BEFS Bulletin – Climate Emergency
Get The Latest Built Environment News, Events, Vacancies, Consultations And Publications In Our News Bulletin.
BEFS News
BEFS has responded to a number of consultations in the last two weeks. BEFS response to the Scottish Government’s Environmental Principles and Governance in Scotland consultation, reiterates points made previously about the importance of maintaining EU standards and principles in relation to environmental protections and governance.
BEFS also responded to the Scottish Community Development Centre’s call for views on UN-SDG 11. The UN-SDG 11 covers (but is not limited to): access to adequate housing, sustainable transport systems, inclusive urbanisation, access to green-space, support for planning, and is the only SDG which involves strengthening and safeguarding the world’s cultural and natural heritage. BEFS response supports the Scottish Government’s adoption of the UN-SDGs – but appreciates that meaningful change may only come from active leadership willing to make hard choices, supported and steered by a strong third sector.
As the Secretariat of the Scottish Parliamentary Working Group on Tenement Maintenance, BEFS has also responded to consultations on Housing Beyond 2021 and the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland.
Looking for a job in the heritage sector? BEFS Vice-Chair, Professor Ian Baxter (Heriot-Watt University), has compiled an invaluable Heritage Career Guide in association with BEFS and The Heritage Alliance, which aims to list a range of useful places to check for vacancies in the sector. Also, check out the range of vacancies below.
Historic Environment Scotland are surveying stakeholders to see how well we think they are performing their role in the planning system. Responses will inform HES’ annual report for this year. Get involved by completing this short survey.
As part of their research into infrastructure planning, RTPI are asking local authority planners to complete a short survey on current approaches, barriers, challenges, and opportunities for a more integrated approach.
Calling applicants to the 20th Anniversary Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning. The closing date for applications is tomorrow (17th May).
BEFS Policy Lead, Ailsa Macfarlane, explores the implications of climate change goals for policy in the built environment, in this week’s blog.
Consultations
Local Government Committee investigates empty homes
The call for written views will close on Friday 17 May.
Scottish Parliament Committee launches workplace parking levy survey (SP 09/05/19)
The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee has launched an online survey to gauge views on the proposed workplace parking levy, which will run until 20 May.
HES and Our Role in the Planning System
This survey will close on Thursday 6 June at 5pm.
Energy Efficient Scotland: Consultation
Opened 26 Mar 2019 and closes 17 Jun 2019.
The future of low carbon heat for off gas buildings: a call for evidence
Opened 26 Mar 2019 and closes 17 Jun 2019.
Climate Change and Environmental Action Plan 2019-24
This HES consultation will close at 12pm on Wednesday 19 June.
Consultation on adding new categories to the definition of a House in Multiple Occupation
Opened 18 Apr 2019 and closes 8 Jul 2019.
Strengthening Fire Safety for High Rise Domestic Buildings
Opened 24 Apr 2019 and closes 17 Jul 2019.
Short-Term Lets: Consultation
Opened 28 Apr 2019 and closes 19 Jul 2019.
A Scottish Government consultation on Implementation of the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018
Opened 13 May 2019 and closes 4 Aug 2019.
Proposed Fair Rents (Scotland) Bill (SP 14/05/19)
A proposal for a Bill to protect private sector tenants by introducing measures to limit rent increases and to increase the availability of information about rent levels.
Consultation closes on 6 August 2019.
Consultation Responses
Local Governance Review: analysis of responses to Democracy Matters (SG 15/05/19)
Infrastructure Commission call for evidence: Scottish Government response May 2019 (SG 10/05/19)
Publications
Compulsory purchase powers and listed buildings: case study (SG 16/05/19)
Overview of private rented housing reforms in Scotland (SPICe 14/05/19)
Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland: delivery report 2017-2018 (SG 14/05/19)
Ten Buildings that Define Edinburgh (CA 05/19)
Planning (Scotland) Bill masterplan consent areas: Key Agencies Group joint statement (SG 09/05/19)
New HES Designations Application Form (HES 08/05/19)
Glasgow City Heritage Trust Event Brochure: May & June (GCHT)
Key data about The National Lottery Heritage Fund: 2018-19 (HLF 29/04/19)
News Releases
SCDC Supporting Communities Programme: People, Planning and Place (SCDC 16/05/19)
We’re offering help to community organisations involved in community-led action planning and strengthening community engagement.
Scotland’s changing housing landscape (SPICe 15/05/19)
Looking back at the first parliamentary debates on housing you might get a certain sense of déjà vu. Some of the problems MSPs spoke of, including a lack of adequate housing in rural areas, wouldn’t look out of place in a parliamentary debate on housing today.
Glasgow’s Historic Built Environment: A Snapshot (GCHT 15/05/19)
GCHT recently updated our interactive map for Glasgow’s historic built environment. It presents info about listed buildings, housing demographics, the Buildings at Risk Register and recent fires amongst other statistics.
Glasgow and Edinburgh fight to become the UK’s first ‘net-zero’ city (BBC 15/05/19)
Glasgow and Edinburgh are going head-to-head to try to become the UK’s first “net zero” city.
Here’s how Edinburgh aims to go carbon neutral by 2030 (Evening News 14/05/19)
The Capital will aim to become carbon neutral by 2030 after council leaders set one of the most ambitious targets globally – 15 years earlier than the Scottish Government’s ambition.
Post-Brexit environmental standards must be maintained (RTPI 10/05/19)
he Scottish Government’s proposed environmental watchdog must be strong enough to maintain high environmental standards after Brexit, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scotland has warned.
Help conserve Scotland’s historic sites – with your phone! (HES 10/05/19)
Learn how you can be a ‘citizen scientist’ at 20 of Scotland’s most evocative historic sites as part of an exciting new conservation project.
Scotland’s First Heritage and History Hackathon (HES 08/05/19)
Join us for Scotland’s first ever heritage and history hackathon – where entrepreneurs, designers and technologists will spend 75 hours exploring Scotland’s heritage through data and technology.
New £11.5m fund open: Investing in Communities (CC 05/19/)
A new Scottish Government £11.5 million fund is open to community groups to help tackle disadvantage, poverty and inequality in communities.
RTPI urges new approach to Scottish infrastructure funding (RPTI 03/05/19)
Decisions on funding infrastructure in Scotland should be based on long-term factors beyond the economy, says RTPI Scotland.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund releases its first batch of Open Data (Kion Ahadi HLF, 29/04/19)
The Open Data movement is growing, and more and more government departments, charities and funders are signing up to it. What does that mean for HLF?
Opinion & Comment
Let’s not forget the role of energy efficiency in homes (Herald Scotland 15/05/19)
Short term lets need regulation, regulation, regulation (Holyrood Magazine 08/05/19)
Can We Measure Culture in Cities (Economists Talk Art, 07/05/19)
Rethinking Sacred Spaces for New Purposes (Arch Daily, 07/05/19)
The house the robots built (Ben King, BBC)
Why does whole-life carbon matter for architects? (AJ 25/04/19)
Reusing Historic Buildings: The Green Choice (Steven Robb, HES 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-22967: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 02/05/2019
To ask the Scottish Government how many units have been constructed with support from the Scotland Self-Build Loan Fund, and what plans it has to expand the fund.
Question S5W-22980: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 02/05/2019
To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable homes were built in 2018-19, broken down by local authority.
Question S5W-22983: Jamie Halcro Johnston, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 03/05/2019
To ask the Scottish Government how many planning applications for new build residential properties have been refused by a planning authority but successfully appealed to the Scottish Ministers since 2007, broken down by (a) planning authority, (b) year, (c) applicant and (d) size of proposed development.
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-22438: Adam Tomkins, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 01/04/2019
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the regeneration of vacant and derelict land, and how much it has allocated to each local authority in each of the last five years to deal with this.
Answered by Aileen Campbell (02/05/2019)
Question S5W-22769: Michelle Ballantyne, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24/04/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that construction companies adhere to the established mortar standards in all new-builds.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (01/05/2019)
Question S5W-22782: Richard Lyle, Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 25/04/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support house building and associated infrastructure.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (03/05/2019)
Question S5W-22783: Richard Lyle, Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 25/04/2019
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) affordable homes and (b) homes for social rent have been completed in each local authority area in each year since 2007, also broken down by how many have been (i) future-proofed to meet the needs of older people and an ageing population and (ii) adapted or built specifically to meet the accessibility requirements of disabled people, including wheelchair users.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (08/05/2019)
Question S5W-22785: Richard Lyle, Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 25/04/2019
To ask the Scottish Government how many hectares of brownfield land are available for house building, and how this equates to the capacity for building new homes.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (03/05/2019)
Question S5W-22786: Richard Lyle, Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 25/04/2019
To ask the Scottish Government how much surplus land is owned by (a) central and (b) local government, and how this equates to the capacity for building new homes.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (03/05/2019)
Question S5W-22788: Richard Lyle, Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 25/04/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to make (a) public and (b) private land available for house building in areas where there is a housing shortage but where market conditions act against this.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (03/05/2019)
Events
For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.
Energy Efficiency and Project Management
Date & times: Monday 20th May, 10am to 4pm.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling.
Join Heritage Trust Network for a focussed training day in Stirling including sessions from Moses Jenkins, who will talk on Energy Efficiency and Adaptation and Colin Tennant who will speak on Project Management. Both topics will no doubt feature in your current or upcoming built heritage project, so we strongly recommend attending! The event will take place at Scotland’s Centre for Conservation, The Engine Shed and we are grateful to be hosted by Historic Environment Scotland for the day. Refreshments and lunch will be provided. You are welcome to send as many attendees from your organisation as you wish, including staff, volunteers and trustees.
Public Lecture: The Future of Urban Research in Bangladesh
Date & time: Tuesday 21 May, 14:00-16:00.
Venue: Yudowitz Lecture Theatre, Wolfson Medical Building, University of Glasgow.
In the face of uneven urbanisation, diverse critical urban challenges, and climate vulnerability of cities, Bangladesh must strengthen its urban research so that effective policies and practices can help build sustainable cities. With no national urban research institutes in place, universities are the incubators for crosscutting urban studies. In this public lecture, Professor Mohammad Fayek Uzzaman – Vice Chancellor of Khulna University, will share the potentials of urban research and challenges in creating a supportive research environment in Bangladesh. Professor Shamim Mahabubul Haque and Dr Shilpi Roy will share key findings and innovative research approaches from different collaborative urban research projects at Khulna University, such as the Centre Sustainable, Healthy and Learning Cities and Neighbourhoods.
Archaeological Research in Progress 2019
Date & time: Saturday May 25 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Venue: Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), 22-26 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PQ.
Ticket prices: Student / Unwaged places @ £20. Fellows / Archaeology Scotland Members places @ £30. Non-Fellows / Non-Members places @ £40.
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is managing the event this year (with our partners Archaeology Scotland) and the conference programme includes exciting new research findings and best practice in archaeology covering all periods from across Scotland and beyond. Event sponsored by: Historic Environment Scotland (HES), Forestry & Land Scotland (FLS), AOC Archaeology Group, Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA), GUARD Archaeology, Wessex Archaeology, LUC and SUERC.
Roads & Records – The Glasgow Motorway Archive
Date & time: Thursday, 06 June 2019, from 18:00 to 19:00 doors 17:45
Venue: Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh College of Art, 74 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9DF
Talk by Stuart Baird, Chairperson of the Glasgow Motorway History Archive. The Glasgow Motorway Archive is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation of records relating to the planning and construction of the city’s motorways and major roads. Glasgow has more miles of urban motorway than any other UK city, and it has many unique engineering and architectural features. The archive was founded by Stuart Baird, a professionally qualified civil engineer, working within the Scottish highways sector.
RICS Commercial Property Conference
Date & time: 6 June, 10:00am – 04:00pm
Venue: Radisson Blu, 80 High Street, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 1TH
The commercial property market is in transition and joining fellow professionals from across the sector to network, discuss and analyse key issues and opportunities, is as important as ever. The RICS Commercial Property Conference returns to Scotland to cover the latest policy, market and technological changes to help you stay ahead. This year’s programme will bring together agents, occupiers and investors to strengthen your understanding of the current economic outlook, latest occupier trends, growth opportunities, and risks to the commercial property sector.
SNH Landscape Character Assessment Workshop
Date & time: Thursday 13th June 2019, 10.30 – 15.30.
Venue: Battleby Conference Centre.
In February 2019 SNH published a reviewed national Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) in digital format on its website. LCA is the process of identifying and describing variation in character of the landscape. It provides baseline information used in development planning, and in landscape design and development management. A follow-up LCA Workshop is primarily for landscape and planning practitioners. The event aims to explore ways to develop LCA and its usage in the future. Speakers and facilitators will include Professor Carys Swanwick, landscape consultants, and representatives from Landscape Institute Scotland, Scottish Forestry, Forestry & Land Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, SNH and local authorities. If you would like to attend please reply to LCA_REVIEW@nature.scot by 12 noon on Friday 31st May 2019.
Talks at the Lane present IF_DO on Architecture as a Social Art
Date & time: 14th June 2019 at 6.30pm
Venue: Custom Lane, Leith
Founded in 2014 by Thomas Bryans, Sarah Castle & Al Scott the practice has an interest in the wider repercussions of architecture which provides a catalyst towards creating sustainable and healthy environments in which to live, learn, work and play.
Thomas and his fellow founding Directors all studied at University of Edinburgh and this Talk at the Lane is also part of the Architecture Fringe 2019 programme of events. Thomas will be discussing their ongoing community projects, research and teaching on how design can promote social spaces as a means of addressing social isolation. For more info about the Talks at the Lane.
Icon Scotland Group – Salvage of library, archive and museum collections workshop
Date: 19th June
Venue: The University of St Andrews Library
Fee: £40-£90
Introductory workshop on the procedures for salvaging museum, library and archive collections. This course is suitable for anyone who might be involved in salvaging museum, library and archive collections in an emergency, including non-specialists.
The topics covered include preparing the salvage operation, setting up a triage point, moving damaged items and first-aid treatments for a wide range of materials. For more information about the course times, attendance options, prices and how to book please see the Eventbrite page.
The Planning Convention 2019: The future of planning – what’s next?
Date & time: 19 June, 8:30 to 18:00
Venue: County Hall, Belvedere Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 7PB
The Planning Convention is the largest event in the planning profession’s calendar. Each year we gather over 400 practitioners, politicians, policy makers, developers and community and environmental professionals to address current industry issues. Delegates have the opportunity to hear from key influencers, network, discuss and find solutions to the most pressing problems facing the profession. We’ll examine the future for the planning profession. Examining good design, reimagining town centres and debating infrastructure, merging tech with practical, seeking solutions to the housing crisis, taking inspiration from successful cities and planning for a diverse society, what is next and where are we going?
RICS Annual Dinner 2019, Scotland
Date & time: THU 27 JUN 2019, 07:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Venue: Radisson Blu , 301 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G2 8DL.
Join fellow property professionals for the RICS Annual Dinner 2019, Scotland – an opportunity to network with professionals in the region. The dinner will provide the ideal setting to entertain clients, socialise with colleagues and generate new business contacts. Ian Fergusson, RICS Chairman for Scotland looks forward to welcoming guest’s to this year’s Annual Dinner. Set to be held at the prestigious Radisson Blu in Glasgow, with return of this highly anticipated black-tie event, also comes your opportunity to meet up with fellow members, friends and business partners old and new. We have an evening of superb food, entertainment and networking lined up, so put the date in your diary and secure your place now to avoid missing out.
Summer Excursion to Biggar Museum and New Lanark
Date & time: Saturday July 6 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Join us for a fascinating tour of this unique 18th century mill village sitting alongside the picturesque River Clyde. Now one of Scotland’s six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, New Lanark was founded in 1786 by David Dale, who built cotton mills and housing for the mill workers. In partnership with Robert Owen, a Welsh philanthropist and social reformer, New Lanark became a successful business and an early example of a planned settlement and so an important milestone in the historical development of urban planning. Workers enjoyed fair wages, free health care, a new education system and the first workplace nursery school in the world! In addition, Fellows of the Society will also be treated to a morning visit to Biggar and Upper Clydesdale Museum. This museum explores 14,000 years of rural and small town life in Upper Clydesdale. It focuses on the people who lived and worked in the area from prehistoric times up to the mid-20th century and illuminates a small part of their ordinary and extraordinary lives. Tickets cost £40 for Fellows and £45 for guests.
Retrofit 2019; Materials, Strategies, Innovations and Skills for the Future
Date & time: September 10th 2019, 9:20-12:55 (followed by a networking lunch).
Venue: The Lighthouse, Glasgow.
This event will explore technologies, practices, engagement strategies, design, funding opportunities and long term benefits that retrofitting can offer in Scotland and is an opportunity for those involved in the sector to engage with peers to tackle issues and create partnerships, to develop innovative strategies and solutions with other thought leaders while engaging with new potential partners, suppliers and clients.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Robin Webster, President, RIAS
- Dr Lori McElroy, Building Energy, Performance and Research Leader, BRE Scotland
- Dr Niall Kerr, Research Fellow, Energy Policy Effectiveness, University of Edinburgh
- Chris Morgan, Scottish Ecological Design Association
- Dr Mohammed Salah-Eldin Imbabi, Director of the Centre for Innovative Building Materials and Technologies, University of Aberdeen
- Phil Ford, Skills Planning Lead, Skills Development Scotland
Icon Scotland Group – Plenderleith Lecture 2019 – speaker announced, save the date!
Date: Thursday 28th November 2019.
Venue: Lighthouse, Glasgow.
Icon Scotland Group is delighted to announce that this year’s lecturer will be Liz Davidson IHBC, Hon FRIAS, OBE – Senior Project Manager, Mackintosh Building Restoration. This evening event will take place in Glasgow on Thursday 28th November 2019 at the Lighthouse, Glasgow. Booking details to follow on Icon website.
Training
CPD: Traditional Roof Slating (Edinburgh)
Date & time: Wednesday 22 May 2019, 13:00 – 14:00.
Venue: Architecture and Design Scotland, 146 Bakehouse Close, Edinburgh EH8 8DD.
This National Federation of Roofing Contractors CPD touches on many topics relevant to the maintenance and upgrade of tradition Scottish slate roofs. It will be presented by Graeme Miller from Bain & Irvine.
RICS CPD Day Aberdeen
Date & time: 20 June, 08:30am – 05:30pm
Venue: Hilton Hotel Aberdeen Treetops, 161 Springfield Road, Aberdeen, AB15 7AQ
Enhance your capabilities and knowledge around today’s ever-changing market trends, legislation, and technical guidance. Learn from leading industry professionals and take away practical solutions which can be implemented into your daily practice – benefiting both your business and personal professional development. 6 hours formal CPD
Icon Scotland Group 5-Day Practical Gilding Course
Date & time: 9th – 13th September 2019, 10.00 – 16.00.
Venue: Kelvin Hall,1445 Argyle Street, Glasgow
Fee: £350 – £ 550
Back by popular demand and extended to 5 days, this course aims to familiarise participants with the materials, methods and techniques of both water and oil gilding. The course provides opportunities to learn a variety of skills relating to gilding and the use of traditional materials and techniques.
The course is practical and theoretical, making it particularly useful to newly-qualified conservators. It is also suited to anyone with an interest in gilding – beginner, refresher or anyone with related experience. Tutor is Tim Ritson, Head of Paintings and Frames Conservation at the Royal Museums Greenwich. All tools and materials are included in the cost. The course will run from 10 – 4 each day.
Vacancies
Chair Recruitment
Cupar Development Trust is seeking to have a new Chair to take up post from December 2019.
Office Administrator
The Scottish Civic Trust is recruiting an Office Administrator (Maternity Cover).
Closing date for applications: 17 May 2019.
Senior Fundraising Officer
The Senior Fundraising Officer at Arts & Business Scotland will play a key role in developing the Fundraising strategy of Hearts and Minds.
Closing date for applications: Monday 27 May 2019.
Scotland Support Officer
The Architectural Heritage Fund has secured funding from Historic Environment Scotland to increase its capacity to deliver projects in Scotland through employing a new Scotland Support Officer.
Please send these by email only to recruitment@ahfund.org.uk by 5pm on Thursday 30th May.
Edinburgh World Heritage Communications Officer
Edinburgh World Heritage is looking to appoint an ambitious and creative Communications professional to this important role within our team.
Closing date Friday 31st May 2019 at 5pm.
Archaeology Scotland Project Officer
Due to several successful funding applications, Archaeology Scotland is now seeking short-term assistance to assist the delivery of our two community archaeology initiatives Adopt-a-Monument and Attainment through Archaeology.
Closing Date for Applications: Sunday 2nd June at 12 midnight
Managing Editor
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is seeking an experienced and motivated Managing Editor to take overarching responsibility for the management, design, production and marketing of a mix of online and print archaeology and history resources.
Deadline for applications: 11pm on Sunday 9th June