BEFS Bulletin – Built Environment Manifestos
Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications, Consultations And More.
BEFS News
BEFS has collated a list of manifestos produced by heritage and built environment organisations ahead of the Scottish parliamentary elections next month. The most recent additions include contributions from RIAS, SURF, RICS, the Green Action Trust and Cupar Development Trust. For advice on becoming an advocate for the built environment check out our Advocacy Toolkit.
The Scottish Government has updated its response to recommendations in the final report of the Scottish Parliamentary Working Group on tenement maintenance. Specifically, the Tenement Condition Workplan has been updated for 2021.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is looking for your views on a new Managing Change Guidance Note: Working on and near to scheduled monuments.
A&BS has announced changes to the Culture & Business Fund Scotland (CBFS), to provide broader support and match funding of creative partnerships to help arts and heritage organisations through the recovery and renewal period of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Culture & Business Fund Scotland Covid-19 Recovery & Renewal strand temporarily replaces the existing fund with immediate effect. This relaxes some of the previous eligibility criteria to enable broader support of projects with existing as well as new business partners and increases the £ for £ match funding of existing or new CBFS projects in years two and three of their partnerships with business.
Finally, don’t forget to peruse the upcoming built environment events, in the events section of this bulletin or online. Moreover, a number of BEFS members are currently advertising job opportunities, which are not to be missed.
Consultations
Working On and Near to Scheduled Monuments
Opened 25 Mar 2021 and closes 6 May 2021.
Scotland’s Churches Trust: Helping Sustain Our Places Of Worship Survey
Consultation on Scottish skills requirements for energy efficiency, zero emissions and low carbon heating systems, microgeneration and heat networks for homes.
Closes 30 April 2021.
Heat in buildings strategy – achieving net zero emissions: consultation
Closes 30 April 2021.
Inquiry: Local government and the path to net zero
You can submit evidence until Friday 30 April 2021.
Local Place Plan Regulations consultation
Closes 25 June 2021.
Petition: To create a tax incentive to favour retrofit instead of demolition and new build
Closes 8 August 2021.
Publications
Householder permitted development rights: guidance – updated 2021 (SG 01/03/21)
Building standards performance framework: April 2021 (SG 31/0321)
Building standards operating framework: April 2021 (SG 31/03/21)
Heritage Tourism in 2020: Historic Environment Scotland (HF 31/03/21)
Heritage Tourism in 2020: National Trust for Scotland (HF 31/03/21)
News Releases
Historic Environment Scotland appoints new Director of Heritage (HES 31/03/21)
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has appointed Elly McCrone as its new Director of Heritage.
Live Announcement of the 2021 List of 7 Most Endangered Heritage Sites in Europe (EN 30/03/21)
Join us for the Live Announcement of the 2021 List of 7 Most Endangered Heritage Sites in Europe on 8 April 2021.
Pan-European platform for spatial planning knowledge exchange (ARL 28/03/21)
The ARL is a national think tank-type body funded by the German federal government and states to do independent spatial planning and development research. They are at the moment compiling profiles of planning systems across Europe and will, in a few months time, make these available on their new website.
New Sustainability My Place Award Announced (SCT 25/03/21)
Built environment projects that demonstrate excellence in continued and adaptive reuse will be celebrated by a new Sustainability Award for the My Place Awards 2021.
Heritage Trade Up programme – calling leaders of heritage organisations across the UK! (AHF 24/03/21)
Are you looking to strengthen the financial resilience and governance capabilities of your heritage organisation?
Over 50,000 households to get warmer, greener homes in £562 million boost (DBEIS 23/03/21)
A nationwide home upgrade will help households save up to £450 a year on their energy bills and support around 8,000 green jobs annually.
Kevin Stewart calls for action on renovation VAT to help green recovery (SCN 22/03/21)
Housing minister Kevin Stewart has written to the UK Government to urge a rethink on VAT rates for building refurbishments and renovations.
Call for proposals pre-announcement: building and delivering suitable living environments and communities for an ageing population (Dunhill Medical Trust 18/03/21)
Funding will be available to support academic and clinical researchers partnered with community organisations, to conduct innovative research projects into building and delivering suitable living environments and communities for an ageing population.
Events
For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.
A sustainable future for our World Heritage cities
Dates: 13 & 14 April 2021.
Online.
Edinburgh World Heritage will host the fifth and final series of partnership AtlaS.WH project events, bringing together leading experts to explore the role of heritage in solving issues related to the climate emergency. Guests include the five project partners, experts from the Scottish heritage sector, Edinburgh city managers, and international partners. Over two days, the plans for each urban World Heritage Site will be presented, and we will discuss how the impact of climate change is assessed and addressed through case studies and the latest in sector research. We invite you to join us for any or all of these free, public CPD sessions, to ask questions and build your understanding on how heritage can be a solution to the climate emergency.
SURF’s Scottish Election Question Time
Date & time: 15th April 2021, 2pm-3.30pm
Online: Zoom
SURF’s 2021 Manifesto for Community Regeneration proposes actions the SURF network believe would improve place-based regeneration activities and outcomes across Scotland, including in the fields of land use, transport and climate change. This online event will take place on the afternoon of Thursday 15 April. Representatives from Scotland’s leading political parties will be invited to respond to SURF’s Manifesto, highlight their party’s key regeneration policies, and answer questions from the SURF audience.
Mark Turnbull Travel Award Presentations– Climate Change, Innovations and Making Room for Social Spaces
Date & time: 6.15 -7.15pm 21st April 2021
Online.
The speakers include: 1) Samuel Cortis: Joint Winner of Mark Turnbull Travel Award: Making Room for Social Spaces; an exploration of how community focused and managed landscapes can shape development strategies for Scotland 2) Dr Amber Roberts: Joint Winner of Mark Turnbull Travel Award – Food and Flood Resilience: Climate Change Innovations – Learning from Europe 3) René Sommer Lindsay – Senior Urban Designer and Climate Resilience consultant. Placemaking infrastructure for resilient, sustainable, liveable cities and communities.
April Lecture and Election – “The Knights Templar and Historical Revisionism in the Modern Era” by Dr Rory MacLellan
Date & time: 26th April 2021 @ 6:00pm to 7:30pm (GMT/UK).
Online: Zoom.
In this online talk, Dr Rory MacLellan will discuss how certain members of the far-right have appropriated the memory of the Knights Templar for their own ends. He will then examine why the Templars hold such a strong appeal for parts of the far-right and how pseudo-histories and myths about the order can act as an entry-point for this dark historical revisionism. This event will also feature the first election of new Fellows to the Society outside of our Anniversary Meeting on St Andrew’s Day for a long time.
Communities for a Changing Population
Date & time: 29 April 2021 from 10am to 12.30pm.
Webinar.
This event is an ideal opportunity for architects, planners, placemaking professionals, local and national government officers, elected representatives at local and national level, infrastructure providers, engineers and all other relevant stakeholders to engage with other thought leaders and potential partners that can help forge solutions to the challenges and make the most of the opportunities presented by the current pandemic.
Archaeological Research in Progress Conference 2021
Date & time: May 29th, 2021 GMT/UK (Times to be confirmed).
All day conference (details to be confirmed).
Archaeological Research in Progress is a national conference organised each year by Archaeology Scotland and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Topics, timings, and technology still to be confirmed.
June Lecture “The Public and Private Worlds of Sir Walter Scott”
Date & time: June 28th, 2021 @ 6:00pm to 7:15pm (GMT/UK).
Online: Zoom.
Focusing on the lesser-known aspects of Sir Walter Scott – his life, career, and interests, hosted by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Chaired by Gerry Carruthers FSRE, this talk will be carried out by two speakers from the societies, Dr Iain G. Brown FSA FRSE FSAScot and Kirsty Archer-Thompson FSAScot, discussing: “Sir Walter Scott and the Scottish Antiquarian Tradition: Mr Oldbuck in Context” by Dr Iain G. Brown FSA FRSE FSAScot. “Chewing the Cud of Sweet and Bitter Fancy”: Navigating the Unquiet Mind and Life Philosophy of Walter Scott, by Kirsty Archer-Thompson FSAScot.
Training
Scottish Lime Centre Trust Courses
We are so pleased to be back and able to run face-to-face training again from 26 April 2021, of course following strict COVID 19 guidance as we were doing before this latest lockdown. We are restricting numbers of learners to 6 per course only to maintain social distancing. Download a full programme here.
Vacancies
Advice Service Manager
PAS are currently recruiting for an Advice Service Manager to our advice service which deals with hundreds of enquiries from individuals and community groups every year.
Closing at 9am on Tuesday 13 April 2021.
Head of Training
The Ridge are looking for a special person to join our Training team, with potential to develop and expand the role and really make a difference.
Closing on 16th April 2021.
Open Research Tenders
This is an invitation from RTPI Scotland to tender to examine the operating environment to embed digital planning in Scotland.
The deadline for responses is 9am on 19th April 2021.
Traditional Buildings Inspector
Stirling City Heritage Trust is looking for a building professional or craftsperson for the role of Traditional Buildings Inspector with our team.
Closing Date: Thursday 22 April 2021 at noon.