BEFS Bulletin – BEFS Chair
Get The Latest Built Environment News, Events, Vacancies, Consultations And Publications In Our News Bulletin.
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
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)
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)
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
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