BEFS NEWS

Historic Environment Scotland published its Annual Operating Plan 2023-24 setting out priorities for the coming year to support economic recovery, tackle ongoing challenges brought by COVID-19 and climate change, and to deliver real public benefit. The focus for the 2023-25 period will include Wellbeing; Inequality and access; Managing Heritage Assets (including High-Level Masonry, Properties In Care Strategy); A stronger, fairer, greener economy; Sector recovery and Net Zero.

The Scotland + Venice Partnership is gearing up for the 18th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia 2023 in Venice, Italy. The A Fragile Correspondence exhibition investigates how a closer relationship between land and language can help architecture be more attuned to the environment in which it operates. The exhibition explores alternative perspectives and new approaches to the challenges of the worldwide climate emergency as well as highlighting cultures and languages that have a close affinity with the landscapes of Scotland. This short film reflects on the exhibition’s themes, introducing the contributing cultural heritages and locations across Scotland.

Scotland’s Churches Trust welcomed the news from the Church of Scotland General Trustees that they are introducing a new internal category of “Historic Signature Churches” into their portfolio, which might see some further safeguarding of notable churches that would otherwise have likely been subject to disposal.

BEFS welcomes the appointment of six new Honorary Fellows to the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS); honoured in recognition of their significant contribution to Scotland’s cultural, academic, business or political life. The new RIAS Honorary Fellows are: Sue Evans MBE FLI, Dr Will Maclean MBE RSA RSE, Sir Geoff Palmer, Dame Seona Reid FRSE, Steve Evans & Gail Evans.

The long awaited Scottish Household Survey (SHS) 2021 has been published.
The key findings report, and accompanying data tables cover a range of topics: housing, neighbourhoods and communities, environment, volunteering, culture and heritage; noting the trust placed in applicable institutions. Highlights of the findings have been released with the caveat that whilst the 2020 and 2021 survey results are not comparable to 2019 or earlier, the 2021 survey will be broadly comparable to 2020.

The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee (LGHP) has been convened to consider evidence on Damp and Mould in Social and Private Rented Housing. Evidence already provided by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and Shelter Scotland highlights the extent of the issues caused by damp and mould, stressing the need for legislation on a new common housing standard to be prioritised.

And finally, Vernacular architecture and buildings have always employed traditional construction techniques and craft skills, using local, natural materials. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is looking to recruit a Vernacular Building Craft Fellow to learn and use traditional building construction by sourcing natural materials and building using traditional construction methods, working with The Scottish Crannog Centre team to support the building of a new Crannog and ‘Iron Age Village’.

 

NEWS RELEASES

European Heritage Hub and European Data Space for Heritage discussed at Alliance 2023 Spring meeting in Brussels (Europa Nostra 21/03/2023)

£3.5 million boost for Scotland’s historic environment (HES 24/04/2023)
National Trust for Scotland, Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Scottish Civic Trust amongst those receiving funding from Historic Environment Scotland

Visitor numbers to Cadw sites on track to full recovery post-Covid (Welsh Gov 24/04/2023)

Society Grants Add Colour to Scotland’s Past (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 25/04/2023)

Enriching Scotland’s architecture scene: RIAS names six new Honorary Fellows (RIAS 26/04/2023)

Future of Scotland’s first National Park up for discussion as consultation gets underway (Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park 26/04/2023)

Climate action hubs: apply to set one up (Scot Gov 26/04/2023)
A national network of climate action hubs is being set up to support communities to take forward climate action in their areas.

Now open: areas of Caernarfon Castle that have not been accessed for centuries, thanks to £5 million investment (Welsh Gov 26/04/2023)

Funding Success for Society Projects! (Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 27/04/2023)

 

OPINION & COMMENT

How cartographers of the early Ordnance Survey mapped the length and breadth of Britain, capturing elements of the cultural heritage (The Economist 06/04/2023)

UK insulation scheme would take 300 years to meet government targets, say critics (The Guardian 09/04/2023)

Museums and Chill – How Architecture Shapes The Museum Experience – podcast (ICOM 14/04/2023)

Scotland’s move toward a Passivhaus standard (E&T 14/04/2023)

A Fragile Correspondence – Scotland + Venice (A&DS 14/04/2023)

Retrofit mustn’t ignore the tragic health impacts of damp and mould (Architects’ Journal 19/04/2023)

Future of heritage sector comes under the spotlight in Inverness (The Press & Journal 20/04/2023)

Heat Pumps in the UK – State of the Conversation (CaCHE 21/04/2023)

Spotlight on traditional building skills (DnG24 21/04/2023)

Climate crisis poses risk to Scotland’s World Heritage site (The Herald 23/04/2023)

Designing for people’s lives (A&DS 25/04/2023)

Charles Rennie Mackintosh heritage leader’s concern over buildings (Glasgow Times 28/04/2023)

Bid to force purchase of empty properties for Scotland’s homeless (The Herald 02/05/2023)

Black’s Blog: A new minister… a new beginning? (Scottish Housing News 03/05/2023)

 

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

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

Debate on VAT: Building Repairs and Maintenance (Retro-fitting)
UK Parliament – Lords Chamber
Date: 19 April 2023

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 05/04/2023
S6W-15640
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing an equal right of appeal in the planning system.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 April 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 05/04/2023
S6W-16777
To ask the Scottish Government what specific steps it is taking to address the reported long-term decline in the number of local authority-employed planners, in light of such planners having a significant role in delivering the ambitions of the new National Planning Framework.
S6W-16778
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce planning apprenticeships, and, if so, when.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 April 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 06/04/2023
S6W-16871
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the question S6W-12216 by Neil Gray on 24 November 2022, whether the National Partnership for Culture will continue to exist, following its meeting on 14 December 2022, and, if so, when it will next meet.
S6W-16874
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to “carry out cross-portfolio engagement to scope where culture may be able to link into the Place Standard tool”, as outlined in its response to the National Partnership for Culture recommendations.
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 20 April 2023

Evelyn Tweed, Stirling, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 20/04/2023
S6W-17459
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when an updated version of the revised Planning with People: Community engagement and participation guidance will be published.
Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 April 2023

Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 06/04/2023
S6W-16889
To ask the Scottish Government what additional support will be made available to support the construction of social housing when the Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard is introduced.
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 24 April 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 06/04/2023
S6W-16870 R
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09920 by Mairi Gougeon on 18 August 2022, whether it will provide an update on how much funding (a) it allocated to and (b) was distributed to successful grant applicants from the Croft House Grant scheme in 2022-23.
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 25 April 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17/04/2023
S6W-17083
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in providing the powers to local authorities to introduce a Transient Visitor Levy.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 25 April 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 18/04/2023
S6W-17137
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects (a) Kisimul Castle, (b) the Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace and (c) Kilchurn Castle to reopen to the public.
Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 25 April 2023

Sue Webber, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 19/04/2023
S6O-02138
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Historic Environment Scotland sites that remain closed.
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 April 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 18/04/2023
S6W-17028
To ask the Scottish Government what its most recent assessment is of the allocation of resources to Community Planning Partnerships in each local authority area.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 26 April 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/04/2023
S6W-17261
To ask the Scottish Government whether the consequences of climate change were factored into the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 26 April 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 05/04/2023
S6W-16779
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will clarify what role local authorities will play in an area-based approach to heat decarbonisation, and what additional support it will offer to local authorities for the preparation and delivery of their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies.
S6W-16781
To ask the Scottish Government when it will communicate to the public its ambition for homes to aim to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least C from 2025.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023

Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 06/04/2023
S6W-16420
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that only accredited contractors carry out masonry repairs.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 27 April 2023

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 12/04/2023
S6W-16994
To ask the Scottish Government when property valuation will next be reviewed for the setting of (a) domestic and (b) non-domestic rates.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 27 April 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 05/04/2023
S6W-16773
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a comprehensive roadmap for the delivery of net zero in key areas, as set out in the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee report, The role of local government and its cross-sectoral partners in financing and delivering a net-zero Scotland.
S6W-16774
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to establish a local government-facing climate intelligence unit to provide specialist help to local authorities in areas where there may be a lack of in-depth specialist knowledge, and, if so, when such a unit will be established.
S6W-16775
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ensure that there are larger, fewer and more flexible challenge fund streams for net zero-related projects at a local level that are better configured to support a holistic and place-based response to climate change.
Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 28 April 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17/04/2023
S6W-17075
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13155 by Patrick Harvie on 10 January 2023, whether it will bring forward its proposed Housing Bill prior to the summer parliamentary recess.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 28 April 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/04/2023
S6W-17276
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on preparing detailed sectoral transition plans.
Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 28 April 2023

Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 06/04/2023
S6W-16419
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to mitigate the dangers of falling masonry, in light of recent occurrences of high winds.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 2 May 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 13/04/2023
S6W-17023
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme, what plans it has to review the definition of “long-term vacant”, which is currently 15 years for derelict properties and land.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 2 May 2023

Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 18/04/2023
S6W-17154
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many homes have been returned to use with support from the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership since 2022, and whether it can provide a breakdown of the information by local authority area.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 2 May 2023

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 18/04/2023
S6W-17168
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the Scottish Training Federation has warned that thousands of young people across Scotland have been “left in limbo” as no new modern apprenticeships will be available “for the foreseeable future”, as a result of delays in Scottish Government funding to Skills Development Scotland, which is reportedly resulting in employers putting their recruitment plans on hold, and training providers looking at laying off staff due to the shortage of work.
Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 2 May 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/04/2023
S6W-17256
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to identify the skills needed in the construction sector to reach net zero targets on a geographical basis.
S6W-17260
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on identifying the skills required in sectors of the economy that are key to achieving net zero.
Current status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 2 May 2023

Sharon Dowey, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
S6M-07369
Date lodged: 06/01/2023
Impact of long-term, historical closures of sites managed by Historic Environment Scotland
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 May 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 05/04/2023
S6W-16780
To ask the Scottish Government how the new National Public Energy Agency will work with local government on area-based delivery.
Current status: Answer expected on 4 May 2023

Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 06/04/2023
S6W-16888
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to enhance the financial support available to (a) individual developers and (b) community groups for Rural and Islands Housing Fund projects, in the event that the introduction of a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard adds additional costs to construction in rural and island areas.
Current status: Answer expected on 5 May 2023

Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 12/04/2023
S6W-16397
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on training providers has been of the reported apprenticeship freeze in early 2023.
S6W-16400
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement the 14 recommendations from the report, Impact of Scotland’s Developing Young Workforce Strategy on Employer Engagement, and, if so, whether it will provide a timescale for the implementation
Current status: Answers expected on 12 May 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 14/04/2023
S6W-17035
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it anticipates publishing its response to the results of the Scottish Highly Protected Marine Areas public consultation, after it closes on 17 April 2023.
Current status: Answer expected on 16 May 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/04/2023
S6W-17254
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any green skills gap in each local authority area.
S6W-17255
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to identify the skills needed in the energy sector to reach net zero targets on a geographical basis.
S6W-17268
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on its aim for at least 124,000 homes to have low-carbon heating systems installed by 2026.
S6W-17269
To ask the Scottish Government, as of 13 April 2023, how many homes have low-carbon heating systems installed.
S6W-17277
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent ministerial appointments, what the membership is of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Climate Emergency.
Current status: Answers expected on 4 May 2023

Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 20/04/2023
S6W-17301
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to bring derelict and empty homes in rural and island communities back into habitable use.
Current status: Answer expected on 5 May 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 27/04/2023
S6W-17174
To ask the Scottish Government what the average award per property has been for funding awarded from the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund, since the fund was established.
Current status: Answer expected on 15 May 2023

Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 27/04/2023
S6W-16522
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to Freedom of Information request FOI/ 202200321870, what its response was to the recommendation contained in the Gateway Review documents that a “portfolio approach” to cladding remediation is required.
Current status: Answer expected on 15 May 2023

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 28/04/2023
S6W-17467
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is planning any future engagement with churches regarding the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land) Regulations 2021.
S6W-17468
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with churches, regarding the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land) Regulations 2021, since 1 January 2023.
Current status: Answer expected on 16 May 2023

Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 02/05/2023
S6W-17601
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Historic Environment Scotland sites are not equipped with CCTV, and whether it will provide a list of any such sites.
Current status: Answer expected on 17 May 2023

 

EVENTS

For further listings, please see our events calendar.

Glasgow City Heritage Trust – The Knight Map of Glasgow: Tracing the Transformation
Date & Time: Saturday 6 – Sunday 14 May 2023; 11am-5pm daily
Location: New Glasgow Society, 1307 Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8TL
This exhibition will showcase GCHT’s new map by artist Will Knight, alongside the 1864 Sulman map of the city. Viewers will be able to explore how the city has changed in the last 150 years and ponder what will happen in the future, as well as have the opportunity to see the incredible detail of the map whilst learning about how it was created.

Historic Environment Scotland – Equalities Sessions: Apprenticeships in Scotland
Date & Time: Wednesday 10 May 2023; 12-1pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Join HES and Skills Development Scotland to learn about the Apprenticeship family in Scotland, highlighting the differences in the apprenticeships on offer, the benefits of each and how they are funded. This session will cover Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships, the benefits to the company and school pupils of a Foundation Apprenticeship, steps to be taken to look at introducing an apprentice to the business or using the apprenticeship schemes to upskill existing staff.

RSA Fellows’ MCICH Network: Built and Landscape Heritage – Terminology and Public Engagement
Date & Time: Thursday 11 May 2023; 6-7:30pm
Location: Online via Zoom
RSA Fellows and guests of any discipline or location across the public, private and third sectors, are invited to register for this event, one in a series of online discussions within the overall theme of “Heritage: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions”, the subject of a future conference. Discussion will begin with brief perspectives from panel members followed by Q&A with the audience.

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland – “Reapproaching Celts”
Date & Time: Thursday 11 May 2023; 6-7pm
Location: Hybrid format (in-person at Augustine United Church and livestreamed via Zoom)
Presented by Dr Rachel Pope FSAScot. The lecture will discuss newly published work by the author that provides an enhanced framework for our understanding of the European Iron Age on the Continent, via the development of new contextual method that works to combine archaeology (primarily status burial data) with Classical textual references, whilst also focusing on the distinctly regional nature of Iron Age social organisation.

Under One Roof Scotland – Maintenance and retrofit for tenement owners with West Lothian Council
Date & Time: Monday 15 May 2023; 12-2pm
Location: Howden Park Centre, Howden, Livingston EH54 6AE
Come along to a free and informative event hosted by Under One Roof and West Lothian Council, aimed at owner-occupiers and landlords who want to learn more about maintaining and managing their tenement flats. Topics covered will include: the basics of tenement maintenance; knowing your neighbours and how to find them; the issues with patch repairs; the importance of building insurance and tips for self-factoring your building. Additionally, there will be discussion on energy efficiency and retrofit, as well as changes to government regulations affecting owner-occupiers and landlords.

SURF – Exploring place-based regeneration initiatives: SURF Awards Shared Learning Workshop
Date & Time: Thursday 18 May 2023; 10am-1pm
Location: Clyde Community Hall, 41 Whitefield Road, Govan, G51 2YB
An opportunity to explore successful current approaches towards regenerating Scotland’s places with two winning projects from the ‘Improving Scotland’s Places’ category winner Living Alloa and ‘Community Led Regeneration’ category winner Bressay Development Ltd – Speldiburn highlighted in the 2022 SURF Awards process.

Under One Roof Scotland – Maintenance and retrofit for tenement owners with Perth & Kinross Council
Date & Time: Monday 22 May 2023; 3-5pm
Location: Civic House, 2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH
Come along to a free and informative event hosted by Under One Roof and Perth & Kinross Council, aimed at owner-occupiers and landlords who want to learn more about maintaining and managing their tenement flats. Topics covered will include: the basics of tenement maintenance; knowing your neighbours and how to find them; the issues with patch repairs; the importance of building insurance and tips for self-factoring your building. There will be discussion on energy efficiency and retrofit, as well as changes to government regulations affecting owner-occupiers and landlords.

RTPI – South East Scotland Chapter Annual Pub Quiz
Date & Time: Wednesday 24 May 2023; 6-10pm
Location: Frankenstein’s Bier Kellar, 26 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EN
The RTPI Annual Pub Quiz is back and the prestigious SES Chapter Pub Quiz Champions Trophy is up for grabs once more! Teams will be up to six people, and people without a team can be matched up. Thanks to Geddes Consulting for sponsoring the event with a bar tab and food. Book now!

SURF – Taking creative approaches to regenerate communities: SURF Awards Shared Learning Workshop
Date & Time: Thursday 25 May 2023; 10am-1pm
Location: Kinning Park Complex, Glasgow
This free SURF Awards workshop event 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 2022 SURF Awards process will provide commentary on their experiences and transferable learning.

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland – Archaeological Research in Progress Conference 2023
Date & Time: Saturday 27 May 2023; 9am–5:30pm
Location: Hybrid format (in-person at Augustine United Church and livestreamed via Zoom)
For this year’s ARP conference, the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Archaeology Scotland are proud to present 12 talks covering exciting new research and best practice in archaeology from across Scotland. With special thanks to sponsor of the event: Forestry and Land Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, GUARD Archaeology Ltd, Association of Local Government Archaeology Officers, and the Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers.

SPAB – Scotland Finzean Watermills Working Party
Date & Time: Wednesday 7–Sunday 11 June 2023
Location: Finzean Watermill, Banchory AB31 6PP
The 2023 SPAB Scotland Working Party will once more be in Finzean, Aberdeenshire, and will have a carpentry theme this year; with thanks to Historic Environment Scotland for the funds to support this work. Work will be done for three full days (8, 9, 10 June) before the site closes on Sunday 11 June. There will be a celebration ceilidh on the final Saturday evening – an event not to be missed!
To book and for more information.

IHBC Annual School 2023: Swansea – Climate Change and the Historic Environment – Resilience and Performance
Date & Time: Wednesday 21 – Saturday 24 June 2023
Location: Swansea and Online
Heritage insights for everyone with a range of different school formats to appeal to anyone with an interest in heritage, culture and conservation. The school offers an opportunity to understand and interrogate new approaches to coping with climate change challenges, including: complying with standards, energy management, retrofit, fuel poverty and traditional buildings, meeting energy targets and protecting buildings. Book your place now!

 

TRAINING

Birse Community Trust – Two-day Lime Pointing Course
Date & Time: Thursday 18 & Friday 19 May 2023; 9am-4pm
Location: Finzean Old School (Aberdeenshire)
This two-day lime mortar workshop, aimed at beginners, will provide you with the practical skills and confidence to carry out your own mortar repointing works as part of repairs or more extensive renovation projects to traditional masonry structures and buildings. Led by tutor Andy Newcombe, a time served stone mason with 20 years’ experience working with and repairing traditional buildings.
Cost: £60 for the two days for BCT members / £80 for non-members Booking essential via BCT Office.

Birse Community Trust – Lime Pointing Taster Day
Date & Time: Saturday 20 May 2023; over two sessions – either 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm
Location: Finzean Old School (Aberdeenshire)
This course, aimed at beginners, will provide a taste of the practical skills required to carry out your own repointing works as part of repairs or more extensive renovation projects to traditional masonry buildings. The session will be led by tutor Andy Newcombe, a time served stone mason with 20 years’ experience working with and repairing traditional buildings. Cost: Free
Booking essential via BCT Office.

Culture & Business Scotland – Business Briefing: Employment Law & HR Update
Date & Time: Tuesday 23 May 2023; 12-1pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Barry Nichol, Director and a specialist in employment law at Anderson Strathern, will provide an essential employment law and HR update in this one-hour webinar, addressing important topics such as flexible and atypical working, family-friendly rights and the Fair Work Framework.

SPAB – Repair of Old Buildings Course (RC1 23)
Date & Time: Monday 22 – Friday 26 May 2023
Location: Museum of the Home, Kingsland Road, London E2 8EA
This popular short course has been presented by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings since the 1950s. Run over five days, this course delivers an intensive programme of lectures and visits to building repair projects. Presented by leading building conservation professionals, the Repair Course considers British and international approaches to the conservation of old buildings.

 

VACANCIES

Edinburgh World Heritage – Donor Engagement Manager
Salary: £29,840-£31,900 p.a.
Status: Part-time (0.5/0.6 FTE); permanent
Location: Edinburgh
Edinburgh World Heritage are seeking a Donor Engagement Manager to play a vital part in organisational core resilience, through ownership of international and corporate income targets, developing on a good early foundation in these engaging and impactful areas of work. This is a fantastic opportunity to work with a dynamic and energetic team striving to support a more entrepreneurial approach to securing a future as custodians of, and ambassadors for, Edinburgh’s outstanding world heritage. Further information on applications can be found here.
Closing date: 9am, Monday 8 May 2023

Historic Environment Scotland – Vernacular Building Craft Fellow
Salary: £21,052-£21,872 p.a.
Status: Full-time; 37 hours per week
Location: Perthshire, Kinross and Angus
This post will be part of a wider programme of Craft Fellowships across Scotland.
Vernacular buildings reflect local building traditions, they are created using local, natural materials, using traditional construction techniques and craft skills. Craft Fellows have the opportunity to gain practical experience, learn from experts in their chosen field or craft, increase knowledge of the wider conservation sector, expand their professional network and have access to a wide range of learning resources and opportunities from the Engine Shed, Scotland’s dedicated Conservation Resource Centre. This role involves working with The Scottish Crannog Centre team, to support the building of the new ‘Iron Age Village’ and Crannog at The Scottish Crannog Centre’s new site at Dalerb, and gain experience in traditional building construction by sourcing natural materials and building using traditional construction methods. The role will also provide the opportunity to learn about green wood working, thatching, and stone and turf wall building.
Further information and applications.
Closing date: Midday, Tuesday 9 May 2023

Heritage Trust Network – Heritage Trainee (Graduate)
Salary: Pro rata – £20,000 p.a.
Status: Full-time (37 hrs per week)
Location: Working from home or from an agreed shared workspace anywhere in the UK.
Heritage Trust Network is recruiting for a new post of Heritage Trainee (Graduate) for a fixed term of 6 months. This exciting post has been designed to help the successful graduate develop on-the-job skills, knowledge and networks to help them gain early-career access to the heritage sector. The post is perfect for someone who has recently graduated and has an interest in heritage and the regeneration of communities through the use of historic buildings, structures and spaces. Training and equipment will be provided. Job description and recruitment pack.
Closing date: Monday 15 May 2023

National Churches Trust – Church Support Project Manager
Salary: £37,000 p.a.
Status: Full-time; 3 years fixed-term
Location: Home or office-based
Are you an experienced Project Manager who wants to help keep churches well maintained, valued and in use? You could make a massive difference to the UK’s churches, chapels and meeting houses by joining the National Churches Trust team. The NCT are seeking a Church Support Project Manager to oversee delivery of a new National Lottery Heritage Funded Cherish project. Reporting to the Head of Church Engagement, the post holder will work full-time on a three-year fixed-term contract overseeing the project in Scotland, Wales and North-West England. There is the option of working at home or in the London office, but some travel will be required.
Information pack to apply.
Closing date: 10am, Friday 19 May 2023

The Cockburn Association – Chair
The Cockburn Association is seeking to recruit a new Chair to replace Professor Cliff Hague OBE, who retires from the position in May 2023 following 6 years of excellent service. In 2025, the Cockburn will celebrate its 150^th anniversary. The new Chair will help frame the celebrations of this significant landmark event, which will include a major civic reception and publication. A key objective of the Chair is to drive the development of the Cockburn ‘brand’, increasing the support base and reaching out to stakeholders across the city, existing and new.  The Chair will be expected to bring their own network into the Association where possible and act as a figurehead to members and supporters.
Further information and a role description is available from the Director, Terry Levinthal: 0131-557-8686

The National Trust for Scotland – Heritage Compliance Officer
Salary: £34,376-£38,027 (subject to experience)
Status: Full-time (flexible working possible)
Location: Hybrid working, available for meetings in Edinburgh
The National Trust for Scotland is looking to recruit a heritage compliance officer to help identify and manage the conservation and operations risks. This is a unique opportunity to work across all aspects of a major heritage organisation, liaising with colleagues in all disciplines.
All enquiries and applications should be addressed to: Diarmid Hearns, Head of Public Policy, Risk and Environment

BACK

BEFS NEWS

This week the First Minister set out his priorities in a new policy document – outlining what the government plans to achieve by 2026. This set of aims is built around the values of equality, opportunity and community; and is broken down by portfolio. (See BEFS Blog on the new Scottish Government roles for further detail on the portfolios). BEFS Director has provided a brief overview of activity in the new policy document covering the main areas of interest for BEFS Members, Associates and Bulletin readers.

Just as the Scottish Parliament have been debating the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan and the contribution it may make to Scotland’s next Climate Change plans, Audit Scotland has published its report on the arrangements of the Scottish Government to deliver climate change goals. Key messages of the report highlight that the Scottish Government has improved how, as an organisation, it supports the delivery of its climate change goals since declaring a climate emergency in 2019. However, the government needs to identify the key risks to meeting its climate change goals, and take effective action to address them. The report also has recommendations for improving climate change governance and risk management arrangements.

In related news: The Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) assessments of World Heritage properties in Scotland was piloted in 2019 by assessing the Heart of Neolithic Orkney site. Since then, CVI has been applied to four of Scotland’s World Heritage sites, assessing a diversity of heritage – from the Neolithic to the 20th century. Historic Environment Scotland recently published an overview summary of the application of the CVI to Scottish properties and detailed CVI assessment reports for the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh as well as the Antonine Wall.

In order to mark the publication of the new reports and give an opportunity to look behind the scenes of the projects for the first time, Dr Rebecca Jones, Visiting Professor at Heriot-Watt University wrote a guest blog. In this she explains the reason for using CVI in Scotland, introduces the diversity of Scotland’s World Heritage, and describes the challenges unique to Scotland.

Looking to the future, the final selection of the seven places in the UK being considered for World Heritage Site status has been published. And you can also discover which European sites are under threat, as Europa Nostra released this year’s list of Europe’s 7 Most Endangered Heritage Sites.

When considering the sector more broadly: Responses from the UK Heritage Pulse survey on volunteering have been published, providing insights in to the current relationship between volunteering and the heritage sector. And, The Scottish Civic Trust trialled two My Place Marketplace heritage surgeries in March to gain insight into the biggest challenges for heritage organisations today. Further to their survey findings, they have compiled a directory of helpful resources for local heritage groups.

 

CONSULTATIONS

PAS 2035 Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency – Specification and guidance
British Standard Institute
Comments sought to inform the development of PAS 2035 on the requirements for retrofit of dwellings as part of a British Standard Institute (BSI) Standards Solutions projects.
Closes 26 April 2023

International Culture Strategy: Survey
Scottish Government
Views sought to inform the development of a strategy to support the international aspirations and potential of Scotland’s culture sector.
Closes 26 April 2023

Community Wealth Building
Scottish Government
Views are being sought on the internationally recognised Community Wealth Building (CWB) approach to economic development, as a key practical means for the Scottish Government to make progress towards realising the wellbeing economy vision outlined in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET).
Closes 9 May 2023

Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan
Scottish Government
This consultation seeks views on the vision and the actions to transition to an affordable, resilient and clean energy system set out in the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan as well as understanding how maximum social and economic benefits from the energy transition for Scotland can be secured.
Closes 9 May 2023

National Outcomes review 2023: Call for Evidence
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government want to hear from people and communities across Scotland about whether their National Outcomes continue to reflect the kind of Scotland we want to see. They would also like to hear about how the National Performance Framework could have a bigger impact.
Closes 5 June 2023

Council Tax for second and empty homes, and non-domestic rates thresholds
Scottish Government/COSLA
This joint public consultation with COSLA seeks views on giving local authorities the power to increase council tax on second homes and empty homes, as well as considering whether the current non-domestic rates thresholds for self-catering accommodation remain appropriate.
*NEW* Closes 11 July 2023

 

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Delivering Scotland’s Circular Economy – route map to 2025 and beyond: consultation analysis (Scot Gov 18/04/2023)

 

PUBLICATIONS

Cost of NOT ZERO in 2022 (Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit January 2023)

 

SCOTTISH & UK GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP): application form (Scot Gov 06/04/2023)
Guidance and application form for applicants at stage 1.

Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022: equality impact assessment (Scot Gov 06/04/2023)

The UK Government announces the seven places it is backing to win UNESCO World Heritage Status (UK Gov 10/04/2023)

Building standards approved energy assessment software: guidance (Scot Gov 11/04/2023)

Scottish Connections Framework: setting out a cohesive and cross-cutting approach to diaspora engagement (Scot Gov 11/04/2023)

European Regional Development Fund: annual implementation report 2019 (Scot Gov 14/04/2023)

Just Transition Commission – letter to Cabinet Secretaries: 14 April 2023 (Scot Gov 17/04/2023)

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee Report – Building Safety update session (Scot Parl 18/04/2023)

Equality, opportunity, community. New leadership – A fresh start for Scotland (Scot Gov 18/04/2023)

Bringing empty homes back into use: Approaches and interventions – an evidence scoping review (Scot Gov 18/04/2023)

National Planning Framework 4: integrated impact assessment post adoption statement (Scot Gov 18/04/2023)

A fair economy supporting Scotland’s people (Scot Gov 19/04/2023)

 

NEWS RELEASES

Driving long-term positive change through place-based funding (Heritage Fund 03/03/2023)

Call for evidence: buildings that have received colourless water-repellent treatments (SPAB 01/04/2023)

Industry Update: Domestic demand drives visitor attraction recovery (Scottish Tourism Alliance 07/04/2023)

Europe’s 7 Most Endangered Heritage Sites 2023 announced (Europa Nostra 13/04/2023)

FOI Request: Information released confirming Scottish Government overturned 4 in 10 planning appeals last year (The Ferret 17/04/2023)

International Day for Monuments and Sites 18 April 2023: Explore UNESCO World Heritage sites with Google Arts & Culture (UNESCO 18/04/2023)

 

OPINION & COMMENT

Scotland’s new permitted development rights will facilitate town centre regeneration (Colliers 30/03/2023)

NPF4 – the incompatibility conundrum (Lichfields 03/04/2023)

Christina McKelvie named as Scottish culture minister in reshuffle (Museum Association 04/04/2023)

Placemaking: how to make cities we feel we belong to? – YouTube webinar (Design to Connect 05/04/2023)

Loss and damage: How can culture and heritage loss be measured and addressed? (CarbonBrief 05/04/2023)

The UK’s Net Zero Strategy risks entrenching inequality (New Economics Foundation 06/04/2023)

Funding delay halts new Scottish apprenticeships (BBC News 08/04/2023)

Is the UK prepared to let its rural churches rot – or can they be saved? (The Observer 08/04/2021)

Scotland iron age settlement among seven UK sites given Unesco world heritage status backing (The Scotsman 10/04/2023)

Let’s Turn Buildings Inside-Out – Opening Up the Ground Floors of Buildings Can Move Us Towards an Architecture of Place (Social Life Project 12/04/2023)

Deadly Design: 5 cases for careful conservation (Heritage Open Days 13/04/2023)

Low heat pump uptake ‘an embarrassment’ (The Times 14/04/2023)

Historical site shutdowns ‘damage businesses, tourism and jobs’ (The Herald 17/04/2023)

 

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

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

Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 22/03/2023
S6W-16087
To ask the Scottish Government what routes it has made available for local residents to appeal planning application decisions made by its reporters, in cases where they cannot afford the legal fees and are not entitled to legal aid.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 23/03/2023
S6W-16108
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop and support a town planning apprenticeship scheme.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 28/03/2023
S6W-16305
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has held with chairs of planning authorities regarding the implementation of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 28/03/2023
S6W-16307
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has held with Heads of Planning Scotland regarding the implementation of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 April 2023

Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 21/03/2023
S6W-16061
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason grant and loan support is not available through Home Energy Scotland for air-to-air heating systems.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 11 April 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 28/03/2023
S6W-16313
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting Historic Environment Scotland in its efforts to preserve historic buildings.
S6W-16314
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provided to (a) Historic Scotland and (b) Historic Environment Scotland in each year since 2007.
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 11 April 2023
S6W-16312
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has provided to Historic Environment Scotland for the financial year 2023-24.
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 12 April 2023

Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour,
Date lodged: 20/03/2023
S6W-15861 R
To ask the Scottish Government whether any Unique Property Reference Numbers, that are used in the property registers held by Registers of Scotland or any other publicly available property registers for which it is responsible, match across all of the registers, and what information it has on whether these numbers match with any Unique Property Reference Numbers used in the Scottish Energy Performance Certificate Register.
S6W-16025
To ask the Scottish Government which (a) property registers held by Registers of Scotland and (b) other publicly available property registers for which it is responsible, use Unique Property Reference Numbers, and what information it has on whether the same of similar Unique Property Reference Numbers are used in the Scottish Energy Performance Certificate Register.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 13 April 2023

Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 29/03/2023
S6W-16455
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to work with local authorities to develop an interlinked strategy for tackling any problems facing Scotland’s town centres, in light of the recent Economy and Fair Work Committee’s Inquiry into Retail and Town Centres in Scotland.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 14 April 2023

Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 28/03/2023
S6W-16322
To ask the Scottish Government whether the level of information required from third sector organisations for grant applications has increased compared with previous years, and, if so, what the reasons are for this, and what consideration it has given to the ability of these organisations to access funding.
Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 05/04/2023
S6W-15640
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing an equal right of appeal in the planning system.
Current status: Answer expected on 4 May 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 05/04 2023
S6W-16773
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a comprehensive roadmap for the delivery of net zero in key areas, as set out in the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee report, The role of local government and its cross-sectoral partners in financing and delivering a net-zero Scotland.
S6W-16774
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to establish a local government-facing climate intelligence unit to provide specialist help to local authorities in areas where there may be a lack of in-depth specialist knowledge, and, if so, when such a unit will be established.
S6W-16775
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ensure that there are larger, fewer and more flexible challenge fund streams for net zero-related projects at a local level that are better configured to support a holistic and place-based response to climate change.
S6W-16777
To ask the Scottish Government what specific steps it is taking to address the reported long-term decline in the number of local authority-employed planners, in light of such planners having a significant role in delivering the ambitions of the new National Planning Framework.
S6W-16778
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce planning apprenticeships, and, if so, when.
S6W-16779
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will clarify what role local authorities will play in an area-based approach to heat decarbonisation, and what additional support it will offer to local authorities for the preparation and delivery of their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies.
S6W-16780
To ask the Scottish Government how the new National Public Energy Agency will work with local government on area-based delivery.
S6W-16781
To ask the Scottish Government when it will communicate to the public its ambition for homes to aim to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least C from 2025.
Current status: Answers expected on 4 May 2023

Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 06/04/2023
S6W-16419
To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to mitigate the dangers of falling masonry, in light of recent occurrences of high winds.
S6W-16420
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that only accredited contractors carry out masonry repairs.
Current status: Answers expected on 5 May 2023

Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 06/04/2023
S6W-16888
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to enhance the financial support available to (a) individual developers and (b) community groups for Rural and Islands Housing Fund projects, in the event that the introduction of a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard adds additional costs to construction in rural and island areas.
S6W-16889
To ask the Scottish Government what additional support will be made available to support the construction of social housing when the Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard is introduced.
Current status: Answers expected on 5 May 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 06/04/2023
S6W-16870 R
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09920 by Mairi Gougeon on 18 August 2022, whether it will provide an update on how much funding (a) it allocated to and (b) was distributed to successful grant applicants from the Croft House Grant scheme in 2022-23.
S6W-16871
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the question S6W-12216 by Neil Gray on 24 November 2022, whether the National Partnership for Culture will continue to exist, following its meeting on 14 December 2022, and, if so, when it will next meet.
S6W-16874
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to “carry out cross-portfolio engagement to scope where culture may be able to link into the Place Standard tool”, as outlined in its response to the National Partnership for Culture recommendations.
Current status: Answer expected on 5 May 2023

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 12/04/2023
S6W-16994
To ask the Scottish Government when property valuation will next be reviewed for the setting of (a) domestic and (b) non-domestic rates.
Current status: Answers expected on 12 May 2023

Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 12/04/2023
S6W-16397
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact on training providers has been of the reported apprenticeship freeze in early 2023.
S6W-16400
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement the 14 recommendations from the report, Impact of Scotland’s Developing Young Workforce Strategy on Employer Engagement, and, if so, whether it will provide a timescale for the implementation
Current status: Answers expected on 12 May 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 13/04/2023
S6W-17023
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme, what plans it has to review the definition of “long-term vacant”, which is currently 15 years for derelict properties and land.
Current status: Answer expected on 15 May 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 14/04/2023
S6W-17035
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it anticipates publishing its response to the results of the Scottish Highly Protected Marine Areas public consultation, after it closes on 17 April 2023.
Current status: Answer expected on 16 May 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17/04/2023
S6W-17075
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13155 by Patrick Harvie on 10 January 2023, whether it will bring forward its proposed Housing Bill prior to the summer parliamentary recess.
Current status: Answer expected on 2 May 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17/04/2023
S6W-17083
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in providing the powers to local authorities to introduce a Transient Visitor Levy.
Current status: Answer expected on 2 May 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 18/04/2023
S6W-17028
To ask the Scottish Government what its most recent assessment is of the allocation of resources to Community Planning Partnerships in each local authority area.
Current status: Answer expected on 3 May 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 18/04/2023
S6W-17137
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects (a) Kisimul Castle, (b) the Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace and (c) Kilchurn Castle to reopen to the public.
Current status: Answer expected on 3 May 2023

Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 18/04/2023
S6W-17154
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many homes have been returned to use with support from the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership since 2022, and whether it can provide a breakdown of the information by local authority area.
Current status: Answer expected on 3 May 2023

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 18/04/2023
S6W-17168
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the Scottish Training Federation has warned that thousands of young people across Scotland have been “left in limbo” as no new modern apprenticeships will be available “for the foreseeable future”, as a result of delays in Scottish Government funding to Skills Development Scotland, which is reportedly resulting in employers putting their recruitment plans on hold, and training providers looking at laying off staff due to the shortage of work.
Current status: Answer expected on 3 May 2023

 

EVENTS

For further listings, please see our events calendar.

UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence – Delivering Scotland’s fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4)
Date & Time: Monday 24 April 2023; 10am-4pm
Location: Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow, 11 Chapel Lane, Glasgow G11 6EW
Scotland’s fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) seeks to prioritise projects that will help to tackle the climate crisis and reach net zero through the sustainable development of communities and the economy. Attention now turns to delivering NPF4 and what it will take to do this effectively. Concerns remain around resourcing, monitoring and evaluation, to name a few.

RSA Fellows’ MCICH Network: Built Heritage – Purposes and Pragmatism
Date & Time: Monday 24 April 2023; 6-7:30pm
Location: Online via Zoom
This on-line event is one in a series of four under the title of “HERITAGE: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions” and all the events are open to all irrespective of discipline or location and delegates from outwith the UK are also most welcome. Panel includes Matthew McKeague (Architectural Heritage Fund), Audrey Carlin (WASPS) and RSA Fellow Dr Deborah Mays Hon FRIAS (Historic England).

RICS Scotland Conference
Date & Time: Wednesday 26 April 2023; 8:30am-4:30pm
Location: The Technology and Innovation Centre, Glasgow G1 1RD
The programme will focus on sustainability and the role of professionals in helping achieve net zero in Scotland, with presentations and a choice of break-out sessions covering topics across land, property and the built environment. There will be key-note speeches from Professor Sir John Curtice, University of Strathclyde, Roger Esson MRICS, Head of Industry & Partner Network, Net Zero Technology and Morag Angus FRICS, Chief Surveyor and Head of Property and Construction, The Scottish Government Centre, as well as RICS new President, Ann Gray FRICS.

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland – April Lecture and Fellowship Election
Date & Time: Thursday 27 April 2023; 6-7pm
Location: Hybrid format (in-person at Augustine United Church and livestreamed via Zoom)
This event will feature two short presentations given by Early Career fellows on their research linked to Scotland’s past. The first given by Dr Julie Holder FSAScot on “Displaying ‘National’ Antiquities in the mid-19th century: Scotland, England, and Ireland”, and the second given by Dr Ralph St Clair Wade FSAScot on “’Old Scotch’: The Early Work of David Bryce (1803-1876)”. This event will also feature the Spring Election of new Fellows to the Society outside of our Anniversary Meeting on St Andrew’s Day.

RSA Fellows’ MCICH Network: Conservation – US and UK Perspectives
Date & Time: Wednesday 3 May 2023; 6-7:30pm
Location: Online via Zoom
RSA Fellows and guests of any discipline or location across the public, private and third sectors, are invited to register for this event, one in a series of online discussions within the overall theme of “Heritage: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions”, the subject of a future conference. Discussion will begin with brief perspectives from panel members followed by Q&A with the audience.

The Patrick Geddes India Scotland Talks
Date & Time: Thursday 4 May 2023; 10am–5pm
Location: The Patrick Geddes Centre, Riddles Court, 322 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2PG
This free event presents guest speakers from India, France & Scotland who will share their thoughts on a major renewal project in Dehli, ecological studies in Kolkata at the botanical gardens and how a historic farm in Edinburgh has been transformed by Geddesian concepts and community inspiration into a multi-faceted Social Resource Centre.

SURF – Successful approaches to housing led regeneration – SURF Award Shared Learning Event
Date & Time: Thursday 4 May 2023; 10am-1pm
Location: Wheatley House, 25 Cochrane Street, Glasgow, G1 1HL
This free SURF Awards workshop event offers 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 2022 SURF Awards process will provide commentary on their experiences and transferable learning.

RSA Fellows’ MCICH Network: Built and Landscape Heritage – Terminology and Public Engagement
Date & Time: Thursday 11 May 2023; 6-7:30pm
Location: Online via Zoom
RSA Fellows and guests of any discipline or location across the public, private and third sectors, are invited to register for this event, one in a series of online discussions within the overall theme of “Heritage: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions”, the subject of a future conference. Discussion will begin with brief perspectives from panel members followed by Q&A with the audience.

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland – “Reapproaching Celts”
Date & Time: Thursday 11 May 2023; 6-7pm
Location: Hybrid format (in-person at Augustine United Church and livestreamed via Zoom)
Presented by Dr Rachel Pope FSAScot. The lecture will discuss newly published work by the author that provides an enhanced framework for our understanding of the European Iron Age on the Continent, via the development of new contextual method that works to combine archaeology (primarily status burial data) with Classical textual references, whilst also focusing on the distinctly regional nature of Iron Age social organisation.

Institute of Historic Building Conservation – Aberdeen meeting & Deeside conservation study tour
Date & Time: Friday 12 & Saturday 13 May 2023; 7:30-9:30pm Friday and 9am-4pm Saturday
An evening reception at Aberdeen Advocates Library on Friday 12 May, with short presentations and a networking opportunity for people professionally involved in the historic built environment, will be followed by a tour on Saturday. Travel via minibus to NTS Craigievar Castle, currently scaffolded to allow a close look at the harl, and on to Finzean sawmills. £20 each day – email to book.

SURF – Exploring place-based regeneration initiatives: SURF Awards Shared Learning Workshop
Date & Time: Thursday 18 May 2023; 10am-1pm
Location: Clyde Community Hall, 41 Whitefield Road, Govan, G51 2YB
An opportunity to explore successful current approaches towards regenerating Scotland’s places with two winning projects from the ‘Improving Scotland’s Places’ category winner Living Alloa and ‘Community Led Regeneration’ category winner Bressay Development Ltd – Speldiburn highlighted in the 2022 SURF Awards process.

 

TRAINING

Social Enterprise Academy– Steps to Sustainability: Skills Sessions
Date & Time: 16 March-11 May 2023
Location: Online
Range of training sessions for those working in the Heritage Sector covering: Retail Management Essentials, Digital Engagement, Fundraising, Marketing & PR, and Alternative Sources of Finance.

Icon Scotland – Creating Conservation Videos Workshop
Date & Time: Thursday 11, 18 & 25 May 2023; 9-11am
Location: Online via Zoom
Over three sessions, learn about creating conservation video content to be used to educate, promote and share the profession. The workshop will cover the start-to-finish workflow for creating conservation videos, ethical and legal considerations of sharing conservation content, platforms and methods that support video content, and tips and tricks, such as repurposing footage. Sessions will take place one week apart and will allow attendees to create their own videos and receive feedback from the instructor.

 

VACANCIES

Edinburgh World Heritage – Donor Engagement Manager
Salary: £29,840-£31,900 p.a.
Status: Part-time (0.5/0.6 FTE); permanent
Location: Edinburgh
Edinburgh World Heritage are seeking a Donor Engagement Manager to play a vital part in organisational core resilience, through ownership of international and corporate income targets, developing on a good early foundation in these engaging and impactful areas of work. This is a fantastic opportunity to work with a dynamic and energetic team striving to support a more entrepreneurial approach to securing a future as custodians of, and ambassadors for, Edinburgh’s outstanding world heritage. Further information on applications can be found here.
Closing date: 9am, Monday 8 May 2023

Heritage Trust Network – Heritage Trainee (Graduate)
Salary: Pro rata – £20,000 p.a.
Status: Full-time (37 hrs per week)
Location: Working from home or from an agreed shared workspace anywhere in the UK.
Heritage Trust Network is recruiting for a new post of Heritage Trainee (Graduate) for a fixed term of 6 months. This exciting post has been designed to help the successful graduate develop on-the-job skills, knowledge and networks to help them gain early-career access to the heritage sector. The post is perfect for someone who has recently graduated and has an interest in heritage and the regeneration of communities through the use of historic buildings, structures and spaces. Training and equipment will be provided. Job description and recruitment pack.
Closing date: Monday 15 May 2023

The Cockburn Association – Chair
The Cockburn Association is seeking to recruit a new Chair to replace Professor Cliff Hague OBE, who retires from the position in May 2023 following 6 years of excellent service. In 2025, the Cockburn will celebrate its 150^th anniversary. The new Chair will help frame the celebrations of this significant landmark event, which will include a major civic reception and publication. A key objective of the Chair is to drive the development of the Cockburn ‘brand’, increasing the support base and reaching out to stakeholders across the city, existing and new.  The Chair will be expected to bring their own network into the Association where possible and act as a figurehead to members and supporters.
Further information and a role description is available from the Director, Terry Levinthal: 0131-557-8686

The National Trust for Scotland – Heritage Compliance Officer
Salary: £34,376-£38,027 (subject to experience)
Status: Full-time (flexible working possible)
Location: Hybrid working, available for meetings in Edinburgh
The National Trust for Scotland is looking to recruit a heritage compliance officer to help identify and manage the conservation and operations risks. This is a unique opportunity to work across all aspects of a major heritage organisation, liaising with colleagues in all disciplines.
All enquiries and applications should be addressed to: Diarmid Hearns, Head of Public Policy, Risk and Environment

BACK

BEFS NEWS

The newly updated Heritage Careers Guide 2023-2024 is out. Written by Prof. Ian Baxter of Heriot-Watt University (and BEFS Vice-Chair). It is designed to help students, graduates and prospective workers in the heritage sector find opportunities to enter into the various fields within heritage. It signposts a wide range of resources. BEFS Bulletin readers are encouraged to get in touch with feedbacks and suggestions for future editions, contact Prof. Ian Baxter, details available in the Guide or on BEFS website.

Culture Counts, the network of arts, heritage, and creative industries organisations in Scotland has announced the appointment of a new Director, Lorraine (Lori) Anderson. Culture Counts works to protect and develop the culture sector for the common good. Lori has extensive experience working across heritage, arts and the creative sector, including in fundraising, capital development and most recently in international projects. BEFS have worked with Culture Counts in relation to the National Partnership for Culture, and look forward to working with them in the future.

Scotland’s Towns Partnership have also announced a change in leadership, with the departure of Phil Prentice, Chief Officer for the past eight-and-a-half years. Phil has been an incredible champion of Scotland’s towns and played a pivotal part in ensuring the vision to create a new future for them has not just been developed, but is being acted on. Kimberley Guthrie will be interim Chief Officer whilst a permanent replacement is sought.

Glasgow City Heritage Trust (GCHT) has launched the second Podcast series of: ‘If Glasgow’s walls could talk’ exploring the relationships between Glasgow’s historic buildings, places and communities. In the first episode of Series 2 Dr Emily Munro, Curator and Learning Officer at the National Library for Scotland’s Moving Image Archive, has an enlightening discussion with Niall Murphy about Glasgow on film.

Six new members were appointed to : Gemma Butterfield, Joe Doogan, Simon Hodge, Gary Jebb, Ann Leslie and Anne-Marie O’Hara. The appointments will be for four years and will run from 20 March 2023 to 19 March 2027. BEFS congratulate all the appointees.

The end of the financial year always brings forth change, and many publications as teams, departments, and areas of work come to either a natural end, or the end of a reporting cycle; see the vast amount of publications below for evidence of this. This year, due to changes within the SNP leadership, we also have a new Cabinet for the Scottish Government. For a fuller assessment of what roles remain, have changed, and where BEFS expects to focus its public affairs energy please see BEFS Director’s blog.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has produced its Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). IPCC published its Headline Statements document briefly explaining the overarching conclusions of the approved Summary for Policymakers such as Current Status and Trends, Future Climate Change, Risks, and Long-Term Responses and Responses in the Near Term. “Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health with a very high confidence there is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all,” and calls for action and increased cooperation.

In Consultations you will see that, The British Standard Institute (BSI) is developing “PAS 2035 Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency – Specification and guidance” and asking for comments on the proposed draft. The scope of PAS 2035 includes: assessment of dwellings for retrofit; identification and evaluation of improvement options (energy efficiency measures, or EEMs); design and specification of EEMs (whether individual measures or packages of multiple measures); and monitoring and evaluation of retrofit projects.

Heritage Delivers, an alliance of heritage organisations in Northern Ireland, connecting the sector to protect and promote the value of Northern Ireland’s historic environment have refreshed the Heritage Delivers | Treasure the Past, Enrich the Future website with recent additions to news, events as well as case studies and publications sections.

And finally, Under One Roof is expanding the retrofit section of their website to cover the basics of retrofit, retrofit solutions for tenement buildings, and financing retrofit. If you have any suggestions for elements that you would like to see, please email Under One Roof.

 

CONSULTATIONS

Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment, RICS Professional Standard, 2nd edition
RICS
Consultation on the second edition of whole life carbon assessments in the built environment – a standard which mandates a methodology to track all carbon emissions from production of materials, construction process, use and disposal of built assets over their entire life cycle.
Closes 18 April 2023

Gaelic Language Plan 2023-2026 Consultation
HES
Views are invited on the HES Gaelic Language Plan 2023-2026. The plan will set out how HES intends to increase the use, learning and promotion of Gaelic and builds on the success of its 2018-2023 plan which was the first Gaelic Language Plan for the organisation.
Closes 19 April 2023

PAS 2035 Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency – Specification and guidance
British Standard Institute
Comments sought to inform the development of PAS 2035 on the requirements for retrofit of dwellings as part of a British Standard Institute (BSI) Standards Solutions projects.
Closes 26 April 2023

International Culture Strategy: Survey
Scottish Government
Views sought to inform the development of a strategy to support the international aspirations and potential of Scotland’s culture sector.
Closes 26 April 2023

Community Wealth Building
Scottish Government
Views are being sought on the internationally recognised Community Wealth Building (CWB) approach to economic development, as a key practical means for the Scottish Government to make progress towards realising the wellbeing economy vision outlined in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET).
Closes 9 May 2023

Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan
Scottish Government
This consultation seeks views on the vision and the actions to transition to an affordable, resilient and clean energy system set out in the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan as well as understanding how maximum social and economic benefits from the energy transition for Scotland can be secured.
Closes 9 May 2023

National Outcomes review 2023: Consultation information pack
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government want to hear from people and communities across Scotland about whether their National Outcomes continue to reflect the kind of Scotland we want to see. They would also like to hear about how the National Performance Framework could have a bigger impact.
Closes 5 June 2023

Edinburgh Council: Conservation & Adaptation
(Edinburgh Council 31/03/2023)
Views being sought by Edinburgh Council on challenges faced by property owners adapting and repairing historic homes
*NEW* Closes 11 June 2023

 

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Nature Scot: Advice to Ministers following Consultation on new National Park(s) in Scotland (16/03/2023)

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

SCOTTISH & UK GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

Unlocking Ambition: Scottish Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Guide (Scot Gov March 2023)

Community Planning Inquiry: Post-Legislative Scrutiny of the Community Empowerment Act 2015 (Scot Gov 14/03/2023)

Sustainability projects within the Scottish Government: EIR release (Scot Gov 14/03/2023)

Department of Culture, Media & Sports: areas of research interest (UK Gov 16/03/2023)

SPICe Spotlight: UK Budget 2023 – the Hunt for growth (Scot Parl 16/03/2023)

Building improvement requirements and financial assistance: FOI release (Scot Gov 16/03/2023)

Letter from Deputy First Minister to Prime Minister following Spring 2023 budget announcement about funding for carbon capture storage (Scot Gov 16/03/2023)

Building Planning and Buildings Standards: FOI release (Scot Gov 17/03/2023)

Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government Shona Robison MSP to Convener, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, Ariane Burgess MSP regarding publication of research on Empty Homes (Scot Gov 20/03/2023)

Promoting Scotland Internationally: Scottish Affairs Committee – Oral Evidence Report (UK Gov 20/03/2023)

Area Based Schemes: annual final measures reports 2021-2022 (Scot Gov 20/03/2023)
details of all the Area Based Schemes’ home energy efficiency measures by tenure and local authority area.

Scotland’s Carbon Footprint 1998 – 2019 (Scot Gov 21/03/2023)

Labour market and skills projections: 2020 to 2035 (UK Gov 21/03/2023)

Tourism Recovery Plan Update on Delivery March 2023 (UK Gov 21/03/2023)

The Town and Country Planning (Development Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 (Scot Gov 24/03/2023)
Provisions supporting a new way of preparing LDPs that will result in new style plans that manage the use of land in the long-term public interest.

The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 (Commencement No. 12 and Saving and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2023 (Scot Gov 24/03/2023)

Local Development Plan evidence report – defining Gypsies and Travellers: consultation analysis (Scot Gov 24/03/2023)

Supporting creative enterprises – exploring the impact of infrastructure and place-based initiatives (SPICe 27/03/2023)

Building Standards Enforcement Handbook – First Edition (Scot Gov 27/03/2023)

Written submissions on Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development and Use Classes) (Scotland) Miscellaneous Amendment Order 2023
Rollout of electric vehicle (“EV”) charging infrastructure and the resilience and recovery of city, town and local centres through placemaking and change in use in buildings (Scot Parl 28/03/2023)

Consumer Scotland Annual Work Programme (Consumer Scotland 29/03/2023)

Public appointment: Members appointed to Historic Environment Scotland (Scot Gov 29/03/2023)

Place Directors Factsheet – Scottish Government representation in local authority and Community Planning Partnership areas (Scot Gov 29/03/2023)

Powering Up Britain – The Net Zero Growth Plan (UK Gov 30/03/2023)

Climate Change Act – Section 72: thirteenth annual report (Scot Gov 31/03/2023)
highlighting that future reports should consider changes to building regulations and heat standards in order to establish whether Section 3F continues to be needed.

National Islands Plan Annual Report 2022 (Scot Gov 31/03/2023)
setting out progress made during the 2022 reporting year including historic environment and heritage projects.

Planning Application Statistics stakeholder feedback survey 2023: results (Scot Gov 03/04/2023)

Skills: Shared Outcomes Assurance Group minutes: 28 February 2023 (Scot Gov 03/04/2023)
Including Pathfinders – Net Zero (SOAG/22/06) and Commercial and Domestic Heat in Buildings (SOAG/22/07) and Deep dive: apprenticeships – ‘unlocking potential’.

 

NEWS RELEASES

Improvement Service publishes new business plan for 2023/24 (IS March 2023)

Glasgow City Heritage Trust Bursaries (GCHT 13/03/2023)
GCHT are inviting applications to their new bursary scheme for postgraduate students undertaking dissertation research focussing on any aspect of Glasgow’s historic built environment

Chartered Institute of Building supports Scottish charter on construction quality (CIOB 16/03/2023)

New climate adaptation tool for communities launched (Community Councils 17/03/2023)

Key Agencies Group’s new offer to support local authority collaborative place-based approaches to development plan preparations (A&DS 21/03/2023)
22 local authorities across Scotland have expressed an interest in the offer of support for a place-based approach to gathering evidence and reporting.

Consumer protection: enabling sustainable choices and ending greenwashing (European Commission 22/03/2023)

Scotland Loves Local goes digital (Scot Gov 25/03/2023)
A scheme aimed at boosting trade in town and city centres is going digital.

More than £24million awarded to heritage projects across the UK (Heritage Fund 28/03/2023)

Arts & Business Scotland becomes Culture & Business Scotland with new identity and strategic vision (Culture & Business Scotland 28/03/2023)

Progress in adapting to climate change (England) – 2023 Report to Parliament (Climate Change Committee 29/03/2023)

 

OPINION & COMMENT

Net zero: Navigating the built environment’s route to COP28 (RICS 23/02/2023)

Au revoir automobile: are cities better without cars? (RICS MODUS 09/03/2023)

The 15-minute city is something worth fighting for (Architects’ Journal 13/03/2023)

Built environment must sympathetically blend our surroundings to promote wellbeing (Project Scotland 14/03/2023)

Don’t turn away from town centres – Mhairi Donaghy (The Scotsman 16/03/2023)

Visitors to the UK’s leading attractions down 25% on pre-Covid numbers (The Guardian 17/03/2023)

Scotland travel: Tourist sites see visitor numbers soar (The Herald 17/03/2023)

NPF4 and the definition of ‘affordable’ housing (CaCHE 17/03/2023)

Interview with Eugen Vaida, founder of the Ambulance for Monuments and finalist of the Religious Heritage Innovator of the Year (Future for Religious Heritage 20/03/2023)

Whether we like it or not, planning is a narrative art (The Planner 21/03/2023)

How just walking around – even when accompanied by an adult – is empowering for children (The Conversation 21/03/2023)

Misinformation hubs: How social media is fuelling misrepresentation of planning (The Planner 21/03/2023)

Carbon warning over Glasgow flats demolition (BBC News 23/03/2023)

UK’s top asset manager warns of ‘bumpy ride’ through green transition (Financial Times 29/03/2023)

First look inside the new £45 million Paisley Museum (The Herald 03/04/2023)

Cold, damp, overcrowded homes cause mental and physical problems and keeps patients trapped in hospitals, costing the NHS £1.4bn a year (The Times 03/04/2023)

Scottish tourism on road to recovery as attraction visitor numbers soar (Daily Record 05/04/2023)

 

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

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

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 01/03/2023
S6W-15473 R
To ask the Scottish Government what powers are available to (a) local authorities and (b) other public bodies to take action to address empty homes in Scotland.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 March 2023

Ross Greer, West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 15/03/2023
S6W-15971
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to revise national planning rules in relation to domestic energy microgeneration, such as photovoltaic arrays on roofs, in conservation areas, following the publication of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 21 March 2023

Jenni Minto, Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 15/03/2023
S6O-02032
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the regeneration of cultural assets and venues in communities.
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 March 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16/03/2023
S6W-15987
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13337 by Patrick Harvie on 10 January 2023 (homes deemed technically unsuitable for an air source heat pump), whether it will provide an update on whether it has published the data, in light of it already being used for policy formulation and implementation, and of it committing to publishing it “early this year”.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 23 March 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 17/03/2023
S6W-15939
To ask the Scottish Government how many planning application appeals it has received in each of the last five years on the grounds of non-determination, where a local authority has been unable to reach a decision within six months, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) type of application.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 23 March 2023

Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 14/03/2023
S6W-15947
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to consult on removing the 50kW threshold above which permitted development rights do not apply for solar panels on commercial rooftops.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 23 March 2023

Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 23/03/2023
S6W-16134
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to “phasing out the need to install new or replacement fossil fuel boilers in off gas properties from 2025”, as set out in its Heat in Buildings Strategy, whether it plans to offer support to help people move to zero or low emissions heating systems rapidly at points of distress, such as the sudden unexpected failure of a fossil fuel boiler.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 28 March 2023

Douglas Lumsden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 22/03/2023
S6W-15975
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of any potential impact of local authorities decreasing relief on non-domestic rates for empty, listed properties.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 April 2023

Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour,
Date lodged: 20/03/2023
S6W-15861 R
To ask the Scottish Government whether any Unique Property Reference Numbers, that are used in the property registers held by Registers of Scotland or any other publicly available property registers for which it is responsible, match across all of the registers, and what information it has on whether these numbers match with any Unique Property Reference Numbers used in the Scottish Energy Performance Certificate Register.
S6W-16025
To ask the Scottish Government which (a) property registers held by Registers of Scotland and (b) other publicly available property registers for which it is responsible, use Unique Property Reference Numbers, and what information it has on whether the same of similar Unique Property Reference Numbers are used in the Scottish Energy Performance Certificate Register.
Current status: Answer expected on 17 April 2023

Debate on the Transition to a Wellbeing Economy
Date lodged: 20/03/2023
S6M-08305
Debate on the Motion regarding Scotland’s transition to a wellbeing economy.

Debate on Secondary Education (Vocational and Technical Qualifications)
Date lodged: 20/03/2023
S6M-08291
Debate on the Motion regarding expansion of vocational and technical qualifications in Scotland’s secondary schools, including building courses from bricklaying to retrofitting.

Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 21/03/2023
S6W-16061
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason grant and loan support is not available through Home Energy Scotland for air-to-air heating systems.
Current status: Answer expected on 18 April 2023

Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 22/03/2023
S6W-16087
To ask the Scottish Government what routes it has made available for local residents to appeal planning application decisions made by its reporters, in cases where they cannot afford the legal fees and are not entitled to legal aid.
Current status: Answer expected on 19 April 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 23/03/2023
S6W-16108
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop and support a town planning apprenticeship scheme.
Current status: Answer expected on 20 April 2023

Ronnie Cowan, Inverclyde, Scottish National Party
Date: 27/03/2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities what discussions his Department plans to hold with the Scottish Government and local authorities on proposals to create an investment zone in Scotland.

Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 28/03/2023
S6W-16322
To ask the Scottish Government whether the level of information required from third sector organisations for grant applications has increased compared with previous years, and, if so, what the reasons are for this, and what consideration it has given to the ability of these organisations to access funding.
Current status: Answer expected on 25 April 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 28/03/2023
S6W-16305
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has held with chairs of planning authorities regarding the implementation of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).
S6W-16306
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has held with housing developers regarding the implementation of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).
S6W-16307
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has held with Heads of Planning Scotland regarding the implementation of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 April 2023

Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 28/03/2023
S6W-16312
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has provided to Historic Environment Scotland for the financial year 2023-24.
S6W-16313
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting Historic Environment Scotland in its efforts to preserve historic buildings.
S6W-16314
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provided to (a) Historic Scotland and (b) Historic Environment Scotland in each year since 2007.
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 April 2023

 

EVENTS

For further listings, please see our events calendar.

Institute of Civil Engineers – Exhibition: Time is running out; help engineer a net zero world
Date & Time:  Saturday 1 – Thursday 13 April 2023
Location: Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, Glasgow G51 1EA
The Institution of Civil Engineers Scotland exhibition highlights the ways civil engineers are making things better for people and the planet. Featuring original hand-drawn illustrations and animations, the exhibition explores the role of civil engineers in creating the infrastructure needed to fight climate change and reach net zero targets.

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust – Gone with the Wynd: A Shopper’s Prehistory of the Tron Kirk
Date & Time: Wednesday 12 April 2023; 5:30-7:30pm
Location: Riddles Court, 322 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2PG
Before the Tron Kirk was built in the 1630’s, wooden shops lined the wynds, selling both the exotic and mundane. The residents were equally intriguing, tailors and booksellers, widows remarrying, five nuns, and a pioneering spinster ‘being and abyding without marriage’. Meet the ancestors!” A lecture by Morag Cross.

CIfA2023 Sustainable futures – standards, skills and the profession
Date & Time: Wednesday 19 – Friday 21 April 2023
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Nottingham; Online via Zoom
CIfA2023 will incorporate keynote addresses, wide-ranging sessions and training workshops in a live and virtual forum. The conference is the premiere professional archaeological conference in the UK, attracting hundreds of participants across the heritage environment sector.
CIfA2023 will be a livestreamed conference; hosted live in Nottingham and streamed online to offer attendees the same flexibility they experienced in 2022, whilst learning from experience to allow for the best digital user experience.

UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence – Delivering Scotland’s fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4)
Date & Time: Monday 24 April 2023; 10am-4pm
Location: Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow, 11 Chapel Lane, Glasgow G11 6EW
Scotland’s fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) seeks to prioritise projects that will help to tackle the climate crisis and reach net zero through the sustainable development of communities and the economy. Attention now turns to delivering NPF4 and what it will take to do this effectively. Concerns remain around resourcing, monitoring and evaluation, to name a few.

RICS Scotland Conference
Date & Time: Wednesday 26 April 2023; 8:30am-4:30pm
Location: The Technology and Innovation Centre, Glasgow G1 1RD
The programme will focus on sustainability and the role of professionals in helping achieve net zero in Scotland, with presentations and a choice of break-out sessions covering topics across land, property and the built environment. There will be key-note speeches from Professor Sir John Curtice, University of Strathclyde, Roger Esson MRICS, Head of Industry & Partner Network, Net Zero Technology and Morag Angus FRICS, Chief Surveyor and Head of Property and Construction, The Scottish Government Centre, as well as RICS new President, Ann Gray FRICS.

SURF – Successful approaches to housing led regeneration – SURF Award Shared Learning Event
Date & Time: Thursday 4 May 2023; 10am-1pm
Location: Wheatley House, 25 Cochrane Street, Glasgow, G1 1HL
This free SURF Awards workshop event offers 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 2022 SURF Awards process will provide commentary on their experiences and transferable learning.

Institute of Historic Building Conservation – Aberdeen meeting and Deeside conservation study tour
Date & Time: Friday 12 – Saturday 13 May 2023; 7:30-9:30pm Friday and 9am-4pm Saturday
An evening reception at Aberdeen Advocates Library on Friday 12 May, with short presentations and a networking opportunity for people professionally involved in the historic built environment, will be followed by a tour on Saturday. Travel via minibus to NTS Craigievar Castle, currently scaffolded to allow a close look at the harl, and on to Finzean sawmills. £20 each day To book, email IHBC

 

TRAINING

Social Enterprise Academy– Steps to Sustainability: Skills Sessions
Date & Time: 16 March-11 May 2023
Location: Online
Range of training sessions for those working in the Heritage Sector covering: Retail Management Essentials, Digital Engagement, Fundraising, Marketing & PR, and Alternative Sources of Finance.

Date & Time: Tuesday 18 April 2023; 3-6pm
Location: 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh EH1 2BE
This session is designed for architects who want to run a successful business without sacrificing their artistic vision. Learn from industry experts and gain practical skills including how to calculate hourly rates, prepare robust terms of appointment, plan for profitability, and manage client changes.

Scottish Lime Centre Trust – Retrofitting Traditional Buildings: Principles and Practice
Date & Time: Wednesday 19 & 26 April 2023; 9:30am-1pm
Location: Online via Zoom
An online technical masterclass, running over 2 half days, covering emerging research, best practice and case studies in the field of upgrading traditional and historic buildings. Addressing the following questions:  How do we protect our traditional buildings but make them fit for the future? What are the risks for small- and large-scale retrofit projects? How can unintended consequences be addressed when upgrading solid-walled buildings? The Whole Building Approach to retrofit!

Icon Scotland – Creating Conservation Videos Workshop
Date & Time: Thursday 11, 18 & 25 May 2023; 9-11am
Location: Online via Zoom
Over three sessions, learn about creating conservation video content to be used to educate, promote and share the profession. The workshop will cover the start-to-finish workflow for creating conservation videos, ethical and legal considerations of sharing conservation content, platforms and methods that support video content, and tips and tricks, such as repurposing footage. Sessions will take place one week apart and will allow attendees to create their own videos and receive feedback from the instructor.

 

VACANCIES

The Cockburn Association – Chair
The Cockburn Association is seeking to recruit a new Chair to replace Professor Cliff Hague OBE, who retires from the position in May 2023 following 6 years of excellent service. In 2025, the Cockburn will celebrate its 150^th anniversary. The new Chair will help frame the celebrations of this significant landmark event, which will include a major civic reception and publication. A key objective of the Chair is to drive the development of the Cockburn ‘brand’, increasing the support base and reaching out to stakeholders across the city, existing and new.  The Chair will be expected to bring their own network into the Association where possible and act as a figurehead to members and supporters.
Further information and a role description is available from the Director, Terry Levinthal: 0131-557-8686

The National Trust for Scotland – Heritage Compliance Officer
Salary: £34,376-£38,027 (subject to experience)
Status: Full-time (flexible working possible)
Location: Hybrid working, available for meetings in Edinburgh
The National Trust for Scotland is looking to recruit a heritage compliance officer to help identify and manage the conservation and operations risks. This is a unique opportunity to work across all aspects of a major heritage organisation, liaising with colleagues in all disciplines.
All enquiries and applications should be addressed to: Diarmid Hearns, Head of Public Policy, Risk and Environment

BACK

BEFS NEWS

Last week saw the successful launch of ScotLIS 3 – a critical tool for Scotland, a new report written by land reform expert Andy Wightman and commissioned jointly by BEFS and the David Hume Institute. BEFS Director chaired the launch event, ‘Scotland’s land information system: what is it and why it matters’, attracting over a hundred participants. It is clear from the report findings that siloed land information is holding back Scotland and BEFS noted that, “A fully functioning ScotLIS will support progress towards achieving Scotland’s net zero goals by 2045.”

The report outlines the background to ScotLIS, addresses the challenges, as well as the practical benefits and opportunities. The private and public sectors may all play a part in delivering ScotLIS and the report suggests five principles which will be vital to success in order to construct a single online portal, where all the land and property information can be examined and downloaded for analysis.

Skills within the sector is never far from BEFS work, and we’d like to draw readers’ attention to both the Prince’s Foundation Building Craft Programme 2023-2024; and the Europa Nostra (and partners) European Heritage Hub, building on connections and advocacy work across the sector, as well as promoting the wider European Year of Skills in 2023.

In implementing the reforms of Scotland’s planning system, the Scottish Government announced the recruitment of a National Planning Improvement Champion. The role will enable improvement within the Scottish planning system by supporting authorities with making improvements or efficiencies and, where appropriate, providing tailored advice to organisations within the sector including authorities, Scottish Government, agencies, community groups and developers. Further information about the role, including how to apply (by 31 March 2023), is available from the Improvement Service’s website.

RICS Scotland shared an update on their current activities, including developments from the second meeting of the reconvened Tenement Maintenance Working Group. At the working group, updates were provided by shared secretariat, BEFS and Under One Roof, and attendees included four MSPs and a wide range of built environment professionals and specialists.

Following the publication last year of The Value of Heritage report, this Bulletin features a blog focussed on Democratic tools for change, and the IHBC’s new advocacy route. Sean O’Reilly, IHBC Director has provided insight on IHBC’s work to establish the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Conservation, Places and People (CPP), and the relevance of the five recommendations included in their report for Scotland.

BEFS Bulletin readers may also recall the recent BEFS blog on the public sector’s role in delivering NPF4 through mixed use placemaking. The Investing In Our Place report on which the article was based has now been published by Scottish Enterprise. The report provides an overview of key lessons learned from case studies across Europe, and looks at applications of the design guidance through worked examples of potential future developments in Scotland.

Over the last year, the Heritage directorate within Historic Environment Scotland has been working on creating a quarterly newsletter for the wider Heritage sector: Lintel. The newsletter will keep readers updated on completed work, ongoing projects, and future plans. Read the most recent edition here where you can also sign up to receive future editions.

Also of interest to the sector – HES have just launched their Historic Environment Grants programme – with events taking place over the last few days to introduce the new structure to potential participants.

And finally, the Spring Budget was released yesterday (15/03/2023) BEFS will continue to monitor policy implications as they arise.

 

CONSULTATIONS

Culture in communities – your views
Scottish Parliament
‘Place-based’ approach to culture means giving people a greater say in shaping the cultural life of their local communities. This consultation wants to know more about what is happening in our local communities and understand aspects including what does good ‘place-based’ cultural policy look like in practice.
*Extended deadline* Closes 7 April 2023

Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan
Scottish Government
This consultation seeks views on the vision and the actions to transition to an affordable, resilient and clean energy system set out in the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan as well as understanding how maximum social and economic benefits from the energy transition for Scotland can be secured.
*Extended deadline* Closes 9 May 2023

Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment, RICS Professional Standard, 2nd edition
RICS
Consultation on the second edition of whole life carbon assessments in the built environment – a standard which mandates a methodology to track all carbon emissions from production of materials, construction process, use and disposal of built assets over their entire life cycle.
**NEW** Closes 18 April 2023

Gaelic Language Plan 2023-2026
HES
Views are invited on the HES Gaelic Language Plan 2023-2026. The plan will set out how HES intends to increase the use, learning and promotion of Gaelic and builds on the success of its 2018-2023 plan which was the first Gaelic Language Plan for the organisation.
**NEW** Closes 19 April 2023

Community Wealth Building
Scottish Government
Views are being sought on the internationally recognised Community Wealth Building (CWB) approach to economic development, as a key practical means for the Scottish Government to make progress towards realising the wellbeing economy vision outlined in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET).
Closes 25 April 2023

International Culture Strategy: survey
Scottish Government
Views sought to inform the development of a strategy to support the international aspirations and potential of Scotland’s culture sector.
Closes 26 April 2023

Review of National Outcomes: call for evidence
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government want to hear from people and communities across Scotland about whether their National Outcomes continue to reflect the kind of Scotland we want to see. They would also like to hear about how the National Performance Framework could have a bigger impact.
**NEW** Closes 5 June 2023

 

NEWS RELEASES

11 European heritage sites shortlisted for 7 Most Endangered Programme 2023 (Europa Nostra 25/01/2023)

National Churches Trust awarded £1.9m grant to boost skills, resources and funding (National Churches Trust 28/02/2023)

Projects in Dunoon, Aberdeenshire, Dundee and Dumfries announced as the winners of the 12th Scottish Empty Homes Awards (SHN 02/03/2023)

Parliamentary focus on actions needed to make Scotland’s towns stronger (STP 02/03/2023)

NHS Scotland Environment and Sustainability Strategy published (greenspace scotland 03/03/2023)

Carve out a career in built heritage (Department for Communities 06/03/2023)

Cadw and IHBC join forces to support energy efficiency training for Conservation Officers in Wales (IHBC 07/03/2023)

RICS launches consultation to help ensure consistent measurement of carbon (Project Scotland 07/03/2023)

Scotland’s Land Information Service: what it is and why it matters – Webinar recording (David Hume Institute 08/03/2023)

Shortlist revealed for record Museums + Heritage Awards 2023 (Museums + Heritage 09/03/2023)

RTPI Scotland Parliamentary Briefing on ‘The Role of Local Government and its Cross-sectoral Partners in Financing and Delivery a Net-zero Scotland’ (RTPI Scotland 13/03/2023)

HES launch new Historic Environment Grants programme (HES 15/03/2023)

 

OPINION & COMMENT

‘Uncomfortable heritage’: how cities are repurposing former slaughterhouses (The Conversation 27/02/2023)

Despite promising industry-led initiatives, more must be done to address Scotland’s skills shortages (SCN 28/02/2023)

Jenny Divine: Redressing the gender imbalance in public spaces – a reflection (RTPI 01/03/2023)

UN body backs calls from environmental and community campaigners to review planning appeal rights across Scotland (TFN 01/03/2023)

Climate change: Scotland’s cultural sector can help people engage with the problem – Dr Richard Dixon (The Scotsman 02/03/2023)

What impact will new minimum EPC requirements have? (RICS 03/03/2023)

Town centre living can underpin resilience of Scottish places (The Planner 03/03/2023)

Top five Scottish Archaeological sites and artefacts brought to life by digital technology (Dig It!  03/03/2023)
Includes a 3D model from a collection of traditional buildings featuring the most prominent examples of indigenous Scottish architecture.

Government urged to insulate Britain’s historic buildings (E&T 06/03/2023)

New retrofit hub to propel greener homes (SCN 06/03/2023)

How retrofitting the UK’s old buildings can generate an extra £35bn in new money (The Guardian 06/03/2023)

Scotland urgently needs a land information system for the climate crisis, says report (The Ferret 06/03/2023)

How climate adaptation plans for European cities are gradually getting better (CarbonBrief 06/03/2023)

Hunt urged to commit extra £6bn a year to making UK homes energy efficient (The Guardian 09/03/2023)

Is Scotland being left behind in the transition to a circular economy? (Scottish Environment Link 09/03/2023)

So You Want To Turn An Office Building Into a Home? (The New York Times 11/03/2023)

Old walls, new life? Britain’s builders embrace the retrofit revolution (The Observer 11/03/2023)

 

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

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

Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 31/01/2023
S6W-14566
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) PAS 2030 and (b) PAS 2035 qualified energy efficiency and retrofit professionals there currently are in Scotland.
S6W-14567
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) colleges and (b) training providers offer PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 training courses in Scotland, and what information it has on how this compares with the UK as a whole.
S6W-14568
To ask the Scottish Government how long it takes to obtain (a) PAS 2030 and (b) PAS 2035 certification, and what the estimated cost is of doing so.
S6W-14569
To ask the Scottish Government what modifications it has made to the PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 standards to take account of Scottish climate, housing stock and energy efficiency requirements.
S6W-14570
To ask the Scottish Government whether its area-based schemes and Warmer Homes Scotland schemes and their contractors have sufficient access to professionals who are trained in the PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 standards.
S6W-14571
To ask the Scottish Government what business impact assessment it conducted when implementing the PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 standards.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 28 February 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 02/02/2023
S6W-14585
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12522 by Patrick Harvie on 9 December 2022, whether it has concluded reviewing its “cost estimates to deliver the heat transition on this basis”, and when it plans to “provide a further update” in order to answer the question.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 2 March 2023

Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 06/02/2023
S6W-14710
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress towards completion of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) guidance documents, and by what date these will be published.
S6W-14711
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will issue guidance to stakeholders on how they should express their interest for inclusion in the Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group.
S6W-14713
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the establishment of a Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group, and by what date it will publish the final list of group members.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 March 2023

Oliver Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 10/02/2023
S6W-14898
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce planning application costs for retro-fitted solar panels in domestic properties.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 March 2023

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10/02/2023
S6W-14931
To ask the Scottish Government what the expected timeline is for applications to the 2024-25 round of the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP).
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 March 2023

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 21/02/2023
S6W-14785
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there may be a need for secondary legislation for the Glasgow School of Art reconstruction project, to ensure that the restoration of the building is as faithful to Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s original design as possible, and whether (a) it would be possible to introduce and (b) it will give consideration to introducing secondary legislation to this end under (i) the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 and (ii) section 63 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.
Current status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 2 March 2023

Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10/02/2023
S6W-14931
To ask the Scottish Government what the expected timeline is for applications to the 2024-25 round of the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP).
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 March 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 20/02/2023
S6W-15197
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £1.8 billion allocated towards the Heat in Buildings Strategy it has already spent.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 6 March 2023

Ariane Burgess, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 21/02/2023
S6W-15209
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to publish the interim findings from the Green Heat Finance Taskforce.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 6 March 2023

Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 21/02/2023
S6W-15237
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings in the WWF report, Affordable Warmth: Next Steps for Clean Heat in Scotland, in light of reports that Scotland will fall “significantly short” of its target for decarbonising heating in homes.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 6 March 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16/02/2023
S6W-15090
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a more detailed breakdown of where funding will be allocated from the budget line “Climate Action and Just Transition Fund” in the Scottish Budget 2023-24, which is set at £79.5 million.
Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 March 2023

Katy Clark, West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10/02/2023
S6W-14827
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support local authorities in efforts to repair older public buildings for continued use.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 March 2023

Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 27/02/2023
S6W-15411
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13127 by Patrick Harvie on 9 January 2023, when it expects to release the annual reports for the (a) Scottish House Condition Survey for (i) 2020, (ii) 2021 and (iii) 2022 and (b) Scottish Household Survey for (A) 2021 and (B) 2022.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 March 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16/02/2023
S6W-15115
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many (a) houses and (b) flats in Scotland have been demolished in each year since 1999.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 March 2023

Kaukab Stewart, Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 01/03/2023
S6O-01974
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the fourth National Planning Framework since its adoption on 13 February 2023.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur in the Chamber on 8 March 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16/02/2023
S6W-15124
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated to council housing maintenance budgets in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 8 March 2023

Katy Clark, West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 09/02/2023
S6W-14838
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to mandate any national infrastructure company with providing unbiased advice on investing in repairing and repurposing older buildings as part of Scotland’s commitment to net zero.
S6W-14839
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to redirect resources from the Scottish Futures Trust to any national infrastructure company.
S6W-14846
To ask the Scottish Government what actions it plans to take to ensure that any national infrastructure company is equipped to be able to provide advice on how local authorities can plan for wellbeing and net zero in their infrastructure investments.
Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 9 March 2023

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10/02/2023
S6W-14921
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to NHS boards to identify and deliver sustainable new uses for historic NHS-owned properties that are currently on the Buildings at Risk Register.
Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 March 2023

Edward Mountain, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date: 14/03/2023
S6M-08209
Debate on motion on the role of local government and its cross-sectoral partners in financing and delivering a net zero Scotland following publication of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee report on the Environmental Regulations (Enforcement Measures) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 01/03/2023
S6W-15473 R
To ask the Scottish Government what powers are available to (a) local authorities and (b) other public bodies to take action to address empty homes in Scotland.
Current status: Holding answer by Shona Robison on 15 March 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 02/03/2023
S6W-15512
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), what its key (a) priorities and (b) deliverables are in its implementation; what its key outcomes are, and within what timeframe those outcomes must be delivered.
Current status: Answer expected on 16 March 2023

 

EVENTS

For further listings, please see our events calendar.

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust – Spring Lecture Series: Tales from the Tron
Date & Time: Friday 17 March – Wednesday 24 May 2023
Location: Riddle’s Court, 322 Lawnmarket, EH1 2PG
In this five-lecture series, guest speakers will cover the story of the Tron from the fantastical public spectacles staged at the Salt Tron on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, via a shopper’s prehistory of Marlin’s Wynd, through to the Tron Kirk in its urban context and the working class and slum clearances of Old Edinburgh. The final lecture, A Walk through a Thinking Machine: from Riddle’s Court to the Tron with Patrick Geddes, will end with a walk to the Tron Kirk to explore how we use spaces and places to learn.

AHSS Joseph Sharples – The Workers Who Built The University Of Glasgow, 1867-71
Date & Time: Thursday 23 March 2023; 7:30pm
Location: Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow
Note: Lectures will also be streamed online via Zoom
Joseph Sharples, Curator of Mackintosh Collections at the Hunterian, uncovers the fascinating story of the hundreds of masons, joiners, bricklayers and labourers who were drawn from across the British Isles to work on George Gilbert Scott’s new University; one of the biggest building projects in Victorian Scotland.

RICS Post-pandemic wellbeing of young professionals: Construction’s next challenge?
Date & Time: Wednesday 29 March 2023; 4-5pm
Location: Online
The pandemic has brought about a change in working patterns and an increased focus on wellbeing in many industries. This webinar explores how recent entrants to the construction industry may face new challenges compared with their counterparts a few years ago as they adapt to new ways of working, including remote working and less in-person collaboration.

Edinburgh World Heritage – Paul Sandby’s Edinburgh
Date & Time: Wednesday 29 March 2023; 6pm
Location: Hybrid – Online and at St Mark’s Unitarian Church, 7 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2DP
Paul Sandby came to Edinburgh in 1747 as an unknown English draughtsman to draw maps for the military; he left the city 4 years later as a promising artist who would become the so-called father of English Watercolour. Join Andy Arthur, as he explores a 1750 watercolour view of Edinburgh, teasing out what has changed and what remains. Expect to see a fresh perspective on the city, and hear obscure and overlooked stories of Edinburgh’s past.

 

TRAINING

Social Enterprise Academy – Steps to Sustainability: Skills Sessions
Date & Time: 16 March-11 May
Location: Online
Range of training sessions for those working in the Heritage Sector covering: Retail Management Essentials, Digital Engagement, Fundraising, Marketing & PR, and Alternative Sources of Finance.

Fife Historic Buildings Trust – Conservation Engineering to Transform Inverkeithing Town House
Date & Time: Wednesday 22 March 2023; 12-1pm
Location: Hybrid – online via Zoom and at Scottish Lime Centre Trust, 2 Rocks Road, Charlestown KY11 3EN
An IHBC CPD accredited lunchtime talk on structural adaptations to make the A-listed Inverkeithing Town House fully accessible. Talk by Steve Wood, Conservation Accredited Engineer, MEng, CEng, MIStructE, Technical Director – Conservation, at Narro.

Retrofitting Traditional Buildings – Principles and Practice
Date & Time: Wednesday 19 & 26 April 2023; 9:30am-1pm
Location: Online via Zoom
An online technical masterclass, running over 2 half days, covering emerging research, best practice and case studies in the field of upgrading traditional and historic buildings. Addressing the following questions:  How do we protect our traditional buildings but make them fit for the future? What are the risks for small- and large-scale retrofit projects? How can unintended consequences be addressed when upgrading solid-walled buildings? The Whole Building Approach to retrofit!

Icon Scotland – Creating Conservation Videos Workshop
Date & Time: Thursday 11, 18 & 25 May 2023; 9-11am
Location: Online via Zoom
Over three sessions, learn about creating conservation video content to be used to educate, promote and share the profession. The workshop will cover the start-to-finish workflow for creating conservation videos, ethical and legal considerations of sharing conservation content, platforms and methods that support video content, and tips and tricks, such as repurposing footage. Sessions will take place one week apart and will allow attendees to create their own videos and receive feedback from the instructor.

 

VACANCIES

The Cockburn Association – Chair
The Cockburn Association is seeking to recruit a new Chair to replace Professor Cliff Hague OBE, who retires from the position in May 2023 following 6 years of excellent service. In 2025, the Cockburn will celebrate its 150^th anniversary. The new Chair will help frame the celebrations of this significant landmark event, which will include a major civic reception and publication. A key objective of the Chair is to drive the development of the Cockburn ‘brand’, increasing the support base and reaching out to stakeholders across the city, existing and new.  The Chair will be expected to bring their own network into the Association where possible and act as a figurehead to members and supporters.
Further information and a role description is available from the Director, Terry Levinthal: 0131-557-8686 or director@cockburnassociation.org.uk

The National Trust for Scotland – Heritage Compliance Officer
Salary: £34,376-£38,027 (subject to experience)
Status: Full-time (flexible working possible)
Location: Hybrid working, available for meetings in Edinburgh
The National Trust for Scotland is looking to recruit a heritage compliance officer to help identify and manage the conservation and operations risks. This is a unique opportunity to work across all aspects of a major heritage organisation, liaising with colleagues in all disciplines.
All enquiries and applications should be addressed to: Diarmid Hearns, Head of Public Policy, Risk and Environment: dhearns@nts.org.uk
Job Description

Planning Aid for Scotland – Director of Operations
Salary: £45,000-£51,500
Status: Full-time
Location: Hybrid working; able to attend office in Edinburgh
PAS are looking to appoint a dynamic individual to the newly created post of Director of Operations.
The successful candidate will help drive forward innovation and delivery, both within the organisation and with external projects and partners. This is an exciting time to join a dynamic, ambitious and responsive organisation, to help deliver solutions that support communities across Scotland.
For more information or an informal discussion, interested candidates should contact Johanna Boyd, Chief Executive: johanna@pas.org.uk
Find out more about the role and about PAS in the Position Profile.
Closing date: 5pm on Wednesday 22 March 2023

Scottish Lime Centre Trust – Principal Trainer
Salary: commensurate with knowledge and experience
Status: Full-time, Mon-Fri with some flexibility to work weekends
Location: Charlestown, Fife
The Scottish Lime Centre Trust is seeking a practically orientated and organised individual able to manage their own workload and work as part of a team, with the ability to pass on skills and knowledge to a wide audience range. This is an excellent opportunity for a time served stonemason, with advanced craft qualifications, to join a busy team to deliver a range of ‘hands on’ courses as well as work alongside the Building Advisory team. Full support, guidance and training will be given to the successful candidate to ensure that the practical training delivery meets the exacting standards of the SLCT.
Further details and applications
Closing date: Friday 24 March 2023

BACK

BEFS NEWS

The consultation for Scotland’s new historic environment strategy closed last week; thank you to everyone who took part in helping to shape the new strategy. BEFS considers a new strategy to be a positive advocacy tool for the role of the historic environment across multiple agendas, helping to outline shared priorities for the sector. Further clarity around the ‘day job’ of the sector, monitoring, as well as measurement of delivery and KPIs will be welcomed as the strategy and delivery plan are progressed. BEFS encourages Members who would like their responses shared via BEFS Consultations page to send them on to us. Those already received, as well as BEFS own response, can be found here.

And when it comes to strategies, the National Lottery Heritage Fund introduced their new strategy today (02/03/2023). Heritage 2033 has four new investment principles: Saving heritage; Protecting the environment; Inclusion, access and participation; and Organisational sustainability. They will continue their current approach of offering open funding programmes – from small grants up to multi-million-pound projects – for all types of heritage. From 2023, NLHF will introduce a higher investment threshold of £10m to allow for larger-scale investment and will consider investing in projects above this threshold to support truly exceptional heritage projects across the UK.  There is also the introduction of new strategic funding streams, with early initiatives focused on: Place; Landscape and nature; Heritage in need; and Acquisitions, opportunities and emergencies. Full details and information can be found here.

As a supporting Member of the Climate Heritage Network, BEFS is pleased to share the news that CHN have launched a new YouTube channel devoted to presenting ideas, strategies, case studies, and tips to inspire and accelerate culture-based climate action, from CHN member organisations and partners around the world.

A little closer to home, The Ridge published a new Feasibility Study looking at insulating a stone tenement alongside newbuild/alternative on-site generation (district heating scheme). The study was funded by the Scottish Government, in conjunction with East Lothian Council, with The Ridge as Lead Partner for the Local Action Group. Investigations relating to retrofitting historic properties and the skills development required is very much welcomed by BEFS.

For those interested in the data underpinning our places, and marking the publication of a newly commissioned paper by Andy Wightman, the David Hume Institute and BEFS will hold a webinar on Wednesday 8 March about Scotland’s Land Information Service. Exploring why it matters, and discussing the benefits further development could bring. Andy Wightman, writer, researcher and former member of the Scottish Parliament will be joined by Professor Stewart Brymer, solicitor and Honorary Professor in law at the University of Dundee. Sign-up here

With news of Awards across the sector: The Scottish Civic Trust have announced the shortlist to the My Place Awards 2023, displaying a range of community-led built environment projects that have transformed their locality across Scotland. And, RIAS have revealed 13 contenders for Scotland’s 2023 architecture awards.

BEFS were pleased to hear that our trustee, Niall Murphy, has been appointed Director of Glasgow City Heritage Trust. He joined the Trust as Grants Officer in 2016 and has been Deputy Director since mid-2017 – huge congratulations on the new role.

As more and more events start to happen in person, BEFS Director, managed to attend the 12th Scottish Empty Homes Conference, where The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP) launched new draft advisory guidance to assist local authorities to bring some of Scotland’s nearly 43,000 long-term empty homes back into use. When presented this seemed to be an exceptionally useful resource – it can be explored here, with feedback being sought from users across March 2023.

And finally, we liked this visual released by the Ordnance Survey at the end of February. The heatmap shows the distribution of historic buildings in GB; including Castles, Estates, Cathedrals, and more.

CONSULTATIONS

 

BEFS response to the consultation for Historic Environment Scotland’s Regulatory Framework (BEFS 14/02/2023)

BEFS response to the consultation for Scotland’s new historic environment strategy (BEFS 20/02/2023) On BEFS Consultations responses page, you can also find responses from NTS and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

Town centres and retail report – Response from the Scottish Government (Scot Parl 20/02/2023)

Budget Statement Stage 3: 2023-24 (Scot Gov 21/02/2023)

Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing Review – Fabric and Hard to Treat subgroup minutes: 07 February 2023 (Scot Gov 21/02/2023)

Investing in Communities Fund – round 2 2023 to 2026: approved awards (Scot Gov 21/02/2023)

SPICe Briefing – The Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 21/02/2023)

Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing Review – Measures and Finance subgroup minutes: February 2023 (24/02/2023)

Open Government action plan 2021 to 2025 – commitment 4: climate change (27/02/2023)

Planning applications statistics 2022/2023: quarterly (April 2022 to September 2022) (Scot Gov 28/02/2023)

The Repairing Standard – Statutory Guidance for Landlords (Scot Gov 01/02/2023)

NEWS RELEASES

 

Icon secures funding to investigate industrial heritage conservation skills shortages (ICON 13/01/2023)

Commissioners announced for UK Urban Futures Commission (CoreCities UK 02/02/2023)

New refurbishment and retrofit framework urges interest from would-be suppliers (Built environment Network 14/02/2023)

Ground-breaking report shows the significance of built environment to Scotland’s circular economy, as new tool is launched to reduce site waste (Zero Waste Scotland 16/02/2023)

Architecture and Design Scotland joins Scottish Design Awards 2023 jury (A&DS 16/02/2023)

Dumfries and Galloway Council has recently commissioned Savills Architects and Building Surveyors to undertake a Traditional Building Skills Audit and is inviting interested contractors to get in touch (DGWGO 16/02/2023)

RIAS reveals 13 contenders for Scotland’s 2023 architecture awards (Architects Journal 27/02/2023)

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP) launches new guidance to assist local authorities to bring some of Scotland’s nearly 43,000 long-term empty homes back into use (SHN 27/02/2023)

Drive to expand reach of Scotland’s Improvement Districts (STP 27/02/2023)

Introducing BRICK BY BRICK: Understanding Heritage Projects, a podcast produced by the Heritage Trust Network Youth Forum (HTN 28/02/2023)

Introducing Heritage 2033, our new 10-year strategy (Heritage Fund 02/03/2023)

OPINION & COMMENT

 

Open letter to leaders across Scotland’s built environment: Call for bold leadership and brave decisions in 2023 (BE-ST 23/01/2023)

Effectively retrofitting UK housing requires “compromise between performance and heritage” say architects (dezeen 27/01/2023)

Energy deficiency: the challenge of decarbonising UK buildings (The Engineer 09/02/2023)

In praise of the ‘15-minute city’ – the mundane planning theory terrifying conspiracists (The Guardian 16/02/2023)

Change to treasure law ‘will keep more artefacts in UK museums’ (The Guardian 18/02/2023)

Restoring Scotland’s crumbling castles with modern technology (The Herald 19/02/2023)

Retrofit for whole village slashes heating bills and energy loss (RIBA Journal 21/02/2023)

Open letter from the Scottish Tourism Alliance to the Scottish Government to halt the proposed ban on alcohol advertising and promotion (STA 27/02/2023)

Shake-up announced for the UK’s £300m National Lottery Heritage Fund (The Arts Newspaper 01/03/2023)

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

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

S6W-15115 Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16/02/2023
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many (a) houses and (b) flats in Scotland have been demolished in each year since 1999.
S6W-15124
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated to council housing maintenance budgets in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.
Current status: Answer expected on 16 March 2023

S6W-15209 Ariane Burgess, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 21/02/2023
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to publish the interim findings from the Green Heat Finance Taskforce.
Current status: Answer expected on 7 March 2023

S6W-15237 Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 21/02/2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings in the WWF report, Affordable Warmth: Next Steps for Clean Heat in Scotland, in light of reports that Scotland will fall “significantly short” of its target for decarbonising heating in homes.
Current status: Answer expected on 7 March 2023

S6W-14712 Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 06/02/2023
To ask the Scottish Government what support will be made available to provide planners with additional resources to assess the environmental impacts of developments, including making assessments of the impact of these on biodiversity.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 21 February 2023

Debate on the Levelling-Up Fund (UK Parl)
Date: 22/02/2023
Question from Dr Lisa Cameron East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, SNP concerning what recent assessment the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland has made with Cabinet colleagues of the effectiveness of levelling-up funding in Scotland.

S6F-01844 Gillian Mackay, Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 20/02/2023
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an update on how it is responding to the Climate Change Committee’s report on progress in reducing emissions in Scotland.
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2023

S6W-15411 Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 27/02/2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13127 by Patrick Harvie on 9 January 2023, when it expects to release the annual reports for the (a) Scottish House Condition Survey for (i) 2020, (ii) 2021 and (iii) 2022 and (b) Scottish Household Survey for (A) 2021 and (B) 2022.
Current status: Answer expected on 13 March 2023

S6M-07942 Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date: 28/02/2023
Debate on retail and town centres in Scotland

EVENTS

For further listings, please see our events calendar.

The David Hume Institute & BEFS – Scotland’s Land Information System (ScotLIS): what is it and why it matters?
Date & Time: Wednesday 8 March 2023; 11am-12:30pm
Location: Online
Join this webinar to mark the publication of a newly commissioned paper on Scotland’s Land Information System and find out why it is critical to infrastructure. Information about land and buildings is used every day by businesses, policy-makers, academics and ordinary citizens, covering land ownership and valuation, energy efficiency ratings, building types, vegetation cover and flood risks. However, as the impacts of climate change intensify, there is even greater need for more timely, more comprehensive, and more accessible information about land and buildings in Scotland.

The Cockburn Association – Student housing: crisis and opportunity?
Date & Time: Wednesday 8 March 2023; 1:30–5pm
Location: Quaker Meeting House, Victoria Street, Edinburgh EH1 2JL
With students currently in need of purpose-built student accommodation, planning applications are being submitted on a regular basis.  However local residents and communities routinely object to them, concerned that their neighbourhoods will be impacted negatively, frequently citing the need for affordable housing as more important. This half-day conference will bring different parties together to discuss the issues and impacts, and scope the expectations towards the situation’s improvement, and what can we all do moving forward.

Scottish Civic Trust – North of Scotland Local Heritage Surgeries
Date & Time: Friday 10 March 2023
Location: Nucleus: The Nuclear and Caithness Archive, Wick Airport, Wick, KW1 4QS
Is your local heritage or civic group looking to engage a wider range of people in your activities? Scottish Civic Trust are hosting local heritage surgeries for groups to chat and brainstorm with their staff about outreach and engagement strategies.

AHSS Dr Diane Watters – Discovering Urban School Buildings in Medieval and Early Modern Scotland
Date & Time: Monday 13 March 2023; 6:30pm
Location:  Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL (wheelchair accessible)
In this talk, Dr Watters examines three grammar school case studies – St Andrews, Dunfermline and Edinburgh – highlighting the development of these medieval school buildings up to c.1600 and attempting to counter the orthodoxy that there were only a few permanent town school buildings in Scotland prior to the fifteenth century.

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust – Spring Lecture Series: Tales from the Tron
Date & Time: Friday 17 March – Wednesday 24 May 2023
Location: Riddle’s Court, 322 Lawnmarket, EH1 2PG
In this five-lecture series, guest speakers will cover the story of the Tron from the fantastical public spectacles staged at the Salt Tron on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, via a shopper’s prehistory of Marlin’s Wynd, through to the Tron Kirk in its urban context and the working class and slum clearances of Old Edinburgh. The final lecture, A Walk through a Thinking Machine: from Riddle’s Court to the Tron with Patrick Geddes, will end with a walk to the Tron Kirk to explore how we use spaces and places to learn.

Scottish Civic Trust – South of Scotland Local Heritage Surgeries
Date & Time: Saturday 18 March 2023
Location: Heritage Hub, Kirkstile, Hawick TD9 0AE
Is your local heritage or civic group looking to engage a wider range of people in your activities? Scottish Civic Trust are hosting local heritage surgeries for groups to chat and brainstorm with their staff about outreach and engagement strategies.

AHSS Joseph Sharples – The Workers Who Built The University Of Glasgow, 1867-71
Date & Time: Thursday 23 March 2023; 7:30pm
Location: Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow
Note: Lectures will also be streamed online via Zoom
Joseph Sharples, Curator of Mackintosh Collections at the Hunterian, uncovers the fascinating story of the hundreds of masons, joiners, bricklayers and labourers who were drawn from across the British Isles to work on George Gilbert Scott’s new University; one of the biggest building projects in Victorian Scotland.

TRAINING

 

Social Enterprise Academy – Steps to Sustainability: Skills Sessions
Date & Time: 16 March-11 May
Location: Online
Range of training sessions for those working in the Heritage Sector covering: Retail Management Essentials, Digital Engagement, Fundraising, Marketing & PR, and Alternative Sources of Finance.

Fife Historic Buildings Trust – Conservation Engineering to Transform Inverkeithing Town House
Date & Time: Wednesday 22 March 2023; 12-1pm
Location: Hybrid – online via Zoom and at Scottish Lime Centre Trust, 2 Rocks Road, Charlestown KY11 3EN
An IHBC CPD accredited lunchtime talk on structural adaptations to make the A-listed Inverkeithing Town House fully accessible. Talk by Steve Wood, Conservation Accredited Engineer, MEng, CEng, MIStructE, Technical Director – Conservation, at Narro.

Icon Scotland – Creating Conservation Videos Workshop
Date & Time: Thursday 11, 18 & 25 May 2023; 9-11am
Location: Online via Zoom
Over three sessions, learn about creating conservation video content to be used to educate, promote and share the profession. The workshop will cover the start-to-finish workflow for creating conservation videos, ethical and legal considerations of sharing conservation content, platforms and methods that support video content, and tips and tricks, such as repurposing footage. Sessions will take place one week apart and will allow attendees to create their own videos and receive feedback from the instructor.

VACANCIES

 

The Cockburn Association – Chair
The Cockburn Association is seeking to recruit a new Chair to replace Professor Cliff Hague OBE, who retires from the position in May 2023 following 6 years of excellent service. In 2025, the Cockburn will celebrate its 150^th anniversary. The new Chair will help frame the celebrations of this significant landmark event, which will include a major civic reception and publication. A key objective of the Chair is to drive the development of the Cockburn ‘brand’, increasing the support base and reaching out to stakeholders across the city, existing and new.  The Chair will be expected to bring their own network into the Association where possible and act as a figurehead to members and supporters.
Further information and a role description is available from the Director, Terry Levinthal: 0131-557-8686 or director@cockburnassociation.org.uk

The National Trust for Scotland – Heritage Compliance Officer
Salary: £34,376-£38,027 (subject to experience)
Status: Full-time (flexible working possible)
Location: Hybrid working, available for meetings in Edinburgh
The National Trust for Scotland is looking to recruit a heritage compliance officer to help identify and manage the conservation and operations risks. This is a unique opportunity to work across all aspects of a major heritage organisation, liaising with colleagues in all disciplines.
All enquiries and applications should be addressed to: Diarmid Hearns, Head of Public Policy, Risk and Environment: dhearns@nts.org.uk
Job Description

SPAB – Archive Officer
Salary: £26,000 (FTE)
Location: Spitalfields, London, E1. Hybrid/ flexi working available
Status: Part-time (2 days p/w)
The role is within the Education and Training team, contributing to the work of other teams; for example Communications, helping to create content for social media and blog posts. The position involves working closely with a small number of dedicated volunteers, who assist with archive tasks such as research, answering enquiries and cataloguing. In addition, the role involves enabling access to archive information and documents in line with good stewardship of historic archive material; raising awareness and understanding of the archive inside and outside the SPAB and contributing to planning for its future.
Further details and applications
Closing date: Midday, Sunday 12 March 2023

Scottish Lime Centre Trust – Principal Trainer
Salary: commensurate with knowledge and experience
Status: Full-time, Mon-Fri with some flexibility to work weekends
Location: Charlestown, Fife
The Scottish Lime Centre Trust is seeking a practically orientated and organised individual able to manage their own workload and work as part of a team, with the ability to pass on skills and knowledge to a wide audience range. This is an excellent opportunity for a time served stonemason, with advanced craft qualifications, to join a busy team to deliver a range of ‘hands on’ courses as well as work alongside the Building Advisory team. Full support, guidance and training will be given to the successful candidate to ensure that the practical training delivery meets the exacting standards of the SLCT.
Further details and applications
Closing date: Friday 24 March 2023

 

BACK

BEFS NEWS

The National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was published by the Scottish Ministers and adopted on 13 February. It should be read as a whole and replaces NPF3 and Scottish Planning Policy. In advance of adoption the Chief Planner provided advice on the transition to the new development plan system including supplementary guidance and some policy considerations.

BEFS also note that, in highlighting how their work can meet the policy aim of NPF4 – ALGAO (Association of Local Government Archaeology Officers) have released a new guidance document which aims to show the full range of core and secondary activities of public benefit that comprise archaeological works undertaken within the context of the planning system.

Implementation and delivery of NPF4 will depend on many actors and require collaboration of national and local government, regional bodies, key agencies, businesses, voluntary organisations and communities as well as investors throughout Scotland. In our latest BEFS Blog, urban designer Paul Morsley, development economist Steven Tolson and land-use planner Nick Wright summarise their work on the public sector’s role in delivering NPF4 through mixed-use placemaking.

The Heritage Alliance have summarised a recent machinery of government (MoG) change within the UK government. This transfer of functions between Ministers in the UK Government has resulted in the creation of a new department focused on energy security (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero); the changes have also re-focused the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, removing ‘Digital’ and highlighting the importance of these industries to the economy, as well as building on the UK’s position as a global leader in the creative arts.

Following a productive online consultation held at the end of January, BEFS engaged with representatives across the sector in-person. Each session examined the draft strategy for Scotland’s historic environment and outputs will help to inform BEFS response. Thank you to all participants! The Historic Environment Sector Strategy consultation closes on Monday 20 February. BEFS encourages organisations and individuals to submit your own views.

This week RIAS were delighted to reveal the shortlist for the 2023 RIAS Awards. This year’s list features 13 incredible projects from across Scotland, celebrating craftsmanship, innovation and site-specific design in architecture across a range of scales.

HES Director of Operations, Craig Mearns, provided a progress update on the high-level masonry inspections across HES sites. Out of the 70 sites closed in 2021-2022, HES was able to restore full or partial access at around 30 sites. The update includes details on site inspections, prioritisation, and future inspections currently scheduled.

Historic Environment Scotland’s new grants programme, the Historic Environment Grants (HEG) will go live on 15 March. You can sign-up to hear more about applying at one of their hour-long sessions; the HES Grants Team will explain what’s new about the HEG programme and how to apply for funding. For those unable to attend the session, videos of the presentations will be posted on the HES website on 16 March.

Within Scotland, the Office of the Chief Statistician has announced a delay in publication of the 2021 Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) Key Findings report. The results of the 2021 SHCS were expected to be published in May 2023. This data underpins much of the ‘fabric first’ work that needs to be highlighted on the route map to the Heat in Buildings Strategy being fulfilled, so it is particularly disappointing that the delay continues.

Considering building data – and marking the publication of a new paper by Andy Wightman about Scotland’s Land Information System (ScotLIS) and its potential for the future – the David Hume Institute and BEFS will hold a webinar on Wednesday 8 March. Look out for the paper’s publication, BEFS Twitter will ensure we publicise its release.

Related to this, the recent commentary from the Fraser of Allander Institute reflects on the Scottish Government response to the recommendations from the work previously undertaken via ClimateXChange to inform the Joint Budget Review, highlighting the need for more joined-up thinking, and more reliable and accurate data to help meet net zero ambitions.

And finally, the announcement (15/02/2023) by the First Minister that she intends to stand-down, but will remain in role until her successor is elected by the SNP, will undoubtedly have ramifications (in time) across roles within the current Government; BEFS will monitor and report as necessary.

 

CONSULTATIONS

Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF): recommended projects 2014 to 2024 (Scot Gov 06/02/2023)

Letter to Angus Robertson from the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee regarding concerns over the Future of the Culture Sector (Scot Parl 07/02/2023)

Chief Planner Fiona Simpson & Tom Arthur outline transitional arrangements for National Planning Framework 4 (Scot Gov 08/02/2023)

Announcement of Low Carbon Fund: Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme Projects (Scot Gov 08/02/2023)

Climate change insights, business and transport, UK: February 2023 (ONS 10/02/2023)

Domestic quality assurance for Heat in Buildings Programme BRIA (Scot Gov 10/02/2023)

National Planning Framework 4 (Scot Gov 13/02/2023)

 

NEWS RELEASES

Results of FOI request about HES ‘Properties in Care’ (AHSS 19/01/2023)

Delay in publication of 2021 Scottish House Condition Survey Key Findings report (Scot Gov – Office of the Chief Statistician 30/01/2023)

Finalists Announced for 12th Scottish Empty Homes Awards (SEHP 02/02/2023)

2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction spotlights heritage, traditional knowledge (Climate Heritage Network 05/02/2023)

Progress update on our high-level masonry inspections (HES 08/02/2023)

Flexible planning rules – new measures to boost hospitality and town centre recovery (Scot Gov 10/02/2023)

Reflecting on Scottish Mills Weekend 2022 (SPAB 13/02/2023)

Planning for greener communities (Scot Gov 13/02/2023)

The Scottish Government Needs A Rethink To Meet Net Zero Ambitions (Fraser of Allander Institute 14/02/2023)

Delivery of Public Benefit and Social Value for Archaeology in the Planning Process (ALGAO 14/02/2023)

 

OPINION & COMMENT

Saving Scotland’s Tenements (Bylines Scotland 27/01/2023)

How can nature-based solutions help cities achieve their climate goals? (CarbonBrief 30/01/2023)

Planting more trees could reduce premature heat-related deaths in European cities by a third – new research (The Conservation 01/02/2023)

City planners are questioning the point of parking garages (The Conservation 01/02/2023)

Shortage of stonemasons could affect Scotland’s crumbling heritage (The Herald 05/02/2023)

Festivals face ‘economic shock’ as a result of licensing of short-term lets (Kalkine Media 07/02/2023)

Be part of history and have your say in Historic Environment Scotland public consultation (Daily Record 08/02/2023)

Britain is addicted to the wrecking ball. It’s trashing our heritage and the planet (The Guardian 10/02/2023)

It’s not easy being green when you live in a conservation area (Financial Times 10/02/2023)

Why Scotland’s heritage risks being just a thing of the past for Generation Z (The Scotsman 12/02/2023)

Meet one of the few full-time thatchers in Britain (The Times 12/02/2023)

Shawlands Camphill Gate is back on top after £1.4m repairs (The Herald 12/02/2023)

Planners to favour green regeneration of derelict sites as NPF4 comes into force (Scottish Housing News 13/02/2023)

Planning reforms aim for ‘fairer’ and ‘greener’ Scotland (Project Scotland 13/02/2023)

 

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

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

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 27/01/2023
S6W-14471
To ask the Scottish Government what the total budget allocation has been for Architecture and Design Scotland for each year since it was founded.
S6W-14472
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the efficacy of Architecture and Design Scotland.
S6W-14474
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of what Architecture and Design Scotland’s budget is allocated to.
Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 7 February 2023

S6W-14302 Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26/01/2023
To ask the Scottish Government what support and advice it will provide to households and buildings in conservation areas to comply with the Bute House Agreement commitment to require home and building upgrades at the point of sale, change of tenancy, and refurbishment to meet a standard equivalent to EPC C, on a mandatory basis from 2025.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 9 February 2023

S6W-14585 Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 02/02/2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12522 by Patrick Harvie on 9 December 2022, whether it has concluded reviewing its “cost estimates to deliver the heat transition on this basis”, and when it plans to “provide a further update” in order to answer the question.
Current status: Answer expected on 2 March 2023

Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 06/02/2023
S6W-14710
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress towards completion of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) guidance documents, and by what date these will be published.
S6W-14711
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will issue guidance to stakeholders on how they should express their interest for inclusion in the Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group.
S6W-14712
To ask the Scottish Government what support will be made available to provide planners with additional resources to assess the environmental impacts of developments, including making assessments of the impact of these on biodiversity.
S6W-14713
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the establishment of a Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group, and by what date it will publish the final list of group members.
Current status: Answer expected on 6 March 2023

S6W-14827 Katy Clark, West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10/02/2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support local authorities in efforts to repair older public buildings for continued use.
Current status: Answer expected on 10 March 2023

S6W-14931 Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10/02/2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the expected timeline is for applications to the 2024-25 round of the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP).
Current status: Answer expected on 10 March 2023

 

EVENTS

For further listings, please see our events calendar.

SoAoS February Lecture – Rethinking Weapons in Bronze Age Shang China
Date & Time: Thursday 23 February 2023; 6pm
Location: Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL (wheelchair accessible)
Note: Lectures will also be streamed online via Zoom
Dr Qin Cao’s lecture will explore the significance of weapons to early Chinese civilization, and how the application of European archaeological theories and methods benefit research into Chinese Bronze Age material remains.

Scottish Empty Homes Partnership – 12th Scottish Empty Homes Conference
Date & Time: Wednesday 1 March 2023
Location: The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
With the theme Repair, Reuse, Revitalise, this conference will discuss how the repair and reuse of empty homes is helping to revitalise communities and local economies, as well as offering a cost-effective approach to delivering environmental sustainability goals.

A&DS – Place Forum: The power of place in child-poverty and cost of living crisis
Date & Time: Wednesday 1 March 2023; 11am-1pm
Location: Online via Teams
This event looks at one of the core themes emerging from the 2022-23 Programme for Government: Child Poverty and the cost of living crisis, and at how the key institutions that help shape our places can work together to make place-based strategies relevant to tackling these themes.

The David Hume Institute & BEFS – Scotland’s Land Information System (ScotLIS): what is it and why it matters?
Date & Time: Wednesday 8 March 2023; 11am-12:30pm
Location: Online
Join this webinar to mark the publication of a newly commissioned paper on Scotland’s Land Information System and find out why it is critical to infrastructure. Information about land and buildings is used every day by businesses, policy-makers, academics and ordinary citizens, covering land ownership and valuation, energy efficiency ratings, building types, vegetation cover and flood risks. However, as the impacts of climate change intensify, there is even greater need for more timely, more comprehensive, and more accessible information about land and buildings in Scotland.

Scottish Civic Trust – North of Scotland Local Heritage Surgeries
Date & Time: Friday 10 March 2023
Location: Nucleus: The Nuclear and Caithness Archive, Wick Airport, Wick, KW1 4QS
Is your local heritage or civic group looking to engage a wider range of people in your activities? Scottish Civic Trust are hosting local heritage surgeries for groups to chat and brainstorm with their staff about outreach and engagement strategies.

AHSS Dr Diane Watters – Discovering Urban School Buildings in Medieval and Early Modern Scotland
Date & Time: Monday 13 March 2023; 6:30pm
Location:  Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL (wheelchair accessible)
In this talk, Dr Watters examines three grammar school case studies – St Andrews, Dunfermline and Edinburgh – highlighting the development of these medieval school buildings up to c.1600 and attempting to counter the orthodoxy that there were only a few permanent town school buildings in Scotland prior to the fifteenth century.

Scottish Civic Trust – South of Scotland Local Heritage Surgeries
Date & Time: Saturday 18 March 2023
Location: Heritage Hub, Kirkstile, Hawick TD9 0AE
Is your local heritage or civic group looking to engage a wider range of people in your activities? Scottish Civic Trust are hosting local heritage surgeries for groups to chat and brainstorm with their staff about outreach and engagement strategies.

 

TRAINING

PAS – Coaching and Training to Develop Local Place Plans in Fife
Dates & Times: Sessions begin on Tuesday 14 February and run until Thursday 30 March
Location: Online and at various venues across Fife
Working with Fife Local Action Group (LAG), the PAS team are offering a comprehensive programme of coaching and training to support community groups in their Local Place Plan journey; whether you are considering developing a plan or you are part way through your journey. A wide range of support is available, free of charge to eligible groups and as spaces are limited it will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

MGS – Developing My Leadership 2023
Date & Time: Thursday 23 February 2023; 10am-4pm
Location: Online
Developing My Leadership offers an opportunity for new and aspiring leaders in the cultural heritage sector to connect, share challenges, good practice, and experience with peers. It’s designed to support learners to develop key leadership skills in order to work productively with those around them and lead in an effective and authentic way. Deadline to apply is 14th February 2023.

A&BS – Corporate Partnerships Training (Levels 1 & 2)
Dates & Times: 27 & 28 February (Level 1); 1 & 2 March (Level 2); 9:30am-12:30pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Level 1: If you are new to sponsorship fundraising or are looking to strengthen your understanding of key foundational concepts, this two-session ‘how-to’ course will take you through the foundations of sponsorship, from attracting businesses to nurturing long-lasting partnerships.
Level 2: If you are already a fundraiser in the cultural sector, delivering sponsorship in particular, and would like to develop your skills, this two-session course provides a comprehensive training opportunity to deepen your knowledge of corporate fundraising.

Icon Scotland – Creating Conservation Videos Workshop
Date & Time: Thursday 11, 18 & 25 May 2023; 9-11am
Location: Online via Zoom
Over three sessions, learn about creating conservation video content to be used to educate, promote and share the profession. The workshop will cover the start-to-finish workflow for creating conservation videos, ethical and legal considerations of sharing conservation content, platforms and methods that support video content, and tips and tricks, such as repurposing footage. Sessions will take place one week apart and will allow attendees to create their own videos and receive feedback from the instructor.

 

VACANCIES

The National Trust for Scotland – Heritage Compliance Officer
Salary: £34,376-£38,027 (subject to experience)
Status: Full-time (flexible working possible)
Location: Hybrid working, available for meetings in Edinburgh
The National Trust for Scotland is looking to recruit a heritage compliance officer to help identify and manage the conservation and operations risks. This is a unique opportunity to work across all aspects of a major heritage organisation, liaising with colleagues in all disciplines.
All enquiries and applications should be addressed to: Diarmid Hearns, Head of Public Policy, Risk and Environment: dhearns@nts.org.uk
Further details and applications

Scottish Civic Trust – Resources Manager
Salary: £27,000 pro-rata
Status: Part-time (17 hours per week)
Location: Glasgow
Scottish Civic Trust is recruiting for a Resources Manager to oversee the day-to-day running of finance at their organisation. The role includes statutory reporting, management accounting, cash management, and budgeting and forecasting. The Resources Manager will also manage HR, governance administration and premises management.
Further details and applications
Closing date: 5pm on Friday 24 February 2023

SURF Alliance for Action Programme – Girvan Facilitator
Salary: £33,000 (pro rata)
Status: Part-time (17.5 hrs per week)
Location: Girvan
SURF is seeking a part-time Facilitator to support its new Alliance for Action programme site in Girvan, South Ayrshire. The successful applicant will be responsible for helping to build on local progress towards the town’s regeneration, supporting collaboration and project delivery in response to community demand. Specifically, the post-holder will be responsible for helping to build on local demand for complementary economic, physical and social improvements in the town, following consultation activities in recent years including those that informed a 2021 Girvan Place Plan and the emerging Place-based Strategy for Girvan.
Further details and applications
Closing date: Tuesday 28 February 2023

Stirling City Heritage Trust – Traditional Buildings Inspector
Salary: £35,000 – £40,000
Status: Full-time, Fixed Term to 31 March 2026
Location: Stirling
Stirling City Heritage Trust are seeking a Building Professional or Craftsperson for the role of Traditional Buildings Inspector. The Traditional Buildings Health Check is a proactive building maintenance service operated by Stirling City Heritage Trust, providing advice and inspection services to traditional property owners in Stirling. This is a unique opportunity to work on the first project of its kind in Scotland. Applicants would need to demonstrate excellent communication and ICT skills and have a flexible approach to the role with the ability to self-manage a busy workload.
A passion for Scotland’s traditional buildings and an enthusiastic approach to feed into the development of the service.
Further details and applications
Closing date: Midday on Wednesday 1 March 2023

Fife Historic Buildings Trust – Finance & Administration Officer
Salary: £30,000
Status: Full-time or job share, fixed term for six months (possibility of extension)
Location: Kinghorn Town Hall, potentially hybrid
Fife Historic Buildings Trust are recruiting for a charity finance professional to co-ordinate the financial activities of FHBT. Sound financial control underpins all the great work they do, and this is an opportunity to bring your experience to join a welcoming and high achieving team, and play your part in their work for people and historic places in Fife.
Further details and applications
Closing date: 5pm on Friday 3 March 2023

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