BEFS News

BEFS is delighted to welcome a new Trustee to our Board. Fernanda Acosta Ballesteros, of Archaeology Scotland, brings her experience from diverse roles and organisations across the cultural heritage sector, as well as a focus on engagement, community heritage, inclusion and diversity. BEFS warmly thanks Eila Macqueen as she steps down from the Board after six years.

Ahead of yesterday’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee debate on Retrofitting of Properties for Net-Zero, Patrick Harvie wrote to the committee to set out the Scottish Government’s position, and SPICe published a spotlight blog taking a closer look at the issues involved.

Opening the debate, it was good to hear Committee Convenor, Ariane Burgess, mention a fabric-first approach, the known skills shortage, and VAT as she acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead. Questions were raised by Fergus Ewing in relation to tenements, along with support for BEFS report Why Flats Fall Down. Although the Scottish Government work plan is currently delayed, previous work by the Tenement Working Group was rightly referenced by Paul Sweeney as an area where progress can be made. Read the debate transcript here.

Meanwhile, work on NPF4 continues, and SPICe have published a central hub for briefings, blogs, and online resources as parliamentary scrutiny of the draft progresses. A new blog from Hazel Johnson, BEFS Policy & Strategy Manager, outlines the results from BEFS initial engagement with Members in forming a response to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee’s call for views.

Museums Galleries Scotland have shared details of new funding from the Scottish Government. The Museum Capital Resilience Fund will support capital costs that impact the long-term resilience of Scottish museums. All applicants should contact MGS regarding their proposed applications no later than 5pm on Friday 4 February 2022.

As part of the Empire, Slavery & Scotland’s Museums project, MGS also have a follow-up survey that investigates the work museums and galleries in Scotland have done, or plan to do, in relation to the historical impact and lasting legacy of Scotland’s links to the British Empire and colonialism. The survey is open until 7 February.

2022 is Scotland’s Year of Stories. The second round of applications to the Community Stories Fund, which will support organisations and community groups to deliver public facing activities and events taking place in Scotland during 2022, will open on 24 January until 18 March 2022.

The deadline for entries for the Scottish Civic Trust’s My Place 2022 Awards, which celebrate community-led built environment projects, has been extended to 13 February.

Finally, the Architectural Heritage Fund have also welcomed two new Trustees to their Board, while Jenny Gilruth, Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, has today announced the appointment of Hugh Hall as the new Chair of Historic Environment Scotland. Congratulations to all.

Get the BEFS Bulletin directly in your inbox. Subscribe here.

Consultations

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee – Call for Views: The role of local government and its cross-sectoral partners in financing and delivering a net-zero Scotland
Closes 21 January 2022

Building Regulations – Compliance And Enforcement: Consultation
Closes 4 February 2022

Heat in buildings – National Public Energy Agency: consultation – call for evidence 2021/2022
Closes 8 February 2022

Local Development Planning – regulations and guidance: consultation
Closes 31 March 2022

Open Space Strategies and Play Sufficiency Assessments: consultation
Closes 31 March 2022

Draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) – Public Consultation
Closes 31 March 2022

Consultation Responses

BEFS Response to the Committee for Local Government, Housing and Planning – Call For Views on NPF4 (10/01/2022)

BEFS Member responses to the committee’s call for views: Archaeology Scotland, RTPI, SURF

Publications

Scottish Homeowners’ Views on Making Domestic Buildings Energy Efficient: Awareness, Challenges, and the Way Forward (Novoville Insights, 18/11/21)

Levelling Up and social needs: An analysis of government’s progress (NPC, 11/01/22)
NPC investigate where Levelling Up money is going and how it compares with public priorities.

SPICe Spotlight: Retrofitting homes for net-zero (13/01/22)

Learning Points: A Blue-Green Strategy for Kilmarnock Town Centre (Architecture & Design Scotland, 19/01/22)
A&DS gathered a group of experts to see how good practice in blue-green infrastructure could be applied to the East Ayrshire regeneration strategy for Kilmarnock Town Centre.

Rebuilding Heritage Resources
Collected blogs, guides, and toolkits from the NLHF-funded support programme to help the heritage sector respond to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scottish Government Publications

Building standards – (fire safety) external wall systems: consultation analysis (17/01/22)

UK Government Publications

UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2022
This report outlines the UK government and devolved administrations’ position on key climate change risks and opportunities. The risk assessment considers UK-wide climate risks across multiple sectors of the economy and priorities several for action.

News Releases

Scotland Regeneration Capital Grant Fund: Projects set for £25m funding boost (The Herald, 03/01/21)
22 projects in locations across Scotland which will share £25 million of funding.

Project appoints mentors to help develop traditional skills in Fife (Project Scotland, 14/01/22)
The Inverkeithing Heritage Regeneration project has appointed Roz Artis and William Napier to work with individuals and SMEs in Fife who wish to develop traditional skills within their workforce.

‘Wallunteers’ build it better at Bannockburn House (Scottish Construction Now, 17/01/22)
The Bannockburn House Trust completed the then biggest urban community buy-out in the UK in 2017. A team of 20 volunteers have so far repointed more than 150 square metres of wall.

Hill House Box shortlisted for EU contemporary architecture prize (The National, 17/01/22)

One of Edinburgh’s oldest buildings to host culture project inspired by climate crisis (The Scotsman, 18/01/22)

Archaeological research in the Highlands (National Trust for Scotland, 14/12/21)
The National Trust for Scotland has 17 properties that fall within the Highland Council area and are therefore covered by the recently published Highland Archaeological Research Framework.

Opinion & Comment

David Lonsdale: Local councils must act to boost our town centres (The Herald, 7/01/22)
The director of the Scottish Retail Consortium argues newly-elected council administrations this Spring must ensure their policies and approach towards retail are supportive.

Podcast: What does the future hold for cities? (RSA Bridges to the Future, 11/01/22)
Matthew Taylor is joined by two Harvard economists, Edward Glaeser and David Cutler, to examine the history and future of the global city.

Edinburgh’s St Giles Cathedral could be handed over to Historic Environment Scotland as part of radical shake-up by Church of Scotland (Edinburgh News, 11/01/22)

M. Nolan Gray: Stop Fetishizing Old Homes (The Atlantic, 11/01/22)
Considering the American city, city planner Gray argues that whatever your aesthetic preferences, new construction is better on nearly every conceivable measure.

A look ahead at the coming year (Scottish Land Commission, 12/01/22)
Chief Executive Hamish Trench looks ahead to the Commission’s focus in 2022.

David Williams: Planning’s second century needs to learn from the errors of its first (The Planner, 14/01/22)
Instead of ‘creating place’, planners should focus on improving existing heritage -not just listed buildings and conservation areas, but the whole built fabric.

Home truths on the challenge to make Scotland a net zero nation (The National [Subscribers], 16/01/22)
Homes account for around thirteen per cent of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions, and over two million need to be retrofitted to meet net zero targets.

Timothy Brittain-Catlin: Are Scotland’s baronial castles worth saving? (Apollo, 16/01/22)
Scotland is strewn with baronial ruins like those of Buchanan Castle; many more have been demolished.

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

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

S6W-05062: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 14/12/2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the best and most cost effective way to insulate traditional granite homes, such as those in the north east and Aberdeen; what the reasons and evidence are for its position, and how it plans to support the decarbonisation of such homes.
Answered by Patrick Harvie (06/01/2022)

S6W-05067: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date lodged: 15 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Historic Environment Scotland publication, Guide to Energy Retrofit of Traditional Buildings, regarding the need for “an extensive programme of domestic retrofit” and the part that “the existing built environment, including older or historic buildings, will need to play…in the national refurbishment effort”.
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 January 2022

S6W-05393: Colin Beattie, Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party, Date lodged: 24 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what level of funding can be provided by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to stabilise and develop the site of Mavisbank House in Loanhead; what engagement HES is undertaking with relevant stakeholders to take forward development of this site; what short-term developments HES anticipates for this project, and whether HES will take a leadership role in the site’s development.
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 January 2022

S6W-05249: Willie Rennie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date lodged: 20 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the climate emergency, and in regard to energy saving and efficiency improvements delivered through its national fuel poverty scheme and other related schemes, what action it has taken to ensure that improvements that are made to homes prioritise environmentally-friendly technologies and heating systems.
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 17 January 2022

Other Parliamentary Activity

Subordinate Legislation on Short-Term Lets Considered by The Local Government, Housing And Planning Committee on 21 December 2021 (published 12/01/22)

Letter from Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee Convener regarding Retrofitting Housing for Net Zero – January 2022 (11 January 2022)

Retrofitting Housing for Net Zero – Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee Debate (18 January 2022) Scottish Parliament TV Recording, Transcript

Events

For the full list of BEFS Members’ upcoming events see our events calendar.

AHSS Strathclyde Group: Conservation in Post-War Scotland
Date & Time: 20 January, 19:30
Online
Gordon R Urquhart, historian and author, charts the development of architectural conservation in Scotland from late 18th-century antiquarianism through to the emergence of a popular (and professional) conservation movement in the tumultuous postwar era.

ICON Archaeology Group: Conservation of the Galloway Hoard
Date & Time: 27 January, 12noon
Online £10 / Icon Members free
The Galloway Hoard was found in 2014 and an exhibition is now on tour in Scotland after extensive research and conservation work. It was a true conservation challenge having a variety of material (glass, rock crystal and other minerals, minerally preserved organics) in addition to the precious metals. This lecture will be given by Martin Goldberg (curator) and Mary Davis (conservator).

SPAB Scotland: Milling Matters – John O’Groats Corn Mill 
Date & Time: 1 February, 12noon
Online: £6 / £5 members or £21 for all four lectures
In the first in a series of four ‘Milling Matters’ lectures from SPAB Scotland and Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, Rognvald Brown, chairman of the John O’Groats Mill Trust will present the experiences of the Trust with re-establishing this B listed former corn mill in Caithness as a heritage visitor attraction and community venue.

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust: The Port House, Jedburgh
Date & Time: 1 February, 18:00
Online
Built in 1899 to the designs of Architect James Pearson Alison, the Port House, originally a Co-operative department store, had fallen into disrepair in recent times and was on the Buildings at Risk Register before being saved by the Jedburgh Community Trust. In this presentation, Emma Berry, a Partner and Advanced Level Conservation Architect at LDN Architects, will discuss the project from its inception to its imminent completion.

Heritage Trust Network: At the Heart of the Community – A Future for Your Church
Date & Time: 3 February, 10:00 – 11:30
Online
Heritage Trust Network and Historic Churches Scotland are joining forces to host this event for any community group contemplating the future of their church building. We will hear a case study from Dinah McDonald, trustee of Historic Kilmun, who will talk about their journey to taking ownership, building repairs, fundraising and the current focus of becoming sustainable.

SoAoS: Diversity is not a silo: routes to anti-racist work in Scottish heritage
Date & Time: 7 February, 18:00
Online
Dr Churnjeet Mahn will discuss what we need from the past to make more inclusive futures for BAME groups across Scotland. Case studies will explore how BAME people in Scotland are systematically excluded from the educational and organisational structures that underpin the management and public understanding of heritage in Scotland. Rather than being part of decision making on ‘national’ bodies, or in the board rooms of influential organisations, BAME people are more likely to be found in ‘community’ settings or events. How do we begin to think beyond silos of diversity?

Training

Arts & Business Scotland: Culture and Business Scotland Conference 2022
Date & Time: 10 February, 14:00 – 17:00
Online
Hosted by BBC Scotland’s Arts Correspondent Pauline McLean, this event welcomes the business, public, and culture sectors to come together to discuss how engaging with creativity and culture can be the key to not simply surviving but thriving in the face of key collective universal challenges.

Vacancies

Edinburgh World Heritage: Head of Engagement
Edinburgh World Heritage is looking to appoint a Head of Engagement to communicate the work and value of our organisation, and of Edinburgh as a World Heritage Site, maximising the impact of our reputation, income, profile and engagement. The Head of Engagement leads, and provides strategic direction for, the communications, interpretation, advocacy and learning and engagement programmes, as well as developing and implementing our fundraising strategy.
Closing date: 7 February, 10am

Get the BEFS Bulletin directly in your inbox. Subscribe here.

BEFS News

Happy New Year from all of us at BEFS! 2021 saw big changes at BEFS, and we go into 2022 with a brand new team. To help direct any contact you may wish to make with the BEFS team, you can read more about each of our roles below. We look forward to working with you in 2022 to advocate on behalf of Scotland’s existing built environment.

Ailsa Macfarlane – Director
Hazel Johnson – Policy & Strategy Manager
Jess Burrows – Communications & Membership Manager
Ilona McAllister – Company Secretary & Business Administrator

In a return to our previous schedule, this year the Bulletin will be sent on the first and third Wednesday of each month. If you have any news, publications, or events that you think might interest readers of the Bulletin, you can send details directly to Jess by email.

Next Tuesday 11 January is #HeritageTreasures day on social media. Get ready to share your favourite places, programmes, and projects.

Entries close on 6 February for the Scottish Civic Trust’s My Place 2022 Awards, which celebrate community-led built environment projects, as well as for their My Place Photography 2022 competition for young people aged 4-18.

Get the BEFS Bulletin directly in your inbox. Subscribe here.

Consultations

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee – Call for Views: National Planning Framework (NPF4)
Closes 10 January 2022

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee – Call for Views: The role of local government and its cross-sectoral partners in financing and delivering a net-zero Scotland
Closes 21 January 2022

Building Regulations – Compliance And Enforcement: Consultation
Closes 4 February 2022

Heat in buildings – National Public Energy Agency: consultation – call for evidence 2021/2022
Closes 8 February 2022

Local Development Planning – regulations and guidance: consultation
Closes 31 March 2022

Open Space Strategies and Play Sufficiency Assessments: consultation
Closes 31 March 2022

Draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) – Public Consultation
Closes 31 March 2022

Publications

Dundee Cultural Recovery: a policy report. King’s College, London. England, L. (2021)
The findings highlight the significant contribution and performance of the cultural and creative sector prior to Covid and outlines a critical pathway for recovery.

Scottish Government Publications

Targeted funds for culture and events (03/01/21)
Details of a financial package worth £65 million for culture and major events have been confirmed by the Culture Secretary Angus Robertson.

News Releases

Scotland Regeneration Capital Grant Fund: Projects set for £25m funding boost (The Herald, 03/01/21)
22 projects in locations across Scotland which will share £25 million of funding.

Scheme to preserve ancient craft skills expanded across island of Ireland (Irish Examiner, 03/01/22)
The initial bursary scheme saw six students undergo training in Northern Ireland to learn the skills needed to maintain historic monuments and buildings.

More than 400 churches close in a decade amid ‘shocking’ threat to parishes (Paywall, The Telegraph, 03/01/22)
Analysis by The Telegraph shows nearly 1,000 have closed in just over 30 years.

Aberdeen Council lawyers to be called into action on controversial high-rise A-listing(Press & Journal, 01/01/22)
The Council is considering seeking a judicial review after the A listed status of five tower blocks was upheld by the Scottish Government at appeal.

West Lothian plans new ‘town of tomorrow’ with futuristic neighbourhood (Edinburgh Live, 30/12/21)
Winchburgh, as it grows, will be home to one of Scotland’s pioneering new town concepts – the 20-Minute Neighbourhood.

South Ayrshire Council zero emissions plan could cost up to £575m to put in place (Daily Record, 28/12/21)
A report on retrofitting existing local authority properties has produced three options with costs ranging from £205m to £575m.

Opinion & Comment

Ariane Burgess: All of us will have to play a part in bringing our homes up to standard(John O’Groat Journal, 01/01/22)
Ariane Burgess MSP, Convenor of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, on the need for a ‘fabric first’ approach to a national home retrofitting project.

Janey Douglas: Upgrading listed buildings is key to the net-zero drive (The Herald, 30/12/21)
Most of today’s commercial real estate will still be in use in 2045 when Scotland plans to be net zero. The only way we can feasibly hit this target is to upgrade buildings already in use.

Simon Jenkins: Churches could double as banks, or even serve beer. We can’t leave them empty (The Guardian, 31/12/21)
These mainly listed buildings sit at the heart of almost every community – we are squandering a precious legacy.

Parliamentary Questions

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

S6W-05393: Colin Beattie, Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 24 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what level of funding can be provided by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to stabilise and develop the site of Mavisbank House in Loanhead; what engagement HES is undertaking with relevant stakeholders to take forward development of this site; what short-term developments HES anticipates for this project, and whether HES will take a leadership role in the site’s development.

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

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

S6O-00551: Christine Grahame, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
Date Lodged: 08/12/2021
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken to support town centres.
Follow-up question from Christine Grahame: Is current compulsory purchase legislation sufficient to permit a local authority to take ownership and redevelop vacant town centre retail stores?
Follow-up question from Siobhian Brown, Ayr, Scottish National Party
What further action could be taken to improve the appearance of our town centres, where many shops lie empty and are deteriorating, along with derelict land and buildings?
Taken in the Chamber on 16/12/2021

S6W-05223: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour  
Date lodged: 20 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether a presumption in planning policy against the demolition of existing buildings will be incorporated into National Planning Framework 4 in order to meet the carbon reduction measures that were agreed at COP26.
Answered by Tom Arthur on 23 December 2021

Events

For the full list of BEFS Members’ upcoming events see our events calendar.

RSA Fellows’ MCICH Network: Re-Purposing Heritage
Date & Time: 18 January, 18:00 – 19:30
Online
Learn about two great examples of Italian heritage buildings finding a new purpose in the modern world. These very different projects began before the pandemic, one in 2000, one later. Both were challenging, as Charlotte Horton and Paolo Petrocelli will explain via illustrated presentations followed by facilitated debate. For exploration are challenges and opportunities since, post pandemic, many heritage buildings – both urban and rural – assume new lives and purpose.

EWH: Hiding in plain sight: the legacy of slavery and colonialism in Edinburgh
Date & Time: 20 January, 18:00 – 20:00
Online
In this free new talk, Nicholas Hotham, former Head of Engagement at Edinburgh World Heritage, will present an objective view of Edinburgh’s connections to slavery and colonialism during the 18th and 19th centuries, and ask what, if anything, we should do about it.

HES: Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford: “The Delilah of his Imagination”
Date & Time: 20 January, 14:00
Online
Join Kirsty Archer-Thompson, Collections and Interpretations Manager at Abbotsford, as she discusses what Scott was trying to achieve in terms of Abbotsford’s composition and curation, using examples from the fabric of the building alongside the collections housed within, to illustrate how he created a space for the celebration of history, memory and storytelling.

AHSS: Not Dead Space – Edinburgh’s Five World Heritage Site Graveyards
Date & Time: 14 February, 18:30
Online
Dr Susan Buckham describes the history, development and significance of the five WHS burial grounds over their long lifetimes and explores how best to breathe new life into them in a sustainable way, in order to support their heritage values and their role as urban greenspaces.

Training

CIfA: Inclusion Awareness Training
Date & Time: 12 January, 14:00 – 15:00
Online, £15 (CIfA Members £10)
The training session will cover how to recognise conditions such as Dyslexia, DCD/Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, ADHD and Autistic Spectrum Condition at work. This workshop is ideal for line managers, those who work alongside neurodiverse colleagues and/or neurodiverse individuals who wish to suggest changes or make adaptations to workplace behaviours or task management.

Vacancies

Glasgow City Heritage Trust: Heritage Officer (Grants)
GCHT seek a Grants Officer to support the implementation of the Trust’s new Historic Built Environment Grants programme for the benefit of all people living and working in and visiting Glasgow. Managing a caseload of external grants, the core of this role is working closely with residents, communities, professionals and contractors in Glasgow in support of the Trust’s Strategic Plan to promote the benefits of safeguarding, enhancing and engaging with Glasgow’s Historic Built Environment.
Closing date: Noon, 17 January

Get the BEFS Bulletin directly in your inbox. Subscribe here.

BEFS News

Kate Forbes delivered the budget statement in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 9 December. Find the full statement and accompanying documents below, under Scottish Government Publications. BEFS Director, Ailsa Macfarlane, gives her overview of place and historic environment within the draft budget on the BEFS blog.

Attention is also drawn to several newly released Consultations and Calls for Views. Committees seek early responses on NPF4 and on the role of local government and its cross-sectoral partners in financing and delivering a net-zero Scotland. Meanwhile, a closing date of 31 March has been set for new consultations on Local Development Planning and Open Space Strategies and Play Sufficiency Assessments, along with the public consultation on the draft NPF4.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration, who were announced on the 9th December at a celebratory presentation event in Glasgow.

BEFS was delighted to see Hannah Smith, ICE, has been invited to join the Just Transition Commission. Congratulations also go to BEFS Board Member, Tyler Lott Johnston, who becomes SPAB Scotland Chair.

As part of the Facing Our Past project, the National Trust for Scotland has published an interim report on the connections between the properties in their care and historical enslavement.

BEFS is very pleased to back Stirling’s bid for UK City of Culture 2025. Stirling is the only Scottish city to make the UK longlist.

A Call for Papers is now open for Archaeological Research in Progress (ARP) 2022, a one-day conference presenting new research ?ndings and best practice in archaeology, taking place 28 May 2022. The deadline for proposals is 27 Feb 2022.

BEFS remains hopeful of holding a social event for Members and Associates at the end of January, but given the current uncertainty around potential restrictions, now looks forward to issuing invitations in the New Year.

Finally, BEFS Team and Board wish all of our readers a relaxing festive period, and a happy New Year.

Get the BEFS Bulletin directly in your inbox. Subscribe here.

Consultations

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee – Call for Views: National Planning Framework (NPF4)
Closes 10 January 2022

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee – Call for Views: The role of local government and its cross-sectoral partners in financing and delivering a net-zero Scotland
*NEW * Closes 21 January 2022

Building Regulations – Compliance And Enforcement: Consultation
Closes 4 February 2022

Heat in buildings – National Public Energy Agency: consultation – call for evidence 2021/2022
Closes 8 February 2022

Local Development Planning – regulations and guidance: consultation
*NEW * Closes 31 March 2022

Open Space Strategies and Play Sufficiency Assessments: consultation
*NEW * Closes 31 March 2022

Draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) – Public Consultation
Closes 31 March 2022

Publications

20 Minute Neighbourhoods in draft NPF4 (SURF, 29/11/21)

Historic Opportunities: How heritage-led regeneration can drive town centre change (Lichfields, 1/12/21)

RTPI Scotland responds to budget (10/12/21)

Culture Counts responds to the budget (16/12/21)

Interim report on the connections between the properties now in the care of the National Trust for Scotland and historical enslavement (NTS 20/12/21)

Levelling up policies should target disparities between entire regions and within them (Bennett Institute 16/08/21)

The role of ‘Place’ in collaborations between HEI’s and the Arts and Cultural Sector (11/2021)

Scottish Government’s response to Scotland’s Climate Assembly Goal 3: Retrofitting Homes 

Scottish Government Publications

The Scottish Budget 2022-23 has been published with the following accompanying documents:
Scottish Income Tax: 2022-2023
Equality and Fairer Scotland Budget Statement 2022-23
Changes to Scottish Income Tax for 2022 to 2023: factsheet
Scottish Income Tax: distributional analysis 2022-2023
Scottish Rate Resolution 2022-23: motion and explanatory note
Public sector pay policy 2022 to 2023
Public sector pay policy 2022 to 2023: equality impact assessment
Investing in Scotland’s Future: Resource Spending Review Framework
The Scottish Government’s Medium Term Financial Strategy

Regeneration Capital Grant Fund: projects in some of Scotland’s more disadvantaged and rural communities will share more than £25 million of funding (SG, 17/12/21)

News Releases

12 European heritage sites shortlisted for the 7 Most Endangered Programme 2022 (Europa Nostra, 14/12/21)

GHA’s Bell Street development wins another design award (Scottish Housing News, 17/12/21)

Help for residents who faced £330k bill for major roof works to Aberdeen tenement (Scottish Housing News, 20/12/21)

Opinion & Comment

Move over Mack, Scotland’s forgotten architectural geniuses deserve their moment in the limelight (The Herald, 11/12/21)

Parliamentary Questions

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

S6W-05062: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date Lodged: 14/12/2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the best and most cost effective way to insulate traditional granite homes, such as those in the north east and Aberdeen; what the reasons and evidence are for its position, and how it plans to support the decarbonisation of such homes.

S6W-05067: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Historic Environment Scotland publication, Guide to Energy Retrofit of Traditional Buildings, regarding the need for “an extensive programme of domestic retrofit” and the part that “the existing built environment, including older or historic buildings, will need to play…in the national refurbishment effort”.

S6W-05249: Willie Rennie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 20 December 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the climate emergency, and in regard to energy saving and efficiency improvements delivered through its national fuel poverty scheme and other related schemes, what action it has taken to ensure that improvements that are made to homes prioritise environmentally-friendly technologies and heating systems.

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

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

S6W-04639: Jeremy Balfour, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 25 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on its Single Building Assessment programme, and when it anticipates the programme will be concluded.
Answered by Shona Robison on 10 December 2021

Motions

Motion ref. S6M-02425
Sauchiehall Avenue Wins National Urban Design Award 2021
Submitted by: Kaukab Stewart, Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party.
Date lodged: Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Motion ref. S6M-02531
The Furniture Project (Stranraer) Wins Prestigious Regeneration Award
Submitted by: Finlay Carson, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
Date lodged: Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Motion ref. S6M-02530
Fraserburgh Wins SURF Award for Scotland’s Most Improved Place 2021
Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
Date lodged: Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Motion ref. S6M-02522
RIG Arts Wins Creative Regeneration Category at 2021 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration
Submitted by: Stuart McMillan, Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish National Party.
Date lodged: Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Events

For the full list of BEFS Members’ upcoming events see our events calendar.

RSA Fellows’ MCICH Network: Re-Purposing Heritage
Date & Time: 18 January, 18:00 – 19:30
Online
Learn about two great examples of Italian heritage buildings finding a new purpose in the modern world. These very different projects began before the pandemic, one in 2000, one later. Both were challenging, as Charlotte Horton and Paolo Petrocelli will explain via illustrated presentations followed by facilitated debate. For exploration are challenges and opportunities since, post pandemic, many heritage buildings – both urban and rural – assume new lives and purpose.

SCT: My Place 2022 Awards open for entry
Entries close 6 February 2022
The My Place Awards celebrate community-led built environment projects. Eligible projects include new buildings, historic buildings or monuments that have been reused or refurbished, designed public realm schemes (streetworks, parks) and designed landscapes (gardens, public green spaces).

SCT: My Place Photography 2022 competition open for entry
Entries close 6 February 2022
My Place Photography Competition is a Scotland-wide built environment photography competition for young people aged 4-18. If you’re a teacher, home educator or leader of a youth group, having your young people participate in the competition encourages them to explore their local area and experiment with using photography as a means of creative expression.

Vacancies

Glasgow City Heritage Trust: Heritage Officer (Grants)
GCHT seek a Grants Officer to support the implementation of the Trust’s new Historic Built Environment Grants programme for the benefit of all people living and working in and visiting Glasgow. Managing a caseload of external grants, the core of this role is working closely with residents, communities, professionals and contractors in Glasgow in support of the Trust’s Strategic Plan to promote the benefits of safeguarding, enhancing and engaging with Glasgow’s Historic Built Environment.
Closing date: Noon, 17 January

Get the BEFS Bulletin directly in your inbox. Subscribe here.

BEFS News

As scrutiny of the draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) document gets underway, BEFS will hold a roundtable in early January to discuss the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee call for views. Further opportunities for discussion of the draft National Planning Framework in full will be available at the Historic Environment Working Group (HEWG) meeting on 23 February (BEFS Members and Associates), and at a planned workshop in early March which will be open to wider sector participation.

Aberdeen Art Gallery has won the RIAS 2021 Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award, following an ‘outstanding’ refurbishment and extension by Hoskins Architects.

Congratulations too to Archaeology Scotland, who are joint winners of the Engagement and Participation award at the Archaeological Achievement Awards. Over on the BEFS blog this week, Maria Gundestrup of Archaeology Scotland looks back at the online and in-person events of Scottish Archaeology Month 2021.

Scottish Civic Trust’s My Place Awards 2022 are now open for entries. The My Place Awards celebrate community-led built environment projects. Eligible projects include new buildings, historic buildings or monuments that have been reused or refurbished, designed public realm schemes (streetworks, parks) and designed landscapes (gardens, public green spaces).

Scottish Civic Trust are also highlighting a community initiative to find a new use for Glasgow’s Egyptian Halls. The public consultation is open until 20 December.

BEFS wish Stuart Beattie well as he retires from Scotland’s Churches Trust. Stuart has been a champion of heritage over many years, supporting grants, volunteers and research across the sector – as well as being a past Trustee of BEFS. We also warmly welcome Dr DJ Johnston-Smith as the new Director of SCT, and look forward to working with him from January when he takes up his new role.

BEFS also welcome Eilish McGuinness in her new role. She will take over from Ros Kerslake CBE, who announced in July she was stepping down as CEO of the Heritage Fund and National Heritage Memorial Fund after five and a half years.

December is traditionally the time of BEFS AGM, and this year was no different – if entirely virtual. The due process was swiftly completed, and we said farewell, and extended thanks, to Eila Macqueen who steps down from the Board after several years of insightful service.  BEFS Members voted in favour of welcoming Archaeology Scotland’s nomination for the Board, Fernanda Acosta Ballesteros. We’ll let Fernanda introduce herself more fully in the new year. Early 2022 has plans for an in-person social gathering and an opportunity to meet BEFS Board, and BEFS Team.

Get the BEFS Bulletin directly in your inbox. Subscribe here.

Consultations

Draft Heat Networks Delivery Plan
Closes 13 December 2021

Building Regulations – Compliance And Enforcement: Consultation
Closes 4 February 2022

Heat in buildings – National Public Energy Agency: consultation – call for evidence 2021/2022
*NEW* Closes 8 February 2022

Draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) – Public Consultation
Closes 31 March 2022

Consultation Responses

BEFS Response: Scottish Building Regulations: Energy Standards and Associated Topics Consultation (18/11/2021)

Publications

Scottish Futures Trust ‘Place Guide’

Heritage, Disaster Response and Resilience (UNESCO)

Low Carbon Learning (Construction Scotland Innovation Centre)

Understanding Scotland – The Scottish Wellbeing Index (Nov 2021)

Some observations on moving forward after COP26 (IHBC@COP26 Helpdesk+)

Heritage, Equity & the Climate Crisis: Lecture Series (Scottish Civic Trust, 12/11/21)

Fostering Sustainable Cities through Resilience Thinking: The Role of Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs): Lessons Learned from Two Italian Case Studies (21/11/21)

The Scottish Third Sector Tracker (SCVO 23/11/21)

Supporting our communities: Time to move from false competition to needs-based investment (RSA 29/11/21)

Scottish Government Publications

Scotland 2045: fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) – draft: integrated impact assessment – environmental report (29/11/21)

Scotland 2045: fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) – draft: lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions – research (29/11/21)

Scotland 2045: fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) – draft: society and equalities impact assessment (29/11/21)

Short term lets – draft Licensing Order and business and regulatory impact assessment: consultation report (23/11/21)

News Releases

‘Netflix for churches’ launched in bid to save crumbling places of worship (The Telegraph, paywall 24/11/2021)

Scotland Loves Local Awards winners revealed (25/11/21)

First Hampden Park campaigners in bid for World Heritage Site status (The Herald, 27/11/21)

Application to list Crawick Multiverse as a designated landscape (The Scotsman, 1/12/21)

BRE helps build new embodied carbon database (BRE Group)

Solar panels approved for Edinburgh Castle (The Herald, 6/12/21)

£1m funding awarded for historic Stirling conservation projects (Scottish Construction Now, 6/12/21)

Glasgow University to lead HES ‘imperial connections’ mapping project of historic sites(The Scotsman, paywall, 8/12/21)

Opinion & Comment

Urban feminism: the answer to the failures of our blokey built environment? (The Fifth Estate, 23/11/21)

Place: the missing key for unlocking a circular economy (RSA Blog, 24/11/21)

Historic Photographer of the Year awards 2021 (The Guardian, 25/11/21)

Mark O’Neill: Hard choices ahead for Scotland’s built environment (Press and Journal, 26/11/21)

Gabriella Bennett: Improving tenements in Scotland needs smart thinking (The Times, paywall, 28/11/21)

Podcast: Carbon neutral? I don’t see how! (Scottish Housing News)

Podcast: If Glasgow’s Walls Could Talk, with accessibility consultant Emily Rose Yates (Glasgow City Heritage Trust)

Parliamentary Questions

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

S6W-04639: Jeremy Balfour, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party 
Date lodged: 25 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on its Single Building Assessment programme, and when it anticipates the programme will be concluded.

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

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

S6W-04221: Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con)
Date lodged: 9 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when it will confirm the date for the removal of the requirement for EWS1 forms, and their replacement with Scottish Government-funded Single Building Assessments.
Answered by Shona Robison on 23 November 2021

S6W-04365: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 15 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that home efficiency targets are delivered in the (a) private rented sector and (b) social rented sector, without tenants having to take financial responsibility for the targets being met.
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 24 November 2021

S6W-04439: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 18 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to enforce the transition of buildings to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2033, and whether it plans to impose any restrictions or bans on sales of properties that have not achieved an EPC rating of C by 2033.
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 2 December 2021         

S6W-04499: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour 
Date lodged: 18 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any implications of the ending of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), due to take place in March 2022, for the development and expansion of district heating schemes in Scotland.
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 2 December 2021 

S6W-04535: Fulton MacGregor, Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party  
Date lodged: 19 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support insulation and sound mitigating measures for ceilings in flatted developments that do not currently have them.
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 2 December 2021

S6W-04583: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 23 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set a target of installing 1GW of solar PV capacity on public and commercial buildings by 2030, as recommended in the Scottish Renewables publication, Beyond COP26: Next steps for Scotland’s clean energy revolution.
Answered by Michael Matheson on 6 December 2021

Other Parliamentary Activity

Licensing of Short -Term Lets – SPICe Analysis of Survey Responses (25/11/21)

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee: Evidence Submission from the Existing Home Alliance Scotland on the Retrofitting of Existing Homes (25/11/21)

Motions

Motion ref. S6M-02375
Aberdeen Art Gallery Crowned Best Building in Scotland
Submitted by: Douglas Lumsden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
Date lodged: Friday, December 3, 2021
Submitting member has a registered interest.

Motion ref. S6M-02442
Scotland Loves Local
Submitted by: Tom Arthur, Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party.
Date lodged: Monday, December 6, 2021

Motion ref. S6M-02382
Scotland Loves Local Benefitting Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale
Submitted by: Christine Grahame, Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party.
Date lodged: Monday, December 6, 2021

Events

For the full list of BEFS Members’ upcoming events see our events calendar.

SoAoS: Presbyterianism and Philhellenism, 1821–56
Date & Time: December 13^th 6:00pm to 7:30pm GMT
Both in-person at NMS Auditorium and online via YouTube live.
Short description of event: This lecture explores the philhellenic writings and initiatives of these figures during the period between the outbreak of the Revolution and the end of the Crimean War, evaluating their significance within their wider Scottish, British imperial, and Greek contexts. It argues for the existence of a distinct, dissenting Presbyterian missionary philhellenism that was in turn linked with Britain’s political and colonial interests in the eastern Mediterranean.

AHSS: The Architectural Legacy of Sir Walter Scott
Date & Time: 13 December, 18:30
Online or in-person at the Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh
This talk with Simon Green looks at the influence Sir Walter Scott had on the ‘Scottishness’ of Scottish architecture, and how his celebration of the Medieval past fuelled a re-examination of ancient buildings. As we shall see, the Scots Baronial in its varied manifestations is indebted to Scott, but so too, through William Morris, is the Arts & Crafts Movement.

Training

Arts & Business Scotland: Hybrid working
Date & Time: 9 December, 12:00 – 13:30
Online: via Zoom
This webinar will provide practical guidance and insights into the move towards hybrid working and flexible working arrangements and the employment law implications. Delivered by Employment Lawyers from Anderson Strathern, the session will cover:
•     Top tips on managing a hybrid working policy.
•     How discrimination risks can be identified and mitigated
•     How can mental health and capability issues be appropriately managed
•     Can staff be made to work from home?
•     What if everyone wants to work from home?
•     What if the home is outside the UK

•    Essential clauses including those covering cancellations and restrictions due to COVID-19.

Vacancies

Heritage Trust Network: Heritage Trainee (Graduate)
The Heritage Trust Network is recruiting for a new post of Heritage Trainee (Graduate) for a fixed term of 6 months. This post has been designed to help the successful graduate develop on-the-job skills and knowledge to help them gain early-career access to the heritage sector.
Closing date: 13 December 

RTPI Scotland: Intern Project Officer 
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scotland branch are looking for a motivated person who can use collaborative and analytical skills to support the engagement of the Scottish membership with the scrutiny of the draft NPF4. This paid internship will be key in helping to deliver RTPI’s engagement strategy through the important formal consultation process before a final draft is presented to the Scottish Parliament.
Closing date: 15 December

Get the BEFS Bulletin directly in your inbox. Subscribe here.

BEFS News

The Scottish Government has published the draft Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), alongside a consultation which runs until Thursday 31 March. An accompanying explanatory report on the framework’s Housing Land Requirement has also been published.

A letter from the Convener of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee proposing a collaborative approach to committee scrutiny forms useful additional context.

BEFS will organise a virtual event in early January ahead of a consultation response, giving Member organisations opportunity before then to digest the detail of the draft. BEFS notes that, currently, the Historic Environment largely sits within ‘Distinctive Places’, and there is an opportunity to flag the role that the existing built environment can and should play within Sustainable, Liveable, and Productive Places. BEFS looks forward to further discussion with Members.

Meanwhile, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scotland along with Heads of Planning Scotland have written to Finance Secretary Kate Forbes urging her to address the need for investment in the planning service in forthcoming Scottish budget.

Historic England and Historic Environment Scotland have announced the launch of a new AHRC-funded cross-border research pilot programme, ‘Outreach to Ownership’. Across the course of the next year a total of £125,000 will be given in grants to up to eight delivery partner organisations to support research into diverse approaches to inclusive community engagement in the culture sector. Applications are invited from a range of culture sector organisations of all sizes and governance structures in Scotland and England.

Registrations are also encouraged to the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s new research panel, UK Heritage Pulse. This collaborative data and insight project aims to bring people together from across the UK heritage sector with a view to informing strategy, recovery and reinvention post-Covid.

As we continue to look to the future beyond COP26, John McKinney of the Scottish Traditional Building Forum introduces ‘Build Your Future’ on the BEFS Blog. This suite of online and in-person activities is designed to promote construction as a career of choice to young people. Underlining the importance of traditional skills, it was good to see a visit to Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) Engine Shed from Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth.

HES have launched their first dedicated climate change adaptation plan, as well as a new Climate Change Explorer app. They are also partners in a new film from the National Library of Scotland, #ClimateNeedsCulture.

The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2022 now open for submissions, with five categories revised to reflect the latest developments in heritage policy and practice in Europe. Read more and submit your applications here.

Congratulations to all those shortlisted for the Archaeological Achievement Awards, and to Gordon Castle Walled Garden in Moray, who have won the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award with a record public vote.

Finally, Dig It! and Edinburgh-based game design company Dungeons on a Dime have teamed up to combine the latest archaeological research with a new tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) that will enable the public to learn more about life in Scotland 1,300 years ago. The Carved in Stone crowdfunding campaign launched on Saturday 13 November on Kickstarter with a range of digital, printed, and special rewards for supporters. The campaign has hit its first crowdfunding goal — but there’s still more adventure to unlock!

Get the BEFS Bulletin directly in your inbox. Subscribe here.

Consultations

Scottish Building Regulations: Proposed changes to Energy Standards and associated topics, including Ventilation, Overheating and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Closes 26 November 2021

Draft Heat Networks Delivery Plan
*NEW* Closes 13 December 2021

Building Regulations – Compliance And Enforcement: Consultation
*NEW* Closes 4 February 2022

Draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) – Public Consultation
*NEW* Closes 31 March 2022

Publications

Scotland’s Garden and Landscape History (SGLH): Autumn 2021 Newsletter

Scotland’s Churches: from surfeit to shortage? (Scotland’s Churches Trust, in collaboration with the National Churches Trust)

A 20 Minute Future: A Planning Concept for Urban Growth (RTPI Scotland, 10/11/2021)

Guide to Energy Retrofit of Traditional Buildings (Historic Environment Scotland, 11/11/21)

From Retrofit to Regeneration (Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance, 11/11/21)

Heritage Fund Local Area Guidance: Designed to help you meet our priority outcome: the local area will be a better place to live, work or visit. (National Lottery Heritage Fund)

Climate Ready Historic Environment Scotland (HES, 18/11/2021)

Creative Industries and Tourism Beyond Economic Development (UK National Commission for UNESCO and PRAXIS at the University of Leeds)

New SEDA guides on Air Quality in Airtight Homes (October 2021)

Historic Environment Scotland Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020-21 (23/11/2021)

Architectural Heritage Fund Annual Review 2020-21 (23/11/2021)

Scottish Government News Releases

The Draft Fourth National Planning Framework (Draft NPF4) 

Hydrogen action plan: draft (10/11/2021)

Subordinate Legislation

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2021

News Releases

Glasgow man ‘hasn’t switched on heating for two years’ after high flats refurbishment (Glasgow Live, 15/11/21)

Research captures and enhances value of UK culture and heritage: AHRC and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will support a new study to measure the value of UK culture and heritage (UKRI 19/11/2021)

Bowhill House to be heated by one of Scotland’s largest heat pumps (Historic Houses, 22/11/2021)

Opinion & Comment

We can save Britain’s heritage and embodied carbon (The Developer, 08/11/21)

Not just a pretty face — why preserve London’s facades? (Financial Times, paywall 12/11/21)

Cool reception for Edinburgh Castle’s solar panel proposal (The Times, paywall 16/11/21)

Global heating is destroying rock art tens of thousands of years old, experts warn (The Guardian, 16/11/21)

Neat enough for Pepys: Magdalene college Cambridge’s inventive new library (The Guardian, 23/11/21)

Podcast: When did you last change your mind? (RSA Bridges to the Future)

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

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

S6W-04031: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 28 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that older buildings, which may be subject to stricter planning regulations, can become energy neutral, and what support it can offer to the owners of these buildings to help make their properties energy neutral.
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 11 November 2021

S6W-04067: Sharon Dowey, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party 
Date lodged: 3 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to introduce appropriate remuneration for board members of national culture and heritage public bodies, as referred to in A Culture Strategy for Scotland.
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 November 2021

S6W-03774: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 14 October 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its Heat in Buildings Strategy, what it is doing to ensure that colleges and schools have sufficient trained professionals to teach the skills required to deliver the strategy; what planning is taking place to create and provide such courses; what it is doing to encourage potential students to undertake such training; what it estimates the cost will be to local authorities of providing such training; where it anticipates local authorities will fund this from, and whether it will provide any financial support to local authorities for this.
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 11 November 2021

S6W-04058: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party  
Date lodged: 1 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the percentage of non-electrical heat demand that is met by renewable technologies.
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 15 November 2021

S6W-04183: Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour 
Date lodged: 5 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to announce the composition of the Green Heat Finance Taskforce.
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 19 November 2021

S6O-00383: John Mason, Glasgow Shettleston, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 10 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what role Passivhaus homes and off-site manufacturing have in the Glasgow Shettleston constituency in supporting its aim to achieve net zero by 2045.

Motions

Motion ref. S6M-02029
Glasgow Traditional Building Forum Hosts COP26 Skills Demonstration Event
Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour.
Date lodged: Thursday, November 11, 2021

Motion ref. S6M-02200
Net Zero and Construction: Perspective and Pathways
Submitted by: Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour.
Date lodged: Friday, November 19, 2021

Events

For the full list of BEFS Members’ upcoming events see our events calendar.

Cupar Development Trust: AGM and Lecture 
Date & Time: 30 November, 1745 for 1800
Online: via Zoom
The AGM agenda will be dealt with briskly, and the formalities will be immediately followed by a lecture by Euan Leitch, Chief Executive of SURF – Scotland’s Regeneration Forum.

Icon Scotland Group: 24th Annual Plenderleith Memorial Lecture
Date & Time: 2 December, 19:00 – 20:15
Online
Join Icon Scotland for our 24th annual lecture in memory of Dr Harold Plenderleith, one of the key founders of modern conservation. This year, our invited speaker is Sir Geoff Palmer OBE, Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, renowned scientist and human rights activist, who currently chairs the Scottish Government as part of Empire, Slavery & Scotland’s Museums Steering Group. Sir Geoff will share his perspective on the steps the heritage sector is taking to come to terms with and address racism and invisible histories, and the challenges we must face to ensure more equal and representative material heritage in the future.

Archaeology Scotland: Dunfermline Abbey Churchyard Workshops
Date & Time: 4 – 5 December 
Location: Dunfermline Abbey 
The Abbey Churchyards’ books are the gravestones, ready to entertain us with tales of love, human tragedies and heroic acts. Sadly today, too many of these stories have not been checked out and are long overdue for new readers. This project shines a light on these forgotten tales so these stone books can become familiar and well-loved classics and treasured tombs for future generations to enjoy. Join us for two workshops to continue checking and photographing the records for the New Churchyard, start mapping and looking at the reinstatement of the buried stones excavation area.

ICE: John Rennie and the Aberdeenshire Canal
Date & Time: 6 December, 18:00 – 19:00
Online
For a number of years prior to 1793, the building of a canal from Aberdeen into the heart of Aberdeenshire had been a topic for discussion. In that year, a group of interested parties arranged for a feasibility study to be carried out in relation to the building of a canal from Aberdeen harbour to just short of Inverurie and thence to Monymusk. The Institution of Civil Engineers invite you to join them for an exploration of the role that Scottish engineer John Rennie played in the building of the Aberdeenshire Canal.

SHSMG: Using Social Media to Help with Fundraising
Date and Time:  7 December, 15:00
Online
The final Scottish Heritage Social Media Group virtual event of 2021 will see Kenneth McElroy, Director at the Caithness Broch Project and Education & Volunteer Officer at Kilmartin Museum discuss how he’s used social media to promote and run large online crowdfunders and smaller creative fundraising projects for organisations in the heritage sector, all while sharing tips that you can apply to your own work.

SoAoS: Presbyterianism and Philhellenism, 1821–56
Date & Time: December 13^th 6:00pm to 7:30pm GMT
Both in-person at NMS Auditorium and online via YouTube live.
Short description of event: This lecture explores the philhellenic writings and initiatives of these figures during the period between the outbreak of the Revolution and the end of the Crimean War, evaluating their significance within their wider Scottish, British imperial, and Greek contexts. It argues for the existence of a distinct, dissenting Presbyterian missionary philhellenism that was in turn linked with Britain’s political and colonial interests in the eastern Mediterranean.

Training

Arts & Business Scotland: Hybrid working
Date & Time: 9 December, 12:00 – 13:30
Online: via Zoom
This webinar will provide practical guidance and insights into the move towards hybrid working and flexible working arrangements and the employment law implications. Delivered by Employment Lawyers from Anderson Strathern, the session will cover:
•     Top tips on managing a hybrid working policy.
•     How discrimination risks can be identified and mitigated
•     How can mental health and capability issues be appropriately managed
•     Can staff be made to work from home?
•     What if everyone wants to work from home?
•     What if the home is outside the UK

•    Essential clauses including those covering cancellations and restrictions due to COVID-19.

Vacancies

National Lottery Heritage Fund: Head of Investment (Scotland)
The NLHF are looking for a Head of Investment to lead their grant-making team in Scotland. The role will ensure excellent grant-making through leadership of the Fund’s Investment Team, effectively managing an annual grants budget of around £15m and working collaboratively with partner organisations and stakeholders.
Closing date: 28 November

Heritage Trust Network: Heritage Trainee (Graduate)
The Heritage Trust Network is recruiting for a new post of Heritage Trainee (Graduate) for a fixed term of 6 months. This post has been designed to help the successful graduate develop on-the-job skills and knowledge to help them gain early-career access to the heritage sector.
Closing date: 13 December 

Get the BEFS Bulletin directly in your inbox. Subscribe here.

BEFS News

BEFS is delighted to officially welcome Ilona McAllister to our team. Ilona has joined us as Company Secretary and Business Administrator, bringing extensive experience of operations from 17 years in London working in politics, media and finance. BEFS sends warm thanks to Fionnuala Douglas, who leaves us after 5 years, and wishes her luck in her new appointment.

COP26 is into its final days, and this edition of the Bulletin is packed full of climate-related events, talks, and blogs. But what will be the legacy of all this activity? BEFS Director Ailsa Macfarlane offers a personal reflection on how big promises translate into national and local policies – and why it’s time for the sector to change the conversation.

BEFS will be Feature Hosts at the IHBC@COP26 ‘Conservation Helpdesk+’ this afternoon. Join us from 4pm as we discuss advocacy and introduce a viewing of Heritage and Sustainability: A Journey Down the Royal Mile, a film made with partners across the sector and launched for this year’s Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival. The IHBC’s ‘Climate and Conservation’ Podcast, consisting of 10 episodes featuring expert leads and practitioners from the US and Europe across COP26, can be accessed through Spotify, Amazon Music, and their podcast website.

There’s still time to book your free place for Tenement Maintenance = Sustainable Homes this Friday 12 November at SpACE in Edinburgh. BEFS, Under One Roof, and Novoville will tackle shared repairs, owners’ associations, and support to get started – don’t miss the chance to put your questions to the experts over some post-work refreshment.

Tenements are in the spotlight at the moment, with a recent article in The Times (paywall) considering the issues inherent in retrofitting these buildings in line with net zero ambitions. Despite many salient points, no mention is made of embodied carbon or longevity, in contrast to the Empty Homes and the Climate Emergency report which emphasises the environmental case for refurbishment.

BEFS was interested to see the publication of a new set of guidance from the Scottish Futures Trust which aims to support public bodies in achieving net zero carbon targets on construction projects. The standards have been developed in partnership with the Scottish Government, Zero Waste Scotland and NHS National Services Scotland with input from sectoral stakeholders and public bodies.

Celebrating Archaeology in Scotland 2021 has been released. This magazine style report showcases the fantastic work taking place across Scotland and promotes how people from all corners of the heritage sector are delivering the aims of the Archaeology Strategy. There’s also still time to book a free ticket to the online Edinburgh Lothian and Borders Conference to be held on the 20 November.

It’s the last chance to register for the Heritage Trust Network’s 2021 Conference. Join them tomorrow for a day of online talks on the theme of Recovery, Sustainability, Wellbeing, followed by two days in Coventry 19-20 November.

We’re delighted to see that BEFS Members, Edinburgh World Heritage, recently met with the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson.

Congratulations to Ochiltree Community Hub and The Swan, Banton, winners of the Scottish Civic Trust My Place Awards, which celebrate . Ochiltree Community Hub was recognised for its efforts in building a new community centre, while The Swan was recognised for its efforts in saving the pub from demolition and attracting new investment to the area. All the winners and entrants of the My Place Awards and My Place Photography Competition  at the My Place 2021 Exhibition in Glasgow until 22 November.

Get the BEFS Bulletin directly in your inbox. Subscribe here.

Consultations

HES Covid-19 Survey
Closes 21 November

Scottish Building Regulations: Proposed changes to Energy Standards and associated topics, including Ventilation, Overheating and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Closes 26 November 2021

Publications

Adapting To The Climate Crisis: The Scottish Civic Trust’s Response (May 2020)

Transforming Planning in Practice: updated planning reform implementation programme (SG 29/10/21)

Scotland’s Road to Net Zero – Tracking Scotland’s Performance (The Fraser of Allander Institute, 1/11/21)

The Impact of Arts-Based Education (RSA, 1/11/21)

New net zero guidance published to dramatically reduce climate impact of future public buildings (Scottish Futures Trust 4/11/21)

Climate Heritage Network Resource Library (Climate Heritage Network)

Communicating Climate Heritage Toolkit (with Advocacy Guide, Mission Statement, Resource mapping and analysis)

Levelling up – an opportunity for coherent regional policy or a constitutional ruse? (Academy of Social Sciences)

Local housing manifestos: Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow (Shelter Scotland)

Heritage, Mental Health and Wellbeing (UNESCO)

Building a Heritage-Led Green Recovery (Historic Houses)

A Toolkit for Successful Town Centres (Scotland’s Towns Partnership)

Scottish Government News Releases

Chief Planner Letter: stakeholder update – November 2021

Empowering communities on climate action – Seven towns chosen for the Climate Action Towns programme (SG 7/11/21)

UK Government News Releases

Levelling Up Fund: first round successful bidders. Successful bidders for round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund include Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh & Inverness.

News Releases

UK Green Building Council picks 17 “exemplary sustainable projects” for COP26 virtual pavilion (Dezeen 25/10/21)

UK Green Building Council launches new network in Scotland (UKGBC, 4/11/21)

Climate Beacons for COP26 (Creative Carbon Scotland)

Opinion & Comment

Who owns Scotland? Mapping the land in our towns and cities (BBC 24/10/21)

Insulate Britain won’t be stopped by people who think you can grow concrete (Insulate Britain, The Guardian, 27/10/21)

Climate Change, architecture and winter clothes (Marcus Patton, Ulster Architectural Heritage, 1/11/21)

Michael Palin is praying for survival of church buildings (Paywall – The Times, 1/11/21)

COP26: Climate Resilience Heritage Summit (Icon’s Chief Executive Sara Crofts shares some reflections on adaptation, 3/11/21)

Building for the future: The challenge of decarbonising Scotland’s homes (Holyrood Magazine, 8/11/21)

We can save Britain’s heritage and embodied carbon (The Developer, 8/11/21)

Grade I to net zero: can historic houses be made energy efficient? (Paywall – Financial Times)

Empty Homes and the Climate Emergency (Empty Homes Partnership)

New Angle: Voice – Pioneering Women of American Architecture (Podcast – Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation)

SCAPE: three-minute #ClimateHeritage video exploring how eroding coastal archaeology inspired the revival of salt making in a Scottish Highland village.

Is this how a Pictish fort looked 1,000 years ago? (BBC)

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

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

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge & Chryston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it expects to publish the draft National Planning Framework 4, and on the timeframes for (a) consultation on and (b) adoption of the framework.
Minister for Public Finance, Planning & Community Wealth, Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government intends to lay the draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) in the Scottish Parliament later in autumn this year for a scrutiny period of up to 120 days. Public consultation on the NPF4 will run alongside the Parliamentary process, and the Scottish Government is keen to hear the views of as wide a range of people as possible. The final adoption date will depend on the approval of NPF4 by the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Government is currently aiming to lay a finalised version for approval by summer 2022.

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) 
Draft Heat in Buildings Strategy:
S6W-03772 Impact of on remote and rural communities.
S6W-03777 Research into cost effectiveness
S6W-03776 Temperature of air source heat pumps vs gas boilers
S6W-03771 Financial support for homeowners
S6W-03773 Total cost of the project
Answered by Patrick Harvie (04/11/2021)

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the funding allocated to the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme will be sufficient to meet its ambitions for the deployment of heat networks.
Answered by Patrick Harvie (04/11/2021)

S6W-02606: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 28/09/2021
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce or reintroduce any empty homes grants that aim to bring properties back into the social rental sector.
Answered by Shona Robison (26/10/2021)

Other Parliamentary Activity

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee Pre-budget scrutiny 2022-23 – 26 October 2021

The Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee Pre-budget scrutiny: culture sector funding

Fife MSP Alex Rowley is drawing up a proposal for a private member’s bill that would see all new housing constructed in Scotland built with high performing materials, using a construction method that would ensure greater levels of energy efficiency, lower energy bills and alleviate fuel poverty.

Motions

Motion ref. S6M-01786: Clackmannanshire Stonemason, Liam Macaulay
Submitted by: Alexander Stewart, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
Date lodged: Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Events

For the full list of BEFS Members’ upcoming events see our events calendar.

HES & Partners: Visions of Climate Heritage
Explore the story of Scotland’s climate heritage, past and present, in this crowdsourced exhibition. Enter your best photographs and artwork for the chance to win a prize.
Closing date: 30 November 2021
Information session and photography top tips

Date & Time: 1 – 12 November, Mon, Wed, Fri – 12.30pm
Online: Scottish Civic Trust YouTube, Facebook and Twitter
Although marginalised communities bear the brunt of the impacts of climate change, they are often excluded from discussions about sustainability. Join Scottish Civic Trust for an online lecture series about the intersection of heritage, equity and the climate crisis. Speakers will be touching on a range of topics, including Indigenous approaches to sustainable management of heritage sites, involving children in the sustainable management of World Heritage Sites, heritage as a social and multi-species practice and more!

Heritage Trust Network: Recovery, Sustainability, Wellbeing
Date & Time: 11 November – Online, 19 and 20 November – Coventry
Join Heritage Trust Network for our annual Conference in the 2021 City of Culture and online. This year our speakers will focus on how we can develop our projects and approaches to heritage regeneration whilst thinking about our environmental impact, our people and our long term survival. Join us at the in-person event for a day of interactive workshops, followed by a day of walking tours and building visits.

Archaeology Scotland: The Bedrule Heritage Project – Dig & Workshops
Date & Time: 11 November – 20 November
Location: Bedrule Castle, Hawick TD9 8TE
A new project conducted by Archaeology Scotland in partnership with Campaign for a Scottish Borders National Park will investigate and excavate the remains of Bedrule Castle among other sites part of ‘The Twelve Towers of Rule’ in the Scottish Borders. Open to anyone interested, the Bedrule Heritage Project, named after the dig site, will aim to unpack more of its history and the lives of the people of Rule Water. It will achieve this through a series of workshops and an archaeology dig at Bedrule Castle between November 11-20.

BEFS, Under One Roof, & Novoville: Tenement Maintenance = Sustainable Homes
Date & Time:  12 November 18:00 – 19:30
Location: SpACE, Lauriston Fire Station, ECA, Edinburgh
Join us for a free evening event at SpACE – Edinburgh’s pop-up Space for Architecture + Carbon + Environment – exploring why tenement maintenance is important for sustainable homes. Come along to hear from our speakers about organising repairs and sharing information with your neighbours, explore how to form owners’ associations, and find out what support is out there to help you get started – as well as looking at how maintaining your home plays an important role in tackling climate change.

Scottish Civic Trust: Construction Collage
Date & Time: 12 November, 13:00 – 16:00
Location: South Block, 60-64 Osborne Street, Glasgow, G1 5QH
Pop into Scottish Civic Trust’s offices to participate in Construction Collage, a collaborative workshop on the topic of how construction can respond to the challenges of climate change. Groups of 4-8 will play together to explore the environmental and social issues of the construction industry.

Community Heritage Conversations #9: Celebrating Community Heritage
Date & Time: 13 November 10:00 – 12:30
Online
Scotland’s Community Heritage Conversations is a new series of digital events to bring together volunteers, community groups and heritage professionals, providing them with a stage to share experiences, inspire and support one another with ideas and plans, and to celebrate the places that matter to us all. This event will showcase the diverse range of activities being delivered by our local communities and how they have come together to celebrate and highlight the tangible and intangible aspects of their local area.

Jedburgh & Hawick CARS: Treatment of the Dead at Jedburgh Abbey Ramparts
Date & Time: 16 November, 18:00
Online 
Recent repair works at the Jedburgh Abbey Ramparts have helped uncover the site’s history whilst also unearthing human skeletal remains from the former Abbey graveyard. Ian Hill of HARP Archaeology presents the findings of these works, providing further detail on what we have learned from the human remains uncovered.

Edinburgh, Lothians & Borders Archaeology Conference 
Date & Time: 20 November 10:00 – 15:00
Online
This annual archaeology conference is organised by City of Edinburgh Council, East Lothian Council and Scottish Borders Council.  It provides an important opportunity to hear and discuss first hand accounts of the archaeological fieldwork and research being undertaken in Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.

Scotland’s Towns Conference 2021
Date: 22-26 November
Online:  Hopin
The Scotland’s Towns Conference 2021 will focus on Greater, Greener, Fairer: A New Future for Scotland’s Towns and discuss key recommendations from the Town Centre Action Plan Review group . The conference will be grounded by core sessions on: 1) Policy, Planning, Place, 2) Financing, and 3) Delivering.Hosted by Journalist and Broadcaster Rona Dougall, the programme includes inspirational keynotes and whiteboard conversations, lunch + learn sessions, international learning, exhibition, Scotland Loves Local Awards and new ways to network and connect through 1-2-1s.

AHSS: Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures – Scotland’s Historic Buildings and the Climate Emergency
Date & Time: 22 November, 18:30 – 20:00
Location: SpACE, Edinburgh, and Online
Please join us, in person at the SpACE pop-up (ECA Fire Station, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh), or on-line, to hear our expert panel discuss the problems and challenges of historic buildings in relation to the climate emergency, and to consider any new aspects or commitments which may have arisen as a result of COP26.

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

Vacancies

FHBT: Interpretation for Inverkeithing Heritage Regeneration Project
Fife Historic Buildings Trust invites tenders to design, produce and install a range of interpretive outputs in Inverkeithing: external interpretation boards, a refreshed guide book, text for carving into new sculptural features, interpretation in the historic Town House, and for use by local businesses.
Closing date: 15 November

GBPT: Director
Glasgow Building Preservation Trust is a registered charity which was established almost 40 years ago with the mission to rescue, repair, and restore historic buildings at risk across the city.
The Trust now seeks a new Director who can work with the staff team and board to deliver regeneration and restoration projects across the city of Glasgow.
Closing date: 15 November

Landscape Institute: Policy and Partnerships Manager (Scotland)
The Landscape Institute (LI) seek a Scotland-based Policy and Partnerships Manager for a 12-month maternity cover role. The LI is looking to build its external presence, and you will work on policy, research and insight, campaigns, and networking to grow LI’s influence and help build the profession in Scotland. The post will work with the Head of Policy and LI membership to develop policy positions, prepare expert briefings, build the LI network, and ensure that the voice of landscape is heard by decision-makers.
Closing date: 17 November

Get the BEFS Bulletin directly in your inbox. Subscribe here.