BEFS News

BEFS is keen to continue the momentum for exploration and discussion around land value capture and invites you to Land Value Capture – An Exploration of Methods & Views, on 31st May in Edinburgh. This event will provide a forum for built environment professionals and others with an interest in land to discuss the potential for land value capture as a means of increasing housing supply across all tenures, funding future infrastructure, and investing in placemaking.

On Monday, BEFS hosted a workshop on ‘Keeping Church Buildings Alive’ at Renfield St Stephens Centre in Glasgow. The event provided practical tips and expertise on maintaining local church buildings from the Church of Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Architectural Heritage Fund and many more. Download the rich and informative range of presentations from our website. The workshop was organised in partnership with Scottish Redundant Churches Trust, Scotland’s Churches Trust and The Prince’s Foundation.

In March, BEFS held a lively workshop with stakeholders from across the sector to review Historic Environment Scotland’s Policy Statement (HESPS), ahead of the HES consultations and review to be held in 2018. You can now read about the outcomes of the intensive workshop and the report here.

BEFS invited Lucy Casot, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Scotland, to present research on proposed changes to the organisation’s future direction, to the Historic Environment Working Group. The responses to HLF’s wide-ranging questionnaire have been summarised in a report. BEFS supported many aspects of the changes but advised HLF to clearly retain their specific focus on heritage.

Resourcing Scotland’s Heritage (led by Arts & Business Scotland in partnership with Archaeology Scotland, Built Environment Forum Scotland, greenspace Scotland and Museums Galleries Scotland) has commissioned Consilium to map the current funding landscape for the heritage sector in Scotland. This is part of the legacy of the four-year RSH capacity building programme. The resulting report will aim to raise awareness of the current funding landscape for the heritage sector from public, private and charitable sources. You can contribute by completing this short survey.

Historic Environment Scotland, Archaeology Scotland and Northlight Heritage have announced a call for contributions to Scotland’s Community Heritage Conference 2018. More details here.

BEFS Director, Euan Leitch, provides an update on recent developments in the ongoing campaign to improve property maintenance in Scotland, including the establishment of a parliamentary working group on the maintenance of tenement communal property and newly commissioned research.

Wojciech Borowski, Project Coordinator at PAS, reflects on the two-year Heritage Lottery funded youth project, In the Footsteps of Geddes, in the first of our blogs this week.

Team BEFS recently spent a day exploring the history and heritage of Falkland. The visit offered an opportunity to explore the village, the Estate and the Palace; the way in which the three interact, the pressures of tourism, and the opportunities arising from their recent charrette process. More about what we learnt in our second blog this week.

Consultations

A Connected Scotland: Tackling social isolation and loneliness and building stronger social connections
Closes 27 April 2018.

Petition: Permitted development rights in conservation areas
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to review the permitted development rights legislation, which we consider impacts unfairly on residents of conservation areas and listed buildings in Scotland.
Closing Date for Online Petition: 08 May 2018 

Call for Evidence on Experience of Concentrated Land Ownership (Scottish Land Commission 22/03/18)
The call for evidence will be open until 23 May 2018.

Publications

HES Annual Operating Plan 2018-19 (HES 23/04/18)

Guidance for Acquiring Authorities: Can I use Compulsory purchase? (SG 26/04/18)

Guidance for Acquiring Authorities: How do I prepare a Compulsory Purchase Order? (SG 26/04/18)

Guidance for Acquiring Authorities: How do Scottish Ministers consider a Compulsory Purchase Order? (SG 26/04/18)

Guidance for Acquiring Authorities: What should I do before developing a Compulsory Purchase Order? (SG 26/04/18)

The Planning (Scotland) Bill: Understanding Planning Jargon (SPICe 25/04/18)

Community Planning Officials Survey: Understanding the everyday work of local participatory governance in Scotland (WWS 24/04/18)

Guidance on Engaging Communities in Decisions Relating to Land (SG 18/04/18)

Glasgow’s Historic Built Environment: A Snapshot (GCHT 04/18)

What is the city but the people? Engineering inclusivity debate (ICE 04/18)

Listen to the Stones (ScARF 04/18)
A popular summary booklet and PDFs of the core text and 39 case studies for Future Thinking in Carved Stones in Scotland: A Research Framework can now be downloaded here. Unusually this Framework is structured around the Heritage Cycle, referencing Our Place in Time (see Section 1.4). A poster summarizing the approach can be found here

National Outcomes Consultation 2018 – SPICe Briefing (SPICe 13/04/18)

Home Improvements – Action to address the housing challenges faced by young people (Resolution Foundation 04/18) 

News Releases

Show your support for EU colleagues (SCVO 24/04/18)
We have launched an online resource dedicated to Brexit and the effect on third sector EU colleagues as part of our #EUareValued campaign. It has background, useful information, links to other resources, case studies of organisations affected and a quick guide to applying for settled status. Find out why Camphill Scotland and the British Heart Foundation Scotland support #EUareValued.

HES Publishes Annual Operating Plan 2018/19 (HES 23/04/18)
The plan outlines the key commitments for HES over the next 12 months to support its work as the lead public body for the historic environment, and details how the work of the organisation will ensure the historic environment thrives and delivers economic and social benefits for all of Scotland. This is underpinned by five strategic themes: Lead, Understand, Protect, Value and Perform.

Neighbours bring life back into redundant churches (Herald 23/04/18)
Experts are gathering in Glasgow today for an event designed to guide communities on how to tackle taking over such historic buildings, with many already being restored for a wider range of uses other than worship including as a concert venue and for attracting tourists.

New Director for the Scottish Civic Trust (SCT 23/04/18)
The Scottish Civic Trust is delighted to announce that its new Director is Dr Susan O’Connor, latterly Senior Projects Advisor for Scotland with the Princes Regeneration Trust.

Search for Best Regeneration Project Begins: Herald Property Awards for Scotland 2018 (STP 23/04/18)
SINCE 2007, The Herald Property Awards for Scotland have been setting the standard for excellence in housebuilding. For more than a decade, developers, industry professionals and sales teams have recognised these awards as the highest accolade achievable in their field.

HEEPS loan scheme now open for applications (SNH 20/04/18)
The Scottish Government’s Home Energy Efficiency Programme Scotland (HEEPS) loans scheme for Registered Social Landlords 2018/2019 is now open for applications.

Young person’s heritage manifesto launched on World Heritage Day (EWH 18/04/18)
A manifesto was launched today outlining steps necessary to ensure Scotland’s young people feel a stronger connection to the country’s heritage. The manifesto was written by a group of young people living and studying in Edinburgh, and was launched at a World Heritage Day celebration attended by Scottish Minister Maree Todd.

Record-breaking visitor figures at Scotland’s historic sites (HES 17/04/18)
Historic Environment Scotland (HES), who manage over 300 Historic Scotland visitor attractions across the country representing more than 5,000 years of Scottish history, are celebrating a 17% increase in footfall from the previous financial year, recording 5,041,297 visitors throughout the 2017/18 financial year.

2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage #EuropeforCulture
BEFS, with others, supported the 2018 EYCH Launch by Commissioner Phil Hogan on 9th April at the French Cultural Institute. BEFS members are encouraged to seek accreditation for events large and small across Scotland. The European Commission website is http://europa.eu/cultural-heritage and the UK 2018EYCH website is www.2018-eych-uk.eu. The UK Coordinator, Graham Bell of North of England Civic Trust may be reached via 2018eychuk@gmail.com. He is ready to give advice about, and issue completion forms regarding the accreditation process.

How do we create places that deliver healthier lives? (DC 16/04/18)
Design Council and Social Change UK today launched our Healthy Placemaking report which highlighted the outcomes from their survey of over 600 built environment practitioners across the UK including architects, town planners and urban designers. The aim being to gain insight and understanding of their experiences across multiple areas on healthy placemaking, and the possible barriers and challenges found.

3.3 million Available to Support volunteering in Scotland (Voluntary Action Fund 04/18)
This scheme managed by the Voluntary Action Fund (VAF) will enable Scotland’s small to medium-sized third sector organisations to recruit additional volunteers (who will contribute towards delivering a new volunteering project, or extending/expanding an existing one) and improve how volunteers are supported in their role. The deadline for applications is 5pm Friday 4 May 2018.

Creative Industries Sector Deal launched (DDCMS 28/03/18)
Britain’s world-leading creative industries are set to consolidate the country’s position as a global creative powerhouse, following a groundbreaking new Industrial Strategy deal agreed between government and the Creative Industries Council (CIC) on behalf of the sector.

Opinion & Comment

Why existing homes matter just as much as building new ones (CIH Scotland’s policy and practice manager Ashley Campbell in SHN 24/04/18)

What would 300,000 houses per year do to prices? (Ian Mulheirn, Director of Consulting at Oxford Economics 19/04/18)

Guest Blog – The National Performance Framework (Jennifer Wallace, Head of Policy at the Carnegie UK Trust for SPICe 16/04/18)

Regeneration – it’s not rocket science but we still get it wrong (Pete Frost, Senior Urban Advisor at Natural Resources Wales 13/04/18)

5 Key Take-Aways from our New Report on Co-Living (Atif Shafique, RSA 03/18)

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”.

Graeme Dey S5W-15933
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its guidance regarding engaging communities in decisions relating to land, as required under Part 4 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016. (SP 17/04/18)

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-15589: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23/03/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the effectiveness of home reports.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (17/04/2018)

Question S5W-15699: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 28/03/2018
To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Land Commission will lay its revised Programme of Work in the Parliament.
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham (29/03/2018)

Events

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

RIAS Convention 2018 – ‘Future Directions’
Date: Fri, 11 May 2018, 09:00 – Sat, 12 May 2018, 14:00.
Venue: Queens Cross Church, 38 Albyn Place, Aberdeen, AB10 1YN.
This year’s RIAS Convention is generously sponsored by Gartcarron Fire Engineering, Kingspan Insulation and Marsh. We are delighted that this year’s RIAS Convention will take place at Queens Cross Church in Aberdeen. The church was put out to competition and won by local architect, John Bridgeford Pirie (Messrs Pirie and Clyne). Completed in 1881, the church is built of grey granite, has a tower and spire rising to a height of 145 feet and cost c. £7000 to build. Both the Friday and Saturday events will take place at the church and we will be able to enjoy its new extension by RIAS Chartered Practice, Lee Boyd Limited. As this is the Scottish Government’s Year of Young People, our Saturday session will focus on architectural education and showcase the work from some of our talented students of architecture. The Convention Dinner will take place at the Aberdeen Douglas Hotel, which has been welcoming guests since 1848.

A Repton Celebration
Date: Saturday 12 May 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Broomhall House & Valleyfield – the only Scottish landscape designed by Humphry Repton.
We have put together a super celebratory event to mark the death of Humphry Repton, the last great landscape designer of the 18th century. After coffee, Lord Bruce will welcome us and take us on a virtual tour of Broomhall House. Dr. Patrick Eyres, landscape historian and editor, will speak about Repton and his Theatrical Self-promotion through Red Books and Printed Publications. This will be followed by an illustrated talk: The Valleyfield Red Book by Christopher Dingwall. A buffet lunch is included, after which there is an optional guided tour of Valleyfield, about 20 minutes’ drive from Broomhall.

Heritage as Citizenship: The Challenge of the New Urban Agenda
Date: 15th May at 6pm (with registration from 5.45pm).
Venue: National Galleries of Scotland.
On Tuesday 15th May, Dr Francesco Bandarin, a UNESCO Consultant, and until February 2018 Assistant Director-General of Culture at UNESCO, is speaking at the National Galleries of Scotland at a joint RSA Fellows’ MCICH Network and National Galleries Scotland event. From 2000 to 2010 Dr Bandarin was Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and Secretary of the World Heritage Convention. From 2010 to 2014 he served as Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Culture. He was re-appointed in this position for an interim period until February, 2018, and delivered the Keynote Opening Speech at the 2016 Edinburgh International Culture Summit. Dr Bandarin’s publications include: The Historic Urban Landscape: Managing Heritage in an Urban Century, 2012 and Reconnecting the City. The Historic Urban Landscape Approach and the Future of Urban Heritage, 2015, both published by Wiley-Blackwell.

New Life For Empty Buildings – How Can Do Spaces Can Transform Our High Streets
Date: Tue 22 May 2018 from 10:00 – 15:30.
Location: Strathearn Artspace, 6 Comrie Street, Crieff PH7 4AX.
Crieff is not alone in its efforts to regenerate its town centre. Towns across Scotland face similar challenges and there are other community groups sharing our struggles. Want to find out more? Join us on the 22nd May for Can Do Places’ practical workshop at Strathearn Artspace for anyone that wants to see their local economy and town, city or village thrive. It will be engaging, interesting, useful and most of all – fun!

‘Governance and Power’ – A SURF Debate
Date: Thursday 24th May.
Location: Glasgow.
This debate is part of a progressive programme of work by SURF to promote and inform the current national Review of Local Governance. To help SURF consider the varied possibilities and challenges in this cross sector and multi-level debate, we will hear first from Robin McAlpine, as Director of the Common Weal, and then from Cllr. Alison Evison, President of COSLA who will draw on their respective considerable experience and differing perspectives. The rest of the event will be a platform for constructive and participative open debate.

IHBC Annual School 2018, Northern Ireland Branch 
Dates: 21-23 June 2018.
Location: Belfast.
The IHBC’s Annual School for 2018, with the linked Day School on 22 June, is the national annual conference of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, supporting built and historic environment conservation specialists and their networks and colleagues, and for 2018 it will focus on the principle of ‘Shared heritage’ to promote an inclusive approach to the main themes for the European Year, those of ‘Engagement – Sustainability – Protection – Innovation’. The School will encompass and offer, through talks, visits, tours, networking and presentations, UK-wide examinations of practice issues with a specific Belfast and Northern Ireland context, that include: Heritage challenges and insights; Leading practitioners, policymakers, businesses & advisers; New national and international practices and partnerships; Innovative strategies in the city, region and beyond; On-site case studies, themes and solutions, as well as access to exhibition stalls and stands & IHBC ‘Spotlights’ on current issues.

Training

Developing Appropriate Lime Specifications for Traditional Buildings with Dr William Napier
Date: Wednesday 9th May, 12.3pm – 1.30pm
Venue: Glasgow City Heritage Trust, 54 Bell Street, G1 1LQ
Lime mortar has been used with stone since Roman times for building in Scotland. Many of Scotland’s traditional buildings were constructed and finished using lime mortars, for bedding, pointing, harling and renders. In this lunchtime CPD session Dr William Napier will explore how the characteristics of lime need to be understood when undertaking conservation projects
Dr William Napier is a Chartered Building Surveyor, Accredited in Conservation, with thirty years’ experience in applying, specifying and reporting on lime based finishes. He began his career with a traditional decorative plastering apprenticeship with L. Grandison and Son in Peebles, before training as a building surveyor and completing a two-year post-graduate conservation fellowship with Historic Scotland.  He is now a Director with Adams Napier Partnership, a Chartered Building Surveying Practice specialising in building conservation, research and training.

Architectural Pattern Making for Conservation and Restoration with Ruth Davies
Date: Thursday 14th June, 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Venue: Glasgow City Heritage Trust, 54 Bell Street, Glasgow, G1 1LQ
Ruth Davies is a pattern-maker and woodcarver supplying work to clients including architects and conservation and restoration specialists across the UK. She specialises in traditional wooden patterns for architectural cast iron and has worked on a number of award winning projects over the years. In her lunchtime talk Ruth will give an insight into the production of patterns and moulds with an emphasis on decorative cast iron and share some knowledge about and examples of what can be achieved with this material.

Vacancies

Scotland Community Land Advisor
We are looking for a Community Land Advisor to facilitate access to land for community use in Scotland, primarily through:

• Providing specialist advice, support and training to community groups and landowners, focusing on negotiating for sites, leases and licences, planning and associated matters such as allotments/land law.
• Working with local authorities, other public and private landowners and community groups and networks to identify appropriate sites and help bring under-used land into community use.
• Working with decision makers to influence future policies, funding and legislation (eg planning) that will further support community access to land.

The role of Community Land Advisor is wide-ranging in nature and as such the post-holder is required to be flexible and able to adapt to opportunities as they arise, weighing up evolving demands.  We are seeking someone with a solid understanding of land transfer (leases, negotiation, legal and planning issues etc), knowledge of the community growing sector and experience of working with land owners.
Closing date: Midday Tuesday 1 May 2018.

Policy and Development Officer (x2)
The Carnegie UK Trust works to improve the wellbeing of people throughout the UK and Ireland by influencing policy and demonstrating innovative practice. We are looking to recruit two policy and development staff to join our busy Wellbeing and Towns team. We are looking for people who can work:

• across the UK and Ireland
• with different stakeholders, from practitioners to politicians
• across different themes (the team works on a wide range of topics covering aspects of place-making, public services, and understanding social progress)
• using a variety of methods from research to stakeholder engagement to supporting innovative practice development

Successful candidates will therefore have strong transferable skills on analysis, communications and project management. The Trust is strongly committed to diversity within its workforce and especially welcomes applications from all in the community who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. The closing date for applications is 5pm on 1 May 2018.

Appointment of Chair to the Board (A&DS)
Scottish Ministers are looking to appoint a new Chair of the Board of Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS). The Chair, along with the Company Board, will ensure the A&DS’s strategy and business plan continue to support and promote the value good architecture and sustainable design add to everyone’s lives. The Chair, will be expected to have a keen interest and understanding of the built environment; able to see the bigger picture, and have strong communication and influencing skills. You will be able to lead the Board and uphold good governance.
The closing date for applications is: Friday 4 May 2018.

Project Engagement and Monitoring Officer (Maternity Cover)
Edinburgh World Heritage is an independent charity with the aim of ensuring the city’s World Heritage status is a dynamic force for good that benefits everyone.
Sir Basil Spence’s Canongate Housing development is a category B listed complex of housing blocks located on Canongate in the Old Town of Edinburgh, built between 1967 and 1969. It is characterised by high energy use, low EPC rating, poor maintenance, high running costs and low community engagement. We have a vision to improve the energy efficiency of these buildings and consistently restore or repair features across the development, with the potential for this to serve as an exemplar in terms of its methodology of community engagement, and its energy outcomes. We are looking to appoint a Project Engagement and Monitoring Officer to support the delivery of this innovative project by building on Edinburgh World Heritage’s past engagement with the residents of the Canongate Housing development and by monitoring energy use before, during and after works.
The position is to cover maternity from 28th May for a minimum of five months, with the possibility of extension. To apply for this role, please send us your CV, together with a completed application from and covering letter in support of your application by 5PM, Wednesday 9th May 2018.

Administrator & Secretary to the Council
Unique opportunity to work at the centre of a Scottish architectural heritage charity. If you are passionate about the built environment, the post of Administrator and Secretary to the Council of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS) offers a responsible position which requires a high degree of self-motivation, administrative skills, and good communication abilities. The position offers the potential to help with the development of the Society, alongside the core requirements of administration, attracting and organising volunteers to assist in the head office, managing the Society’s IT, website and social media, and promoting national outreach and engagement.
To apply please send a CV and cover letter to the National Chair, Martin Robertson at nationaloffice@ahss.org.uk by 11th May 2018. 

Could you be Chair of The Heritage Alliance?
The Heritage Alliance is looking for a new Chair, to be appointed at its Heritage Day and Annual General Meeting in December 2018. The Chair will be responsible for overseeing the work of the charity, and for convening meetings of the board of trustees. They will be a dynamic ambassador for the independent heritage sector, being a vocal advocate for the cause of the Alliance’s diverse membership of 120 separate heritage organisations. They will take the lead in driving the next phase of the Alliance’s development and ensuring its sustainability as one of England’s most prominent and recognisable advocates for heritage.
Closing date for applications Friday 18th May.

Information in the Bulletin is extracted from a number of websites including the Scottish Government (SG); the Scottish Parliament (SP); Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS); Historic Environment Scotland (HES); Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH); Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO); English Heritage (EH); Design Council (DC); Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG); Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS); Department of Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); National Assembly for Wales (NAW); Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS); Scottish Government Building Standards  (SGBS); Europa Nostra (EN); Historic England (HE).

If you have any questions or comments on the above, or would like to submit information to be included, please get in touch with Saskia Smellie or tel: BEFS Office on 0131 220 6241.

BEFS News

Are you responsible for managing a church, or thinking about taking on the management of a former church? Join BEFS and partners, The Prince’s Foundation, Scotland’s Churches Trust, and Scottish Redundant Churches Trust, for our Keeping Church Buildings Alive – Workshop. It will provide practical learning opportunities, allow groups to access expert advice and meet people from similar projects, all with a focus on maintaining the local church buildings at the heart of our communities.

The Scottish Government has published its engagement report on ‘A Culture Strategy for Scotland’, with an overview of the main themes and ideas gathered through public events, written submissions and online forums. The report will inform a draft strategy which will issue for public consultation during 2018. BEFS Director, Euan Leitch’s initial reflections on developing a culture strategy for Scotland can be found here.

BEFS, CIfA, Archaeology Scotland and ALGAO collectively responded to the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee’s call for evidence on EU Environmental and Animal Welfare Principles. The response emphasises the need to ensure that the protective measures currently enshrined within EU law are not lost or diluted due to Brexit. Read our full submission here.

BEFS is supporting the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage launch by Commissioner Phil Hogan in Edinburgh. The launch is designed to promote the European Year of Cultural Heritage (@2018EYCHUK #EYCH2018#EuropeforCulture) in Scotland. For further information about the year and to register your events, visit the European Commission website or the UK website.

Last but my no means least, we would like to welcome BEFS newest Associate Members, Planning Democracy.

Consultations

On 29 March the Scottish Government published their updated National Outcomes as part of its broader look at the National Performance Framework. The Scottish Government is required to consult the Scottish Parliament on the proposed revisions to these Outcomes. The Local Government and Communities Committee is taking the lead. As the timescale for completing this work is very short, we are seeking views by 11 April using email, letter or by social media. 

A consultation on an amendment to Land and Buildings Transaction Tax Group Relief
Closes 13 April 2018.

A Connected Scotland: Tackling social isolation and loneliness and building stronger social connections
Closes 27 April 2018.

Petition: Permitted development rights in conservation areas
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to review the permitted development rights legislation, which we consider impacts unfairly on residents of conservation areas and listed buildings in Scotland.
Closing Date for Online Petition: 08 May 2018 

Call for Evidence on Experience of Concentrated Land Ownership (Scottish Land Commission 22/03/18)
The call for evidence will be open until 23 May 2018.

Publications

Asset Transfer Policy Statement and Guidance (HES 04/04/18)

Register of Assets (HES 04/04/18) 

Home Energy Efficiency Programmes Scotland – Warmer Homes Scotland – 2016/17 Annual Review (SG 26/03/18)

Regulation of Letting Agents Monitoring Compliance and Enforcement Framework (SG 26/03/18)

Focus Magazine 2018 (Engine Shed 23/03/18)
An annual magazine showcasing technical conservation with Historic Environment Scotland and our partners. This edition focuses on traditional skills.

Land: For the many, not the few? Limitations on the Scale of Land Ownership A discussion paper (SLC 22/03/18)

Research on interventions to manage land markets and limit the concentration of land ownership elsewhere in the world (SLC 22/03/18) 

Applied Digital Documentation in the Historic Environment (Engine Shed 19/03/18)
This short guide looks at different data capture techniques that can be used in the analysis, recording, conservation and visualisation of historic objects, sites and landscapes in their present condition.

Unsuitable, insecure and substandard homes: The barriers faced by older private renters (Independent Age xx/03/18)

Scottish Government News

Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning 2018 Now Open! (SG 04/04/18)
The Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning are one of the Government’s most prestigious awards. They celebrate achievements in planning, right from the detail of processing through to the bigger picture of creating places which will become the legacy of our professionalism.

Help to Buy extended (SG 04/04/18)
The Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme will be extended beyond 2019, helping more people purchase a new-build home without the need for a large deposit. From April 2019, a further £100 million will be invested over two years, helping up to 4,000 households to purchase a new home.

Certainty urged on EU research relationships (SG 25/03/18)
Minister visits Brussels to promote Scottish science and innovation. Certainty is urgently required on the UK’s future participation in EU research programmes after Brexit, Higher Education and Science Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville has said.

Sector News

HES publish Asset Transfer Policy and Guidance (HES 04/04/18)
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has today (Wednesday 4 April) published its policy and guidance on Asset Transfer under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, which outlines our commitment to facilitating Asset Transfer Requests where they benefit communities and secure positive outcomes for the historic environment.

Saltire Infrastructure Awards 2018 (ICE 04/04/18)
The awards run in partnership with CECA Scotland celebrate outstanding civil engineering achievements. We showcase the people who design, build and maintain the infrastructure on which we depend. The awards are now open for 2018. Entries are sought for projects completed in 2017/18. We’re looking for the most innovative, creative and sustainable contributions to Scotland’s built and natural environment.

Scotland’s History Mapped Out (HES 04/04/18)
We’re proud to unveil the shiny new version of PastMap, a brilliant digital resource that brings together designations, archives and local historic environment records to help you map out Scotland’s past in one place.

Pilot scheme launched to help build sustainable future for listed places of worship (DDCMS 31/03/18)
A new scheme to help build a sustainable future for listed places of worship will be piloted in urban and rural areas in England, Heritage Minister Michael Ellis announced today.

What’s been happening with social housing rents? (SPICe 29/03/18)
Next week, at the start of the new financial year, Scotland’s 610,000 social housing tenants will begin paying a new rent for their home. Over the last few years, the Scottish Housing Regulator (the Regulator) has been emphasising that social landlords need to take into account tenant affordability when they are setting their rents.

£2m funding for rural communities to restore historic buildings (DEFRA 29/03/18)
A new grant scheme is being piloted this year in five National Parks, offering funding for land managers to restore their historic farm buildings.

Heritage Alliance publishes first ever international report (THA 28/03/18)
The Heritage Alliance has published the first ever report on the independent heritage sector’s impact overseas. The report, sponsored by the Scottish Confucius Institute for Business & Communication at Heriot-Watt University, makes recommendations for building on the success of the overall sector which already generates £21.7 billion a year.

New plan unveiled for Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage Site (EWH 27/03/18)
A new plan for Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns World Heritage Site was launched today which includes commitments to improve the quality of new development, better manage tourism growth, and deepen residents’ awareness and understanding of the site among other actions.

The Alliance writes to Immigration Minister (HA 23/03/18)
Heritage Alliance Chairman, has written to Immigration Minister to set out our concerns about the impact of potential post-Brexit immigration reforms. We attached our Immigration Briefing which sets out the key issues for the sector, such as avoiding the exacerbation of existing skills shortages and ensuring that our highly skilled, but lowly paid, sector is not unduly impacted by requiring too high a salary for a visa. It also includes the results of our recent survey monkey on EU employment in the heritage sector.

Scale and Concentration of land ownership in Scotland (SLC 22/03/18)
Scotland’s land reform body is calling for evidence about the impact of concentration of land ownership in Scotland, as it publishes a report and discussion paper on the issue today Thursday 22 March, 2018. The Scottish Land Commission research report looks at international approaches to limiting scale and concentration of land ownership.

Talking Shops – a History of Scottish Shopfronts (Engine Shed 19/03/18)
The Engine Shed has launched its latest exhibition, which looks at the architecture and materials used in creating the distinctive shopfronts. If you cannot make it to the Engine Shed, you can see our video: Stories of Scotland’s Shopfronts, or for information about the conservation and maintenance of shopfronts, download our Short Guide 12: Scottish Traditional Shopfronts.

Opinion & Comment

A Lane Strategy for Glasgow City Centre (Willie Miller, Principal of WMUD 26/03/18)

City Region Deals – A Good Deal? (Craig McLaren, RTPI Scotland 23/03/18) 

People at the heart of the Climate Change Plan? (Ragne Low, University of Strathclyde, for RTPI Scotland 23/03/18)

Response to Minister Kevin Stewart MSP’s letter to the Local Government and Communities Committee on Third Party and Equal Right of Appeal in the Planning (Scotland) Bill (SAPP 20/03/18)

Access over Ownership (Stephen Miles, Director of ADP 19/03/18)

Introducing Place Purpose, and why we need it now more than ever (Joy Nazzari, Founder of dn&co and Place Press 13/03/18)

Local Place Frameworks – Unlocking the potential of People & Place (Jonathan Clarkson, Director at Urbantu – Place-making by Design 12/03/18)

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”.

Graeme Dey S5W-15699
To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Land Commission will lay its revised Programme of Work in the Parliament. (SP 29/03/18)

Graham Simpson S5W-15589
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the effectiveness of home reports. (SP 26/03/18)

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-15374: Andy Wightman, Lothian, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 19/03/2018
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its data regarding the Affordable Housing Supply Programme for 2016-17 records that 72% of the completed homes that were classified as “rural” were built in towns and urban areas.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (28/03/2018)

Question S5W-15373: Andy Wightman, Lothian, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 19/03/2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of its spending on the Affordable Housing Supply Programme for 2016-17.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (28/03/2018)

Debates

Housing (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1 (SP 29/03/18)
Debate on motion S5M-11350, in the name of Kevin Stewart, on the Housing (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.
Read full debate

UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (SP 29/03/18)
Debate on motion S5M-11347, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, on Scotland’s support for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Read full debate

Events

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

“It’s our heritage, too” – World Heritage Day Event and Party
Date: 18 April 2018, from 6pm-8pm.
Venue: Reid Concert Hall, Bristo Square, Edinburgh EH8 9AJ.
Edinburgh World Heritage invite you to join them for an evening event to celebrate the role of young people in caring for and promoting Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site. As part of Scotland’s 2018 Year of Young People, and to celebrate World Heritage Day, a group of young people from Edinburgh would like to share with you their vision for our World Heritage Site. After the event there will be a drinks reception where you will be able to meet our ambassadors as well as special guests from the heritage world.

Community Heritage Scotland – Going Forward
Date: 21st April 2018.
Venue: Birnham Arts Centre near Perth.
Do you belong to a group or organisation that connects heritage with people – independent museums, historical societies, development or buildings trusts, community archaeology groups, clan societies etc? Or you may be an individual working on your own project. Community Heritage Scotland – Going Forward is a discussion day for people involved with heritage in their communities. We will debate core questions such as how you define community heritage, discuss how to encourage new and diverse audiences and look at how a potential network would be best delivered. The day will involve a series of informal discussions, workshop sessions and plenty of cakes and biscuits.

The Scottish identity – as illustrated through recent discoveries in Scottish silver
Date: April 23 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
Venue: National Museum Scotland Auditorium, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF.
The lecture will be given by Colin T Fraser FSA Scot, R. L. Christie Works of Art. Since the seminal exhibition ‘Silver; Made in Scotland’ held by the National Museum of Scotland in 2008 there has been a greater appreciation and understanding of the Scottish Goldsmiths craft. Over the past 10 years many new discoveries have been made and new light has been shed on previously well-known pieces. This talk aims to illustrate and discuss these new finds while placing them in a context of the wider survival of the Scottish applied arts and cultural landscape they were created. Immediately after the lecture there will be a drinks reception in the Events Space. This has been made possible thanks to Gillespie Macandrew LLP solicitors as event sponsor.

RTPI Training – Learning from Best Practice – The Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning
Date: 25 April 2018.
Location: Edinburgh – Discounted places still available.
This briefing will highlight the best practice recognised in the winners and finalists of the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning to enable others to learn. The event will provide an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge on what they have achieved and what they would do differently – the process they went through, looking at the problem each award winner faced; the solution they devised; how they implemented this and what the result was. There are several discounted places still available.

New approaches towards tackling barriers to employability
Date: 3rd May.
Venue: The Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh.
This free half-day SURF Awards workshop event provides an opportunity to explore successful new approaches towards tackling barriers to employability with presentations from SURF Award projects and national partners.

A Repton Celebration
Date: Saturday 12 May 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Broomhall House & Valleyfield – the only Scottish landscape designed by Humphry Repton.
We have put together a super celebratory event to mark the death of Humphry Repton, the last great landscape designer of the 18th century. After coffee, Lord Bruce will welcome us and take us on a virtual tour of Broomhall House. Dr. Patrick Eyres, landscape historian and editor, will speak about Repton and his Theatrical Self-promotion through Red Books and Printed Publications. This will be followed by an illustrated talk: The Valleyfield Red Book by Christopher Dingwall. A buffet lunch is included, after which there is an optional guided tour of Valleyfield, about 20 minutes drive from Broomhall.
Book early on our website to avoid disappointment, as places are limited.

The role of creative arts in regeneration
Date: 17th May.
Venue: Barras Arts and Design (BAaD), Glasgow.
This free half-day SURF Awards workshop event provides an opportunity to explore successful approaches towards linking creative arts into regeneration initiatives with presentations from SURF Award projects and national partners.

Successful approaches to regenerating Scotland’s places
Date: 31st May.
Venue: The Portal Townhouse, Irvine.
This free half-day SURF Awards workshop event provides an opportunity to explore successful current approaches towards regenerating Scotland’s places with presentations from SURF Award projects and national partners.

ARP 2018 Conference – bookings now open!
Date: Saturday 26th May 2018.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ.
Cost: Archaeology Scotland/Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland £35; Non-members £40; Students/unwaged £35.
The national Archaeological Research in Progress conference will examine recent and ongoing archaeological projects across Scotland. It is supported by Historic Environment Scotland and is delivered in partnership with the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. The all-day conference gives the audience the opportunity to hear first-hand about the most recent archaeological projects across Scotland and should not be missed. Book now to ensure your place.

2018 CSGN Forum – Children, young people + green space = a healthy equation
Date: 14 June 2018.
Venue: Hamish Wood Building, Glasgow Caledonian Uni., 70 Cowcaddens Rd, G4 0BA.
The importance of greenspace for young people is set to be highlighted in the annual CSGN Forum which is now open to bookings. ‘Children, Young People + Greenspace = A Healthy Equation’ will be held at Glasgow Caledonian University on Thursday 14 June and will feature world-renowned experts including the multi-award winning landscape architect, Adam White and architect Hanna Johansson, who has been instrumental in creating the vision to transform Billund into Denmark’s Capital of Children. The event, timed to celebrate 2018’s Year of Young People, will explore many of the concepts being promoted through the UNICEF Child Friendly Cities and Communities initiative, the worldwide programme that puts the needs and rights of children and young people at the heart of decision-making.

Industrial Archaeology Conference
Dates: Friday 22 June 2018 to Wednesday 27 June 2018.
Venue: Wick Baptist Church, Dempster Street, Wick, KW1 5QB.
Historic Environment Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Industrial Heritage Society, and the Scottish Vernacular Buildings Working Group is pleased to host an Industrial Archaeology Conference in Caithness from 22nd June to 27th June. A series of talks, tours and site visits around Caithness and Orkney will radiate from Wick. The conference allows different options, such as starting or ending with a connecting tour from and to Inverness.

Training

Working Towards World Heritage Status: Perception, Process and Practice
Date: Tuesday 17th April, 9.30am – 4.30pm.
Venue: Engine Shed, Stirling.
Price: £40
This one-day seminar and workshop will develop understanding of the roles and responsibilities of UNESCO, The UK State Party, Scottish Government and Historic Environment Scotland in the UK Tentative List and the World Heritage nomination process.  It will also highlight some of the benefits and challenges that World Heritage status brings and consider digital innovation in recording, accessing and understanding at World Heritage sites in Scotland and worldwide. The event is aimed at Local Authorities and other organisations associated with sites that have inspirations to join the UK Tentative List (reopening in 2019/20) or that are already on the Tentative List and are now seeking to take forward a World Heritage nomination. Booking essential, register for this event here.

Penicuik CARS and Carlops CA – IHBC CPD
Date: 19 April 2018
Location: Penicuik and Carlops.
IHBC’s CPD training days in 2018 aims to reflect upon 50 years since the first Conservation Areas were designated in Scotland. The first, Carlops and Skirling in Peebleshire, appeared in the Edinburgh Gazette on 19 April 1968 followed by a part of Carlops then in Midlothian. And we look forward to the latest linkage of Conservation to Regeneration through a CARS in Penicuik, hoped soon to begin by Midlothian Council.

Conservation of Surface Finishes – CPD Module
Dates: 19 April – 5 days over 2 weeks; 21 taught hours.
Venue: Engine Shed, Stirling.
Price: £440
This module explores the history and conservation of paints and a range of other surface finishes traditionally used on the interiors and exteriors of Scotland’s historic buildings. Taught through lectures, site visits and practical sessions. More in depth information about the module can be accessed here.
Booking essential, register for this course here.

IHBC CPD: Training Day on CA: Ayrshire
Date 11 May 2018.
Location: Ayrshire.
IHBC’s CPD training days in 2018 aims to reflect upon 50 years since the first Conservation Areas were designated in Scotland. The Ayrshire day on 11 May, will be looking at conservation area management in Ayr and Maybole. We will assess the impact of the recent THI, and look at strategic ways forward in both towns. We propose to complete the series covering East, West and North East later in the year with a day looking at Conservation Areas in Aberdeen.

Vacancies

Tender for Research Consultancy Services – Great Place Nations
National Heritage Memorial Fund brief on ‘the evaluation of the Great Place Scheme in Scotland, Wales and NI’ as they seek to ‘understand what the value of the Great Place Scheme in Scotland, Wales and NI has been’, with the project valued at £40,000 and closing on 16 April. 

Chartered Landscape Architects
Wardell Armstrong’s Landscape Team is a busy and we are growing! There is now an exciting range of opportunities for key posts across the practice. Have you got the flair and the enthusiasm to build and support our growing team?
Glasgow: A chartered and experienced landscape architect that knows the Glasgow market and has the ambition to support the development of one of the practices key design teams.

Business Development Officer
The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is seeking to recruit a Business Development Officer to help with the delivery of its investment objectives by attracting and delivering new lending business to the AHF and the UK’s heritage sector. The AHF presently has three lending streams (Heritage Project Fund, Community Heritage Support Fund and Heritage Mortgage) and will soon be initiating a fourth: Heritage Impact Fund. Deadline for applications – 5pm 24th April.

Information in the Bulletin is extracted from a number of websites including the Scottish Government (SG); the Scottish Parliament (SP); Architecture and Design Scotland(A+DS); Historic Environment Scotland (HES); Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH); Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO); English Heritage (EH); Design Council (DC); Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG); Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS); Department of Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); National Assembly for Wales (NAW); Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS); Scottish Government Building Standards  (SGBS); Europa Nostra (EN); Historic England (HE).

If you have any questions or comments on the above, or would like to submit information to be included, please get in touch with Saskia Smellie or tel: BEFS Office on 0131 220 6241.

BEFS News

BEFS Chair, Graeme Purves, gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government and Communities Committee on the Planning (Scotland) Bill on 14 March, alongside the National Trust for Scotland, Scottish Water, and Scottish Environment LINK. Watch the session on Parliament TV here.
You can also read BEFS written submission to the committee and a summary of responses and reactions to the Planning (Scotland) Bill from BEFS membership.
The committee also took evidence on the Bill yesterday from Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government and Housing, John McNairney, Chief Planner, Andy Kinnaird, Bill Manager, and Norman Macleod, Senior Principal Legal Officer, Scottish Government. This session can be viewed here.

Are you responsible for managing a church, or thinking about taking on the management of a former church? Join BEFS and partners, The Prince’s Foundation, Scotland’s Churches Trust, and Scottish Redundant Churches Trust, for our Keeping Church Buildings Alive – Workshop. The workshop will provide practical learning opportunities, allow groups to access expert advice and meet people from similar projects, all with a focus on maintaining the local church buildings at the heart of our communities.

Skills has been identified as a key priority for the Historic Environment sector in Scotland. Skills Development Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland have appointed EKOS to develop a Historic Environment Skills Strategy and Action Plan which sets out the main skills issues for the sector and solutions for how these can be best addressed. They are keen to hear from employers on the skills challenges facing the sector, and the main skills gaps. Find out more and get involved.

BEFS 2018 conference considered the future of Historic Environment Scotland policy both in terms of short-term pragmatism and long-term vision. Inherit was invited to deliver a short ‘provocation’ on one of the conference themes of Vision, Designation and Management. Read Director of Inherit, Chris Dalglish’s contribution: Designation & Justice.

Consultations

The Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee, wants to hear from you on the general principles of the Scottish Crown Estate Bill which the Scottish Government introduced on 24 January 2018. The deadline for responses is 12 noon Friday 23 March 2018.

Consultation on LBTT First Time Buyers Relief
Opened 9 Feb 2018 and closes 23 March 2018.

Call for Evidence – EU Environmental and Animal Welfare Principles
The call for written views will close at midday on Thursday 29 March 2018.

Creative Scotland – Regular Funding 2018-21 (SP 06/03/18)
The Scottish Parliament’s Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee is collecting views on Creative Scotland’s Regular Funding process for the period 2018-21. The closing date for submissions is Friday 30 March 2018.

Trams to Newhaven: Public consultation (EC 07/03/18)

Funding of EU Competences, Finance & Constitution Committee (SP 13/03/18)
The Committee is seeking views on the public finances issues raised for the devolution settlement arising from the Brexit process. The closing date for responses is Monday 16 April 2018.

Consultation on proposals for reviewing the current landlord registration fee structure and expanding the range of prescribed information applicants must provide to local authorities (SG 15/03/18)
Opened 15 Mar 2018 and closes 7 Jun 2018. 

A consultation on an amendment to Land and Buildings Transaction Tax Group Relief (SG 19/03/18)
Opened 19 Mar 2018 and closes 13 Apr 2018.

Consultation Responses

Consultation on Fire and Smoke Alarms in Scottish Homes: Analysis of Responses (SG 18/03/18)

Young People’s Participation in Decision Making in Scotland: Attitudes and Perceptions – Research Findings (SG 06/03/18)

Publications

The Impact of Brexit on Scotland’s Growth Sectors (SG 21/03/18)

City Space Race Balancing the need for homes and offices in cities (Centre for Cities 21/03/18)

The Delivery of Public Interest Led Development in Scotland (SLC 14/03/18)

Scottish Government News Releases

Changes to eDevelopment.scot (SG 21/03/18)
On Thursday at 5pm the eDevelopment.scot portals (including ePlanning and eBuildingStandards) will be taken offline to undertake some changes. We’re excited to share some of the improvements to the site.

More action on affordable housing (SG 20/03/18)
£15 million increase to Charitable Bond investment programme. Investment through charitable bonds has enabled more than 1,000 new affordable homes to have been built since 2014.

Improving home safety (SG 18/03/18)
Changes to fire and smoke alarm regulations. All homes will have the highest level of protection from smoke and fire. Following a consultation on fire and smoke alarms, the existing high standard required in private rented housing will be extended to all homes.

Alternative plans at Queen Street Station made public (SG 16/03/18)
New development set to deliver increased economic benefits. A revised plan at one of Glasgow’s key rail stations is set to yield significant economic and business opportunity for the city.

New build housing completions up 5% in latest year (SG 13/03/18)
A National Statistics Publication for Scotland. There were 17,601 new build homes completed across all sectors over the year ending September 2017, an increase of 5%, or 908 homes, on the previous year.

£26 million for local regeneration (SG 12/03/18)
A total of 24 projects will be awarded funding in 2018/19 as part of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF), which supports projects that engage and involve local communities in disadvantaged areas, tackle inequality and support inclusive growth.

News Releases

Saltire Infrastructure Awards launched (ICE 22/03/18)
The search is on for Scotland’s top engineering and construction projects with the launch of the Saltire Infrastructure Awards 2018. Part of the Institution of Civil Engineers’ (ICE) bicentenary celebrations, the Awards celebrate outstanding civil engineering achievement, innovation and ingenuity and shine a light on the hidden professionals behind transport, water, energy and flooding infrastructure. Built environment professionals are invited to nominate projects by 4pm on Friday 25th May, 2018.

Scottish Shortlist for RIAS/RIBA Awards 2018 (RIAS 20/03/18)
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has announced a 25 strong shortlist for its 2018 awards (from 75 entries).

My Place Award Winners 2018 Announced (SCT 20/03/18)
The winning and commended projects in the Scottish Civic Trust My Place Awards 2018 were announced today, 20 March, by John McNairney, Scottish Government Chief Planner in The Lighthouse, Glasgow. The Awards are supported by the Scottish Government. The winning project is The Leaf Room, Dundee.

Scotland out-performs rest of UK for 6th year running (HES 16/03/18)
The annual release of visitor figures from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) has seen Edinburgh Castle leap four places in the rankings to be named the 12th most-visited attraction in the UK for 2017.

Connecting people to their heritage – with our new website (EWH 16/03/18)
Welcome to the newly relaunched website of Edinburgh World Heritage. We’d like to show you around…

Europe’s 7 Most Endangered heritage sites 2018 announced (EN 15/03/18)
Europa Nostra, the leading heritage organisation in Europe, and the European Investment Bank Institute have announced the most threatened heritage sites in Europe for 2018.

2018 Beautiful Scotland campaign is now open (xx/03/18)
Organised by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, this year a new category for Business Improvement Districts, Town Centres and City Centres has been created. Beautiful Scotland is a long-established community environmental improvement campaign which KSB runs in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) under the Britain in Bloom campaign. The programme supports community groups across Scotland as they seek to improve and enhance their local environment.

Scottish Public Opinion Monitor – March 2018 (IpsosMORI 14/03/18)
As the UK government continues its formal negotiations to leave the European Union, Ipsos MORI’s new poll for STV News shows that Scots are pessimistic about the economic impact of Brexit and remain divided on Scotland’s constitutional future.

State must lead on major, public interest development argues new paper (SLC 14/03/18)
Big civic projects such as regenerating the former docklands in Glasgow and Dundee, or building affordable homes – at scale – similar to the construction projects seen post WW2, must be led by the public sector, according to a discussion paper published today.

National Museum of Scotland goes live with Google’s museum view experience (FutureScot 14/03/18)
The National Museum of Scotland has become available for exploration online via Google Arts & Culture’s museum view platform. The museum’s galleries have been captured digitally in partnership with Google, which works with institutions around the world to make cultural and historical material accessible online.

Hundreds of local people attend events to discuss the future of Rosefield Mills (PAS 09/03/18)
Hundreds of local people have attended a series of events designed to consider the future of Rosefield Mills. Dumfries Historic Buildings Trust commissioned PAS to deliver the event series and develop a report outlining the local community’s recommendations for the future direction of Rosefield Mills.

A new website for the National Trust for Scotland (NTS 06/03/18)
The new look of our website is the first glimpse of a fresh visual style that we will be rolling out over the next few months … but this website has more than a pretty face.

Opinion & Comment

Addressing Scale and Concentration of Land Ownership in Scotland (Scottish Land Commissioner, Dr Sally Reynolds 22/03/18)

Land Value Capture – what’s the big idea? (Policy Officer, Kathie Pollard, Scottish Land Commission 16/03/18) 

Public interest led development (Scottish Land Commissioner, Prof David Adams 14/03/18)

Blog: The Future of Social Housing in Scotland: the discussion so far 

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”.

Andy Wightman S5W-15373
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of its spending on the Affordable Housing Supply Programme for 2016-17. (SP 20/03/18)

Andy Wightman S5W-15374
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its data regarding the Affordable Housing Supply Programme for 2016-17 records that 72% of the completed homes that were classified as “rural” were built in towns and urban areas. (SP 20/03/18)

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-14764: Peter Chapman, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20/02/2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress that is being made with the development of the regional land use partnerships, which were recommended in Getting the best from our land, a Land Use Strategy for Scotland 2016–2021.
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham (06/03/2018)

Question S5W-15045: Maurice Golden, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 05/03/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any diverging costs for rural and urban house builders as a result of low-carbon building standards.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (14/03/2018)

Question S5W-15043: Maurice Golden, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 05/03/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on using a single definition of “rural community” for the purposes of delivering energy efficiency programmes.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (14/03/2018)

Question S5W-15042: Maurice Golden, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 05/03/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of enforcing a minimum energy performance certificate (EPC) rating on private sector home sales, and what consideration it has given to the financial costs associated with upgrading rural off-gas grid properties to a minimum energy efficiency rating as part of any assessment.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (14/03/2018)

Question S5W-15040: Maurice Golden, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 05/03/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many rural homes in each local authority area have received support from the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland area-based schemes.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (14/03/2018)

Question S5W-15041: Maurice Golden, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 05/03/2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress it has made investigating possible reform of the energy performance certificate (EPC) rating system.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (14/03/2018)

Events

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

Conservation of all Buildings Great and Small
Date: Saturday 24th March.
Venue: Gordon Memorial Hall, Castle Douglas
Time: 14:15 – 16:30
Cost: £5 members ( £7 non-members)
This talk will be given by Robert Adams, a highly experienced chartered building surveyor, formerly of the National Trust for Scotland and now partner in the Adams Napier Partnership Ltd. specialising in historic buildings.

Dundee Conservation Lecture Series – Gardens with Water
Date: Tuesday 27th March.
Venue: Room LT2, Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee, DD1 4EN
Time: 18:00 – 21:00
Cost: Free
Two talks will be given at this event. The first will be on the history and restoration of Ella Christie’s Japanese garden at Cowden Castle and the second will be the spirit of place, or intangible aspects of gardens and landscapes.

Battle of the Bridges, Glasgow
Date: 27 March 2018.
Venue: University of Strathclyde, Technology & Innovation Centre, 99 George Street, Glasgow G1 1RD.
Meet the engineers involved in three of Scotland’s most iconic bridges at South Queensferry and hear why they think their bridge is best before having your say with an audience vote. Members of the public are encouraged to join us as part of our Café 200 series, which shows how civil engineers transform our lives and the fascinating and rewarding career they enjoy.

Workshop on Introduction to Photogrammetry and RTI 
Date: Wednesday 28th March – 10.30am to 3pm.
Venue: St Cuthbert’s Burial Ground, Lothian Road Edinburgh.
Cost: £10
The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) is offering a last minute opportunity to take part in a training workshop in digital recording practices. This workshop will provide you with a basic introduction to using photogrammetry and reflectance transformation imaging (RTI) within a heritage context. It will help you develop an understanding of best practice approaches to data capture and familiarise you with the leading software often used for photogrammetric and RTI models. This event is part of CIfA’s wider training programme, supported by Historic Environment Scotland. If you would like to take part in the workshop, please email Cara Jones at cara.jones@archaeologists.net for further information. Booking essential with limited spaces available.

Glasgow’s Traditional Shopfronts
Date: Thursday 29th March.
Venue: Garnethill Room, Renfield St. Stephen’s Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow
Time: 19:30
Cost: £4 (students free)
Join us at 19:00 for tea and coffee before the lecture. Iain Wotherspoon, Chairman of the AHSS Strathclyde Group strolls along the city pavements, illustrating some of our finest (and most under-rated) streetscape assets: our Victorian and Edwardian shopfronts.

Loneliness and Isolation, Planning a Solution
Date: April 18th 2018.
Venue: Saracen House, Glasgow.
The Equal Opportunities Committee report on Social Isolation was the first of its kind anywhere in the world. The committee found that social isolation and loneliness was a problem in Scotland. The design and planning of public spaces and communities has the capacity to be a vital tool in tackling this issue. With this event, PAS aims to facilitate further discussion between the relevant government agencies, central government, local government, RSLs, planners, development trusts and other private, public and third sector stake holders. The outcomes from these discussions then have the capacity to help inform responses to this consultation.

Inspiring Fundraising: A National Heritage Conference
Date: 26th April 2018.
Venue: Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh.
Inspiring Fundraising, Scotland’s national fundraising conference specifically dedicated to the heritage sector, will take place on Thursday 26th April 2018 at the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh. By attending the conference, you will have a unique opportunity to learn from leading professionals in their specialist fields to help you overcome your fundraising challenges and set you on your journey to reaching your aspirations and targets. Inspiring Fundraising will also provide you with a motivational space to develop new ideas and new ways of working and the chance to engage with more than 200 peers from different heritage organisations from across Scotland and beyond. Using interactive learning techniques, the diverse programme will cover topics ranging from Embracing Creativity and Innovation to The Voice of the Funders and from The Power of Business and Cultural Partnerships through to Telling your Story on Film.

Archaeological Research in Progress 2018
Date: Saturday 26th May.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ.
The national conference examining recent and ongoing archaeological projects across Scotland will take place at the Engine Shed in Stirling on Saturday 26th May 2018. This conference is supported by Historic Environment Scotland and is delivered in partnership with the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. The all-day conference gives the audience the opportunity to hear first-hand about  the most recent archaeological projects across Scotland and should not be missed. Offering great value for the full day (lunch and refreshments are included in the ticket price) there are further discounts for Archaeology Scotland and Society of Antiquaries of Scotland members. Book now to ensure your place.

Training

Architectural Conservation CPDs in Perth – Principles and Best Practice for Traditional and Historic Buildings
If you are looking to refresh your conservation knowledge or encounter historic buildings as part of your work portfolio, but have limited knowledge of the best conservation practice to employ when approaching a project involving traditional buildings, then this is the CPD programme for you. Traditional and historic buildings are an integral part of Perth and Kinross’s built environment with many of its population centres, such as Perth, celebrated for their rich historic character. Whilst valued, historic buildings are often considered difficult to maintain, expensive to repair and their traditional methods of construction complicated to refurbish and align with modern building regulations. This series of CPDs will give you the tools to help unlock their potential. These cost £15 to attend to cover the costs associated with running the events.

Traditional Roofing Masterclass
Date: 20 April 2018
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Venue: Charlestown Workshops.
This day will look at the barriers and opportunities to preserve the character and appearance of our traditional roofs including skills and availability of materials. Join us for an alternative Masterclass with opportunities to view demonstrations of traditional roofing practices and a chance to ‘have a go’ (so don’t wear a suit!). All PPE will be supplied (except for site boots).

RTPI Training – Learning from Best Practice – The Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning
Date: 25 April.
Venue: Edinburgh – Discounted places still available.
This briefing will highlight the best practice recognised in the winners and finalists of the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning to enable others to learn. The event will provide an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge on what they have achieved and what they would do differently – the process they went through, looking at the problem each award winner faced; the solution they devised; how they implemented this and what the result was. There are several discounted places still available.

Rubble Wall Building
Date: 5 – 6 June 2018.
Venue: Merryhill Training Centre, Fife KY11 3DR.
This practical two day course will equip you to set out, construct and finish a traditional rubble wall using a variety of building stones and traditional lime mortars. The importance of laying the stones correctly and the use of pinning stones will be emphasised so that no more than 30% of the volume of the wall is mortar! The content of this workshop provides part of the underpinning knowledge required for assessment and accreditation of SQA National Unit 3 – ‘Conservation Masonry’.

Intensive Training Week – C1,C2 & National Units
Date: 11 – 15 June 2018.
Venue: Merryhill Training Centre, Fife KY11 3DR.
This intensive week of training and assessment will combine our courses ‘C1 Making and Using Traditional Mortars’ and ‘C2 Traditional Masonry Repair’ with continual assessment to allow you to gain SQA National Units 1, 2 & 3 in Conservation Masonry within five intensive days. You require to have trowel skills to participate and be assessed.

Rendering & Harling with Lime
Date: 21 – 22 June 2018.
Venue: Merryhill Training Centre, Fife KY11 3DR.
This course will enable you to apply a variety of external lime finishes including formal ‘lined out’ work to less formal textured harled finishes to a wide range of background types including matching in to existing finishes. Attendance at this two day workshop will let you get to grips with both hand casting and mechanical application techniques to effect a range of surface finishes and is relevant for the reinstatement of traditional lime finishes and for new build applications.

Vacancies

Youth Programmes Manager (PAS)
PAS has received funding from the Scottish Government for a fixed term appointment of a manager to oversee our youth programmes. The post holder will head up a small team to build on PAS’s existing work by developing our successful Young Placemakers initiative into a Volunteering Programme and expanding our Bridging the Gap programme. Bridging the Gap encourages a unique sustained intergenerational partnership to give young people the skills to engage with placemaking and to learn about active decision-making from an older generation. The post holder will also deliver other existing youth programmes – IMBY® and YEP!™ as required.
Closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 25 March. Interviews will be held on Wednesday 4 April.

Resourcing Scotland’s Heritage Seeks Researchers – Research Report Tender
Resourcing Scotland’s Heritage (RSH) is commissioning research to be completed as part of the legacy of the 4-year capacity building programme. The research will map the current funding landscape for the heritage sector in Scotland and will build on the existing evaluation work already conducted as part of the RSH programme.  The RSH Project Manager and the Head of Programmes at Arts & Business Scotland will work with the commissioned consultancy to ensure the resulting research report meets the needs of the RSH Programme, and of all partners involved.
Deadline 29th March. 

ARCH are looking to recruit a Project Officer
Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands are looking to recruit a Project Officer to work on the Regional Archaeological Research Framework for the Highlands as part of the wider ScARF project supported by Historic Environment Scotland as part of Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy. The successful applicant to the post of Project Officer will need to have good research skills and a familiarity with heritage databases, archaeological publications and other sources which can help build a picture of archaeological research in the Highlands from earliest settlement through to the end of the 20th century.
Applicants for the post should submit a CV and cover letter to info@archhighland.org.uk by 29th March 2018.

HLF Project Manager and HLF Project Officer (Dunfermline)
Dunfermline has an extraordinary heritage and is one of Europe’s fastest growing towns – increasingly a commuter town. To ensure stable growth it is important that future development is rooted in the past and the town grows with integrity, inclusion and innovation. We have recently been awarded Heritage Lottery Funding under their Great Place award and have a set out a three-year programme of works to use heritage to inspire future growth. We are currently recruiting for a Project Manager and Project Officer to deliver the Heritage Lottery Funded programme of works. The post is available with immediate effect and is funded until 31 December 2020. For full job descriptions contact Sarah Young on info@dunfermline.com.
The deadline for application for the positions is Friday 6 April and interviews w/c 23rd April.

Scottish Archaeological Research Framework Project Manager
The Society is seeking an exceptional candidate for the post of ScARF Project Manager. Responsible for every aspect of the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework project, from sourcing contributors and content to final publication and marketing, ensuring consistency and high academic standards throughout.  The main aims of the role are to manage and keep updated the existing Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF) project period panel reports, to create, manage and publish new regional research frameworks, and to manage the ScARF Museums Project. The post will also help develop and deliver the Society’s role within Aim 2 of Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy.
Closing Date: midnight Sunday 8th April 2018.

Assistant Consultant / Consultant, Heritage
Turley Heritage is a 15 strong team involved in some of the most exciting and high profile heritage projects across the UK with teams based in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. We are looking to expand the newly formed heritage team in Scotland with the appointment of a talented and ambitious assistant or consultant to support our Director based in Edinburgh. If you would like a confidential discussion with the hiring manager, please get in touch. Or, to apply please send your CV with a covering letter, including current salary details, in confidence to: Matthew Eves, HR Advisor, matthew.eves@turley.co.uk.