednesday 26 May, 12:30-13:30 (log-on from 12:15)
Online: via Microsoft Teams, streamed live from Lower City Mills, Perth.
Marking 10 years since ‘The Historic Shopfronts of Perth’ was published, the second session in the 2020 CPD programme is a historic shopfront feature delivered by shopfronts expert Lindsay Lennie. Whether you are starting out in a buildings related career, looking to refresh your conservation knowledge, encounter historic buildings as part of your work portfolio, or have limited knowledge of the best conservation practice to employ on a project involving traditionally constructed buildings, this is the CPD programme for you. Sessions are recognised CPD by the IHBC and Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF).

Architectural Conservation CPD: Statutory Protection and Managing Change to Listed Buildings Presenter: Elizabeth McCrone
Date & time: Wednesday 30 June, 12:30-13:30 (log-on with light refreshments from 12:15)
Online: via Microsoft Teams, streamed live from Lower City Mills, Perth.
The third session in the 6-part CPD programme focuses on listed buildings and the legislative framework that protects them. Delivered by HES’s Head of Designations Elizabeth McCrone, this session will cover the role of designation, recent reviews, applying for listed building consent and general approached to managing change to listed buildings with examples. Whether you are starting out in a buildings related career, looking to refresh your conservation knowledge, encounter historic buildings, or have limited knowledge of the best conservation practices, this is the CPD programme for you. Sessions are recognised CPD by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) and Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF).

Vacancies

Volunteer Co-ordinator
PAS are looking to recruit a Volunteer Co-ordinator (on a fixed-term contract until 31 October 2021) to co-ordinate volunteers to support PAS’s activities and to assist with general office support.
Closing at 9am on Tuesday 4 May 2021.

BEFS News

BEFS is seeking a new Policy and Strategy Manager. The role involves engaging with BEFS members on strategic policy and legislative developments relating to Scotland’s built environment; informing members of strategic policy developments; co-ordinating views; and promoting these through consultation responses and legislative opportunities. We are seeking the right individual, who enjoys strategic thinking, the detail of policy consultations, and is highly self-motivated, to fit into a small friendly team. The deadline for applications is noon on Tuesday 6th April 2021. More details here.

Ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections on 6th May 2021, BEFS has collated a list of manifestos produced by heritage and built environment organisations. The manifestos outline information on specific strategic issues, facts and details, and the corresponding language and messaging that can be adapted, adopted and supported by you. For advice on becoming an advocate for the built environment, including how to contact your local politicians, click through our Advocacy Toolkit. You may also wish to register for SURF’s Scottish Election Question Time on 15th April 2021 or the SCVO’s National Hustings on 8th April 2021.

The Scottish Government has published Scotland’s first long-term national housing strategy, Housing to 2040. The strategy outlines plans to deliver 100,000 affordable homes by 2032, with at least 70% available for social rent. Other priorities include: tackling high rents in the private sector through a Rented Sector Strategy and Housing Bill; decarbonising heat in homes; establishing a new fund to bring empty homes back into use; supporting development in rural and island areas; and undertaking an audit of current housing and homelessness legislation to understand how best to realise the right to adequate housing. Plans for a new Housing Standard to apply the same set of standards to homes of all tenures, whether owned or rented, will also be published.

BEFS is delighted to see that the Tenement Maintenance Working Group’s recommendations have been included in the Housing to 2040 strategy, and that the proposed universal housing standard aligns with the recommendations and a research paper BEFS commissioned from Douglas Robertson, ‘Why Flats Fall Down’.

The Just Transition Commission has published its report A National Mission for a fairer, greener Scotland. The Commission started work in early 2019, with a remit to provide practical and affordable recommendations. This report sets out their view of the key opportunities and challenges for Scotland and recommends practical steps to achieving a just transition.

The Scottish Government has pushed Scotland’s Third Land Use Strategy. It sets out the Government’s vision, objectives and policies to achieve sustainable land use. The strategy covers the next five years and aims to provide a more holistic understanding of land, the demands we place upon it and the benefits we get from it.

A new report published by Community Land Scotland states that 20% of all community owned assets are now urban, and not just rural. This change came about following the Community Right to Buy extended to cover urban areas in 2016 and is a remarkable achievement in that short time.  Almost £7m of funding was provided by the Scottish Land Fund to enable these buy-outs. The report can be found here.

Consultations

Local Place Plan Regulations consultation
Opened 15 March 2021 and closes 25 June 2021.

Inquiry: Local government and the path to net zero
You can submit evidence until Friday 30 April 2021.

Clyde Mission Call for Ideas
Opened 1 March and closes 29 March 2021.

Scotland’s Churches Trust: Helping Sustain Our Places Of Worship Survey

Petition: To create a tax incentive to favour retrofit instead of demolition and new build
Closes 8 August 2021.

Climate Change – Net Zero Nation: draft public engagement strategy – consultation
Closes 31 Mar 2021.

Consultation on Scottish skills requirements for energy efficiency, zero emissions and low carbon heating systems, microgeneration and heat networks for homes
Closes 30 April 2021.

Heat in buildings strategy – achieving net zero emissions: consultation
Closes 30 April 2021.

Consultation Responses

Housing to 2040: consultation analysis

Publications

Scotland’s Garden and Landscape Heritage Spring 2021 Newsletter (03/21)

Land use – getting the best from our land: strategy 2021 to 2026 (SG 24/03/21)

Town centre action plan – review report: interim joint response (SG 24/03/21)

Just Transition Commission: A National Mission for a fairer, greener Scotland (SG 23/03/21)

National islands plan: annual report – 2020 (SG 23/03/21)

Engaging communities in decisions relating to land – guidance: review (SG 23/03/21)

Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP): application form (SG 23/03/21)

Technical Paper 35: Moisture Measurement in the Historic Environment (HES 23/03/21)

Energy Efficiency of Existing Homes – Fourth Report of Session 2019–21 (HoC 22/03/21)

Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH): guidance for social landlords March 2021 (SG 22/03/21)

Chief Planner letter: stakeholder update – March 2021 (SG 22/03/21)

Local place plans: literature review and final report (SG 22/03/21)

European Cultural Heritage Green Paper (EN, ICOMOS & CHN 22/03/21)

European Cultural Heritage Green Paper – Executive Summary (EN, ICOMOS & CHN 22/03/21)

VAT reduction on refurbishment and renovation: letter from Housing Minister (SG 22/03/21)

Scottish Land Fund: evaluation (SG 22/03/21)

Architecture and Design Scotland Corporate Strategy 2021-31 (A&DS 18/03/21)

Democracy Matters – local governance review: phase 2 (SG 18/03/21)

Democracy Matters – local governance review: phase 2 – easy read (SG 18/03/21)

Energy strategy: position statement (SG 16/03/21)

Housing to 2040 (SG 15/03/21)

Housing to 2040: vision and principles (SG 15/03/21)

Values of Conservation Research Report (ICON 10/03/21)

Attitudes to land reform: research (SG 05/30/21)

Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals: Policy Guidance for Heritage and Development Actors (ICOMOS 03/21)

Scottish Government News Releases

£25 million for tourism recovery (SG 24/03/21)