BEFS News

The next meeting of the Cross-Party Group on Architecture and the Built Environment will focus on young people and placemaking. We will be joined by representatives from projects that have taken place during the Scottish Government’s Year of Young People, including: The Happenstance, Scotland’s contribution to the 16th international Architecture exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia, A Town Hall for All, a project by Penicuik school pupils, Lord, part of The Art of Happenstance, and Young Landscape Architects Knowledge Exchange. Book your place here.

On 27th August 2018 David Stewart of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations organised a visit to the offices of Dunedin Canmore for members of the Scottish Parliamentary Working Group on Tenement Maintenance. This included a short tour of tenements undergoing repairs in Gorgie and Tollcross in Edinburgh and learning about the challenges housing associations face in handling maintenance in tenements where they are not the majority owner. The presentation from Stuart Pendreich of Dunedin Canmore is available here.

BEFS has responded to the Scottish Parliament’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee’s call for views on the content of the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill. The response calls for a commitment to work towards zero net emissions by 2050.

Planning and design specialist Barton Willmore is calling on planners and developers to help influence the Planning (Scotland) Bill by completing a survey to help formulate a “robust” industry response.

Doors Open Days, Scotland’s largest free festival that celebrates heritage and the built environment and offers free access to over a thousand venues across Scotland, kicks off in September. Find out what is going on in your area.

Scottish Archaeology Month also begins in September. Find hundreds of events taking place all over Scotland from the Shetland Islands to the Scottish Borders, including free talks, tours, exhibitions, workshops and hands-on events to help you discover some of the amazing history, heritage and archaeology on your doorstep.

Publications

CIfA Annual Review 2017/2018 (CIfA 30/08/18)

The Invisible Land: The hidden force driving the UK’s unequal economy and broken housing market (IPPR 28/08/18)

Heritage Counts – Heritage and Society 2018 (Historic England 08/18)

Current workstreams: Chief Planner letter (SG 24/08/18)

A SPICe briefing on the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill

Scottish Government News Releases

Financial support for V&A Dundee (SG 26/08/18)
An extra £361,000 is being provided to support the new V&A Dundee in its first year of operation. The Scottish Government was an early supporter of the plans for V&A Dundee as a fantastic addition to Scotland’s world-class museums and provided £38 million towards the construction of the building, which is set to open to the public on 15 September.

People’s Choice Award (PCA)
The People’s Choice Award allows anyone to vote for their favourite shortlisted Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning 2018 entry. The idea is that this Award gives everyone a chance to get involved and express their support for whatever they consider to have been a great project in 2018. You can find all the projects on the map above. You can vote for your favourite project here. The poll will be open until late September.

News Releases

Engine Shed announces festival showcasing digital innovation in the heritage sector (HES 29/08/18)
Scotland’s dedicated building conservation centre will host programme highlighting the use of ground-breaking technology to preserve and explore the past. DigiFest will also incorporate two-day international conference featuring high-profile industry experts from across the globe.

Gaelic and Scots in the Historic Environment (HES 28/08/18)
To help us launch our new Gaelic Language Plan, we commissioned poet Daibhidh Eyre to write a poem in Gaelic and Scots. In conjunction with Double Take Projections, we then created a visual spectacle by projecting the poem in Gaelic and Scots onto 8 historical sites across the length and breadth of the country.

‘A full blown crisis’: Calls to speed up introduction of rent controls as study highlights housing benefit freeze impact (CW 28/08/18)
A Tenants’ Union has called on the Scottish Government to immediately introduce a cap on rent prices, as a new study reveals that many low-income households can now not even afford the cheapest private rented housing, as the effect of the UK Government’s housing benefit freeze bites.

The Young Landscape Architects’ Knowledge Exchange (LIS 24/08/18)
On Friday the 24th of August, ECA hosted the first Young Landscape Architects’ Knowledge Exchange with support from the LIS and sponsorship from AECOM and TGP Landscape Architects. The day was spent talking prospective landscape architects through day to day life in practice, informing them about different routes into the profession and giving them a crash course on design principals and place making.

Inspiring Impact secured for next three years by Big Lottery Fund grant (Civil Society 22/08/18)
The Inspiring Impact programme, which aims to improve impact measurement in the charity sector, has awarded £600,000 through the Big Lottery Fund. The funding means that the programme, which started in 2012, has been secured until 2021. It has also been supplemented by £15,000 from City Bridge Trust.

RIAS Presidential and Council Elections (RIAS 22/08/18)
The RIAS is delighted to announce that there are two Presidential Candidates for the upcoming election.

Jeremy Wright speech to Edinburgh International Culture Summit (DCMS 22/08/18)
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Wright welcomed ministers and cultural leaders from across the world to the Summit at the Scottish Parliament.

Nimbyism (Radio 4 16/08/18)
On Thursday 16th August Loyd Grossman, Chair of The Heritage Alliance, was on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Sweet Reason’ to discuss nimbyism (‘not in my back yard’) in relation to heritage and development. He appeared alongside Lord Adonis, former Transport Secretary, and Sarah Stein Lubrano, Head of Content at the School of Life.

Opinion & Comment

Creating cities where citizens can thrive (RICS 29/08/18)

What would cities look like if they were designed by mothers? (Christine Murray, Guardian 27/08/18)

Pens, Singe Use Plastics and Modern Construction (glm 24/08/18)

Making Public Places Better for Everyone (Lucy Richards, Studio LR for A&DS)

A Caring Place – Designing in Kindness (Zoe Ferguson, Carnegie UK for A&DS)

Have Bus Pass, Will Travel! (Scotland’s Churches Trust 21/08/18)

Parliamentary Questions

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

Question S5W-18273: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) use and (b) value of properties renovated through the (i) Town Centre Housing Fund and (ii) Empty Homes Loan Fund; how many properties renovated through each fund (A) are and (B) are not classed as affordable, and what information it has on the subsequent rental and sales value of each property that received funding.

Question S5W-18275: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many vacant and derelict town centre buildings have been brought back into use as affordable housing through the Town Centre Housing Fund in each year, broken down by how many people each property accommodates.

Question S5W-18313: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has carried out to evaluate its campaign of awareness-raising to increase the uptake of energy efficiency measures for (a) domestic and (b) residential buildings.

Question S5W-18312: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what modelling work it has carried out to analyse the costs of reaching energy performance certificate (EPC) (a) B and (b) C ratings for (i) domestic and (ii) residential buildings.

Question S5W-18329: Andy Wightman, Lothian, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 20/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable homes have been built under the National Housing Trust model since May 2016.

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

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

Question S5W-17945: Oliver Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 01/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the effectiveness of Energy Performance Certificates.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (17/08/2018)

Question S5W-18054: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018 R
To ask the Scottish Government how many communities (a) each year and (b) in the last 12 months have (i) registered an interest in acquiring and (ii) acquired land under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, also broken down by how much funding it has made available to support these communities.
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham (28/08/2018)

Events

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

SPAB Scotland – Historic Bar Socials (Aberdeen & Edinburgh)

Date: Thursday 6th September.
Location: The Ensign Ewart, 521-523 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2PE.
The Ensign Ewart sits at the heart of Edinburgh’s old town at the top of the royal mile. With a history dating back to 1680 and is named after Charles Ewart, who fought at the battle of Waterloo. The cellars of the building are dated to 1603 but the current building is said to largely resemble the form taken when its construction was completed in 1690.

Date: Thursday 20th September.
Location: The Grill, 213 Union Street, Aberdeen, AB11 6BA.
The Grill, Aberdeen is notable for it’s fine plasterwork interior, and a splendid mahogany veneer gantry behind the bar which we hope to admire. The bar occupies the ground floor of a typical granite 1830s building, and started out as a restaurant of the same name in 1870. The present bar was refurbished in 1925, and includes the unusual oxided-bronze fascia panels which are so distinctive externally.

Date: Thursday 4th October.
Venue: The Guildford Arms, 1 W Register Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2AA.
The Guildford Arms sits at the south east corner of the New Town, with ornate faience externally, the golden age of Victorian pub design is continued to the interior that has an elaborate Jacobean painted ceiling, and plasterwork of fine Victorian Rococo, the ornate bar fittings are modern reproductions and date only from 1970.

Flood Risk & The Planning System
Date: Saturday 8th September from 11am to 1400.
Venue: Perth Community Fire Station.
The Scottish Flood Forum (SFF) will be holding another networking event. Delegates from across Scotland will come together to share success, create solutions and share their experiences on flood risk and the planning system. The theme for this event is: Flood Risk & The Planning System, benefits, challenges, frustrations and opportunities for flood risk communities. Representatives from local authorities and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency will deliver talks on their roles and responsibilities concerning the planning system and flood risk communities. Planning Aid Scotland are also attending to outline how they can provide support and give an update on the new Planning (Scotland) Bill. If you are interested in taking part in this community networking event or would like more information contact: paul.laidlaw@scottishfloodforum.org.

Scottish Planning and Environmental Law Conference 2018
Date: Thursday 13th September 2018.
Venue: COSLA Conference Centre, Edinburgh
The 28th SPEL Conference takes place in Edinburgh this year and will focus broadly on two key themes – the Planning Bill and wider environmental matters. In May, the Stage 1 Report on the Planning (Scotland) Bill was released. As we anticipate what a future planning system is going to look like, planning reform is not the only driver of change. The Energy Strategy, climate change, and the 2021 Landfill ban will also impact on planning. Against this background, a number of high profile speakers will consider how change is likely to shape their various areas of expertise and its likely impact on planning in Scotland. Widely regarded as the foremost annual planning law event in Scotland, the SPEL Conference attracts key speakers and senior figures from a range of backgrounds and affords the opportunity to engage in high level discussion and debate.

Community Heritage Scotland – Going Forward in Oban
Date: Sat, September 15, 2018, 10:00 – 4:00.
Venue: The Rockfield Centre, Stevenson Street, Oban PA34 5N.
Are you involved with heritage in your community? You might be an organiser or you just might enjoy participating, but either way we would like you to join us for a discussion day talking about how communities manage their heritage, and how we should go forward with new ideas for positive change. Community Heritage Scotland is co-hosting the discussion day with CHArts, who are delivering a major networking project covering all aspects of culture in Argyll. We will also be joined by a team from University of St Andrews who are working on international community heritage, particularly in Latin America. We will be especially delighted to welcome Samuel Franco from Guatamala, who founded his own museum of Mayan music and is a specialist in intangible cultural heritage.

Changing Perspectives: Wester Hailes – Films of NewTown Utopia
Date: 18th Sept 6-8pm.
Venue: Wester Hailes Library.
Join WHALE Arts and Tower Block UK for an evening filled with film and conversation about high-rise and new town living. The evening will include screenings of documentary feature film New Town Utopia and several short films representing life in Wester Hailes, a chance to see the Tower Block UK travelling exhibition, and opportunities to discuss and share memories of living in this area.

Perth Traditional Building Skills Roadshow, King Edward Street, Perth, PH1 5UT
Dates: Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 Sept 10:00-16:00.
Location: Kind Edward Street, Perth.
Come and see traditional stone carving, slating, joinery, and painting & decorating demonstrations. Members of the Fife and Tayside Traditional Buildings Forum, apprentices, lecturers and building professionals will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate the skills used to maintain historic buildings in Scotland.

What’s the point of Listing Buildings?
Date: Thursday 27th September 2018 | 6.30-8.30pm.
Venue: tbc
There are over 1,800 listed buildings in Glasgow. The main criteria for listing are: age and rarity; architectural or historic interest; close historical association. This is the latest in our series of quarterly debates called ‘The City Talks’. As opposed to the more traditional format of our monthly lecture series, The City Talks are two-way debates between a specially selected panel of experts and the audience. Our panel will consider whether these designations fully reflect what the city and its people value about the historic built environment. Should we be trying to save historic buildings which are unlisted and outside of conservation areas? Who might they be valuable to?

Icon Scotland Group: Plenderleith Lecture on Museum Lighting
Date: 29th November this year at 6 pm.
Venue: Discovery Point, Dundee.
Icon Scotland Group is delighted to announce that this year’s lecturer will be David Saunders. Dr Saunders was recently Keeper of Conservation, Science and Documentation at the British Museum and previously, Principle Scientist the Scientific Department of the National Gallery, London. He is presently writing a major work on Lighting in museums and galleries, which is expected to be published later this year. David Saunders will discuss how our understanding of the effects of light on collections and the lighting needs of our visitors have changed. He will explore how new approaches and developments in museum lighting affect practices and strategies for both display and conservation.

Training

A Guide to Tax for Arts & Heritage Organisations
Date & time: Wednesday 12 September 2018, Registration: 12.45 | Event: 13:00 – 16:30.
Venue: Scott-Moncrieff, 25 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, G2 6NL.
This half-day seminar is a must for all financial or budget holding staff and anyone who wants to know how tax affects (and can benefit) arts and heritage organisations with charitable status in Scotland. The tax guide provides a practical summary and guidance on how tax affects the arts and heritage organisations.  The event and guide are also a great refresher and reference for those who need reminding of basic principles and want to know how different taxes interact with each other.

Telling It Like It Is – Effective Copywriting
Date & time: Tuesday 25 September 2018, Registration: 10.15 | Event: 10:30 – 16:30
Venue: A&BS, Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh E12 5EZ
This one-day training session is aimed at all individuals, regardless of their existing skills or experience, who need to develop a case for support for their project or cause. Offering a combination of project-based, hands-on writing exercises with tips, techniques and critical theory, the training session explores the five stages of the copywriting process in the context of putting together an effective case for support.

Icon Scotland Group: Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) – Training Course
Date: 28th September 2018.
Venue: Stirling Castle
Fee: £8 – £10
This practical one day course will take attendees through taking RTI-compatible photographs and then processing them on their own computers to create a 3D effect of the virtual surface structure. Of interest to Archaeologists, Conservators and anyone working with artefacts. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own objects to work with and the fee includes lunch, tea & coffee.  The course will be led by Marta Pilarska of Historic Environment Scotland.

BEFS News

Today is the deadline for sending us your case studies for the next Scottish Historic Environment Audit. We are looking for case studies of projects or initiatives that illustrate the breadth of activity that takes place in the heritage sector. If you would still like to submit something do let us know as soon as possible.

Supported by BEFS, Earth Building UK & Ireland are holding a one-day workshop on turf building with presentations from practitioners in Scotland, Iceland and Ireland. There will be group discussions on focused themes to inform future partnership activities. Join us for a day relevant to heritage professionals and enthusiasts engaged with vernacular culture.

The Adams Napier Partnership has been commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to carry out research to inform a review of its guidance on the conservation of traditional and decorative plasterwork. To help inform HES’s future skills and publications strategy, an online questionnaire has been produced seeking views on traditional plasterwork in Scotland. The questionnaire is available here and should only take around 5 minutes to complete.

We are inviting expressions of interest from potential candidates for the role of BEFS Chair. Details can be found here.

A number of parliamentary questions have been lodged in the last two weeks related to the built environment, and do check out the range of fantastic events coming up this autumn, in the events section.

Consultations

Consultation on further guidance to local authorities on Part 9 – allotments
Closes 20 Aug 2018. 

Developing an Environment Strategy for Scotland
Closes 24 Aug 2018.

Open Government – Let’s Make Scotland Work for You
Opened 10 Aug 2018 and closes 31 Aug 2018. 

Local Governance Review: Democracy Matters: Your Community. Your ideas. Your Future (SG)
Opened 10 Aug 2018 and closes 31 Aug 2018.

Social housing green paper: a ‘new deal’ for social housing (MHCLG)
Opened 14 August and closes 6 November 2018.

Publications

Living Home Standard – Research (Shelter Scotland 15/08/18)

Social housing green paper: a ‘new deal’ for social housing (MHCLG 14/08/18) 

Compulsory Sales Orders – A Proposal from the Scottish Land Commission (SLC 13/08/18) 

HES publishes Planning Performance Framework Report 2017-18 (HES 06/08/18)

Monitoring the Outcomes of Planning: A Research Study (SG 03/08/18)

Customer Service and the Planning System – A Research Study (SG 07/08/18) 

Reasons for Delays with Planning Applications for Housing (SG 03/08/18) 

Making Places initiative 2018-2019: prospectus and application form (SG 03/08/18)

Heritage Lottery Fund (National Heritage Memorial Fund Lottery Distribution) annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2017 (DCMS 03/08/18)

Myths and Tops Tips on Community Right to Buy briefing (Community Land Scotland)

Racial diversity in the charity sector (ACEVO and Institute of Fundraising)

From NIMBY to YIMBY: How to win votes by building more homes

Scottish Government News Releases

Edinburgh and South East City Region Deal (SG 07/08/18)
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will formally sign off the Scottish Government’s investment in the ambitious Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.

Making Places initiative 2018-2019: prospectus and application form (SG 03/08/18)
We have launched the 2018 to 2019 Making Places initiative to encourage communities to positively and actively contribute to the development of their local places. Making Places represents a broadening of the charrette mainstreaming programme to support communities at all stages of their thinking.

News Releases

New legal power proposed in Scotland to tackle blight of vacant and derelict land (SLC 16/08/18)
A new Compulsory Sales Order (CSO) power could tackle the blight of abandoned buildings and parcels of vacant and derelict land in town centres and communities across Scotland, according to a report published today by the Scottish Land Commission.

Piper’s Peace – Scottish Winners of the Gardens for Peace project (LIS 16/08/18)
The LIS is delighted to announce that Edinburgh based landscape architects Anna Rhodes (Young Planting Designer Finalist at RHS Taton 2017) and Melissa Orr (Gardens By The Bay – Singapore) have won the Gardens for Peace project as the Scottish representatives.

Community Land Week: community land ownership becoming the norm (SLC 14/08/18)
As Community groups across Scotland are opening up their doors showcasing what happens on community owned land in the first Community Land Week, Scottish Land Commissioner, Megan MacInnes looks at the importance of community land ownership and its success story in Scotland’s land reform journey to date.

The Herald Property Awards for Scotland: Shortlist revealed (Herald Scotland 13/08/18)
THE regeneration of an historic ?sheries building in Peterhead into ?ats for affordable rent, a new social housing development on the site of Edinburgh Fort and the transformation of a former garment factory in Glasgow’s Merchant City into contemporary of?ce and retail space are amongst the ?nalists shortlisted in this year’s Herald Property Awards in association with SP Energy Networks.

Diversity and business performance – is there a link? (Design Council 12/08/18)
Why Design Council commissioned the research. Diversity and inclusion underpin Design Council’s values, delivery and research. One of the ways we put this into practice is by aiming for a 50:50 gender split on Built Environment Expert panels as part of our Design Review services. In our recently-released Design Economy 2018 research we found that the design economy is 78% male, which is a higher figure than for the wider UK workforce (53% male).

RIBA Brexit Survey for non-UK Nationals (RIBA 08/08/18)
As the UK prepares to leave the European Union, we would like your help to better understand the main issues facing those from outside the UK who are working in architectural practice. Please give us five minutes of your time to complete this survey.

RTPI Research Awards 2018: shortlist for prestigious national awards announced (RTPI 07/08/18)
Research into planning for different religions, urbanisation in Rwanda and Ethiopia, and Scottish marine planning are among the projects shortlisted in this year’s RTPI Awards for Research Excellence shortlist.

Opinion & Comment

Compulsory Sale Orders – adding to the regeneration toolbox (SLC 16/08/18)

A Closer Look at Glasgow Airport (HES 14/08/18)

4 Tips for Budding World Heritage Professionals (HES 06/08/18)

Putting Towns on the Policy Map: Understanding Scottish Places (USP) and Data (Professor Leigh Sparks, Stirling Retail)

Parliamentary Questions

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

Question S5W-18054: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018 R
To ask the Scottish Government how many communities (a) each year and (b) in the last 12 months have (i) registered an interest in acquiring and (ii) acquired land under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, also broken down by how much funding it has made available to support these communities.

Question S5W-18098: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what the vetting process is for people declaring that they are fit and proper to register as a property factor; what the minimum requirements are for an individual to pass the fit and proper test, and how many people have been unable to register as a property factor due to failing to pass the vetting process since the register came into force in each year since 2012.

Question S5W-18090: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it will implement energy efficiency measures in mixed-tenure tenements for social rent and private rented sector properties if shared approval for costs by all owners is not achieved.

Question S5W-18094: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides an approved contractor list for energy efficiency contractors.

Question S5W-18096: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it will support owner-occupiers who are unable to obtain a loan for funding energy efficiency measures.

Question S5W-18095: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what quality assurance measures are in place to ensure that members of the public receive the most appropriate energy efficiency measures and that they pay the smallest possible price for the work when using public funding routes.

Question S5W-18092: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government when it wil begin consultation on owner-occupied properties being mandated to comply with energy efficiency measures and any related financial penalties for owner-occupiers who do not comply.

Question S5W-18097: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many Property Factor Enforcements Orders have not been complied with each year under the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber); how many of these have been referred to Police Scotland and/or the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and how many of these referrals have been taken to court, broken down by the outcome.

Question S5W-18091: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering penalties for private rented sector landlords that fail to comply with energy performance certificate (EPC) regulations and, if so, whether it will provide details of these.

Question S5W-18139: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 09/08/2018 R
To ask the Scottish Government what modelling work it has undertaken to analyse the cost of reaching an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) (a) B and (b) C rating for a domestic/residential building.

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

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

Question S5W-17733: Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 17/07/2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of meetings and discussions held between ministers and officials and (a) Planning Democracy and (b) Planning Aid Scotland in the last five years, and what was discussed.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (09/08/2018)

Question S5W-17791: Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23/07/2018 R
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17390 by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 July 2018, what financial assessments it has made to calculate the estimate of £10 to £12 billion, and whether it will provide a breakdown of these costs by (a) (i) public expenditure and (ii) private sources and (b) expenditure on (A) domestic and (B) non-domestic buildings.
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse (10/08/2018)

Events

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

Fife Modernist Architecture Tour
Date: Sunday, 09 September 2018, from 09:30 to 17:00.
Location: The tour will depart from Rutland Square, Edinburgh at 9.30 a.m., with a further pick-up point at Markinch Station at 10.15 a.m. Please bring a packed lunch, as shopping options might be limited. We will return to Edinburgh at around 17.00 p.m.
Minibus tour led by the architectural historians Diane Watters and Katherine Breen, both of Historic Environment Scotland. DoCoMoMo Scotland is pleased to announce our forthcoming architectural minibus tour to the Kingdom of Fife, guided by the architectural historians Diane Watters and Katherine Breen, both of Historic Environment Scotland. We will be looking at significant Modernist works, especially post-war housing, as well as some churches and public buildings. The tour includes visits to Kirkcaldy, Burntisland and Glenrothes to see buildings by the architectural firms Gillespie Kidd & Coia, Wheeler & Sproson and others.

Rhind Lectures 2018
Dates: 21-23 September.
Location: Wick.
The Society is delighted to announce that in association with Yarrows Heritage Trust the 2018 Rhind Lectures will be repeated over the weekend of 21-23 September in Wick.  The venue is the Pulteney Centre, Huddart Street, Wick, Caithness KW1 5BA.  Booking is recommended by calling the Centre on 01955 608530.  For full details please email Ian Giles, Yarrows Heritage Trust secretary iangiles01@btinternet.com

Communities for a Changing Population
Date: 27 September 2018.
Location: Glasgow.
This conference will explore how a greater focus on innovative, sustainable and community-led planning can support the development of new communities, the retrofitting of existing housing stock, changes in public policy, the creation of jobs and an evolution in our approach to placemaking. The findings of this event will coincide with Stage 2 of the Planning (Scotland) Bill, and will feed into the debate as the Bill continues through Parliament for the remainder of this year.
This is a PAS event, kindly sponsored by ng homes. To find out more and to register for this event, please visit Impact Engagement.

Booking now open for the RTPI Scotland Annual Conference
Date: 2nd October.
Venue: COSLA Conference Centre, Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh, EH12 5BH.
On 2 October RTPI Scotland will challenge our speakers and delegates to answer the question: Scotland 2050: What do we want Scotland to be and how do we make it happen? Confirmed speakers including Samer Bagaeen of 100 Resilient Cities and Prof Sarah Skerrett of the Scottish Rural College have been asked to start the ball rolling on disruptive thinking to help inform the fourth National Planning Framework.

Conserving the Assets of Our Past – RIAS Autumn Seminar 
Date: Tuesday 2 October 2018, 1.00pm to 5.00pm.
Venue: The Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh
Cost: RIAS accredited members and members of Practice Services: £24 inc. VAT. RIAS member: £30 inc. VAT. Non-members: £42 inc. VAT
The RIAS conservation autumn seminar is now open for bookings. Topics will include development of the HES Asset Management Plan, HES Corporate Plan consultation, inspecting tenements and church quinquennials, practical advice on survey specification for digital documentation and the restoration of the Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens.

DIGIDOC
Date: Wednesday, 10th (Research & Innovation Day); Thursday 11 Oct 2018 – Friday 12 Oct 2018.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling.
At our two-day international conference taking part during DigiFest, speakers from Ubisoft, Atlantic Productions, Tippett Studio and many others will share the very latest innovation in digital documentation and visualisation. Showcasing ground-breaking work worldwide, networking and experiencing Scottish hospitality are as important as the fascinating talks at this event. For the first time ever, you can also join us for a special DigiDoc Research and Innovation Day on Wednesday 10 October. Gain an exclusive preview of the latest research that will be influencing our futures.

Heritage Trust Network Conference 2018
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2018, 09:30 – Tue, 20 Nov 2018, 16:00
Venue: The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling, FK8 1QZ.
Join us in Scotland for our SKILLS-themed conference where we will address some of the many and varied skills needed to successfully run a heritage building preservation project today. On day one we focus on getting your organisation ready, project off the ground and fundraising, and on day two, we explore the skills needed to manage your project on site, how to work well with volunteers and communities, and making the most of your heritage asset after the building works are completed.

Training

Bookings are now being taken for this year’s free Scottish Licentiate Assessment of Professional Competence events.
Ready to take your career to the next level? Becoming a Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) demonstrates to employers, clients and the wider public that you meet the highest professional and ethical standards in planning. The Licentiate Assessment of Professional Competence (L-APC) is the main route to Chartered status for those who completed a fully accredited RTPI degree in or after 2005.
Book here:

• Aberdeen – Monday 17 September
• Edinburgh – Tuesday 18 September
• Glasgow – Tuesday 18 September

Be recognised for your skills in community engagement – Training Event 
Date: Thursday 20 September 2018, 5.30-9.00pm.
Location: Glasgow.
Our community engagement skills training is for anyone who would like to enhance their skills and become recognised as a community engagement practitioner. It is a two-part process which verifies that participants are competent in using SP=EED® (our guide to effective community engagement https://pas.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/SPEED.pdf ). Part 1 is an interactive training workshop and Part 2 a written reflective-learning assessment based on a real engagement process. Previous participants have come from local authorities, planning consultancies and more. The cost of the programme is £250 per person. Please email david@pas.org.uk for more information.

Vacancies

Policy Officer
National Trust for Scotland is seeking a fulltime Policy Officer. This job exists in order to develop and communicate Trust policy in order to meet the organisational purpose. In addition, the post holder will act as an advocate for the conservation of Scottish heritage, and for access, learning and enjoyment of that heritage.
Closing date: Friday 17 August 2018. 

Office Administrator (Part-time)
Scottish Civic Trust are seeking an Office Administrator. The Office Administrator will manage the administration of the Trust, including financial control and reporting, budget management, ICT (with external support), HR and governance administration and premises management. The role is supported by the Trust’s Administration Assistant and will report to the Director.
Closing date for applications: Monday 27 August 2018.

Grants Officer
Museums Galleries Scotland is the National Development Body for the Scottish museums sector. We are looking for a passionate advocate of museums to assist our Grants Manager with supporting Scotland’s museums through the provision of grants.
Closing date: Thursday 30th August at 9.00 a.m.

Become a Trustee for The Heritage Alliance.
The Heritage Alliance is looking for three new trustees to join its Board from December 2018. In addition, the Alliance is looking for a Treasurer from December 2019. Early co-option of a new Treasurer, who is also a trustee, will allow for there to be a proper period of handover. The Alliance is keen that its board is reflective of the full range of heritage represented by its members. The Alliance is also keen on promoting the diversity more generally of its Board members. We therefore particularly welcome applicants from women, disabled people and individuals from Black and Minority ethnic communities.
We would be grateful for initial expressions of interest in this role by 7 September. 

Could you be Icon’s next CEO?
Icon is looking for a new Chief Executive Officer and if you’re someone who is fascinated by our cultural heritage and interested in its preservation then that could be you! This is a unique opportunity to help the organisation shape its future – working with its professional membership of conservators to promote the importance of conservation to a wider public, raise the profile of the organisation and its mission and help develop a sustainable financial future.
Closing date for applications: Monday 10 September 2018. 

BEFS News

BEFS is currently gathering data for the next Scottish Historic Environment Audit. As part of this we are looking for case studies of projects or initiatives that illustrate the breadth of activity that takes place in the heritage sector. Send us your case studies by Thursday 16 August 2018. More details here.

BEFS has responded to the Scottish Government consultation on energy efficient homes. Energy Efficient Scotland will require minimum energy efficiency targets to be met by all buildings in Scotland and so it is considered vital that the views of individuals and public bodies are taken into consideration and used to shape the programme.

The Scottish Government is intending to build on progress already underway in the social housing sector throughout Scotland, with three quarters of the social housing stock already meeting the energy efficiency ratings in the first EESSH milestone set for December 2020. EESSH2 proposes a longer term approach to removing poor energy efficiency as a driver for fuel poverty in social housing, and BEFS has responded to these proposals to set a challenging and aspirational target to maximise the number of social rented homes meeting an EPC band B by 2032.

BEFS invited Lucy Casot, Head of the HLF in Scotland, to present to the Historic Environment Working Group, on HLF’s research in relation to the changes being proposed. The sector-specific responses to a wide-ranging questionnaire have been summarised in the paper found here. BEFS supports many aspects of the changes but advised HLF to clearly retain their specific focus on heritage. BEFS also responded to the final official consultation from DCMS – the Heritage Lottery Fund Policy Directions consultation. There were no substantive changes recommended. BEFS is keen that HLF continue to share data to enable better understanding of projects and organisational need across the heritage sectors.

We previously circulated a survey on community heritage groups being undertaken by Ergadia Museums and Heritage and Northlight Heritage, in collaboration with the Museums Galleries and Collections Institute at the University of St Andrews. The findings of the survey have now been published and, perhaps unsurprisingly, funding and finances are the biggest challenge reported by community groups. This mirrors research we have undertaken with partners in the ecclesiastical heritage sector in recent years and the findings along with the forthcoming report arising from Resourcing Scotland’s Heritage should be of high interest to the major funding bodies and Scottish Government: empowering communities will not happen without resource.

Book now for the Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2018! As part of the official Edinburgh Fringe Festival, it aims to “Celebrate Edinburgh’s Traditional Buildings” and offers a series of free demonstrations and talks about traditional buildings and the skills and materials to build, and maintain, them.

Don’t forget to check out the fantastic array of events and training coming up in August and September, below, as well as the vacancies section.

Consultations

The Scottish Governance Code for The Third Sector Consultation (SCVO & Scotland’s Third Sector Governance Forum) 

Publications

Heritage Lottery Fund (National Heritage Memorial Fund Lottery Distribution) annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2018 (DDCMS 01/08/18) 

Scotland’s Population – The Registrar General’s Annual Review of Demographic Trends 2017 (NRS 1/08/18) 

Revised National Planning Policy Framework (BG 24/07/18)

CIfA’s response to Revised National Planning Policy Framework (CiFA 26/07/18)

Planning Performance Statistics, 2017/18, Q4 and annual (SG 24/07/18)

Community Empowerment and Common Good Property: Guidance for Local Authorities (SG 23/07/18)

Affordable Rents compared to traditional social rents (Joseph Roundtree Foundation) 

Independent review of building regulations and fire safety: next steps (BP 18/07/18)

Scottish Government News

Record year for overseas visitors (20/07/18)
Visits and spending by overseas tourists in Scotland rose to its highest level on record in 2017. The ONS Travel Trends 2017 statistics showed the number of overseas tourists visiting Scotland rose by 16.9% to 3.2 million, while expenditure increased by 23% to £2.3 billion.

News

UK Government announces Edinburgh Fringe funding to promote new talent on global stage (DDCMS 02/08/18)
The UK Government will provide £100,000 to this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe to help it deliver a step change in how it showcases emerging artistic talent to the world, Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright announced today.

Planning Bill changes are ‘point of no return’ for Scotland’s heritage (NTS 31/07/18)
Following the submission of four new development applications at Culloden and the approval of a golf course at the Coul Links, the National Trust for Scotland has called on the Scottish Government to save Scotland’s heritage by overhauling the planning system in forthcoming legislation.

Statement from the GSA work progressing on three sides of the Mackintosh Building (GSA 31/07/18)
Work is continuing on the east, south and north sides of the Mack with work on the west end of the south façade due to begin this week.

‘From a built heritage perspective, the revised NPPF is an opportunity lost’ (IHBC 27/07/18)
With the publication of England’s revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) IHBC officers have highlighted the chances missed.

Proposal for post-Brexit environmental watchdog fundamentally flawed (RTPI 24/07/18)
The Government’s proposal for a post-Brexit environmental watchdog that only has jurisdiction for England is deeply flawed, says the RTPI. An England-only governance body will not provide the same level of environmental protection and citizen’s rights as the current protection under EU directives which cross boundaries, according to the RTPI’s response to DEFRA’s consultation.

AHF Awards Funding To Support Glasgow Communities Reclaim And Regenerate Their Heritage (AHF 19/07/18)
Three community projects in Glasgow will benefit from recent grants offered by the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF). This funding round includes support to The ‘Pyramid at Anderston’, a new social enterprise delivering programmes from Glasgow’s iconic Pyramid Church, as well as funds to support the ongoing renewal of Govanhill Baths.

New evidence of ancient settlements spotted from Scotland’s skies (HES 13/07/18)
Crop marks showing ancient settlements and Roman fortifications, which are otherwise hidden under the plough soil, are being documented by Historic Environment Scotland.

Host an MSP in Your Town or Neighbourhood This Summer! (STP 07/18)
Scotland’s Towns Partnership and the Cross Party Group on Towns & Town Centres are encouraging MSPs to take a day during Parliamentary Recess to visit towns in their constituency or region as part of the MSP Connector Programme. We are also seeking interest from town centre managers, community groups, local business organisations and other town stakeholders to host an MSP for the day in their town.

Regulator publishes new research into factors the public associate with trustworthy charities (CC 11/07/18)
Being true to their values and the ability to demonstrate efficiency and impact join transparency among the most important ingredients of trustworthiness in charities, according to new research by the Charity Commission.

New parliamentary group set up to discuss better housing design and placemaking (Infrastructure Intelligence 03/07/18)
A new All Party Parliamentary Group has been formed with the aim of ensuring issues surrounding housing are prioritised and new ideas are formed to tackle the shortage of homes within the UK. The newly-formed APPG on Building Communities will look to progress political discussions around good design and placemaking and how they can help solve the housing crisis.

Tesco Bags of Help Funding
Need up to £4000 funding for a project that benefits the community? Tesco Bags of Help has funded over 2000 projects in Scotland – sharing over £6 million pounds between them. Bags of Help funds a huge variety of projects that bring benefits to the community and every two months in Scotland we award 225 projects a share of over half a million pounds.

Opinion & Comment

Wellbeing: Should We Really Be Using it to ‘Monetise’ Non Market Activities? (Measuring Wellbeing series 25/07/18)

How Heritage Became Sexy (and What That Means for the Future of Conservation) (Elliot Olson 24/07/18)

Can Urban Living be suitable for Older People? (Steven Tolson and Dr Margaret Brown, for A&DS)

Parliamentary Questions

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

Question S5W-17733: Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 17/07/2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of meetings and discussions held between ministers and officials and (a) Planning Democracy and (b) Planning Aid Scotland in the last five years, and what was discussed. (SP 17/07/18)

Question S5W-17791: Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23/07/2018 R
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17390 by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 July 2018, what financial assessments it has made to calculate the estimate of £10 to £12 billion, and whether it will provide a breakdown of these costs by (a) (i) public expenditure and (ii) private sources and (b) expenditure on (A) domestic and (B) non-domestic buildings. (SP 23/07/18)

Question S5W-17945: Oliver Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 01/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the effectiveness of Energy Performance Certificates.

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

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

Question S5W-17367: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20/06/2018
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Building Standards (Compliance and Enforcement) Review Panel has met; when it will next meet, and by what date it will issue its recommendations.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (13/07/2018)

Question S5W-17390: Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20/06/2018 R
To ask the Scottish Government what financial assessment has been made of the cost of converting all buildings in Scotland to net zero emissions by 2050 as set out in the Energy Efficient Scotland: Route Map.
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse (18/07/2018)

Events

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

Skills Showcase Exhibition
Date: 2 July – 14 September, from 10am – 4pm.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
In this exhibition you will discover first hand from our staff what it takes to look after the beautiful sites that HES cares for. From stonemasons to digital innovators, from collections registrars to joiners, what they all have in common is a passion and commitment to protecting Scotland’s heritage for future generations.
Drop in | Free | T: 01786 234 800 | E: technicaleducation@hes.scot

Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2018
Dates: 14 – 17 August 2018.
Location: Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is delighted to be running the seventh Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival as part of the official Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival aims to “Celebrate Edinburgh’s Traditional Buildings” and offers a series of free demonstrations and talks about traditional buildings and the skills and materials to build, and maintain, them.

Guided Walk: Sports on Glasgow Green
Date: Weds 15th August 2018 | 6-8pm.
Location: Glasgow Green.
In August Glasgow will co-host the inaugural European Championships. Glasgow is no slouch when it comes to sport, and our sporting heritage runs deep. Long before there was a Hampden Park, Kelvin Hall or a Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Glasgow Green was where the city went to play and compete. Join GCHT on a leisurely stroll around Glasgow Green’s sporting highlights, including the West Boathouse, a lost lido, and a one of the oldest outdoor gyms in the UK.

Celebrating Scotland’s Industrial Heritage
Date: 16 August, 9.30am – 4.30pm.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
A one-day conference dedicated to celebrating Scotland’s extraordinarily rich industrial heritage.
Speakers from across the heritage sector will talk about how they became involved with industrial heritage, why it is so important to Scotland, the extent of its global reach, and why it is such a crucial part of our future.
Prices: £36 Historic Scotland Members. £40 Non-Members.
Booking essential | T: 01786 234 800 | E: technicaleducation@hes.scot

Falkland Craft Symposium 2018
Dates:  17-19 August.
Venue: Falkland Stewardship Trust, The Stables, Cupar KY15 7AF.
Following the great success of previous years, SPAB Scotland are once again supporting the Falkland Stewardship Trust in their annual celebration of traditional crafts.  Throughout the three days there will be many practical activities in progress including working with wood and stone, firing up a lime-kiln, pointing with earth and lime mortars, repairing two magnificent estate walls, and so on.

Mortars and Binders
Date: 30 August, 9.30am – 4.30pm.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ.
A one-day seminar where recent research and publications by Historic Environment Scotland on traditional mortars will be presented and discussed.
Learn about the composition, specification and application of historic mortars and binders. While focusing on hot mixed lime mortars in traditional and historic building, other binders will be introduced.
Prices: £54 Historic Scotland Members (Concessions). £60 Non-Members.
Booking essential | T: 01786 234 800 | E: technicaleducation@hes.scot

Burns Monument Tour
Date: Saturday 1st September 2018 at 10.30am.
Venue: Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Murdoch’s Lone, Alloway, Ayr KA7 4PQ.
SPAB Scotland are pleased to be able to offer this rare chance to be up close to the wonderful stone carvings on the Burns Monument in Alloway, Ayrshire. The National Trust for Scotland are undertaking a programme of major repair work to the monument, chiefly comprising lime grouting the ashlar work from inside in order to fill many voids throughout the structure. In association with the main contractor Conservation Masonry Ltd, the event will be run by building surveyor and clerk of works to the monument project, Kinlay Laidlaw, who will give a short lecture about the building and the proposed repair works prior to leading the tour on the scaffolding.

War Memorials: Sharing Success Conference and Workshops (Scotland)
Date: Tuesday 4th September.
Venue: Engine Shed in Stirling.
War Memorials Trust and Historic Environment Scotland are hosting a free conference on war memorials on 4th September. Taking place at the Engine Shed in Stirling the day will feature presentations, Q&As and workshops as well as an opportunity to explore the conservation exhibits. It is designed to review some of the war memorial activities in Scotland through the centenary of World War I and consider the future of war memorials beyond 2018. The main conference will run from 10am to 3pm with two optional workshops running from 3.30pm – 4.45pm if attendees wish to extend their

Contemporary Approaches to Sustainability in European Cities
Date: September 20 @ 13:00 pm – 18:30 pm.
Venue: Western Park Conference Centre, 319 Perth Road, Dundee, DD2 1NN.
The Academy of Urbanism and University of Dundee are delighted to convene a special event to consider the application of contemporary strategies to make medium-sized cities more sustainable in environmental, socio-economic and cultural terms. We have invited senior speakers from leading AoU European City Finalists, including Bilbao, Copenhagen, Freiburg and Ljubljana together with additional input from Scottish and UK specialists. This event is coinciding with the opening of the new V&A Dundee, Scotland’s first design museum. Hear from four exceptional cities and be one of the first to step inside this major new attraction!

Traditional Buildings Materials and Skills – Highlands & Islands Traditional Building Forum Conference
Date: Fri 21 September 2018.
Venue: Smithton Church, 1 Murray Road, Smithton, Inverness IV2 7YU.
This conference includes presentations and exhibitors on traditional building materials including stone, mortar, timber, metals and glass and will conclude with a case study of the recently completed Inverness Town House repair project. This event is being jointly sponsored by CIOB, RIAS, RICS & CITB.

Debate: What’s the point of Listing Buildings?
Date: Thurs 27th September 2018 | 6.30-8.30pm.
Location: Glasgow (venue tbc).
There are over 1,800 listed buildings in Glasgow. Our panel will consider whether these designations fully reflect what the city and its people value about the historic built environment. Should we be trying to save historic buildings which are unlisted and outside of conservation areas? Who might they be valuable to?

Edinburgh Doors Open Day with SPAB
Date: Saturday 29th September 11am – 4pm & Sunday 30th September 11am – 4pm.
Location: Trunks Close, 55 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR.
SPAB Scotland will once again be hosting craft demonstrations as part of Edinburgh Doors Open Day weekend. Come and speak to us, find out about what we do for building conservation, campaigning, and events in Scotland. Our demonstration this year will focus on stone carving, and we are lucky to have two SPAB William Morris Craft Fellows, Heather Griffith and Innes Drummond on hand to guide you through the skills of a stonemason. They will be giving short demonstrations throughout the day, and will oversee a small hands-on area where you can have a go yourself.

Training

CPD: Surface appearances and deeper truths: Thermography and moisture analysis in the built environment
Date: Thursday 9th August 2018 | 12.30-1.30pm.
Venue: 54 Bell Street, Glasgow.
This seminar will discuss the use of infrared thermography and subsurface moisture analysis to understand the performance of buildings and structures.

Gardening in Scotland: Principles and Practice
Date: Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th August, 2018.
Location: The National Trust for Scotland’s Pitmedden Garden, Ellon, Aberdeenshire, AB41 7PD.
This 2-day course will combine classroom-based learning with practical “hands-on” training to provide those attending with an understanding of the skills and techniques necessary in order to establish and maintain a garden in Scotland. The subjects to be addressed range from planning and designing a garden, through to the selection of plants, soil preparation and the development of a maintenance programme, as well as the effects on our gardens and the wider landscape resulting from the, now apparent, norm of unpredictable weather. The Course will be of immense value, not only to private individuals, maintaining or creating their own gardens, but also to those professionally involved in gardening and associated landscape projects.

Architectural Traditions
Date: 27 August. 5 days over 3 weeks: 39.5 taught hours.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ.
Learn about the progression of Scottish architectural styles, building materials and construction technologies from the prehistoric period to the 20th century.
Price: £630.

Building Fabric & Function
Date: 29 August. 1 day per week over 4 weeks: 19 taught hours
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
Get an introduction to traditional Scottish building methods and materials, and learn how the elements of a building interact and function together as a whole.
Price: £315.

Use of Stone in Traditional Architecture
Date: 30 August. 15 days over 10 weeks: 55.5 taught hours.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ.
Explore how stone has been used as a vital element of Scotland’s historic built environment from prehistoric times to the present day.
Price: £1,230

CPD / Seminar: History and Conservation of Ceramic Tiles
Date: Thursday 27th September 2018 | 10.00-1.30pm.
Venue: Kelvin Hall, Glasgow.
This half day event will focus on the history and conservation of ceramic tiles with particular reference to Glasgow. The session will include a look at the history of tile design together with practical examples of tile repair methods and conservation projects.

Vacancies

Intern Project Officer
Royal Town Planning Institute are looking for a motivated person who can use evidence gathering and collaborative skills to support our ongoing work influencing the Planning Bill, and work to develop new thinking that will inform a vision for Scotland’s built and natural environment in 2050. As context to this, enthusiasm to promote to a wide audience the value of an empowered and effective planning service will be required. You will be organised, have a degree level qualification in a relevant social science subject and have strong communication skills and an understanding of the current issues facing planners and the planning system.
Closing Date: 9am on Monday 13 August 2018.

Event Manager
Chartered Institute for Archaeologists are looking to recruit an Events Manager to manage our varied programme of conferences and events. The Events Manager will be responsible for the development, organisation, and marketing of the Chartered Institute’s programme of internal and external events and will work with senior staff to develop and improve these.
Closing date for applications is 5pm on Monday 20 August. Interviews are expected to take place in the week commencing 3 September.

Langholm Alliance for Action Facilitator (part time)
SURF is seeking a part-time Facilitator to support its Alliance for Action programme site of Langholm. Langholm is the newest site in SURF’s Alliance for Action initiative. The successful applicant will be responsible for helping to build on local demand for new economic opportunities, an enhanced tourism offer, and increased collaboration between local groups and initiatives in the Dumfries and Galloway town. SURF’s 2017-18 Alliance for Action feasibility study for Langholm established broad consensus on the town’s main strengths. These included its historical significance, a strong culture of community activity, and a high quality physical and natural environment. It also highlighted significant social and economic challenges.
The closing date for applications is Monday 20 August.

Skills Training Officer
Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust is a charity established in 1988 with the aim of conserving and promoting archaeology and architectural heritage in Perth and Kinross for the benefit of residents, visitors and future generations. Our Strategic Plan 2017-22 identifies ‘supporting the sectoral skills base through delivering skills training’ as a key priority. We wish to appoint a conservation professional on a one-year fixed-term basis to help us deliver our existing skills training projects, including boat building, traditional building skills training and an archaeology field school, and to lead on the development of a project plan and funding package for a 3-year training programme to run from 2020-22.
The closing date for applications is 17:00 on Friday 31 August 2018

BEFS News

As the current BEFS Chair, Dr Graeme Purves, is stepping down at the next AGM in December, we are inviting expressions of interest from potential candidates for the role.

The Scottish Government’s cabinet reshuffle saw the importance of planning acknowledged with its inclusion in Kevin Stewart’s MSP new ministerial title, as Minister for Local Government, Housing & Planning.

The Local Government and Communities Committee has started to publish amendments to the Planning Bill that have been tabled for Stage 2, due to commence on 12 September. For all further information relating to the Bill, please visit the Committee page and the current Bills pages on the Scottish Parliament website.

Following a commitment to develop A Culture Strategy for Scotland, the Scottish Government is now consulting on a drat strategy.

BEFS is delighted to be involved in HES’ consultation process on their corporate plan, and features in the short #HelloHES film, along with some of our members.

Baillie Baillie Architects have kindly provided the beautiful accompaniment to their exhibition, Landscape & (Re)settlement / Cruth-tìre & (Ath)tuineachadh, exhibited at the Architecture Fringe 2018, for our blog this week: Traces.

As we enter into the summer festival season, check out BEFS suggestions for the Edinburgh International Book Festival. From early history to high rise, urban landscapes to bogs, there’s something for everyone!

Finally, we welcome our newest Associate Members, Groves-Raines Architects.

Consultations

Building Standards Compliance and Fire Safety – a consultation on making Scotland’s buildings safer for people
Opened 4 Jul 2018 and closes 26 Sep 2018.

The Environment, Climate Change & Land Reform Committee has launched an inquiry into the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 and a call for written evidence
The Committee will host a call for views from 29 June to 17 August 2018.

A Culture Strategy for Scotland
Opened 27 Jun 2018 and closes 19 Sep 2018.

Scottish Building Regulations: Review of Energy Standards: ‘Call for Evidence’
Opened 25 Jun 2018 and closes 14 Sep 2018. 

Barclay Implementation: A consultation on non-domestic rates reform
Opened 25 Jun 2018 and closes 17 Sep 2018.

Consultation Responses

Consultation on a draft revised code of conduct for registered property factors: Analysis of Responses (SG 29/06/18)

Publications

The Grimsey Review 2 – reshaping our town centres (Matthew Hopkinson 07/18)

Report of the Review Panel on Building Standards Compliance and Enforcement (SG 29/06/18)

Report of the Review Panel on Building Standards (Fire Safety) in Scotland (SG 29/06/18)

Transient Visitor Tax (COLSA 27/06/18)

Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland Delivery Report 2016/17 (SG 27/06/18)

Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2017 (SG 26/06/18)

Green, pleasant and affordable (Onwards 25/06/18)

Independent Review of Build Out Rates – Draft Analysis (Rt Hon Sir Oliver Letwin MP 06/18)

Public attitudes to house building: Findings from the 2017 British Social Attitudes survey (MHCLG 06/18)

Scottish Government News Releases

Support for first-time buyers (SG 30/06/18)
New tax relief to help people buy their first home. First-time buyers will be helped to purchase their first home through a new tax relief which comes into force today (30 June).

Ending homelessness (SG 27/06/18)
People who are living in temporary accommodation or at risk of homelessness are to be supported quickly into permanent homes through new investment of up to £21 million.

Decrease in derelict and urban vacant land (SG 26/06/18)
The total amount of derelict and urban vacant land in Scotland decreased by 844 hectares (seven per cent) from the previous year, to 11,649 hectares in 2017.

News Releases

Annual A&DS and RIAS Scottish Student Awards for Architecture 2018 results (RIAS 04/07/18)
A project outlining ideas for a new public library in Leith and an approach to providing fresh water in Havana, Cuba, win the top prizes at the annual Scottish Student Awards 2018.

Glasgow’s Historic Built Environment: A Snapshot (GCHT 25/06/18)
This page contains facts, figures and data collated between February and April 2018 which gives a snapshot of the current state of Glasgow’s historic built environment. A huge amount of information already exists, collected at different scales and times and kept in different places by different people. This page brings some of that information together into one place, and drills down to give an idea of what’s going on in Glasgow.

FutureTown Design Competition (STP 25/06/18)
Since 2015 members of the public and organisations have been able to enter ideas for their town or city neighbourhood to the FutureTown Design Competition. Organised by national towns agency Scotland’s Towns Partnership, the competition is aimed at stimulating conversations, provoking ideas and encouraging new approaches to highlight what our towns could look like now and in the future.

Statement on the Glasgow School of Art fire (HES 22/06/18)
Read our statement on the Glasgow School of Art fire, from Jane Ryder OBE, Chair of Historic Environment Scotland.

Plácido Domingo and EU Commissioner Navracsics announce Europe’s top heritage award winners 2018 in Berlin (EN 22/06/18)
The winners of the 2018 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards, Europe’s top honour in the field, were celebrated this evening during a high-profile awards ceremony in Berlin, in the presence of the Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier. They announced and presented the 7 Grand Prix laureates, chosen from among this year’s 29 winning achievements.

Stirling home to Scotland’s ‘Best Building 2018’ (HES 22/06/18)
As well as being named one of the best new buildings in Scotland at the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) 2018, The Engine Shed was awarded ‘Best Building 2018’ and ‘Best Use of Stone’ at the Stirling Society of Architects Design Awards 2018.

Planning absent from top table in 94% of councils in Scotland (21/06/18)
The planning function has been relegated to lower positions in the corporate structure of local authorities across Scotland, a new survey by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has revealed.

Oxford University and National Trust announce research partnership (UoO 21/06/18)
Marking the first investment of this kind by the National Trust in a university, the partnership will create new opportunities for interdisciplinary research, knowledge exchange, public engagement and training between the two organisations.

Opinion & Comment

Influencing the Scottish Planning Bill (RTPI Scotland 02/07/18)

Malcolm Fraser: The Mackintosh inferno and the questions it begs (Malcolm Fraser 30/06/18)

Scotland and the New Private Rented Sector (UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence 27/06/18)

How One Man Is Using Hip-Hop to Diversify Architecture (Rolling Stones 21/06/18)

More Than Bricks And Mortar: Why Glasgow Must Save Its Cultural Architecture (Clash Magazine 19/06/18)

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

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

Question S5W-17320: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 18/06/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the delivery of more affordable housing.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (19/06/2018)

Other Parliamentary Activity

The Scottish Parliament is in recess from 30 June to 2 September 2018 (inclusive).

Events

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

Glorious Georgian Gardens of the New Town
Date: Thursday 13 September 2018, from 6pm.
Meeting Point: To be advised.
The world famous gardens of Edinburgh’s New Town boast an incredible variety of design and planting style, and add colour and harmony to our city’s urban landscape.
Join us for this special chance to access these beautiful gardens and discover their history and features. This tour will finish with a garden party drinks reception.

Vacancies

Head of Conservation
Are you a conservation specialist ready to lead our teams in conserving, presenting and promoting sites of international significance?
You will work within an integrated team of conservation and property professionals caring for, presenting and promoting some of Wales’ finest examples of built heritage. You will also form part of a wider senior team engaged in the protection, promotion and long-term sustainability of this unique division of the Welsh Government.
Closing date: 10 July. 

RIAS Receptionist/ Bookshop Assistant
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) is looking for an experienced receptionist to join our front of house team and bookshop. We are looking for someone that will be friendly, approachable, flexible, professional and welcoming.
Closing date 13th July 2018.

Scheme Administrator
The RIAS is looking for an experienced administrator to support the running and the development of the Design Certification Schemes provided by the RIAS. This includes performing day to day administration tasks. The Scheme Administrator is the first point of contact for those interested in joining the scheme, and will maintain an administrative involvement as applicants progress through the scheme to become Approved Certifiers of Design / Energy Assessors. The nature of the Schemes is described at www.RIAS-regs.co.uk The successful applicant will be responsible to the Head of Certification and the Practice Administrator.
Closing date 20th July 2018. 

Dunoon Alliance for Action Facilitator (part-time)
SURF is seeking a part-time Facilitator to support its Alliance for Action programme site of Dunoon. Dunoon is one of five SURF Alliance for Action programme sites. The successful applicant will be responsible for helping to build on local demand for complementary economic, physical and social improvements in the town, following a successful SURF-managed 2017 ‘Think Dunoon’ Community Charrette.
The closing date for applications is Monday 23 July.

Grants Officer Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund
We are recruiting for a Fulltime Grants Officer on a 12 months Fixed term contract in our Scotland country office based in Edinburgh.
The primary purpose of this post is to assess applications to the Heritage Lottery Fund for grants in Scotland with a value up to £1million, and to monitor projects undertaken by successful applicants.
The closing date for applications is Midnight 15 July 2018 and interviews will be held in our Edinburgh office on 27 July 2018.

Building Standards Division (3 posts)
There are currently three vacancies being advertised within Building Standards Division of the Scottish Government: Construction Professional and Technical Author (Environment), Construction Professional and Technical Author (Procedures), S63 Programme Manager.
Application deadline is 3rd August at midnight

Glasgow City Heritage Trust, Projects & Events Officer
An exciting opportunity has become available for a entry-level professional to support the implementation of the Trust’s special projects and corporate events programme for the benefit of all people living and working in and visiting Glasgow. GCHT would like to pilot meanwhile use (“meanwhile use” is a term used to describe the interim temporary use of vacant property or land until such a time as it can be brought back into more permanent use) by taking on one or two buildings-at-risk on Glasgow City Council’s property portfolio over the next two to three years, either through short-term lease agreements or a license to occupy. The Project Officer would be the GCHT’s on-site contact for the scheme. You will also get involved in a series of smaller proactive projects the Trust is planning to run and manage (corporate) events supporting the charitable work of Glasgow City Heritage Trust.
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 31 July at 12 noon

Glasgow City Heritage Trust, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer (part-time – 2 to 3 days per week, to be agreed)
An exciting opportunity has become available for a part-time entry-level professional to develop monitoring and evaluation tools to demonstrate the impact of the Trust’s work for Glasgow’s historic built environment. The Trust wishes to know how change is being created by its grant aided work by measuring social, environmental and economic outcomes and presents these to funders and other stakeholders.
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 31 July at 12 noon

BEFS News

The most recent Scottish House Condition Survey reported that 68% of all dwellings exhibited some degree of disrepair. There remain significant challenges facing the repair and maintenance of residential buildings under shared ownership.

Within this context, BEFS is delighted to announce that the Scottish Parliamentary Working Group on Tenement Maintenance is now firmly established. The working group was first convened by Ben Macpherson MSP in March 2018. The first two meetings saw cross party attendance with representatives from property management, property law, chartered surveying and architecture, with BEFS and the RICS providing the secretariat function. The aims are long term, provisionally making recommendations at the end of this parliament.

The new National Performance Framework has now been launched. The indicator for the historic environment remains the condition of pre1919 dwellings

In our blog this week, BEFS Policy and Advocacy Officer, Ailsa Macfarlane, reflects on how to improve and use existing building stock following a recent Transition Edinburgh event, Carbon Neutral Edinburgh 2050.

In what is hopefully a final mention of the General Data Protection Regulation, you can now find BEFS Privacy Notice and new and improve Data Protection Policy on our website here.

Built Environment Forum Scotland celebrated its 15th birthday on 11th June! We would like to thank you for your continued engagement, support and interest in the work of the forum.

Consultations

Heritage Lottery Fund Policy Directions consultation (DDCMS 15/06/18)
This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 29 July 2018.

Delivering improved transparency in land ownership in Scotland: Consultation on draft regulations
Opened 20 Jun 2018 and closes 8 Nov 2018.

Consultation Responses

Analysis of Responses on Consultation on the Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Existing Premises with Sleeping Accommodation (SG 13/06/18)

Publications

Building More, Building Beautiful (Policy Exchange 20/06/18) 

Places for People (PfP) – Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) Results (SG 19/06/18)

Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Existing Premises with Sleeping Accommodation (SG 13/06/18)

The potential impact of Brexit on the creative industries, tourism and the digital single market: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report of Session 2017—19 (DCMSC 06/18)

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards and Heritage Properties: Mitigating risks through the procurement and interpretation of Energy Performance Certificates (Better Buildings Partnership 04/06/18)

Scottish Government News Releases

Land ownership (SG 20/06/18)
New register will improve transparency. The first steps are being taken to create a public register of people who ultimately make decisions about how land is used and managed.

Scottish Crown Estate (SG 19/06/18)
The Scottish Parliament has approved in principle a bill that will give local authorities and communities the opportunity to directly manage Scottish Crown Estate assets.

Homelessness and Housing Options Statistics Published (SG 19/06/18)
Scottish local authorities received 34,972 applications for homelessness assistance between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018, 1% higher than the same period during 2016/17.  Comparing the same time periods, 43,900 Housing Options approaches were recorded, a reduction of 16%.

More affordable homes (SG 19/06/18)
Multi-million-pound investment in mid-market rent scheme. One thousand new homes will be delivered across Scotland through the latest affordable housing investment fund.

Energy efficiency funding (SG 17/06/18)
Households and businesses are to benefit from more than £2 million of funding to help use energy more efficiently. The Scottish Government has given the money to 15 councils to fund projects that will support homeowners and businesses installing energy efficiency measures as part of the new Energy Efficient Scotland programme.

Fire at Glasgow School of Art (SG 16/06/18)
Response to major fire in Glasgow.

Building and fire safety (SG 13/06/18)
Consultation on expert group recommendations. Increasing the use of sprinkler systems and mandatory inspections are to be considered to improve building safety following the advice of two expert panels.

Affordable housing approvals up 14% to 11,680 in latest year (SG 12/06/18)
A National Statistics Publication for Scotland. There were 11,677 affordable homes approved in 2017/18, 14% more than the previous year, and the third consecutive annual increase since 2014/15.

A vision for national wellbeing (SG 11/06/18)
New National Performance Framework launched. A new framework for building a more successful and inclusive Scotland, and the way in which progress towards it can be measured, has been launched by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

News Releases

RIAS Announces 12 Winners in RIAS Awards 2018 (RIAS 21/06/18)
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) announced 12 winners for its 2018 Awards, representing the very best of current Scottish architecture. Stewart Henderson, President of the RIAS, commented that when shortlisting this year’s entries for awards the panel were struck by the continuing high standard of submissions.

CARS funding to drive investment in more Scottish communities (HES 15/06/18)
Scottish communities are set to benefit from a £10 million investment under Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) flagship conservation and regeneration funding programme. Applications are now open for local authorities, national park authorities, voluntary sector organisations and community groups to apply for grants under the eighth round of the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS),

Resource For Heritage Projects Relaunched (HLF 15/06/18)
Many heritage projects struggle to ‘pass go’. This is often as a result of a lack of experience, understanding or support in key project areas.  For those community groups seeking guidance to rescue historic buildings and bring them into sustainable use, look no further! www.brick-work.org created by the Prince’s Regeneration Trust’s BRICK Programme has been updated and relaunched.

Democracy Matters Community Engagement Fund (VAF 06/18)
The Scottish Government Democracy Matters Community Engagement Fund provides grants of up to £300 (in exceptional circumstances up to £500) to small voluntary organisations and community groups in Scotland to help them run an event with a group of five or more people to discuss what matters to them in relation to democracy.

MSP Connector Programme 2018: Connecting MSPs with Scotland’s Towns (STP 06/18)
Now in its fourth year, Scotland’s Towns Partnership and the Cross Party Group on Towns and Town Centres are encouraging MSPs to take a day during Parliamentary Recess to visit towns in their constituency or region as part of the MSP Connector Programme.

20th Anniversary SURF Awards Open for Applications (12/06/18)
The prestigious 2018 ‘20th Anniversary’ SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration were launched today. The SURF Awards are widely recognised as the most prestigious in the field of Scottish community regeneration. If you are involved in a project or know of projects who are worthy of recognition, then please do make an entry this year.

IHBC & partners on Design & the NPPF –update on government ‘getting serious on design’ (IHBC 12/06/18)
The IHBC and partners including Civic Voice, Place Alliance and the Urban Design Group, have written to the Secretary of State at England’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) asking government ‘to use the opportunity provided by the revision of the National Planning Policy Framework [NPPF] to more forcefully demonstrate the desire of the Government to see better design everywhere’.

UK World Heritage Sites Review Announced (World Heritage UK 06/18)
It’s all smiles at the Ministry this morning as World Heritage UK President, Chris Blandford, and Chair, Tony Crouch, meet with Michael Ellis, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. World Heritage UK publicly announces that it will undertake the first review of all 31 of the UK’s World Heritage Sites.

DCMS calls for more research on diversity and place-making (Art Professionals 06/18)
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is calling on academics to conduct more research on key topics that it considers important for “good policy and decision making”, including place-making, diversity and digital preparedness.

£20m fund to empowering communities to tackle poverty and inequalities (SHN 07/06/18)
Since 2015 the Empowering Communities Fund (ECF) has supported hundreds of projects, giving communities more control over planning and decisions that affect them locally as well as driving forward regeneration and making changes through training, employment, arts and volunteering opportunities.

Opinion & Comment

A good plan? (Kate Shannon, Holyrood Magazine 12/06/18)

Housing crisis: What went wrong? (RICS 11/06/18) 

Bannockburn House Through Time (Simon Green 08/06/18)

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”.

Alexander Burnett  S5W-17390
To ask the Scottish Government what financial assessment has been made of the cost of converting all buildings in Scotland to net zero emissions by 2050 as set out in the Energy Efficient Scotland: Route Map. (SP 20/06/18)

Graham Simpson S5W-17367
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Building Standards (Compliance and Enforcement) Review Panel has met; when it will next meet, and by what date it will issue its recommendations. (SP 20/06/18)

Ben Macpherson S5W-17320
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the delivery of more affordable housing. (SP 16/06/18)

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

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

Question S5W-17210: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12/06/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable homes have been built in each year since 2016, broken down by local authority.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (19/06/2018)

Question S5W-17016: Iain Gray, East Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 04/06/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to facilitate wider opportunities for self-build housing.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (12/06/2018)

Question S5W-17029: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 04/06/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the figures released under Freedom of Information in January 2018 regarding vacant private sector homes across 23 local authorities, which record (a) 20,027 as being empty for more than six months and (b) 927 being empty for more than 10 years.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (12/06/2018)

Question S5W-16963: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 30/05/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure that burial grounds are maintained and with the full consent and knowledge of anyone who may be affected by any actions such as the removal of headstones.
Answered by Aileen Campbell (12/06/2018)

Question S5W-16906: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 29/05/2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04448 by Kevin Stewart on 15 November 2016, whether it will outline the average Housing Association Grant (HAG) subsidy levels approved for housing association new development tender approval activity in Edinburgh and Glasgow over the last three years, broken down by type of tenure.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (06/06/2018)

Question S5W-16796: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24/05/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable homes it has built during the current parliamentary session.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (05/06/2018)

Other Parliamentary Activity

The Scottish Parliament is in recess from 30 June to 2 September 2018 (inclusive).

Events

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

Paisley’s Industrial and Cultural Heritage
Date: Wednesday 27 June.
Venue: Paisley Town Hall from 9.30am-4.30pm.
A day conference examining Paisley’s industrial and cultural heritage, jointly presented by The Paisley Centre for Business and Industrial History (UWS), the Business Archives Council of Scotland and Renfrewshire Council.

“Hidden Gardens of the Old Town”
Date: Thursday 5 July 2018, 6pm.
Meeting Point: Netherbow Wellhead, outside John Knox’s House, Royal Mile, Edinburgh.
The dense streets and wynds of Edinburgh’s Old Town may seem an unlikely place to find gardens and greenery. Yet here you can find a wealth of private and community gardens set back from the main thoroughfare, each with its own unique history and design. Let us guide you through the secluded green treasures of the Old Town and share their stories and secrets with you.This tour finishes with a drinks reception in Edinburgh World Heritage’s own hidden garden at Bakehouse Close. Tickets: Tickets are £10.

Vacancies

Communications and Events Assistant (RIAS)
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) is looking for a highly motivated individual who is keen to develop their career in events. The position involves supporting the Secretary & Treasurer’s office in the delivery of a wide portfolio of events to RIAS members and the public. This is a multi-tasking role. Flexibility and attention to detail are essential.
Closing date 29 June 2018.

PAS Board now recruiting new volunteer Board members (PAS)
The PAS Board creates a strategic and policy framework for PAS and is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the organisation fulfils its statutory requirements. The Board focuses on strategic direction and vision rather than organisational management and service delivery. In achieving this, the Board’s key consideration is how to implement the organisation’s charitable aims and objectives and its Strategy. The PAS Board is now looking to recruit new volunteer Board members with expertise in any of the following areas: Fundraising; Law; Financial Planning.
Closing date 6 July 2018. 

Skills Training Officer
Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust is a charity established in 1988 with the aim of conserving and promoting archaeology and architectural heritage in Perth and Kinross for the benefit of residents, visitors and future generations. Our Strategic Plan 2017-22 identifies ‘supporting the sectoral skills base through delivering skills training’ as a key priority. We wish to appoint a conservation professional on a one-year fixed-term basis to help us deliver our existing skills training projects, including boat building, traditional building skills training and an archaeology field school, and to lead on the development of a project plan and funding package for a 3-year training programme to run from 2020-22.
Closing date for applications: 5pm on Friday 13 July 2018.