BEFS News

The Our Place in Time (OPiT) CEO Forum met on Thursday 2nd April to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on Scotland’s heritage sector. The (virtual) meeting was chaired by Alex Paterson, Historic Environment Scotland (HES), with representation from BEFS, COSLA, Museums Galleries Scotland, National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Trust for Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Volunteer Scotland. The Heritage Trust Network Scotland also fed in additional information. The key issues arising were:

• Organisational viability – cash flow and income concerns
• Retaining / preserving key assets, skills and capacity for the future
• Aligning funding sources and initiatives, both existing and new
• The eligibility / flexibility of some UKG initiatives to the sector, in particular the Job Retention Scheme and the Business Interruption Loan Scheme
• Membership – how do we engage and retain members during this time?
• Research and Intelligence – importance of sharing any research and intelligence, looking to where value can be added and not duplicating efforts
• Construction site working – clearer guidance required
• Recovery Phase – opportunity to accelerate the green new deal?
• Horizon Scanning – what might the future look like for the sector

Consultations

Publications

Scottish Government News Releases

News Releases

Opinion & Comment

Parliamentary Questions

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

Training

Vacancies

BEFS News

BEFS has compiled an overview of advice sites regarding the Coronavirus from across the cultural heritage funding landscape, heritage and built environment organisations and stakeholders. As the situation changes and develops, the information will likely change. However, this overview of guidance and announcements should provide an indication of where to find support for you and your organisation at this challenging time. More details can be found here. If there is relevant information we have not included, do please get in contact.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) are gathering sector wide data to gauge the impact of the pandemic and we would encourage you to complete the survey ASAP, whether or not you are the recipient of an NLHF grant. The NLHF are looking for responses by tomorrow (Friday 27th March).

The Third Sector Resilience Fund (TSRF) was announced on 18 March 2020 by Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government Aileen Campbell. It will support organisations across the third sector who are at risk of closure due to a sharp decrease in income or that are unable to deliver their services during this difficult period. The fund will distribute £20m of emergency funds over the coming months. It will support charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises that already deliver services and/or products but that find themselves in financial difficulties directly as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. The funding’s primary intention is to help these organisations to stabilise and manage cash flows over this difficult period. More information about this fund is available here.

Given the ongoing situation, we have had to cancel our joint event ‘Conservation Areas – Now and Tomorrow’ on 30th April at the Engine Shed. We will be re-exploring the possibility of holding this event with our partners the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland in the Autumn.

For more details regarding cancelled or postponed events, including new dates as and when they become available, please check our online events calendar regularly. You will also note that a number of running consultations have extended their closing dates.

Finally, are you finding yourself looking ever-longingly out the windows of your home? Why not join in Scottish Civic Trust’s #WhatsOotMaWindae social media campaign! It’s a great way to connect with the built heritage community and beyond during this difficult period of self-isolation and social distancing.

Like everyone else, BEFS team is working from home but we all remain contactable via the usual means.

Consultations

How does the way we own and use Scotland’s land affect you?

Review of the ban on the use of combustible materials in and on the external walls of buildings (England)
Closes on 13 April 2020.

Energy Efficient Scotland: Improving energy efficiency in owner occupied homes consultation
Closes 9 April 2020.

European Territorial Cooperation programmes 2021-2027: consultation
Closes 24 April 2020.

Planning for Scotland in 2050: National Planning Framework 4 – Call for Ideas
Call for Ideas runs until 30 April 2020.

Consultation Responses

Marine social attitudes: survey findings (SG 19/03/20)

Publications

COVID 19 Planning and Environmental Appeals Division Guidance note (SG 24/03/20)

Climate Challenge Fund: projects funded 2020 to 2022 (SG 23/03/20)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for private landlords and letting agents (SG 20/03/20)

High Rise Inventory: questions and answers (SG 20/03/20)

Fire safety in high rise buildings: campaign materials (SG 20/03/20)

Coronavirus – relaxation of enforcement where public houses and restaurants offer a takeaway service: Chief Planner letter March 2020 (SG 19/03/20)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): letter from Housing Minister to RSLs and local authorities (SG 18/03/20)

Annual population survey: results for year to 31 December 2019 (SG 18/03/20)

Planning for the future – Policy Paper (MHCLG 12/03/20)

Coronavirus: handling of planning conditions for retail deliveries and store opening times: Chief Planner letter March 2020 (SG 11/03/20)

CSGN Annual Review 2018/19 (CSGN 10/03/20)

Films for Teaching Planning Theory: A resource list

Scottish Government News Releases

Call for action to help self-employed (SG 24/03/20)
Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop and Finance Secretary Kate Forbes have written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak calling for the Jobs Retention Scheme he announced last week to be expanded to include the self-employed.

£1 billion Business Support Fund opens (SG 24/03/20)
Businesses can now apply for grants to help them deal with the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Fire safety guidance for high-rise properties (SG 20/03/20)
Posters encouraging residents of high-rise properties to keep common areas clear of anything that could be a fire risk are being issued to building managers across the country.

Helping communities affected by COVID-19 (SG 18/03/20)
An additional £350 million will go to those most affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell has announced.

£2.2 billion for business (SG 18/03/20)
Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop has addressed the Scottish Parliament on the economic impact of COVID-19 in Scotland.

£320 million package of support for businesses (SG 14/03/20)
New measures to limit the impact of COVID-19 on the business community in Scotland have been announced by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes.

News Releases

Emergency funding needed for cultural organisations affected by coronavirus closures, says Committee (DCMS 23/03/20)
The DCMS Committee has called for urgent Government support for cultural organisations amid closures and uncertainty for sporting events affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The charitable sector and tourism should also be given extra support.

National Planning Framework 4 – Extension to Call for Ideas deadline (SG 19/03/20)
We are extending the closing date for our National Planning Framework 4 Call for Ideas from 31 March to 30 April.

New on-line exhibition tells the story of saving heritage at risk (EWH 11/03/20)
We are today launching a new on-line exhibition to document a recently completed project which aimed to protect heritage at risk in two historic Turkish cities near to the Syrian border.

RIAS/RIBA Awards 2020 – Shortlist Announced (RIAS 11/03/20)
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has announced an 18 strong shortlist for its 2020 awards (from 80 entries).

Scotland’s Towns Partnership and Young Scot Launch New Partnership (STP 05/03/20)
Scotland’s Towns Partnership and Young Scot have joined forces to ensure that young people have more chances to participate effectively in the future planning of their town centres.

Opinion & Comment

Coronavirus: Respond at Scale, Build Bridges to the Future (RSA 21/03/20)

“Think Local First” During Coronavirus Crisis (STP 18/03/20)

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 S5W-28037: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23/03/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it will provide to third sector organisations that experience a substantial decline in fundraising income due to the cancellation of large-scale income-generating events as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Current Status: Expected Answer date 20/04/2020

Question S5W-27992: Oliver Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 17/03/2020
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the advice that it is issuing to help control the spread of COVID-19, what action it is considering in relation to the planning system for large-scale projects, such as wind farm developments, where public consultation might be curtailed.
Current Status: Expected Answer date 31/03/2020

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 S5W-27851: Lewis Macdonald, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 10/03/2020
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish the final version of the Scottish National Review on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Answered by Kate Forbes (23/03/2020)

Question S5W-27767: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 06/03/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support small home builders to deliver carbon neutral/negative housing in order to meet its climate change targets.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (17/03/2020)

Vacancies

Head of Land Rights and Responsibilities
This fixed term post offers an exciting opportunity to join the Scottish Land Commission’s management team and shape the development of a key part of the Commission’s remit and delivery.
Closing date for applications is 5 pm on Friday 3rd April 2020.

Help needed to maintain and host Doors Open Days website – paid contract!
We’re looking for help to maintain and host our Doors Open Days website. This is a paid contract! Check out the brief below or download it here. Please circulate to anyone you think may be interested!
The deadline for a response is 9am Friday 3 April 2020.

Dig It! Communications Manager
We’re looking for a candidate to fill this exciting role for the Dig It! project and help us bring Scotland’s archaeological stories to life. Working as part of a small project team within the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, this is an excellent opportunity for a self-starter wishing to blaze their own trail, engage new and existing audiences, and work in partnership with organisations across the country.
Deadline for applications: Noon, Monday 6 April 2020.

BEFS News

The Scottish Government has now launched its Culture Strategy. The strategy sets out a vision underpinned by three main ambitions: strengthening culture; transforming through culture; and empowering through culture. The strategy places culture as a central consideration across all policy areas including: health and wellbeing, economy, education, reducing inequality and realising a greener and more innovative future. Scotland’s Tourism Strategy, Scotland Outlook 2030, has also now been launched, an equal partnership between the Scottish Government, VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise, HIE and Skills Development Scotland.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is encouraging organisations with community-based projects to apply for its new Coasts and Waters Heritage Fund, which is launching this week for the Year of Coasts and Waters. Grants between £3,000 and £20,000 will be available for projects which help communities to protect, promote or engage with Scotland’s coastal or waterways. This includes projects which are developing measures to enhance resilience to climate change. While community groups are encouraged to apply, the scheme is open to all organisations. Applicants should demonstrate how their project will benefit the local community, through developing traditional skills, stabilising historic or marine structures, hosting community outreach and educational activities, or increasing people’s understanding of Scotland’s coasts and waters heritage. The Fund is a one-off, competitive fund to celebrate Scotland’s themed year and applications close on Sunday 31 May. Expressions of interest must be made by Thursday 30 April. Further details here.

It is that time of year again! We are looking for projects and initiatives undertaken between April 2019 and March 2020 to feature in our Historic Environment Case Studies database and the Our Place in Time (OPiT) performance report 2020. This is an opportunity to showcase your work within the national strategy for the historic environment. Further information and how to submit your project here.

Join us for our upcoming event in partnership with the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland, Conservation Areas – Now and Tomorrow, on 30th April at the Engine Shed. This event will be an opportunity for local authorities, advocacy groups, policy makers and decision makers to get together and talk about what is most important to them for good place-making.

BEFS responded to the Scottish Government’s Housing to 2040 consultation. BEFS is glad to see the inclusion of maintenance in the Scottish Government’s vision but emphasises concerns over a lack of connections across policy areas and highlights the continuing challenges of EPCs with regards to traditionally built properties.

The Scottish Parliamentary Working Group on Tenement Maintenance, of which BEFS is the secretariat, also responded to the Housing to 2040 consultation, which can be found here. Historic Environment Scotland also submitted an excellent response.

Matt Ritchie, Forestry and Land Scotland Archaeologist, reports on how natural and cultural heritage can be used to share and shape ethos and values in our blog this week, Archaeology as Soft Power.

Consultations

How does the way we own and use Scotland’s land affect you?

The practice of cash retention under construction contracts
Closes on 25 Mar 2020.

Energy Efficient Scotland: Improving energy efficiency in owner occupied homes consultation
Closes 26 March 2020.

European Territorial Cooperation programmes 2021-2027: consultation
Closes 27 Mar 2020.

Planning for Scotland in 2050: National Planning Framework 4 – Call for Ideas
Call for Ideas runs until 31 March 2020.

Review of the ban on the use of combustible materials in and on the external walls of buildings (England)
Closes on 13 April 2020.

Consultation Responses

Local Energy Policy Statement: consultation analysis (SG 09/03/20)

Publications

Heritage-Based Regeneration: A SURF Event Outcomes Paper (SURF 11/03/20)

Energy efficiency in social housing: guidance for landlords – revised 2020 (SG 11/03/20)

Central estate: strategy (SG 11/03/20)

Delivery Plan for the National Strategy for Scotland’s Museums and Galleries 2020 – 2022 (MGS 03/20)

Planning Circular 1/2020: Changing Places Toilets Regulations (SG 06/03/20)

National Planning Framework – Housing Technical Discussion Paper (SG 05/03/20)

Scotland Outlook 2030: Responsible Tourism for a Sustainable Future (STA 04/03/20)

Culture in the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda (Culture21 03/20)

A Culture Strategy for Scotland (SG 28/02/20)

Culture Strategy: vision and summary of actions (SG 28/02/20)

Scottish Government News Releases

COP26 update (SG 10/03/20)
Scotland will work with all parties to deliver a successful COP26 in Glasgow, Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has said.

More homes available (SG 10/03/20)
According to the latest figures, 9,317 affordable homes were delivered in 2019, an increase of more than 25% since 2016, helping to provide more people with a warm, safe place they can call home.

New build homes started increased by 24% (SG 10/03/20)
The latest quarterly statistics on new housebuilding and affordable housing supply have been released by Scotland’s Chief Statistician.

Heat Networks Bill (SG 03/03/20)
Scotland will be the first country in the UK to legislate on the development of heat networks to help meet climate change targets and tackle fuel poverty.

Helping homeowners maintain tenements (SG 02/03/20)
A project that offers tenement homeowners free advice to tackle problems over communal upkeep will receive an extra £50,000.

A Culture Strategy for Scotland (SG 28/02/20)
Culture’s ability to transform lives and empower people is the focus of A Culture Strategy for Scotland, published today.

News Releases

Up to £200,000 funding available for coasts and waters heritage projects (HES 09/03/20)
We are encouraging organisations with community-based projects to apply for our new Coasts and Waters Heritage Fund which launches today (Monday 9 March) for the Year of Coasts and Waters.

Arts & Culture Impact Fund (nesta 03/20)
The Arts & Culture Impact Fund is a new £20 million impact investment fund for the UK’s arts, culture and heritage social enterprises. The fund offers loans between £150,000 and £1 million repayable over a period of up to ten years.

IHBC Marsh Awards – Nomination deadline extended (IHBC 06/03/20)
Know a great learner? Congratulate with an IHBC Marsh Award nomination – closing 31 March.  IHBC’s Marsh Awards celebrate retired members and new heritage learners: £500 & a free place at the IHBC School for winners.  Anyone can nominate!

Edinburgh Council develops repairs app for shared properties (UKAuthority 05/03/20)
City of Edinburgh Council is developing an app to support residents in shared properties in keeping their buildings in good condition.

28 Professional bodies jointly pledge to tackle climate change (CIC 03/03/20)
They have issued a joint statement that recognises that the breakdown in global climate and biodiversity is the most serious issue of our time and that the built environment is a major contributor.

Cultural heritage in Action – Call to join our community of good practice! (EUROCITIES 25/02/20)
We are thrilled to launch Cultural Heritage in Action, a peer-learning programme for local and regional policy makers to exchange knowledge on cultural heritage, with a focus on participatory governance, adaptive reuse and quality of interventions on heritage. Deadline: 27th March.

Opinion & Comment

An Accelerator Under-Used? New Report Explores the Place of Culture in SDG Implementation (IISD 03/03/20)

Four futures of work: consequences for the Scottish skills system (RSA 03/20)

The miracle new sustainable product that’s revolutionising architecture – stone! (Guardian 04/03/20)

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 S5W-27851: Lewis Macdonald, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 10/03/2020
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish the final version of the Scottish National Review on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Question S5W-27767: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 06/03/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support small home builders to deliver carbon neutral/negative housing in order to meet its climate change targets.

Other Parliamentary Activity

Events

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

Going Digital: Tools and ideas for a successful project
Date & time: Tue, 17 March 2020; 09:30 – 15:00.
Venue: Maryhill Burgh Halls, 24 Gairbraid Avenue, Glasgow G20 8YE.
Join us for an HTN Scotland Members’ Meeting to learn how boost your project using online platforms and digital technologies. Our theme for the event will be ‘Going Digital’ ideas and examples of how you can use online tools and digital visualisations, to promote and enhance your project. As with all our events, this will be a great opportunity to share updates on your own project, troubleshoot challenges and connect with new people who may be able to help.

Why Do Historic Places Matter? Emotional Attachments to Urban Heritage
Date & time: Wed, 25 March 2020 from 13:00 – 17:00.
Venue: The Royal Scots Club Edinburgh, 29-31 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh EH3 6QE.
This afternoon conference brings together leading figures from the heritage and built environment sectors to discuss the reasons why historic places matter to a range of individuals including developers, investors, planners, campaigners and residents.

Master Builders: Working with Stone 
Date & time: Saturday 28 March, 1pm – 3.30pm.
Venue: Engine Shed, Stirling. Free, drop-in.
Try your hand at building our drystone wall model using stones or building a broch from LEGO. Explore the archaeology of Mousa Broch through virtual tours and use 3D models as we launch a new interactive iBook. In partnership with CodeBase, try our VR headsets as part of Metafest. Activities suitable for ages 7+. Parental/guardian supervision is required.

Designing for a Changing Climate – Climate, Health and Place
Date & time: Thu, 2 April 2020, from 11:00 – 15:00.
Venue: Perth Concert Hall (Norie-Miller Studio), Mill Street, Perth PH1 5HZ.
On the 2nd of April, Architecture and Design Scotland invites you to explore how to plan places to make a step change in responding to the climate crisis and meeting the national carbon reduction targets. During the event we will take a creative look at how we can use design and collaborative placemaking to shape places that are climate ready, healthier, happier and support low carbon lifestyles.

Light Science Day
Date & time: Saturday 4 April, 10am – 3pm.
Venue: Engine Shed, Stirling. Free, drop-in.
Learn about the science of light through some amazing fun and practical events in partnership with the Light Lab Project. Explore the Ultra-Violet Image Tent, the Infra-Red Thermal Room and learn about how scientists use light to aid the conservation of buildings.

Thermal Detectives
Date & time: Monday 6 April to Friday 10 April, 1pm – 3.30pm.
Venue: Engine Shed, Stirling. Free, drop-in.
Become a Thermal detective this Easter! Use thermal cameras to see differences in temperature within the Engine Shed and find out how these cameras can help us spot problems in buildings. Create your own thermal image with marbling pens and paper.
Suitable for ages 6+ and parental/guardian supervision is required for the duration of the activity

Tinkertown
Date & time: Monday 13 April – Friday 17 April, 11am – 4pm.
Venue: Engine Shed, Stirling. Free, drop-in.
This spring holiday we are excited to welcome Tinkertown to the Engine Shed. Join us to construct a scrap timber town right outside the Engine Shed. This is a free event for children and families to design, build and play as they like with hammers, saws and pallets!

2020 SURF Debate – ‘Transport in a Climate Emergency’
Date & time: 23rd April, 12pm-4pm
Venue: Glasgow Women’s Library (Bridgeton)
All on board for a sustainable and inclusive Scotland? Yes, but how are we going to get there? In the urgent context of a global climate emergency and corrosive inequalities, what type and scale of transport investments and connections are necessary for a sustainable and inclusive Scotland? How should we balance national infrastructure and local facilities for optimum accessibility, efficiency and cohesion? A cross sector audience of regeneration practitioners, policymakers and academics will debate the best route to ensuring that future transport investments successfully link with aspirations and assets in the presently less well connected communities across Scotland.

RIAS Inclusive Design Seminar
Date & time: Tue, 28 April 2020 from 13:15 – 17:00.
Venue: Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BG.
For everyone to be involved in the social life of a community and contribute to the local economy, we need management and building design that provides for the varied user requirements of the public at large. In terms of our human rights, we should be enabled to be as independent as possible, allowing us to participate equally in social and economic activities. Join RIAS for this seminar which will look 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.

The Mark Turnbull Travel Award Presentation & LIS AGM
Date & time: Wed, 29 April 2020, 18:00 – 19:45
Venue: Hunter Lecture Theatre, Hunter Building, Edinburgh EH3 9DF.
Mark Turnbull was one of the country’s most eminent Landscape Architects, winner of the Landscape Institute’s Gold Medal Award and recognised for the contribution that overseas learning and experience from his training and work in the USA brought to his practice in Scotland. The Award focusses on using overseas travel to gain insight into best and innovative landscape practice to address some of the current landscape challenges facing Scotland. The award will benefit future generations of graduate landscape architects in Scotland as well as practice of Landscape Architecture by bringing overseas experience and knowledge back to the country.

IHBC Annual School – Old Towns: New Futures
Dates: 18-20 June (Day School 19 June).
Location: Brighton.
The IHBC’s 2020 Brighton School and conference takes a timely and forensic look at how the planning, heritage and related sectors can make the most of the opportunities on offer, help players learn from colleagues and others, and broaden understanding of the drivers, barriers and responses.  This unique learning opportunity from the IHBC – in Brighton, from 18-20 June 2020 – will ensure that practitioners can uncover new solutions to some surprisingly historic challenges.

Training

Traditional Buildings Repair
Date & time: Friday 3 April, 9.30am – 12.45 pm
Venue: Engine Shed, Stirling. Free.
Continuing our CPD series in conjunction with RIAS, RICS, RPTI, this half day session will examine issues with common repairs in tenements, principles of working with and specifying lime mortars and how to undertake sash and case window repairs.

Conservation and Repair of Stonework
Date & time: Tue, 21 April 2020, from 09:30 – 16:30.
Venue: The Centre for Stewardship, The Stables, Falkland Estate, Falkland KY15 7AF.
This seminar/workshop is suitable for those involved in the repair of traditional and historic buildings, particularly those who specify and/or supervise such work; surveyors, architects, conservation/planning officers, structural engineers, clerk of works, project managers/ supervisors etc. It may also be suitable for contractors looking to enhance their knowledge and understanding of working with traditional and historic buildings, or owners of older properties with some background building/construction knowledge. We assume attendees will have some background knowledge and experience in relation to traditional and historic buildings.

The Structural Repair of Historic Buildings
Dates & time: 24 April 2020 from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Venue: Charlestown Workshops
Price: £195.00 + VAT
The aim of this seminar is to provide professionals with a sound understanding of the philosophy of conservation and a better understanding of the relationship between structural engineering and conservation, of safety issues and of the aesthetics of conservation based structural repairs. This seminar, led by Ian Hume 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. The course will consist of lectures, case studies and group activities.

Architectural Conservation CPD: Design and Retrofit on the Gannochy Estate
Date & time: Wednesday 29 April, 12:30-13:30 (light refreshments from 12:15)
Venue: Lower City Mills, West Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5QP.
The first session in a 6-part CPD programme provides a local example of retrofitting traditional properties for the 21st Century in-line with conservation guidance and principles. Delivered by The Gannochy Trust’s Estates Manager Andy Duncan, this session also includes Gannochy’s new build housing projects where traditional design philosophies are inspiring the next generation of social housing. Sessions are delivered in Perth by industry accredited professionals and are recognised CPD by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) and Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF).

RICS CPD day Glasgow
Date & time: 20 May 2020 from 08:30 AM – 05:10 PM.
Venue: Glasgow Marriott Hotel, 500 Argyle St, Glasgow, G3 8RR
6 hours formal CPD.
Hear the latest updates and technical guidance across built environment, land and property. Our highlighted sessions include: Fire safety engineering: Scotland strengthens standards; Repair and maintenance of historical and listed buildings; Modern methods of construction: Examining the growing trend.

Architectural Conservation CPD: Historic Shopfronts
Date & time: Wednesday 27 May, 12:30-13:30 (light refreshments from 12:15)
Venue: Lower City Mills, West Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5QP
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 delivered in Perth by industry accredited professionals and are recognised CPD by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) and Scottish Traditional Building Forum (STBF).

Vacancies

Graveyards Engagement Officer
Edinburgh World Heritage is looking to appoint a Graveyards Engagement Officer to play a 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 20th March at 5pm.

Project Development Officer
A new full-time fixed term post, funded by Historic Environment Scotland, to work with the Fife Historic Buildings Trust team to develop new historic environment regeneration projects in Fife, principally the restoration and re-use of historic buildings at risk.
Deadline for applications: 10am on Monday 6 April 2020. Interviews: Tuesday 28 April 2020.

The Stables at Falkland Estate, The Centre for Stewardship.

BEFS News

A number of new and returning ministers have been confirmed following appointments made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on 13-14 February. Oliver Dowden CBE was appointed Secretary of State for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Nigel Huddleston is now Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport, Tourism and Heritage, and his portfolio is Sport, Tourism, Heritage, Gambling and the Commonwealth Games. Caroline Dinenage is Minister of State for Digital and Culture with a portfolio of the Creative Industries, Arts and Libraries, Museums and Cultural Property, Festival 2022, Digital and Tech Policy and Online Harms and Security. Find the full list of appointments here.

The Scottish Government’s reshuffle of portfolios has Fiona Hyslop retain the Culture portfolio, now with Economy & Fair Work. Constitution, Europe & External Affairs now sit with Michael Russell’s portfolio and Tourism and Rural Economy with Fergus Ewing.

BEFS responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on Planning Performance and Fees. The response highlights that the revision of planning fees is an opportunity to embed a new approach to development which reflects the environmental benefits of reusing and re-purposing all Scotland’s existing building stock, because of the embodied energy.

The Property Flood Resilience Delivery Group is seeking your views to influence and inform policy, specifically with regards to Scottish building regulations – Standard 3.3 ‘Flooding and groundwater’. The deadline for completion of this short survey is 17 March 2020.

The Scottish Government has responded to a number of parliamentary questions in the past two weeks, relating to the proposed licensing system for short-term lets, the Passivhaus standard, the Strong Towns Fund and the Scottish Land Fund. See below for details.

Finally, check out the array of built environment related events and CDP opportunities coming up next month in the events and training sections.

Consultations

Housing to 2040: consultation on outline policy options
Closes on 28 Feb 2020.

The practice of cash retention under construction contracts
Closes on 25 Mar 2020.

Energy Efficient Scotland: Improving energy efficiency in owner occupied homes consultation
Closes 26 March 2020.

Planning for Scotland in 2050: National Planning Framework 4 – Call for Ideas
Call for Ideas runs until 31 March 2020.

Review of the ban on the use of combustible materials in and on the external walls of buildings (England)
Closes on 13 April 2020.

Consultation Responses

Scottish Crown Estate draft strategic management plan: consultation analysis

Publications

There’s No Place Like Old Homes: Re-use and Recycle to Reduce Carbon (HE 26/02/20)

Adapting common areas of property: guide (SG 24/02/20)

Deliverability of site allocations in local development plans: research (SG 01/02/20)

Climate Action Plan 2020-25 (HES 20/02/20)

Planning appeals: Submitting documents electronically (SG 20/02/20)

Letter: Future Homes Standard and proposals for tightening Part L in 2020 (CCC 18/02/20)

Social capital in Scotland: research study (SG 14/02/20)

Social capital in Scotland: report (SG 14/02/20)

Affordable Housing Supply Programme: guidance notes (SG 14/02/20)

The Future of Community Energy (CES 13/02/20)

HERITAGE – The Material Cultural Heritage as a Strategic Territorial Development Resource: Mapping Impacts Through a Set of Common European Socio-economic Indicators (ESPON)

Digital Culture 2019 (ACE & Nesta 11/02/20)

Climate Emergency Design Guide (CIAT 27/01/20)

Policy paper – Culture is Digital (DCMS 18/09/19)

News Releases

Buildings must be recycled and reused to help tackle climate change (HE 26/02/20)
To meet the government’s target of being carbon neutral by 2050, we must recycle, reuse and responsibly adapt our existing historic buildings, according to this year’s Heritage Counts report.

Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator launches to tackle industry emissions (dezeen 21/02/20)
Companies from across the architecture, engineering and construction industries have collaborated to create a free digital embodied carbon calculator that they hope will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and counter climate change.

New plan steps up heritage response to climate crisis (HES 20/02/20)
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has set out its response to the climate crisis as the heritage body published its Climate Action Plan 2020-25.

Capturing Scotland’s changing historic places (HES 20/02/20)
Climate Change Scientist David Harkin explores six stunning images of Scotland’s historic environment and the climate change stories behind them.

RICS urges new chancellor to slash VAT on refurbishment work (AJ 18/02/20)
The RICS has echoed one of the demands of the AJ RetroFirst campaign by urging new chancellor Rishi Sunak to slash VAT on refurbishment work to 5 per cent

Orkney community asked for views on World Heritage Site (HES 18/02/20)
Local residents, businesses and organisations in Orkney are being asked for their views on Orkney’s World Heritage Site as part of a community consultation on its future management.

Digital Planning: Upgrade to eDevelopment.scot now LIVE (TP 18/02/20)
We’re happy to announce that the latest upgrade package for the eDevelopment.scot service is now LIVE. You can find out more about what’s changed here.

Finalists announced today for RTPI Planning Awards 2020 (RTPI 17/02/20)
Finalists include a self-build scheme in Glasgow, a modular ‘innovation village’ in Gateshead and a Cambridgeshire cohousing development planned collaboratively by residents, architects, developers and public authorities.

How to consider the environment in your heritage project (NLHF 17/02/20)
Think long term, assess the positive – and negative – impacts of your actions, and remember: small changes can make a big difference.

New initiative: Digital Skills for Heritage launches today (NLHF 10/02/20)
Today The National Lottery Heritage Fund launches its?Digital Skills for Heritage initiative. Our new Head of Digital Policy, Josie Fraser, tells us what to expect. Heritage organisations can thrive in the digital era, using tech to attract the visitors and support they need.

Coalition of leading building environment professionals launch new Climate Emergency Design Guide
(CIAT 27/01/20)
The new guide provides a blueprint on how the construction industry can react to the climate emergency.

Opinion & Comment

Putting digital to work in your heritage organisation (Kati Price, V&A Museum London 13/02/20)

RetroFirst: The case for circular public-sector procurement (Will Hurst, AJ 12/02/20)

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 S5W-27187: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 29/01/2020
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use the money received through the Barnett formula as a result of the UK Government’s Stronger Towns Fund.
Answered by Aileen Campbell (25/02/2020)

Question S5W-27260: Joan McAlpine, South Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to providing financial incentives to developers to enable the accelerated construction of new homes to certified Passivhaus standard.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (21/02/2020)

Question S5W-27261: Joan McAlpine, South Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether accelerating the construction of new houses to certified Passivhaus standard would be a positive response to the climate crisis declared in Scotland.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (21/02/2020)

Question S5W-27262: Joan McAlpine, South Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what role encouraging the construction of more homes to certified Passivhaus standard could have on lifting residents out of fuel poverty.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (21/02/2020)

Question S5W-27258: Joan McAlpine, South Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the health benefits to householders resulting from living in a house built to certified Passivhaus standard.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (19/02/2020)

Question S5W-27252: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its consultation on a regulatory framework for short-term lets, how many local authorities have requested the introduction of a licensing system.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (18/02/2020)

Question S5W-27253: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the total cost of a licensing system for short-term lets to (a) owners of short-term lets and (b) local authorities.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (18/02/2020)

Question S5W-27254: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what estimates it has made of the resource implications for local authorities and related bodies to introduce, administer and monitor a system of licensing for short-term lets.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (18/02/2020)

Question S5W-27255: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that the introduction of a licensing system for short-term lets will have on the number of such lets in Scotland.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (18/02/2020)

Question S5W-27257: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the total cost to local planning authorities of the introduction of short-term let control areas, as set out in Section 17 of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (17/02/2020)

Question S5W-27034: Iain Gray, East Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20/01/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to relaunch the Scottish Land Fund beyond March 2021.
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham (05/02/2020)

Question S5W-27033: Iain Gray, East Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20/01/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what level of funds remain in the Scottish Land Fund.
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham (05/02/2020)

Events

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

Tom Parnell – Going Forth: Industrial Heritage beyond the Bridges 
Date & time: Monday 2nd March 2020, 6.30pm
Venue: St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, 13 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PA
The Firth of Forth is dominated by a growing collection of celebrated bridges. But along the shoreline are less well-known remnants of an industrial past that were of enormous importance. The lecture will explore railways, limekilns, distilleries and power stations: some gone, some surviving, but all now out of use. Tom Parnell is an architectural historian, and a Senior Casework Officer for HES.

Connecting Tools and Materials in the Dutch Neolithic
Edinburgh date, time & venue: March 9 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Auditorium, National Museum Scotland (Use Lothian Street entrance).
Aberdeen date, time & venue: March 10 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Meston Building Lecture Theatre One, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE.
Lecture by Professor Annelou van Gijn, University of Leiden, in partnership with the Prehistoric Society. Archaeological artefacts like flint are frequently studied in isolation and not as part of a toolkit, let alone as part of a technological system. This lecture will show how a combination of microwear (use wear) analysis and experimental archaeology can shed light on the technological and functional relationships between different find categories.

Developing skills, knowledge and connections in community-based heritage
Date & time: Tue, March 10, 2020; 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
Venue: The Wick Heritage Museum, 20 Bank Row, Wick KW1 5EY.
Join us for an informative workshop about developing skills, knowledge and connections in community-based Scottish heritage projects as we review and reflect on Year One of our ‘My Place Mentoring’ programme.

Property repair and maintenance event
Date & time: 10th March 2020 at 17:30pm-19:30pm.
Venue: ESPC Property Information Centre 107 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3ES.
Come along to our free property maintenance event and find out how you can maintain the building you are living in. We’ve teamed up with various architects and ESPC Lettings to provide you with the tools required to assess the building’s condition and demonstrate how to carry out repairs.

On the Trail of Patrick Geddes – Book Launch
Date & time: Thursday 12th March, 2020 from 6.00pm – 7.30pm.
Venue: Patrick Geddes Centre at Riddle’s Court, 322 Lawnmarket, EH1 2PG
Join author Walter Stephen and Luath Press for the launch of the latest volume in the ‘On the Trail of..’ series. Patrick Geddes was famous in his time for the work he undertook to improve the slum enclaves of Edinburgh’s Old Town. His method of conservative surgery meant that several historic properties in the area were retained. Walter will lead a short tour of these areas immediately before the book talk/signing. Free event and refreshments will be available.

Going Digital: Tools and ideas for a successful project
Date & time: Tue, 17 March 2020; 09:30 – 15:00.
Venue: Maryhill Burgh Halls, 24 Gairbraid Avenue, Glasgow G20 8YE.
Join us for an HTN Scotland Members’ Meeting to learn how boost your project using online platforms and digital technologies. Our theme for the event will be ‘Going Digital’ ideas and examples of how you can use online tools and digital visualisations, to promote and enhance your project. As with all our events, this will be a great opportunity to share updates on your own project, troubleshoot challenges and connect with new people who may be able to help.

Icon Conservation Conference Highlights
Date & time: 20th of March 2020; 9.20am – 4.45pm
Venue: City Art Gallery, 2 Market Street, Edinburgh EH1 1DE.
This one-day conference is organised by Icon Scotland Group and features 12 talks that presented at the Icon 19 triennial conference in Belfast last year. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion, plus opportunities for networking and socialising.

Why Records Management Matters: Truth, Accountability, Impact
Date: 24th March 2020.
Venue: Bonar Hall, University of Dundee.
For everyone with an interest in truth, justice, accountability, authenticity, good governance and business efficiency. The programme can be found here.

IHBC Member Application Training Event (MATE). By IHBC Scotland Branch
Date & time: Friday 27 March 2020. 10.00 – 15.00.
Venue: Glasgow City Heritage Trust, 54 Bell Street, Glasgow, G1 1LQ
MATE seminars offer talks and exercises to break down the IHBC Associate and Full membership application process, exploring the IHBC’s Areas of Competence and Conservation Cycle model, while also answering any queries. These events are a great way for prospective applicants to find out how to understand their skills, knowledge and experience in the context of IHBC membership criteria and accreditation.

Chris Stewart – Collective Architecture
Date & time: Monday 6th April 2020 at 6.30pm.
Venue: St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, 13 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PA
Chris Stewart is an Architect-Director of the award-winning architectural practice Collective Architecture and a director of the Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA).  Collective Architecture, which has offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, has been owned by its employees for the last twelve years. Chris Stewart will tell us about their projects and approach to sustainable design and client and user involvement.

The Heritage Dilemma – Making and Breaking World Cities
Date & time: Thursday 16 April 2020 at 6pm.
Venue: St Andrew’s and St George’s West, 13 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PA.
We are delighted that Loyd Grossman, internationally renowned heritage writer and broadcaster, will be delivering this year’s World Heritage Day lecture. Loyd will discuss the heritage dilemma faced by Edinburgh, where commercial and cultural businesses compete to flourish in a heritage rich environment, with little, if any, contribution to the ever-increasing cost of supporting it. Join us as we take a closer look at Edinburgh’s own heritage dilemma.

Training

New Voices: Fresh Perspectives
Arts & Business Scotland is working in partnership with the William Grant Foundation to deliver New Voices: Fresh Perspectives; a recruitment programme to place young people on arts & heritage boards. Through an open recruitment process, we have recruited 35 arts and heritage organisations who have signed up to take part in the programme. We are now looking to recruit young people (aged 18-30) in early stages of their careers and from a wide range of sectors, to undergo a training programme with a view to matching them with those organisations’ Boards. This opportunity is relevant to you if you have:
•    Young colleagues in your business or organisation who would benefit from taking part in this programme
•    Access to networks or contacts of young people for whom this programme might be relevant

RICS CPD day Dunblane
Date: 12 March 2020.
Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro, Perth Rd, Dunblane, FK15 0HG
A RICS regional conference for Scotland. Hear the latest guidance, technical updates and best practice across the built environment, land and property sectors. Covering today’s ever-changing market trends, legislation and technical guidance, CPD day Dunblane focuses on the specific knowledge and practical skills you will need over the next 12 months.

Traditional Roof Leadwork – Surveying and Maintenance Techniques
Date & time: Tuesday 17th March 2020; 12:30-1:30pm.
Venue: GCHT offices, 54 Bell Street, Glasgow.
Lead is a material which is used in a number of capacities on traditional buildings such as detailing and flashing around chimneys and roof ridges, as well as roof covering for both pitched and flat roofs. While lead can be melted, cast, jointed and decorated, it requires being properly worked and maintained by skilled professionals in order to ensure long lasting and safe results. Delivered by Alasdair White from Murdoch Award winning firm John Fulton, this CPD will discuss the proper way to survey lead on traditional roofs, and how to recognise maintenance and repair needs.

Conservation Stonework and Selecting the Right Stone
Date & time: Tuesday 21st April 2020; 12:30-1:30pm.
Venue: GCHT offices, 54 Bell Street, Glasgow
Traditional stone buildings are an extremely characteristic and beautiful feature of Glasgow. When used correctly stone is a sound, stable building material as countless buildings across Glasgow will testify. However, the number of fully qualified stone masons and experts in Scotland is limited and caution must be exercised when planning repairs and replacements to stone buildings to limit damage and further decay. In this CPD, Graeme Haddon and Marcus Paine of Hutton Stone will discuss best practice in conservation stonework and selecting the correct stone.

RICS CPD day Glasgow
Date & time: 20 May 2020; 08:30 AM – 05:10 PM
Venue: Glasgow Marriott Hotel, 500 Argyle St, Glasgow, G3 8RR
6 hours formal CPD
Hear the latest updates and technical guidance across built environment, land and property. Our highlighted sessions include:
•    Fire safety engineering: Scotland strengthens standards
•    Repair and maintenance of historical and listed buildings
•    Modern methods of construction: Examining the growing trend

Vacancies

Policy Officer
The Policy Officer will lead on RTPI Scotland’s approaches to policy development, though leadership and public affairs through engaging with Ministers, Scottish Government Officials, MSPs and Parliament through providing briefing, responding to policy consultations and developing proactive positions and evidence.
Closing date:  10th March 2020.

Practice Development Officer
The Practice Development Officer at RTPI Scotland will lead on developing approaches to identifying, sharing and supporting our membership to learn from good practice and to increase the supply of planners to the workforce.
Closing date:  10th March 2020.

BEFS News

BEFS held a workshop on behalf of the Our Place in Time (OPiT) Built Heritage Investment Group (BHIG) on the Sustainable Investment Prioritisation/Diagnostic Tool. This tool has been created through consultation with the wider heritage sector, including the OPIT BHIG, over a number of years. The toolkit aims to enable visualisation around decision-making and investment in built heritage. It is being designed to help funders and organisations, as well as community and interest groups with heritage assets, explore priorities for action and investment. It will help prioritise and clearly communicate decision-making by demonstrating the Economic, Cultural, Environmental and Social outcomes of potential investment in built heritage across a range of categories, tested by the sector. The workshop was a peer-review session to inform a consultation on the tool. Read the workshop report here. More background information can be found here.

Work will continue on forming and refining the official consultation, which will be nationally released through Historic Environment Scotland on behalf of the OPiT Built Heritage Investment Group. This consultation is expected to take place in mid-March 2020 and BEFS will promote the process widely.

From August until the end of October 2019, BEFS was engaged to run a consultation process on how best to manage church land and buildings on behalf of the Church of Scotland General Trustees. The process included a series of workshops across Scotland, a webinar, an online survey and an event with the built environment sector. Further information on the consultation process and the final report are now available here. If you would like to engage BEFS to run a consultation process or facilitate your event, do get in contact.

BEFS responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the Replacement of the European Structural Fund in Scotland Post EU-Exit. BEFS highlights the need for a wider approach where the Climate Act, Communities Act, Infrastructure Commission Report and the National Planning Framework (NPF4) are considered to support healthy places, the wellbeing of citizens and the aims of a wellbeing economy. Read the full response here.

Last week, Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy Kate Forbes set out the Scottish Government’s spending and tax plans for 2020-21. Historic Environment Scotland’s budget has increased slightly since last year. Further details here.

Nick Wright reflects on his recent research commissioned by the Scottish Government in preparation of draft regulations and guidance for Local Place Plans, in our blog this week.

Finally, don’t forget to check out the range of built environment events taking place in the coming months, in the events section below.

Consultations

Planning Performance and Fees
Closes on 14 Feb 2020.

Fire safety: risk prioritisation in existing buildings – a call for evidence (England)
Closes on 17 February 2020.

Housing to 2040: consultation on outline policy options
Closes on 28 Feb 2020.

The practice of cash retention under construction contracts
Closes on 25 Mar 2020.

Energy Efficient Scotland: Improving energy efficiency in owner occupied homes consultation
Closes 26 March 2020.

Planning for Scotland in 2050: National Planning Framework 4 – Call for Ideas
Call for Ideas runs until 31 March 2020.

Review of the ban on the use of combustible materials in and on the external walls of buildings (England)
Closes on 13 April 2020.

Consultation Responses

Well Equipped Spaces in the Right Places – Church of Scotland Consultation Report

The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (Scotland) regulations 2020: consultation analysis

Practical fire safety for existing specialised housing and similar premises: consultation analysis

Big Climate Conversation: report of findings

Building Standards Verification Performance Framework: survey results

Rural Planning Policy to 2050: research findings (SG 31/01/20)

Publications

Unfinished Business – report on devolution of VAT (Reform Scotland 11/02/20)

Living longer: changes in housing tenure over time (ONS 10/02/20)

Twenty-Four Reasons Historic Preservation is Good for Your Community

Scottish Budget 2020-2021 (SG 06/02/20)

Scottish Budget 2020-2021: Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (SG 06/02/20)

DCMS Sectors Economic Estimates 2018: Gross Value Added (DCMS 05/02/20)

Living with beauty; promoting health, well-being and sustainable growth (MHCLG 30/01/20)

Scottish Government News Releases

Investing in affordable homes (12/02/20)
Last week’s budget announced a £17 million increase to help meet the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver 50,000 affordable homes over the course of this parliament.

Scottish Budget 2020-21 (SG 06/02/20)
Tackling the climate emergency and protecting public services.

The Big Climate Conversation (SG 30/01/20)
A public engagement programme on how to end Scotland’s contribution to climate change has shown widespread support for home energy efficiency improvements, increased use of public transport and transitioning to a more circular economy.

Fire safety in specialised housing (SG 30/01/20)
New guidance to reduce the risk from fire in specialised housing, such as sheltered and supported accommodation, has been published.

News Releases

SPAB Announces an Opportunity to Sponsor a Youth Placement (SPAB 12/02/20)
Support places for young people at the upcoming SPAB Scotland Working Parties. Our working parties are a fun and unique way for people with a love for Scottish Heritage to get involved with repair projects on a building in need. Assisting young people to learn more about traditional skills and materials encourages a life-long appreciation for these crafts.

Check your tech maturity with new Digital Culture Compass tool (HF 12/02/20)
The free online tool is designed to help heritage, arts and culture organisations develop their digital capabilities. Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund have launched the Digital Culture Compass, a free toolkit designed to help organisations get the most out of digital.

Over £800,000 funding awarded to heritage projects across Scotland (HES 10/02/20)
Historic Environment Scotland has announced funding of £842,802 to support conservation repair projects to historic buildings throughout the country.

RIAS/RIBA Awards for Scotland 2020 (RIAS 10/20/20)
Entries are being invited for the RIAS/RIBA Awards for Scotland 2020 – celebrating the best in Scottish architecture! Now in their 9th year, the Awards continue to demonstrate the quality and breadth of current architectural endeavour in Scotland. Submission deadline: Thursday 20th February 2020.

Call for papers – Archaeological Research in Progress Conference (ARP) 2020 (AS 10/02/20)
Do you have exciting research findings that you would like to present at the ARP in Aberdeen on 23rd May 2020? We are inviting proposals for 20 minute papers that demonstrate the most up-to-date information and best practice. Please submit proposals to e.macqueen@archaeologyscotland.org.uk by Sunday 23rd February 2020.

Meeting the 21st Century challenges for archaeology (CIfA 07/02/20)
Historic England and the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) are pleased to announce a Memorandum of Understanding setting out the basis for cooperating on addressing the most urgent and important challenges identified by our joint project Twenty-first-century challenges for archaeology.

RTPI Scotland welcomes Scottish Budget but calls for more investment in planning (RTPI Scotland 07/02/20)
RTPI Scotland has welcomed commitments in the Scottish Budget to tackle the climate crisis but has called for more investment in the planning system to enable key targets to be met.

Maintaining Your Property (ES 04/02/20)
Maintaining and repairing a property is incredibly important and a real commitment. If you’re looking for advice on building components, materials or common defects, look no further than our website which is brimming with information and advice.

NPF4 early engagement – Feb 2020 (P&A 03/02/20)
One month into 2020 and the substantial task of producing Scotland’s fourth National Planning Framework is well in motion and picking up pace. Now it’s time for you to join in!

Beautiful homes should become ‘norm’ (MHCLG 30/01/20)
The Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission’s report – Living with beauty – supports the creation of more beautiful communities.

Calculating the full cost of energy used by buildings (DBEIS 24/01/20)
The Whole Life Cost of Energy (WLCoE) calculator – issued by government in BETA form – is intended to help building owners and operators to understand the full financial cost of the energy their buildings use, and welcomes feedback to hndu@beis.gov.uk.

Welsh Slate Landscape nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status (DCMS 24/01/20)
The Slate Landscape of North West Wales has been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Status.

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 S5W-27262: Joan McAlpine, South Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what role encouraging the construction of more homes to certified Passivhaus standard could have on lifting residents out of fuel poverty.

Question S5W-27261: Joan McAlpine, South Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether accelerating the construction of new houses to certified Passivhaus standard would be a positive response to the climate crisis declared in Scotland.

Question S5W-27260: Joan McAlpine, South Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to providing financial incentives to developers to enable the accelerated construction of new homes to certified Passivhaus standard.

Question S5W-27258: Joan McAlpine, South Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the health benefits to householders resulting from living in a house built to certified Passivhaus standard.

Question S5W-27257: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the total cost to local planning authorities of the introduction of short-term let control areas, as set out in Section 17 of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019.

Question S5W-27255: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that the introduction of a licensing system for short-term lets will have on the number of such lets in Scotland.

Question S5W-27254: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what estimates it has made of the resource implications for local authorities and related bodies to introduce, administer and monitor a system of licensing for short-term lets.

Question S5W-27253: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the total cost of a licensing system for short-term lets to (a) owners of short-term lets and (b) local authorities.

Question S5W-27252: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its consultation on a regulatory framework for short-term lets, how many local authorities have requested the introduction of a licensing system.

Question S5W-27251: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether people (a) letting out a spare room in their primary residence and (b) occasionally letting out their entire primary residence will be subject to the proposed licensing regime for short-term lets.

Question S5W-27187: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 29/01/2020
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use the money received through the Barnett formula as a result of the UK Government’s Stronger Towns Fund.

Events

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

Save Egyptian Halls
Date & time: 21 February 2020 13:30 – 18:00
Venue: The Lighthouse, 11 Mitchell Lane, Glasgow, G1 3NU
The SPAB joins efforts with organisations across Scotland to help save Glasgow’s Egyptian Halls. The day, coordinated by The Alexander Thomson Society, will host an enlightening afternoon variety of events from experts in their fields, including SPAB Scotland Chair, Jamie McNamara as we make a case to Save Egyptian Halls.

Planning for demographic change
Date & time: Thursday 27 February 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Venue: Committee Room No 9, 18 John St, Glasgow G1 1JQ
What changes are projected for Scotland’s population over the next few decades? What are the challenges for planners in addressing these? And what are the opportunities? Demographic change is one of the main factors that define the issues facing planners over the coming decades, so understanding what lies on the horizon is crucial. This event will consider what the most recent demographic data tells us about Scotland’s future population and the planning implications across the West of Scotland, focusing on housing and health & equalities perspectives.

Planning and ecology
Date & time: Tuesday 10 March 2020, 4pm to 5pm
Venue: Cairngorms National Park Authority, 14 The Square, Grantown-on-Spey PH26 3HG
The Cairngorms National Park is the UK’s largest protected landscape. Being home to around 25% of the UK’s threatened bird, animal and plant species and having around 50% land protected by European nature designations, it is one of the country’s most sensitive locations for development. National Park Authority ecologist, Dr Sally Mackenzie will give a talk on how ecology, habitats and protected species have been taken account of in development within the Park, including the importance of habitat and species management plans. The event will be followed at 5pm by RTPI Highlands and Islands and  RTPI Scotland’s event on National Planning Framework 4.

Going Digital: Tools and ideas for a successful project
Date & time: Tue, 17 March 2020; 09:30 – 15:00.
Venue: Maryhill Burgh Halls, 24 Gairbraid Avenue, Glasgow G20 8YE.
Join us for an HTN Scotland Members’ Meeting to learn how boost your project using online platforms and digital technologies. Our theme for the event will be ‘Going Digital’ ideas and examples of how you can use online tools and digital visualisations, to promote and enhance your project. As with all our events, this will be a great opportunity to share updates on your own project, troubleshoot challenges and connect with new people who may be able to help.

Icon Conference Highlights
Date & time: 20th of March 2020; 9.20am – 4.45pm
Venue: City Art Gallery, 2 Market Street, Edinburgh EH1 1DE.
This one-day conference is organised by Icon Scotland Group and features 12 talks that presented at the Icon 19 triennial conference in Belfast last year. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion, plus opportunities for networking and socialising. If you have any questions about this event, please contact the organiser Isobel Griffin (i.griffin@nationalgalleries.org).

Your Career in Conservation: The Purpose and Process of Accreditation
Date & time: Thursday 26th March 2020 | 9:30-17:00.
Venue: Reid Building, Glasgow School of Art.
Scotland currently has a deficit of conservation accredited professionals, which presents a major hurdle for the delivery of appropriate repairs and maintenance to the historic environment. In order to help address this gap, Glasgow City Heritage Trust is hosting a one-day conference on conservation accreditation within the heritage and built environment sectors. Attendees will be able to hear from leading accreditation bodies about the value of accreditation for conserving our historic environment, how the application process works and how being conservation accredited can open new career paths.

Achieving wider community regeneration outcomes through housing led approaches: SURF Awards Shared Learning Workshop
Date & time: 7th May, 10.15am-2pm
Venue: Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh
This free half-day SURF Awards workshop event in the Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh on 7th May provides an opportunity to explore successful approaches to housing led regeneration initiatives providing wider community outcomes. The winning and highly commended projects from the ‘Housing and Regeneration’ category highlighted in the 2019 SURF Awards process will provide comment on their experiences and transferable learning.

Transferable lessons for place-based regeneration: SURF Awards Shared Learning Workshop
Date & time: 13th May, 10am-2pm
Venue: St Luke’s, The Glasgow Barras
This free half-day SURF Awards workshop event in St Luke’s, Glasgow on 13th May provides an opportunity to explore successful current approaches towards regenerating Scotland’s places with two winning projects from the ‘Most Improved Place’ and ‘Community Led Regeneration’ categories highlighted in the 2019 SURF Awards process.

Successful methods of supporting young people to overcome barriers to employment: SURF Awards Shared Learning Workshop
Date & time: 20th May, 10am-2pm
Venue: The Glasgow Women’s Library, Bridgeton
This free half-day SURF Awards workshop event in the Glasgow Women’s Library, Bridgeton, Glasgow on 20th May provides an opportunity to explore successful approaches towards tackling barriers to employment facing young people in Scotland. The winning and highly commended projects from the ‘Youth Employability’ category highlighted in the 2019 SURF Awards process will provide comment on their experiences and transferable learning.

How can embedding artistic approaches enable communities to become agents for change?: SURF Awards Shared Learning Workshop
Date & time: 28th May, 10am-2pm
Venue: The Grassmarket Community Project, Edinburgh
This free half-day SURF Awards workshop event in the Grassmarket Community Project, Edinburgh on 28th May provides an opportunity to explore successful approaches towards linking creative arts and culture into regeneration initiatives. The winning and highly commended projects from the ‘Creative Regeneration’ category highlighted in the 2019 SURF Awards process will provide comment on their experiences and transferable learning.

Training

RICS CPD day Dunblane
Date: 12 March 2020.
Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro, Perth Rd, Dunblane, FK15 0HG.
A RICS regional conference for Scotland. Hear the latest guidance, technical updates and best practice across the built environment, land and property sectors. Covering today’s ever-changing market trends, legislation and technical guidance, CPD day Dunblane focuses on the specific knowledge and practical skills you will need over the next 12 months.

Vacancies

Edinburgh World Heritage trustees
Edinburgh World Heritage is looking for new Board trustees who are passionate about Edinburgh and the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site; interested in how we connect and engage all people in our heritage; skilled and experienced in aspects of the historic environment, leadership, marketing and communications, strategic thinking and fundraising, or individuals keen to develop in these areas. We also welcome applications from young people or those interested in applying for their first trusteeship.
Closing date for applications: Monday 2nd March at 5pm.

BEFS News

This month Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has introduced a new expressions of interest process for anyone wishing to make an application to one of their grant programmes. The purpose of the short form is to ensure that applicants receive consistent advice regarding suitability for funding, appropriate grant programmes and the timing of applications. If you are interested in making an application to HES, submit an expression of interest via their grants website, and a member of the grants team will provide a response within 10 working days.

The following updated grants deadlines for 2020 have now been published on the grants website. If you are interested in applying this year, take note as there are a few changes from last year’s schedule.

2020 Grant Application Deadlines

• Historic Environment Repair Grants – 31 May, 31 December
• Historic Environment Support Fund – 31 March, 31 July, 30 November
• Organisational Support Fund – 31 August
• Archaeology Programme – 30 September

The 2018 Scottish House Condition Survey reports 75% of all dwellings have some degree of disrepair and disrepair to critical elements stood at 57%, an increase of 7% for both since 2017. 73% of Scotland’s traditionally built homes (pre-1919) are not wind and watertight. BEFS Director, Euan Leitch, reflects on these findings in the context of the work of the Scottish Parliamentary Working Group for Tenement Maintenance and the Scottish Government’s response to the group’s recommendations report.

At the invitation of the Scottish Government’s NPF4 planning team, BEFS was asked to invite its members to a roundtable discussion event. This was an informal opportunity to hear a little of where thinking sits currently and to consider opportunities for engagement. Read the report here.

BEFS responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on their Proposed Work Programme, and associated Sustainability Appraisal (SA) report, for reviewing and extending permitted development rights (PDR) in Scotland. Read the response on our ’Consultations & Briefings’ page.

Nominations for the Archaeology Training Forum award are now open. The Archaeology Training Forum Award recognises excellence in the fields of learning, best practice in training and professional development and is open to archaeological organisations, individuals, partnerships and collaborative projects throughout the United Kingdom, whether paid or voluntary. Closing date for nominations is the 13th March 2020 and more information can be found on the ATF website.

BEFS Vice-Chair, Professor Ian Baxter, muses on the meaning of ‘place-keeping’ for the historic environment sector, in our first blog this week.

BEFS Policy & Strategy Manager, Ailsa Macfarlane, reflects on the recent Wealth of Nations 2.0 Conference and place as part of the wellbeing economy agenda, in our second blog.

Consultations

Review of the ban on the use of combustible materials in and on the external walls of buildings (England)
Opened on 20 January 2020 and closes on 13 April 2020.

Fire safety: risk prioritisation in existing buildings – a call for evidence (England)
Opened on 20 January 2020 and closes on 17 February 2020.

Proposed Remote Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill
Consultation closes on 31 January 2020.

Law Society of Scotland’s call for views: Consultation on aspects of planning obligations
Closes Monday 3 February 2020.

Scottish Forestry Corporate Plan Consultation
Closes 5 February 2020.

The Replacement of European Structural Funds In Scotland Post EU-Exit
Closes 12 Feb. 2020.

Planning Performance and Fees
Closes on 14 Feb 2020.

Housing to 2040: consultation on outline policy options
Closes on 28 Feb 2020.

The practice of cash retention under construction contracts
Closes on 25 Mar 2020.

Energy Efficient Scotland: Improving energy efficiency in owner occupied homes consultation
Closes 26 March 2020.

Planning for Scotland in 2050: National Planning Framework 4 – Call for Ideas
Call for Ideas runs until 31 March 2020.

Publications

Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2020 (SG 28/01/20)

Affordable Housing Supply Programme Out-turn Report 2018-19 (SG 28/01/20)

Local Place Plans -Challenges and opportunities: A framework for draft guidance (SCDC and Nick Wright Planning 27/01/20)

English Housing Survey 2018 to 2019: headline report (MHCLG 23/01/20)

Heritage and the Economy 2019 (HE 23/01/20)

RTPI Corporate Strategy 2020-2030 (RTPI 22/01/20)

Scottish house condition survey: 2018 key findings (SG 21/01/20)

Short-Term Lets Regulation (SG 21/01/20)

Planning and Architecture business plan 2019 to 2020: in-year review (SG 21/01/20)

Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report: government response (MHCLG 21/01/20)

Challenges facing small housing developers: survey (SG 20/01/20)

Scottish Infrastructure Commission Report (ICS 20/01/20)

Building safety advice for building owners, including fire doors (MHCLG 20/01/20)

Local Place Plan Guide (PAS 16/01/20)

Scotland’s City Region and Growth Deals (Audit Scotland 16/01/20)

Technical Conservation Guidance and Research (HE 11/19)

Scottish Government News Releases

Climate Change Plan (SG 28/01/20)
Members of the Scottish Parliament, academics, industry and environmental organisations will explore options and priorities for updating Scotland’s Climate Change Plan.

Health and wellbeing as fundamental as GDP (SG 22/01/20)
Scotland is leading the way in creating an economy in which wellbeing is as fundamental as GDP (Gross Domestic Product) when measuring success, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.

Scottish House Condition Survey: 2018 Key Findings (SG 21/01/20)
The Chief Statistician has released figures on fuel poverty, energy efficiency, the condition of housing, the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) and other key descriptors of the occupied housing stock in Scotland.

Homeowners protected (SG 20/01/20)
Apex Property Factor removed from the official register for failing to meet minimum standards of practice.

£100m milestone for Building Scotland Fund (SG 14/01/20)
Housing, regeneration and industrial and commercial developments are being supported by investments of £100 million through the Building Scotland Fund (BSF).

News Releases

Tesco Bags of Help open for applications in 2020! (Greenspace Scot 28/01/20)
Community groups and charities across Scotland are being invited to apply for funding through the Tesco Bags of Help scheme. Three groups will be awarded grant amounts of £2,000, £1,000 or £500 every three months in a total of 75 funding areas that cover the whole of Scotland from Shetland to Stranraer.

Green MSP launches online tool to monitor scale of Airbnb-style lets (Commonspace 23/01/20)
Locals will be able to report short-term holiday lets in their area using a new tool launched by Andy Wightman.

England’s Heritage Worth £31 Billion To Economy Reveals New Report (HE 23/01/20)
New research shows that heritage is an important sector which contributes to economic prosperity and growth through jobs in the heritage and construction sectors and from tourism.

Lack of guidance from Scottish Government putting homes at risk (SLE 22/01/20)
A lack of guidance and leadership from the Scottish Government on the incoming changes to the energy efficiency of homes is putting unnecessary pressure on Scotland’s vital private rental sector.

Three out of four homes need repair as fuel poverty rises (The Times 22/01/20)
Three quarters of Scotland’s 2.6 million homes have some form of disrepair, a substantial increase on the previous year, a report has revealed.

Scotland’s City Region and Growth Deals (Audit Scotland 16/01/20)
City deals have been positive for Scotland’s economy, but the government does not have a plan to measure their overall long-term success, say public spending watchdogs.

Open for Entries: RIAS/RIBA Awards for Scotland 2020
Now in their 9th year, the combined RIAS/RIBA Awards continue to demonstrate the quality and breadth of current architectural endeavour in Scotland. Submissions should be made via our online entry form. Submission deadline: Thursday 20th February 2020 (an early bird discount of 10% is available until Thursday 6th February 2020).

My Place Awards and My Place Photography Competition 2020! (SCT 16/01/20)
One month left to submit entries…we look forward to receiving your entries! The closing date for both the My Place Awards and the My Place Photography Competition is 11:59pm, Sunday 16 February 2020.

Plunge In! Coasts and Waters Community Fund (SNH)
SNH has launched a new fund for #YCW2020 – Plunge In! The Coasts and Waters Community Fund – which creates new opportunities for communities to connect with their coasts, seas and freshwaters. The fund offers grants to help community groups participate in and celebrate #YCW2020 in their own way. The fund will open for applications between 7 January and 28 February 2020.

54 historic places of worship restored thanks to government pilot scheme (DCMS 13/01/20)
The Taylor Review pilot scheme, a £1.8 million scheme to help listed places of worship, has provided grants towards repairs at 54 historic buildings since launching in September 2018 until March 2019.

Construction Recovery Needs a VAT Cut (FMB 13/01/20)  
The upcoming Budget must slash the rate of VAT on repair and maintenance work and invest in the construction sector in order to maintain the industry’s recovery, according to the Federation of Master Builders in response to the ONS construction output data published today.

Place Planning for Decarbonisation (A&DS 01/20)
To support the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackle climate change and achieve a target of net-zero carbon by 2045, Architecture and Design Scotland is working with the Scottish Government Climate Change Division. Through this work, we will be initially supporting a small number of selected Local Authorities to develop spatial plans for places which prioritise this agenda.

Opinion & Comment

Pioneer female archaeologist Christian MacLagan as building patron in Stirling (Morag Cross 28/01/20)

When Historic Preservation Hurts Cities (NYT 26/01/20)

Working towards an economy that is focused on wellbeing (Dr Katherine Trebeck, Herald 22/01/20)

ICE Scotland director Hannah Smith discusses the Scottish Infrastructure Commission report on the key infrastructure priorities (ICE 20/0120/)

VAT chance: Can tax reforms spur a retrofit renaissance? (AJ 06/01/20)

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 S5W-27033: Iain Gray, East Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20/01/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what level of funds remain in the Scottish Land Fund.

Question S5W-27034: Iain Gray, East Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20/01/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to relaunch the Scottish Land Fund beyond March 2021.

Question S5W-27149: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 27/01/2020
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22988 by Kevin Stewart on 16 May 2019, in light of the minister’s comment that “work to finalise the revised code will take place over the course of 2019”, whether it will confirm by what date it will publish the revised code of conduct for property factors.

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 S5W-26907: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 09/01/2020
To ask the Scottish Government how many planning (a) practitioners have been employed and (b) applications have been decided by each local planning authority in each year since 2012-13.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (17/01/2020)

Other Parliamentary Activity

Portfolio Questions: Culture, Tourism & External Affairs – Wednesday 22 January
1. Margaret Mitchell – Historic Environment (Preservation of Buildings and Landmarks)
2. Ruth Maguire – Year of Coasts and Waters
3. Alison Johnstone – Edinburgh festive celebrations
4. Jeremy Balfour – Edinburgh summer festivals 2020
5. Peter Chapman – traditional culture

Events

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

Energy efficiency seminar
Dates & times: Thursday 6 to Friday 7 February, 1pm – 5pm.
Venue: Engine Shed, Stirling
Cost: £20 – £50.
This is a two-day programme which looks at practical energy efficiency measures for Scottish homes and the wider technical and policy issues in their refurbishment. This is in partnership between Historic Environment Scotland and other organisations and the Task59 project (Historic NZEB).

Glasgow Potteries and the British Empire
Date & Venue: February 10 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Auditorium, National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.
Date & Venue: February 11 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Meston Building Lecture Theatre One, University of Aberdeen.
A Society of Antiquaries of Scotland lecture given by Graeme Cruickshank MA AMA FMA FSAScot.
For more information on the Society’s full event programme and to book a place on a lecture visit the website.

William Morris: Preserving Monuments of Art & Civilisation
Date & time: 26th Feb 2020 – 1800 – 1900.
Venue: Dovecot Studios, 10 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EH1 1LT.
Join us for a lecture from Scottish Officer, Tyler C. Lott, BA, MSc on the legacy of William and his daughter May Morris in the SPAB and the impact SPAB has had on Britain’s Built Heritage as well as top tips for a positive and practical approach to building conservation in the 21st Century. Includes entry into to the May Morris Art & Life Exhibit on the day of the event.

Women in housing Scotland Conference
Date & time: 6 March from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm.
Venue: Hilton Glasgow.
This brand new event for 2020 is aimed at ALL women working or volunteering in the housing sector. The event is a celebration of achievements and the impact women have had and continue to have on the sector. The day will be full of inspirational and motivational women speakers from the housing sector and beyond.

3D Documentation of Heritage Artefacts: Introduction to Photogrammetry
Date & time: Wed, 18 March 2020, 10:30 – 16:30.
Venue: Scottish Maritime Museum, Linthouse Building, Harbour Road, Irvine, KA12 8BT.
Photogrammetry is a photography-based 3D imaging technique for documenting a variety of objects. From archaeological finds and intricately carved stonework to works of art or large-scale collections. By combining the data from many images of the object, photogrammetry produces a digital 3D model of it. Marta Pilarska (@M_Pilarska), digital heritage specialist at the Scottish Maritime Museum (@Scotmaritime), will introduce course participants to methods of 3D digital documentation of historic objects, encouraging them to explore 3D documentation techniques.

Your Career in Conservation: The Purpose and Process of Accreditation 
Date & Time: 26th March | 9:30-17:00
Venue: Reid Building, Glasgow School of Art- 164 Renfrew St, Glasgow G3 6RQ
GCHT is holding a one-day conference on conservation accreditation within the heritage and built environment sectors. Attendees will hear from leading conservation accreditation bodies about the value of accreditation for conserving our historic environment, how the application process works, and how being conservation accredited can open new career paths. There will also be workshops for getting specific guidance on applications. There will be speakers and workshop leaders from CARE, Icon, IHBC, RIAS and RICS, as well as Historic Environment Scotland and the Glasgow School of Art. Liz Davidson, Senior Project Manager for the Mackintosh Restoration at GSA, is our keynote speaker.

Visit to Union Chain Bridge
Date & time: 04 April 2020.
Venue: Chain Bridge Honey Farm, Berwick Upon Tweed, TD15 2XT.
On the 200-year anniversary, join The Friends of Union Bridge and SPAB Scotland on a visit to the Union Chain Bridge. Following successful campaigning and fundraising missions, the 1820 wrought iron suspension bridge is undergoing extensive repair works involving the complete dismantling and rebuilding of the bridge. With a guided tour by a member of The Friends, we will hear about how the structure was built, the repair progress and proposals, the challenges that the campaign faced, and the desires for the future of Captain Samuel Brown’s Union Chain Bridge.  This is a child-friendly event!

Humble Heritage Workshop – Cement Removal and Hot Lime Pointing
Date & time: 17 April 2020 – 19 April 2020.
Venue: Moffat Old Churchyard, Moffat, DG10 9EB.
Our Humble Heritage workshops are a new series designed to give delegates a thorough theoretical and technical basis of knowledge about a subject, reinforced with guided practical, hands-on experience. During the two days of hands-on training, we will focus on the techniques of removing harmful cement renders, using like-for-like repair that will demand either earth-lime or hot mixed lime mortars, or a combination of both. CPD Certificates Available!

Saving the Gable Working Party
Date & time: 20 April 2020 – 22 April 2020.
Venue: Moffat Old Churchyard, Moffat, DG10 9EB.
Join the SPAB for a community-based working party based in the Old Churchyard in the town of Moffat focusing on a historic monument, the sole surviving gable of the pre-reformation C15th Parish Church and surrounding boundary walls. We plan to carry out removal of cement pointing and vegetation, consolidation and re-pointing of the gable, and of the whinstone rubble boundary wall of the surrounding Churchyard. Help us save this important monument, securing its future as a key illustration of the town’s development and reducing any further damage to the carvings. Accommodation, materials, lunch, and refreshment is included.

Adapt Northern Heritage conference 2020
Dates & times: Tuesday 5 May – Thursday 7 May, 9am – 5pm.
Venue: Surgeons Quarters, Edinburgh.
Cost: £200.
The Adapt Northern Heritage Conference will explore practices and research on the impacts of climate change in the historic environment, engaging communities, adaptation measures, and managing loss.

Vacancies

Skills Training and Outreach Officer
Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust are looking for a historic building conservation professional to appoint as Skills Training and Outreach Officer on a one-year fixed-term basis to help us deliver our exciting traditional building skills training projects (including roadshow) and to lead on co-ordinating the regional programme of the Doors Open Days architectural festival.
Closing date: 5pm on Friday 7 February 2020.

CSGNT Board Members
Central Scotland Green Network Trust (CSGNT) is currently looking for up to three new board members. To expand the range of skills CSGNT currently has on its board, it is seeking applicants with backgrounds in one or more of the following:  finance and governance; work in the third/community sector; housing (private and social) and strategic partnership working. The board is committed to increasing its own diversity and applications are particularly welcome from currently under-represented perspectives.
Closing Date for applications is Friday 28th February.

Artwork by Mitch Miller © www.dialectograms.com

BEFS News

BEFS welcomes the Scottish Government’s response to the recommendations in the final report of the Scottish Parliamentary Working Group on Tenement Maintenance. The working group is meeting this evening and BEFS will update regarding further plans in due course.

As part of the work of the working group, BEFS commissioned Professor Douglas Robertson to write the report ‘Why Flats Fall Down: Navigating shared responsibilities for their repair and maintenance’, with financial support from Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Property Managers Association Scotland and the Scottish Government.

BEFS issued this briefing paper to all MSPs ahead of today’s ‘Sustainable Development Goals in Scotland, On Target for 2030?’ debate in the Scottish Parliament (12.45pm). Follow the debate on parliamentary TV. BEFS contributed to the UWS-OXFAM report in relation to UN:SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities. Read the report here.

In April 2019, Historic Environment Scotland commissioned DC Research to carry out an evaluation of the delivery and impact of Our Place in Time – The Historic Environment Strategy for Scotland. This is the evaluation report, covering five years of the 10-year strategy. The fourth annual performance report for Our Place in Time, which covers the period from April 2018 to March 2019, is also available here. The report includes a selection of historic environment case studies collated by BEFS. The complete database of case studies can be viewed on our website here. Case studies can be submitted via BEFS website throughout the year.

RTPI Scotland is embarking on a project to support the early stages of preparation of National Planning Framework 4. Their survey and call for evidence is looking for your reflections on how NPF3 has worked, and your ideas for improvement in NPF4.

BEFS Board Member, Tyler C. Lott, provides a thought-provoking perspective based on her research into the challenges and opportunities of Scotland’s transient visitor levies, in our first blog of the year: Waiting for the Levy to Break: Suggestions for the Hypothecation of Scotland’s Transient Visitor Levies.

Consultations

Planning for Scotland in 2050: National Planning Framework 4 – Call for Ideas
Call for Ideas runs until 31 March 2020.

Scottish Forestry Corporate Plan Consultation
Opened 8 January 2020 and closes 5 February 2020.

Energy Efficient Scotland: Improving energy efficiency in owner occupied homes consultation
Opened 19 December 2019 and closes 26 March 2020.

What makes a strong and vibrant community? Asks Local Government and Communities Committee
Closes 22 Jan 2020.

National Library of Scotland Draft 2020–2025 Strategy
Closes on 27 Jan 2020.

Proposed programme for reviewing and extending permitted development rights (PDR) in Scotland
Closes 28 Jan 2020.

Proposed Remote Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill
Consultation closes on 31 January 2020.

Law Society of Scotland’s call for views: Consultation on aspects of planning obligations
Closes Monday 3 February 2020.

The Replacement of European Structural Funds In Scotland Post EU-Exit
Closes 12 Feb. 2020.

Planning Performance and Fees
Closes on 14 Feb 2020.

Housing to 2040: consultation on outline policy options
Closes on 28 Feb 2020.

The practice of cash retention under construction contracts
Closes on 25 Mar 2020.

Publications

Impacts of climate change on cultural heritage (MCCIP 15/01/20)

Community Engagement Baseline Surveys 2019 – Results Report (SLC 14/01/20)

Environmental Governance in Scotland after EU Exit (SPICe 09/01/20)

Why Flats Fall Down: Navigating shared responsibilities for their repair and maintenance (BEFS 05/01/20)

Planning for Scotland in 2050: National Planning Framework 4 – Programme of Engagement (SG 01/20)

The National Islands Plan (SG 27/12/19)

The Place Principle – Our contribution to place-based working (SNH 12/2019)

Tenement maintenance report: Scottish Government response (SG 20/12/19)

Architecture & Design Scotland Annual Review 2019 (19/12/19)

Evaluation of Our Place in Time 2014-19 (HES 18/12/19)

Our Place in Time Annual Report 2019 (HES 18/12/19)

Scottish Government’s Response to Empty Homes Report (SG 17/12/19)

Take Back the High Street Putting communities in charge of their own town centres (NLCF)

Repeopling Emptied Places (SLC)

Sustainable Outcomes Guide (RIBA 12/12/20)

The Estimated Costs of Improving the Energy Efficiency of Scotland’s homes (Citizen’s Advice Scotland 12/19)

Scottish Government News Releases

Regulating short-term lets (SG 08/01/20)
Local authorities are to be given new powers to regulate short-term lets where they decide this is in the interests of local communities.

Regenerating Scotland’s Communities (SG 05/01/20)
Projects benefitting from over £138 million of funding have the potential to create more than 7,000 jobs across Scotland, according to analysis of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.

Improving energy efficiency (SG 30/12/19)
Homeowners will be supported to make their homes warmer and cheaper to heat by improving their energy efficiency.

National Islands Plan (SG 27/12/19)
Scotland’s first National Islands Plan to improve the quality of life for island communities has been launched.

Maintaining Scotland’s tenements (SG 20/12/19)
Legislative changes being considered include, compulsory owners’ associations, building inspections every five years and a national reserve fund for repairs.

News Releases

‘Virtual tenement’ app being developed to help ensure repairs to crumbling Edinburgh homes (Edinburgh News 15/01/20)
An app is being drawn up by developers on behalf of the city council to create a “virtual tenement” to help bring the city’s stock of crumbing tenements up to standard.

Community Engagement Baseline Survey Report 2019 Results Announced (SLC 14/01/20)
Knowledge about land ownership and plans for land use differ between rural and urban communities, the Scottish Land Commission has discovered through a survey.

First council adopts Simplified Planning Zone to speed up housing development (SHN 13/01/20)
North Ayrshire Council has become the first local authority in Scotland to adopt a new Simplified Planning Zone (SPZ) which aims to stimulate development on a prime housing site.

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) – Early Engagement now underway! (SGP 09/01/20)
2020 is shaping up to be a massive year for planning in Scotland; for how our transforming planning system will shape our places and our society over the years and decades to come.

Museums Galleries Scotland Announces Funding Changes (MGS 09/01/20)
Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) announce three changes to their grants programme as a development of their responsive grants system in order to further support the sector.

Shaped by Industry (HES 08/01/20)
Join Niamh Crimmins as she celebrates 30 years of the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland and explores the history of Grangemouth through survey fieldwork and the HES Archives.

RICS issues final call for awards entries (SCN 07/01/20)
Now known as the RICS Social Impact Awards, the award’s programme has been refreshed to demonstrate the changes the membership body is seeing across business and society.

Place Planning for Decarbonisation (A&DS 19/12/19)
To support the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackle climate change and achieve a target of net-zero carbon by 2045, Architecture and Design Scotland is working with the Scottish Government Climate Change Division.

10 steps to diversify your workplace (CIfA 09/12/19)
CIfA’s Equality and Diversity Group have produced a short 10 step guide to help organisations to diversify their workplace.

Opinion & Comment

VAT must be cut for construction sector to recover, says FMB (FMB 14/01/20)

The case for … never demolishing another building (Oliver Wainwright 13/01/20)

One Planet Development: the opportunities and challenges of a living countryside (RTPI 10/01/20)

Climate change: COP26 Glasgow will provide world stage for Scotland’s green innovation (University of Strathclyde 08/01/20)

I’ve been polluting the planet for years. I’m not an oil exec—I’m an architect (Stephanie Carliele 03/01/20)

Can an historic building be a green building? (Melissa Osborne, Trident Building Consultancy 18/12/19)

Valuing the Planet through the Built Environment (RICS 18/12/19)

A Great Carbon Reckoning Comes to Architecture (Andrew Grey 09/12/19)

How we can recycle more buildings (Seyed Ghaffar, Associate Professor in Civil Engineering and Environmental Materials)

Townscapes: Scotland’s mixed fortunes (Bennett Institute for Public Policy)

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 S5W-26907: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 09/01/2020
To ask the Scottish Government how many planning (a) practitioners have been employed and (b) applications have been decided by each local planning authority in each year since 2012-13

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 S5W-26732: Mark Ruskell, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 16/12/2019
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish a draft Climate Change Plan, and what time period will be allocated for parliamentary scrutiny of this.
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham (13/01/2020)

Question S5W-26496: Michelle Ballantyne, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 22/11/2019
To ask the Scottish Government which (a) communities and (b) organisations will receive support from round five of the Coastal Communities Fund.
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham (17/12/2019)

Question S5W-26680: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17/12/2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what measures it is taking to help homeowners obtain fire safety certificates for cladding to high-rise buildings, in light of reports that lenders have started refusing to approve mortgages for properties without these.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (07/01/2020)

Other Parliamentary Activity

Local Government and Communities Committee debate on motion S5M-20280, in the name of James Dornan, on empty homes in Scotland, on 7 January 2020.

Events

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

City for Sale? The commodification of Edinburgh’s public places
Date & time:  Wednesday 22 January 2020; 6:30 for a 7:00pm start
Venue:  Central Halls, 2 West Tollcross, Edinburgh
One of the defining issues currently in front of the City of Edinburgh is how we value our public places. Should our parks and gardens be an oasis of green-ness and tranquillity, or should they be the city’s performance hubs, the Go-To places for happening events and Festival activities? Facilitated by broadcaster Stephen Jardine, panel speakers will consider the impact on the city’s public places of an expanding festival and tourism industry, and potential threats and opportunities of the commercialisation of space in terms of civic and environmental well-being. Free.

RSA Scotland and CivTech: collaboration across sectors and SOSE
Date & time: Wed, 5 February 2020, from 13:00 – 15:30.
Venue: Easterbrook Hall, Crichton Campus, Dumfries DG1 4TA.
RSA Fellows and guests from across the private, public and third sectors are invited to register to hear Barbara Mills and Mark Elliott speak about the work of CivTech, and the options for purposeful collaboration between, and involvement by, the private, public and third sectors across the Dumfries and Galloway and the future SOSE area.

Glasgow Potteries and the British Empire
Dates, Times & locations: February 10 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm in Edinburgh (NMS Auditorium).
February 11 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm in Aberdeen (Meston Building Lecture Theatre One, University of Aberdeen).
Lecture by Graeme Cruickshank MA AMA FMA FSAScot (independent scholar).
The Scottish potteries of the industrial era produced vast amounts of wares, with dozens of factories in a number of towns producing millions of items annually, far more than the domestic market could assimilate.  Huge quantities of goods were exported, decade after decade, with the erstwhile British Empire being a prime target.  The potteries of Glasgow took advantage of the situation with unparalleled zeal.

Heritage-Based Regeneration: A SURF People and Sector Connector Gathering 
Date & time: 13th February, 10am-1pm.
Venue: CoSLA Conference Centre, Edinburgh.
An opportunity for local authority officers with responsibilities for any aspect of place-based regeneration to engage in constructive and informed discussion around the themes of heritage, local traditions and historical assets. Participants will explore, from the perspective of Scottish local government, the opportunities and challenges associated with undertaking heritage-based activities that contribute meaningfully to the regeneration of economically challenged places. Guests will hear about the realities of progressing heritage-based regeneration initiatives in the current context in two SURF Alliance for Areas in Argyll and Glasgow. They will also have the opportunity to share experiences and learn about evolving national priorities.

Henry Edward Clifford (1852-1932) – Pollokshields Architect
Deat & time: Event date change to 20 February 2020 – Coffee / tea at 7pm; Lectures start at 7:30pm.
Venue: The Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow.
Niall Murphy, Deputy Director of Glasgow City Heritage Trust introduces us to one of the key architects from Glasgow’s Golden Age and one that was a rare beast, the Glaswegian architect with a European reputation.

Integrative placemaking – addressing the ‘silos’ with collaborative approaches
Date & time: February 28 @ 8:30 am – 6:15 pm.
Venue: University of Dundee, Dalhousie Building, Old Hawkhill, DD1 5EN.
The places we live and work in are formed by an amalgam of policies, designs and decisions over time. Yet so many of the statutory, policy and behavioural systems pull in competing directions. ‘Working in silos’ has become one of the explanations for failed places at different scales. These can be competing or conflicting professional disciplines or authorities, client departments or organisations. Lack of collaboration or information sharing, lack of a shared vision or sense of purpose, or basic professional jealously can lead to dysfunctional, if not disastrous, outcomes for places and communities. The objective of this event is to explore how we can move towards a more integrated approach in the planning, design, engineering and management of towns and cities by informing, exploring and challenging silo mindsets & behaviours to better connect operational outputs with high-level objectives.

Buildings of the University of Glasgow, 1451-2020
Date & time: Event date change to 19 March 2020 – Coffee / tea at 7pm; Lectures start at 7:30pm.
Venue: The Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow.
Nick Haynes, historic environment consultant traces the architectural history of the University from its origins in the High Street to the most recent developments at Gilmorehill.

Vacancies

Investment Officer
The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is recruiting an Investment Officer to help with the delivery of its objectives by supporting the work of the Investment Team. With the launch of a new social investment fund in 2019, this is an exciting time to join the Team and we are now looking for an enthusiastic and experienced individual to support the loans we make and the borrowers who benefit from our investments.
Deadline: 5 p.m. Friday 24th January.

Next Step Initiative Traineeships
The Ethnic Minority Career Museum & Built Environment Heritage Programme – 1 Year Traineeships now open!
2 Collection Engagement Assistant Traineeship’s (Museum & Galleries, Edinburgh) with bursary.
1 Open Museum Traineeship (Glasgow Life, Glasgow).
1 Glasgow Museum Events Traineeship (Glasgow Life, Glasgow).
Closing date 27th January 2020.

Skills Training and Outreach Officer
Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust is seeking an enthusiastic, organised and driven individual with a background in historic buildings conservation, and ideally with skills development experience, to join their team.
Closing date: 5pm on Friday 7 February 2020.

BEFS News

BEFS has responded to four consultations in recent weeks. In response to the Local Energy Policy Statement consultation, BEFS focused on existing building stock being our most sustainable resource and made clear that principles and signposting should include the Historic Environment Policy for Scotland and related Managing Change guidance.

BEFS response to the Role of Public Sector Bodies in Tackling Climate Change consultation focused on appropriate training and skills for interventions within historic buildings. BEFS also took the opportunity to reiterate concerns around how EPC ratings are assessed in relation to traditionally built properties.

In response to the Principles of a Local Discretionary Transient Visitor Levy or Tourist Tax consultation, BEFS emphasised the role of the built environment as a direct contributor to tourism and also impacted by tourism. BEFS was clear that responding to further consultations, in relation to revenue allocations and benefits for place, was eagerly anticipated.

Finally, BEFS responded to the Developing Scotland’s Circular Economy: consultation on proposals for legislation, today, highlighting the absence of the built environment in the consultation document.

BEFS was also invited to respond to petition PE1749 on the financial viability of listed buildings. The petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to ensure that: 1) financial viability studies are conducted on listed buildings requiring restoration and/or maintenance, 2) responsibility of ownership is established for this work and; 3) financial assistance is provided where listed buildings are at risk of falling into disrepair.

The Climate Heritage Network, of which BEFS is a member of the steering group, released its first action plan to help mobilise arts, culture and heritage for climate action at the 2019 UN Climate Summit in Madrid earlier this month. Dubbed the Madrid-to-Glasgow Arts, Culture and Heritage Climate Action Plan, its release kicks off a year of culture-based climate action that will culminate in 2020 at COP26 in Glasgow. Join the #ClimateHeritage Network here.

A new National Indicator on community ownership has been published. It shows that 593 assets – up 7% on 2017 – with a total area of 209,810 hectares were under community ownership in December 2018. Read the full report.

RTPI Scotland is embarking on a project to support the early stages of preparation of National Planning Framework 4. Their survey and call for evidence is looking for your reflections on how NPF3 has worked, and your ideas for improvement in NPF4.

At our AGM earlier this month, BEFS wished three wonderful board members a fond farewell. We would like to thank Bill Pagan, Peter Burman and Torsten Haak for their expertise and support of the team.

We would also like to welcome our newest board members Tyler Lott, Calum Maclean, and Niall Murphy.

Finally, team BEFS would like to wish you a very merry festive season and a fantastic start to 2020!

Consultations

Planning Performance and Fees
Opened on 18 Dec 2019 and closes on 14 Feb 2020.

Law Society of Scotland’s call for views: Consultation on aspects of planning obligations
Closes Monday 3 February 2020.

The practice of cash retention under construction contracts
Opened on 4 Dec and closes on 25 Mar 2020.

Housing to 2040: consultation on outline policy options
Opened on 2 Dec and closes on 28 Feb 2020.

National Library of Scotland Draft 2020–2025 Strategy
Opened on 2 Dec and closes on 27 Jan 2020.

Circular Economy: Proposals for Legislation
Closes 19 Dec 2019.

IHBC launches consultation on Corporate Plan 2020-25 (‘CP25’) as ‘Stage 1’ scoping: 
First responses sought by 1 January.

What makes a strong and vibrant community? Asks Local Government and Communities Committee
Closes 22 Jan 2020.

Proposed programme for reviewing and extending permitted development rights (PDR) in Scotland
Closes 28 Jan 2020.

Proposed Remote Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill
Consultation closes on 31 January 2020.

The Replacement of European Structural Funds In Scotland Post EU-Exit
Closes 12 Feb. 2020.

Consultation Responses

Fire safety in high rise domestic buildings: analysis of consultation responses (SG 04/12/19)

Publications

Housing to 2040 Consultation: facilitators’ pack (SG 12/12/19)

Community ownership in Scotland: 2018 (SG 11/12/19)

Putting Artists In The Picture: A Sustainable Arts Funding System For Scotland (Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee 10/12/19)

AHF Annual Review 2018/19 and Strategy for 2020-23 (AHF 05/12/19)

Practical fire safety guidance for existing high rise domestic buildings (SG 04/12/19)

European Structural and Investment Funds: operational programmes 2014-2020 (SG 04/12/19)

Socially smart cities – Making a difference in urban neighbourhoods ( 03/12/19 Smart Urban Intermediaries)

Places and Spaces: Mapping Britain’s Regional Divides (NIESR 03/12/19)

Housing to 2040 consultation: information factsheet (SG 02/12/19)

Prosperity for all: A Climate conscious Wales (WG 30/11/19)

Turnaround Towns UK (Carnegie Trust UK 28/11/19)

The Contribution of Volunteering to a Healthier and Happier Scotland Influencing Policy and Practice in Scotland (Volunteering Scotland)

Child Friendly Planning in the UK: A Review (RTPI 30/11/19)

Immersive Experiences in Museums, Galleries and Heritage Sites: A review of research findings and issues (Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre)

Scottish Household Survey: Cross-Sectional Analysis 2016 (Volunteering Scotland)

Scottish Household Survey Volunteering Cross-Sectional Analysis, 2016 Highlights Report (Volunteering Scotland)

Scottish Government News Releases

Global pledge on climate crisis (SG 12/12/19)
Scotland has joined a coalition of countries, cities and companies working towards net-zero transport ahead of the 2050 Paris Agreement target.

Community ownership is increasing across Scotland (SG 11/12/19)
A new publication provides the first figure for a new National Indicator which uses the number of assets owned by community groups to measure the extent of community ownership in Scotland.

Improving housing rights for disabled people (SG 06/12/19)
New regulations will improve equality for people living with disabilities by giving them the right to make communal areas around their home more accessible.

Madrid COP25 climate summit (SG 06/12/19)
Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham will attend a series of engagements at the COP25 UN Climate Summit in Madrid.

Fire safety guidance for high-rise homes (SG 04/12/19)
Advice for residents and those responsible for fire safety. Residents in high-rise properties are being given leaflets outlining how to prevent fires in the home and what to do if one starts in their building.

News Releases

Scotland must ‘immediately’ increase net-zero action in preparation for COP26 (edie 17/12/19)
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has issued its annual progress report to the Scottish Parliament, urging Ministers to “begin work immediately” on implementing short-term net-zero legislation.

The RIAS Awards – Now open! (RIAS 12/12/19)
Entries to the RIAS / RIBA Awards for Scotland 2020 are now open! Now in their ninth year, the combined RIAS / RIBA Awards continue to demonstrate the quality and breadth of current architectural endeavour in Scotland.

14 European heritage sites shortlisted for the 7 Most Endangered programme 2020 (10/12/19)
The 7 Most Endangered programme is organised by Europa Nostra, the Voice of Cultural Heritage in Europe, and the European Investment Bank Institute. This year, Egyptian Halls, Glasgow, has been shortlisted.

Retrofit scheme named World Building of the Year (AJ 09/12/19)
Dutch conversion of locomotive hangar into a public library is the first retrofit to win the top prize at the World Architecture Festival.

2019 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration Winners Announced (SURF 06/12/19)
The outcomes of the prestigious 2019 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration were announced last night (05/12/19) at a celebratory presentation event in Glasgow’s Grand Central Hotel.

Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning 2019 Winners (SG 06/12/19)
The Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning (SAQP) is one of the Government’s most prestigious awards. It celebrates achievements in planning, from the detail of processing to the bigger picture of creating places for our communities to thrive.

20 Years of World Heritage in Orkney (HES 03/12/19)
On 4 December 1999, the spectacular Heart of Neolithic Orkney was inscribed as a World Heritage Site. Join the celebrations in our 20th anniversary blog.

UK planning systems neglecting rights of children (RTPI 28/11/19)
Planning systems in the UK are failing to consider the rights and needs of children, leading to detrimental effects on their health, wellbeing and future prospects, according to a new report.

Opinion & Comment

What do architects need to know about planners? (RTPI 12/12/19)

The Impact of Vacant and Derelict Land (SLC 10/12/19)

A decade of regret in Chicago: How the loss of historic churches, affordable housing, and 50 public schools changed the city (10/12/19)

We Must Understand Buildings as Intermediate Deposits of Raw Materials (Eduardo Souza, Arch Daily 07/12/19)

Standing tall: Cedar Court (Passivhaus Trust)

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 S5W-26732: Mark Ruskell, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 16/12/2019
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish a draft Climate Change Plan, and what time period will be allocated for parliamentary scrutiny of this.

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 S5W-26412: David Stewart, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19/11/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ban combustible materials on the outside of high-rise or high-risk buildings.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (02/12/2019)

Question S5W-26495: Michelle Ballantyne, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 22/11/2019
To ask the Scottish Government how many how many homes have been delivered to date as part of its 50,000 affordable homes target, also broken down by how many are new-builds.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (03/12/2019)

Events

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

Sustainable Renovation: New Buildings from Old
Date & time: 27 February 2020; 18:00 – 20:30.
Venue: MacLaren Stuart Room G.159, School of Law, University of Edinburgh, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL.
Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA) and a host of other organisations invite you to:
SUSTAINABLE RENOVATION: New Buildings from Old with Chris Morgan, John Gilbert Architects, to promote this SEDA Guide. Are you involved in the renovation of existing buildings? This Design Guide is primarily aimed at the domestic retrofit sector – from policy makers and development managers in housing organisations, to architects, builders, surveyors and home owners. It is also essential for those interested in upgrading non-domestic buildings.

Vacancies

Outreach and Development Officer
The Cockburn Association is looking to recruit an Outreach and Development Officer to support the implementation of a new fundraising strategy, helping the Association towards a more sustainable future.
Closing date: Thursday 16 January 2020.

Project Director
Scotland’s Towns Partnership is seeking a Project Director to support the Chief Executive Officer and Board to deliver the Scottish Government’s agenda on the regeneration and revitalisation of our towns, high streets and city districts.
The closing date for applications is 31 January 2020.

BEFS News

Ahead of the general election on 12th December 2019, BEFS has read and digested the main party manifestos to provide an overview of policy commitments that would have implications for Scotland’s historic environment. A number of BEFS members have also compiled useful information.

The Heritage Alliance (THA) has written to all MPs and key decision-makers with their new 2019 Heritage Manifesto, produced in advance of the election, and asks stakeholders to use its Manifesto and support their messages.

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) issued its Manifesto for Planning as soon as the election was announced. RTPI has also compiled summaries of party manifestos to enable you to see what each party is committing to in relation to planning. You can find more information here.

RICS have also published an election manifesto, A new approach for the built and natural environment, and are commenting on the latest developments and party manifestos here.

The Carbon Brief also has an analysis of what the manifestos say on energy and climate change, available here.

Consultations

IHBC launches consultation on Corporate Plan 2020-25 (‘CP25’) as ‘Stage 1’ scoping:
First responses sought by 1 January.

What makes a strong and vibrant community? Asks Local Government and Communities Committee
Opened on 15 Nov 2019 and 22 Jan 2020.

Draft Edinburgh Tourism Strategy 2030
Closes 30 Nov 2019.

Consultation on The Principles of a Local Discretionary Transient Visitor Levy or Tourist Tax
Closes 2 Dec 2019.

The role of Public Sector Bodies in tackling climate change
Closes 4 Dec 2019.

Scottish Government’s Local Energy Policy Statement – Consultation
Closes 4 Dec 2019.

Circular Economy: Proposals for Legislation
Closes 19 Dec 2019.

Proposed programme for reviewing and extending permitted development rights (PDR) in Scotland
Closes 28 Jan 2020.

Proposed Remote Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill
Consultation closes on 31 January 2020.

The Replacement of European Structural Funds In Scotland Post EU-Exit
Closes 12 Feb. 2020.

Publications

The Heritage Manifesto 2019 (THA 11/19)

General Election 2019 – A new approach for the built and natural environment (RICS 11/19)

How we regulate: A guide for tenants and service users (SHR 26/11/19)

Energy efficiency: advice and support for industry (SG 26/11/19)

Ecclesiastical Exemption Guide (HES 21/11/19)

Total Income of DCMS-funded cultural organisations 2018/19 (DCMS 21/11/19)

Building Regulations and fire safety: one-off evidence session with focus on new homes and owner-occupiers (Rockwool 20/11/19)

Compulsory purchase orders: register (SG 19/11/19)

Survey and Recording Round Up 2018-19 (HES 19/11/19)

Private sector rent statistics: 2010 – 2019 (SG 19/11/19)

The Manifesto for Local Economies (CLES 18/11/19)

Planning (Scotland) Act commencement regulations: November 2019 (SG 14/11/19)

Guide to Heritage in Neighbourhood Plans (NT 07/11/19)

The case for investing in tenement housing (GWSF 11/19)

Preventative maintenance advice (SPAB 11/19)

Valuing More than Money – Social Value and the Housing Sector (IPPR 11/19)

Building the Social Homes We Need – Solving the Land and Capacity Challenges (NEF 11/19)

Community-led design initiatives: evaluation (SG 11/10/19)

Scottish Government News Releases

Average 2 bedroom private rents up by 2.4% (SG 19/11/19)
Between 2018 and 2019, 15 out of 18 Broad Rental Market Areas of Scotland have seen increases in average new let rents for 2 bedroom properties, ranging from 0.2% in North Lanarkshire, up to 5.3% in Greater Glasgow.

News Releases

The My Place Awards and My Place Photography Competition 2020 are now open! (SCT 26/11/19)
Entries for both the My Place Awards and My Place Photography Competition 2020 can now be made online. The closing date for both is 11:59pm, Sunday 16 February 2020.

Kirkwall’s high street ‘most beautiful’ in Scotland (BBC 25/11/19)
Kirkwall has been named Scotland’s most beautiful high street after topping a public poll. It narrowly beat Lerwick and Milngavie, receiving nearly 5,000 votes – 21% of the online poll. Lerwick secured 18% of the vote and Milngavie 15%.

CSGN projects win quality in planning awards (CSGN 21/11/19)
Winners of the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning 2019 were announced at a ceremony in Edinburgh on 20 November.

Combustible cladding still allowed in Scotland, MSPs told (STV 20/11/19)
Housing and fire experts were giving evidence to a Holyrood committee about building safety.

Enabling Healthy Placemaking (RTPI 11/19)
We are carrying out research to explore the local, national and international policies and practices that enable healthy placemaking. If you would like to take part in the study please fill in our call to evidence by Monday 20th January 2020.

Scottish National Heritage rebrand (NS 19/11/19)
Scotland’s national nature agency, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) will ‘rebrand’ to ‘NatureScot’ from May 1st 2020, in plans to adapt the organisation to meet current environment challenges.

RICS launch new Home Survey Standard (RICS 18/11/19)
RICS this week launch the new mandatory RICS Home Survey Standard, following an industry and consumer consultation held earlier this year.

Planners call on government for stronger direction on climate action (RTIP 15/11/19)
An overwhelming majority of UK planners want the next government to give stronger direction and more resources to enable local planners to deliver net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Take part in the RICS Social Impact Awards 2020 (RICS 11/19)
The RICS Social Impact Awards recognise the built environment’s positive and transformational contribution to society. Closing date for entries: 5pm on 31 January 2020.

Green-Building Advocates Raise Alarm on Embodied Carbon (AR 10/19)
Architects are familiar with the often cited statistic: the building sector is responsible for nearly 40 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. They understand the role of energy efficiency in reducing fossil-fuel use and tackling climate change. But many are just waking up to the importance of the emissions associated with manufacturing materials and the construction process.

Opinion & Comment

General election – An opportunity to diversify the workforce (Hew Edgar, RICS 22/11/19)

Volume or value? Sustainability and cultural tourism (AP 21/11/19)

Action on Blight – assessing the impact of vacant and derelict land (SLC 18/11/19)

‘Clyde-built’ is how Scotland saves the world (Common Weal 15/11/19)

Could a tourist tax help wild land in Scotland? (John Muir Trust 31/10/19)

Listing to Last (Architecture Today)

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 S5W-26495: Michelle Ballantyne, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 22/11/2019
To ask the Scottish Government how many how many homes have been delivered to date as part of its 50,000 affordable homes target, also broken down by how many are new-builds.

Question S5W-26496: Michelle Ballantyne, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 22/11/2019
To ask the Scottish Government which (a) communities and (b) organisations will receive support from round five of the Coastal Communities Fund.

Question S5W-26412: David Stewart, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19/11/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ban combustible materials on the outside of high-rise or high-risk buildings.

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 S5W-25961: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24/10/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) capital and (b) revenue budget was for housing maintenance and repair for British Waterways in Scotland in each of the last five years of its operation.
Answered by Michael Matheson (13/11/2019)

Question S5W-25964: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24/10/2019
To ask the Scottish Government how many residential properties were owned by British Waterways in Scotland in each of the last five years of its operation, and where they were located.
Answered by Michael Matheson (19/11/2019)

Question S5W-25969: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24/10/2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Canals has a risk register for residential properties in its portfolio that require substantial upgrading or repair.
Answered by Michael Matheson (19/11/2019)

Question S5W-25966: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24/10/2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether residential properties owned by Scottish Canals meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and, if not, for what reason.
Answered by Michael Matheson (19/11/2019)

Question S5W-25963: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24/10/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) capital and (b) revenue budget for housing maintenance and repair has been for Scottish Canals in each year since its inception.
Answered by Michael Matheson (19/11/2019)

Question S5W-25965: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24/10/2019
To ask the Scottish Government how many residential properties are owned by Scottish Canals, and where they are located.
Answered by Michael Matheson (19/11/2019)

Question S5W-26362: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12/11/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage property owners of all tenures to alter their properties to achieve better accessibility standards.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (20/11/2019)

Question S5W-26361: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12/11/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update its policies on Housing for Varying Needs in order to improve accessibility standards for new residential properties.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (20/11/2019)

Question S5W-26360: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12/11/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) meet the demand for accessible housing stock and (b) increase the use of accessible housing registers.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (19/11/2019)

Events

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

Trades House of Glasgow Christmas Lecture
Date & time: Wed, 4 December 2019; 19:30 – 21:30.
Venue: Trades Hall Of Glasgow, 85 Glassford Street, Glasgow G1 1UH.
The Deacon Convener of the Trades House of Glasgow, Mr Bruce Reidford, warmly invites you to a Christmas Lecture on “The House and the Hall”. The lecture will be in two parts with Honorary Archivist, Craig Bryce, talking about the role of the Hall and the House in the life of the City, and Architectural Historian, Neil Baxter, talking about ‘Robert Adam and the other Architects of the Trades Hall’ looking at the building’s evolution in the wider architectural context. Each talk will last approximately 30-40mins with interval drinks and snacks.

Tom Parnell – Going Forth: Industrial Heritage beyond the Bridges 
Date & time: Monday 2nd March 2020; 6:30pm.
Venue: St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, 13 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PA.
The Firth of Forth is dominated by a growing collection of celebrated bridges. But along the shoreline are less well-known remnants of an industrial past that were of enormous importance. The lecture will explore railways, limekilns, distilleries and power stations: some gone, some surviving, but all now out of use. Tom Parnell is an architectural historian, and is currently a Senior Casework Officer for Historic Environment Scotland.

Henry Edward Clifford (1852-1932) – Pollockshields Architect
Date & time: 19 March 2020; Coffee / tea at 7pm; Lectures start at 7:30pm.
Venue: The Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow.
Niall Murphy, Deputy Director of Glasgow City Heritage Trust introduces us to one of the key architects from Glasgow’s Golden Age and one that was a rare beast, the Glaswegian architect with a European reputation.

Chris Stewart – Collective Architecture
Date & time: Monday 6 April 2020; 6:30pm.
Venue: St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, 13 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PA.
Chris Stewart is an Architect-Director of the award-winning architectural practice Collective Architecture and a director of the Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA).  Collective Architecture, which has offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, has been owned by its employees for the last twelve years. Chris Stewart will tell us about their projects and approach to sustainable design and client and user involvement.

Vacancies

Heritage Consultant
Simpson & Brown Architects is looking for an enthusiastic, dynamic and experienced person to join the Heritage Consultancy team in Edinburgh.
Apply by Friday 20th December 2019.

BEFS News

The Climate Heritage Network was launched on the 24th October in Edinburgh. This is an international network, reflected both in the attendees and the presentations skyped in from around the world. While the launch was a physical event the network is proposed to be virtual, a conduit for information sharing on the role heritage has in addressing the climate emergency. The event was live streamed and the whole day can be viewed here. However, it may be best summed up by an early comment from Alison Tickell of Julie’s Bicycle, for the need to “turn heritage from being a victim of climate change to a catalyst for climate action”.

BEFS has endorsed the Memorandum of Understanding – you can join too via their website – and BEFS is one of many organisations on the steering committee with a particular interest in contributing to discussions on the legislative imperative required at all levels of governance to address climate breakdown. BEFS Director, Euan Leitch, reflects on the main themes, challenges and BEFS hopes for the network, here.

The IHBC’s recently updated toolkit, Retrofitting of Traditional Buildings, may prove a useful resource in our endeavours to retain, use and repurpose existing building stock.

Those of you who enjoyed our Policy & Strategy Manager, Ailsa Macfarlane’s recent blog on What about wellbeing?, you may also find this research by the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property of interest: Heritage and Wellbeing: What Constitutes a Good Life?

Consultations

Circular Economy: Proposals for Legislation
Opened 7 Nov 2019 and closes 19 Dec 2019.

Proposal to designate two Historic Marine Protected Areas
Opened 30 Oct 2019 and closes 27 Nov. 2019.

The Replacement of European Structural Funds In Scotland Post EU-Exit
Opened 5 Nov 2019 and closes 12 Feb. 2020.

Proposed programme for reviewing and extending permitted development rights (PDR) in Scotland
Opened 5 Nov 2019 and closes 28 Jan 2020.

Crown Estate Scotland draft 2020-23 Corporate Plan Consultation
Closes 25 Nov 2019.

Consultation on The Principles of a Local Discretionary Transient Visitor Levy or Tourist Tax
Closes 2 Dec 2019.

The role of Public Sector Bodies in tackling climate change
Closes 4 Dec 2019.

Scottish Government’s Local Energy Policy Statement – Consultation
Closes 4 Dec 2019.

Proposed Remote Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill
Consultation closes on 31 January 2020.

Publications

Understanding Land and Inequality (SLC 12/11/19)

Living with flooding: action plan (SG 11/11/19)

Empty Homes in Scotland (SP 10/11/19)

Inequality street – Housing and the 2019 general election (Resolution Foundation 09/11/19)

Homelessness in Scotland (SPICe Briefing 06/11/19)

Community right to buy: route map (SG 06/11/19)

Alternative Housing Tenures (SPICe 04/11/19)

Not under-regulated but under-enforced: A list of legislation affecting the private rented sector (RLA)

Grenfell Tower Inquiry – Phase 1 Report (01/11/19)

Scottish greenhouse gas emissions annual target report: 2017 (SG 30/10/19)

Scotland’s Churches Trust Annual Report 2019 (SCT 28/10/19)

The Contribution of Volunteering to Scotland’s Health and Wellbeing: 2020 – 2040 (Volunteering Scotland 10/19)

The Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh Building: The loss of a national treasure (SP 08/03/19)

Scottish Government News Releases

Tourism fund now open for applications (SG 11/11/19)
Tourist sites in Scotland’s rural areas can now apply for a share of £3 million funding aimed at helping them meet the demand of growing visitor numbers.

Flooding action plan launched (SG 11/11/19)
An action plan to help homeowners and businesses prevent damage caused by flooding has been launched.

Circular Economy Bill (SG 07/11/19)
Businesses, industry and individuals are being encouraged to seize on the nation’s talent for innovation by re-thinking how we use and reuse materials.

Tackling homelessness together (SG 07/11/19)
Universal standards for the quality of temporary homeless accommodation have been introduced by the Scottish Government.

Migration vital to Scotland’s future workforce (SG 05/11/19)
Immigration schemes can be an ‘immediate and direct’ way to tackle depopulation, an independent expert group has said.

EU funding (SG 05/11/19)
A consultation has been launched on a potential replacement to a £780 million European funding programme, if Brexit goes ahead.

Social housing to be more energy efficient (SG 05/11/19)
Tenants across Scotland to benefit from £3 million in funding.

Rural planning to be prioritised (SG 05/11/19)
The need for planning permission could be removed for certain types of rural developments to help tackle depopulation and support local economies.

News Releases

St Andrew’s Day Ticket Giveaway (HES 12/11/19)
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) have thousands of free tickets to give away to some of the country’s best-loved historic abbeys, palaces, castles and cathedrals as Ticket Giveaway returns for 2019 on Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December.

Call for compulsory sales orders to tackle the blight of empty homes (SP 10/11/19)
A Holyrood Committee has called on the Scottish Government to fulfil its commitment and introduce compulsory sales orders to tackle the blight of empty homes.

UK Government to protect international heritage from disasters and conflict (DCMS 04/11/19)
UK Government is extending the Cultural Protection Fund with an additional £10 million of investment.

More funding to help crack down on criminal landlords (MHCLG 04/11/19)
Additional £4 million funding for councils to tackle criminal landlords.

Blueprint for 100 multi-million pound Town Deals revealed (MHCLG 01/11/19)
Towns Fund prospectus paves the way for a new generation of Town Deals to regenerate town centres, boost businesses and improve infrastructure.

RTPI Scotland hosts Parliamentary Reception to mark 25th anniversary (RTPI 31/11/19)
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has marked the 25th anniversary of its Scottish office by hosting a Parliamentary reception at Holyrood.

£37,712 boost for Scottish heritage projects (HES 29/10/19)
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has awarded £37,712 to heritage projects across Scotland as part of its Historic Environment Support Fund.

Applications now open for the Sustainability Scholarship for 2020 (CIC 23/10/19)
The sustainability agenda continues to evolve and develop and affects every business. Whether you are interested in the advent of carbon accounting on projects or the importance of water conservation in the future, the Sustainability Scholarship encourages a company to carry out research using one of its employees.

Opinion & Comment

Regional Land Use Partnerships (Hamish Trench, SLC 12/11/19)

Ten messages from Scotland for Planners around the World (Cliff Hague 09/11/19)

World Town Planning Day – Past, Present and Future (Craig McLaren RTPI Scotland 09/11/19)

Circular Economy Materials for Low Carbon, Healthy Buildings (Zero Waste Scotland 11/19)

Between Urbanisation and Conservation: an Edinburgh perspective (EWH 03/11/19)

Inclusive Design: Beyond Accessibility (Design Council 28/10/19)

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 S5W-26360: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12/11/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) meet the demand for accessible housing stock and (b) increase the use of accessible housing registers.

Question S5W-26361: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12/11/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update its policies on Housing for Varying Needs in order to improve accessibility standards for new residential properties.

Question S5W-26362: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12/11/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage property owners of all tenures to alter their properties to achieve better accessibility standards.

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 S5W-25890: Angus MacDonald, Falkirk East, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 17/10/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made toward completing the Land Register of Scotland by 2024, and what information it has regarding how many local authorities have not engaged in registering publicly-owned lands in their area.
Answered by Kate Forbes (01/11/2019)

Question S5W-25884: Colin Smyth, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 17/10/2019
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to issue a revised climate change public engagement strategy, in line with the requirements of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham (05/11/2019)

Other Parliamentary Activity

Fallling Masonry debate on 30th October 2019
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab):
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many times masonry falls from housing have been reported in the past year. (S5O-03679)

Glasgow School of Art Fire debate on 30th October 2019
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame):
The next item of business is a Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee debate on motion S5M-19553, in the name of Joan McAlpine, on the Glasgow School of Art fire.

Events

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

Balancing act: Collections care in historic buildings
Date & time: Friday 15 November 2019; 9.30am – 4.30pm.
Venue: Engine Shed, Stirling
Cost: £27. HS Member £30. Standard ticket
Join us at the Engine Shed for this one-day conference.  Find out about our collections and hear from our collections staff and a range of other organisations including the Sottish Maritime Museum, as they talk about the challenges they face looking after collections in their care. To find out more information and to purchase tickets please check our website.

Is Scotland’s Housing Fit for Purpose?
Date & time: Thu, 21 November 2019, 18:00 – 21:00.
Venue: MacLaren Stuart Room (G.159), University of Edinburgh Law School, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL.
Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA) invites you to the fifth Howard Liddell Memorial Lecture: Eco Max 5. The theme is: Is Scotland’s Housing Fit for Purpose? Sandy Halliday will explore the Legacy of Sherry Arnstein, author of the seminal paper in the field of participatory decision making “Ladder of Citizen Participation”. This will be followed by Stirling Howieson discussing The Great Scottish Housing Disaster. Fionn Stevenson will then address the role of Housing and Post Occupancy Evaluation that looks forward as well as backwards, and works on the basis of empowering inhabitants through it! Andy Wightman will contribute thoughts on the subject prior to the discussion.

Roofing Mortars and Metals
Date & time: Friday 22 November 2019; 9.30am – 12.15pm.
Venue: Engine Shed, Stirling
Free – Booking essential
Hear from Historic Environment Scotland experts on how to carry out traditional roofing repairs, what mortars and binders to use, and the conservation of metals. This series is run in conjunction with Royal Incorporation of Architects(RIAS), and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).  This event is free but please remember to book early to avoid disappointment. To find out more information and to purchase tickets please check our website.

Lundie Church Consultation
Date & time: Friday 29th November 2019, between 2pm and 7pm.
Venue: Lunchie Church
Lundie is a Category A listed church of national significance located 10 miles north west of Dundee. The church includes the spectacular neo-classical Duncan Mausoleum of 1789 designed by Robert Mylne. A new use is required to secure the future of building following its closure as a place of worship. Historic Churches Scotland is carrying out a consultation to explore interest in Lundie Church amongst a wide range of stakeholders. We are keen to identify potential uses and users of the church, together with views on the suitability of new uses and any adaptations required. As part of the consultation process we are running a drop-in event at the church on Friday 29th November 2019, between 2pm and 7pm. This will allow people not familiar with the church to see inside, get an idea of the potential it offers, and share their thoughts with us. We would warmly welcome your attendance at the event, and invite you to contribute your views either in person on the day, or by contacting us at lundiefuture@gmail.com.

Custom House Leith Public Open Day
Date & time: Saturday 7th December 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Venue: Custom House, 65-67 Commercial Street, Edinburgh EH6 6HL
SHBT are opening the doors of Custom House for further awareness raising and public consultation on future plans for this historic maritime venue. The building is now mid-way through a feasibility study led by Richard Murphy Associates which is considering ways to reconfigure and design Custom house for future use. Custom House is a significant asset in Leith’s built heritage so now is the time to visit if you haven’t already done so. There will also be opportunities to meet our creative tenants and browse maker stalls running in the venue throughout the day. Drop in – no booking is required.

Edinburgh World Heritage’s Christmas Celebration 
Date & time: 6pm-8pm, Tuesday 10 December 2019
Venue: The French Institute, West Parliament Square, Edinburgh, EH1 1RF
Please join us to celebrate the arrival of the holiday season, as well as our 20th anniversary as a charity. Enjoy an evening of music, seasonal food and drink, and a bumper Christmas raffle. Tickets are £20, which includes a raffle ticket for our prize draw, a glass of fizz, canapés, live jazz music, as well as a contribution towards our 20th anniversary fundraising efforts. We do hope you can join us for this festive celebration. The Edinburgh World Heritage Team.

Riddle’s Court Public Open Day
Date & time: Thursday 12th December, 11.00 am – 4.00 pm
Venue: Riddle’s Court, 322 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2PG
It’s been just over two years since SHBT inaugurated the renovated Riddle’s Court as the Patrick Geddes Centre for Learning & Conservation and work to maintain this historic 16th century merchant’s house continues! Join us as we welcome Karen Dundas and colleagues from Scottish Wall Painting who are conducting some restoration work for us. This is a rare opportunity to see conservation in action and to view the innovative designs and interventions SHBT made to make Riddle’s Court accessible for all. Drop in – no booking required.

Training

Internal & External Lime Finishes – A place for all mortars Masterclass
Date & time: 22 November 2019; 09.30 – 16.30.
Venue: Charlestown Workshops, Fife.
Cost: Special discounted rate – £140 + vat
This latest masterclass in the ‘A place for all mortars’ series aims to give context in harling practice, show case studies of worked examples of both harling and plastering, and give some steer as to how we cope going forward with harsher weather patterns. In our ever changing climate (weather and economy) as specifiers and users, we have the responsibility to safeguard our built heritage. Learning from the past and planning for the future is the most crucial for the external and internal finishes of a traditional building. As with all the masterclasses in the ‘A place for all mortars’ series, it will address all mortars and the advantages and disadvantages of various applications when modern pressures force us to look at mortars more practically.

CPD: Climate Change Impacts on the Historic Environment
Date & time: Wednesday 4th December 2019; 12.30-1.30pm.
Venue: GCHT, 54 Bell Street, Glasgow.
Climate change is one of the major threats currently facing our historic environment. David Harkin from Historic Environment Scotland will be speaking about climate change impacts on the historic environment, the climate hazards that drive these impacts, what makes historic assets vulnerable or resilient to these impacts and possible adaption measures that could be applied in light of these changes. Attendees will be able to pick up a copy of the recently released Our Place in Time (OPIT) Guide to Climate Change Impacts on the Scotland’s Historic Environment. David Harkin is Historic Environment Scotland’s Climate Change Scientist and one of the primary authors of the Guide to Climate Change Impacts on the Scotland’s Historic Environment.

Vacancies

Land Use Partnerships Project Manager
Reporting to the Chief Executive, the role will lead a new fixed term workstream to develop proposals for regional land use partnerships.
Closing date for applications is 5 pm on Friday 29 November 2019.

New Appointments to the Board of Historic Environment Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland are looking for up to four new members to join the Board at an exciting time for the organisation.
Closing date is Friday, 6 December 2019 (Midnight).