BEFS Bulletin – Call for Case Studies
Get The Latest Built Environment News, Events, Vacancies, Consultations And Publications In Our News Bulletin.
BEFS News
BEFS is currently gathering data for the next Scottish Historic Environment Audit. As part of this we are looking for case studies of projects or initiatives that illustrate the breadth of activity that takes place in the heritage sector. Send us your case studies by Thursday 16 August 2018. More details here.
BEFS has responded to the Scottish Government consultation on energy efficient homes. Energy Efficient Scotland will require minimum energy efficiency targets to be met by all buildings in Scotland and so it is considered vital that the views of individuals and public bodies are taken into consideration and used to shape the programme.
The Scottish Government is intending to build on progress already underway in the social housing sector throughout Scotland, with three quarters of the social housing stock already meeting the energy efficiency ratings in the first EESSH milestone set for December 2020. EESSH2 proposes a longer term approach to removing poor energy efficiency as a driver for fuel poverty in social housing, and BEFS has responded to these proposals to set a challenging and aspirational target to maximise the number of social rented homes meeting an EPC band B by 2032.
BEFS invited Lucy Casot, Head of the HLF in Scotland, to present to the Historic Environment Working Group, on HLF’s research in relation to the changes being proposed. The sector-specific responses to a wide-ranging questionnaire have been summarised in the paper found here. BEFS supports many aspects of the changes but advised HLF to clearly retain their specific focus on heritage. BEFS also responded to the final official consultation from DCMS – the Heritage Lottery Fund Policy Directions consultation. There were no substantive changes recommended. BEFS is keen that HLF continue to share data to enable better understanding of projects and organisational need across the heritage sectors.
We previously circulated a survey on community heritage groups being undertaken by Ergadia Museums and Heritage and Northlight Heritage, in collaboration with the Museums Galleries and Collections Institute at the University of St Andrews. The findings of the survey have now been published and, perhaps unsurprisingly, funding and finances are the biggest challenge reported by community groups. This mirrors research we have undertaken with partners in the ecclesiastical heritage sector in recent years and the findings along with the forthcoming report arising from Resourcing Scotland’s Heritage should be of high interest to the major funding bodies and Scottish Government: empowering communities will not happen without resource.
Book now for the Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2018! As part of the official Edinburgh Fringe Festival, it aims to “Celebrate Edinburgh’s Traditional Buildings” and offers a series of free demonstrations and talks about traditional buildings and the skills and materials to build, and maintain, them.
Don’t forget to check out the fantastic array of events and training coming up in August and September, below, as well as the vacancies section.
Consultations
Publications
Revised National Planning Policy Framework (BG 24/07/18)
CIfA’s response to Revised National Planning Policy Framework (CiFA 26/07/18)
Planning Performance Statistics, 2017/18, Q4 and annual (SG 24/07/18)
Community Empowerment and Common Good Property: Guidance for Local Authorities (SG 23/07/18)
Affordable Rents compared to traditional social rents (Joseph Roundtree Foundation)
Independent review of building regulations and fire safety: next steps (BP 18/07/18)
Scottish Government News
Record year for overseas visitors (20/07/18)
Visits and spending by overseas tourists in Scotland rose to its highest level on record in 2017. The ONS Travel Trends 2017 statistics showed the number of overseas tourists visiting Scotland rose by 16.9% to 3.2 million, while expenditure increased by 23% to £2.3 billion.
News
UK Government announces Edinburgh Fringe funding to promote new talent on global stage (DDCMS 02/08/18)
The UK Government will provide £100,000 to this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe to help it deliver a step change in how it showcases emerging artistic talent to the world, Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright announced today.
Planning Bill changes are ‘point of no return’ for Scotland’s heritage (NTS 31/07/18)
Following the submission of four new development applications at Culloden and the approval of a golf course at the Coul Links, the National Trust for Scotland has called on the Scottish Government to save Scotland’s heritage by overhauling the planning system in forthcoming legislation.
Statement from the GSA work progressing on three sides of the Mackintosh Building (GSA 31/07/18)
Work is continuing on the east, south and north sides of the Mack with work on the west end of the south façade due to begin this week.
‘From a built heritage perspective, the revised NPPF is an opportunity lost’ (IHBC 27/07/18)
With the publication of England’s revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) IHBC officers have highlighted the chances missed.
Proposal for post-Brexit environmental watchdog fundamentally flawed (RTPI 24/07/18)
The Government’s proposal for a post-Brexit environmental watchdog that only has jurisdiction for England is deeply flawed, says the RTPI. An England-only governance body will not provide the same level of environmental protection and citizen’s rights as the current protection under EU directives which cross boundaries, according to the RTPI’s response to DEFRA’s consultation.
AHF Awards Funding To Support Glasgow Communities Reclaim And Regenerate Their Heritage (AHF 19/07/18)
Three community projects in Glasgow will benefit from recent grants offered by the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF). This funding round includes support to The ‘Pyramid at Anderston’, a new social enterprise delivering programmes from Glasgow’s iconic Pyramid Church, as well as funds to support the ongoing renewal of Govanhill Baths.
New evidence of ancient settlements spotted from Scotland’s skies (HES 13/07/18)
Crop marks showing ancient settlements and Roman fortifications, which are otherwise hidden under the plough soil, are being documented by Historic Environment Scotland.
Host an MSP in Your Town or Neighbourhood This Summer! (STP 07/18)
Scotland’s Towns Partnership and the Cross Party Group on Towns & Town Centres are encouraging MSPs to take a day during Parliamentary Recess to visit towns in their constituency or region as part of the MSP Connector Programme. We are also seeking interest from town centre managers, community groups, local business organisations and other town stakeholders to host an MSP for the day in their town.
Regulator publishes new research into factors the public associate with trustworthy charities (CC 11/07/18)
Being true to their values and the ability to demonstrate efficiency and impact join transparency among the most important ingredients of trustworthiness in charities, according to new research by the Charity Commission.
New parliamentary group set up to discuss better housing design and placemaking (Infrastructure Intelligence 03/07/18)
A new All Party Parliamentary Group has been formed with the aim of ensuring issues surrounding housing are prioritised and new ideas are formed to tackle the shortage of homes within the UK. The newly-formed APPG on Building Communities will look to progress political discussions around good design and placemaking and how they can help solve the housing crisis.
Tesco Bags of Help Funding
Need up to £4000 funding for a project that benefits the community? Tesco Bags of Help has funded over 2000 projects in Scotland – sharing over £6 million pounds between them. Bags of Help funds a huge variety of projects that bring benefits to the community and every two months in Scotland we award 225 projects a share of over half a million pounds.
Opinion & Comment
Can Urban Living be suitable for Older People? (Steven Tolson and Dr Margaret Brown, for A&DS)
Parliamentary Questions
Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Scottish Government in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.Questions in which a member has indicated a declarable interest are marked with an “R”.
Question S5W-17733: Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 17/07/2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of meetings and discussions held between ministers and officials and (a) Planning Democracy and (b) Planning Aid Scotland in the last five years, and what was discussed. (SP 17/07/18)
Question S5W-17791: Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23/07/2018 R
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17390 by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 July 2018, what financial assessments it has made to calculate the estimate of £10 to £12 billion, and whether it will provide a breakdown of these costs by (a) (i) public expenditure and (ii) private sources and (b) expenditure on (A) domestic and (B) non-domestic buildings. (SP 23/07/18)
Question S5W-17945: Oliver Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 01/08/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the effectiveness of Energy Performance Certificates.
Parliamentary Questions & Answers
Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Government in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.
Question S5W-17367: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20/06/2018
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Building Standards (Compliance and Enforcement) Review Panel has met; when it will next meet, and by what date it will issue its recommendations.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (13/07/2018)
Question S5W-17390: Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20/06/2018 R
To ask the Scottish Government what financial assessment has been made of the cost of converting all buildings in Scotland to net zero emissions by 2050 as set out in the Energy Efficient Scotland: Route Map.
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse (18/07/2018)
Events
For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.
Skills Showcase Exhibition
Date: 2 July – 14 September, from 10am – 4pm.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
In this exhibition you will discover first hand from our staff what it takes to look after the beautiful sites that HES cares for. From stonemasons to digital innovators, from collections registrars to joiners, what they all have in common is a passion and commitment to protecting Scotland’s heritage for future generations.
Drop in | Free | T: 01786 234 800 | E: technicaleducation@hes.scot
Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival 2018
Dates: 14 – 17 August 2018.
Location: Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh Traditional Building Forum is delighted to be running the seventh Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival as part of the official Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival aims to “Celebrate Edinburgh’s Traditional Buildings” and offers a series of free demonstrations and talks about traditional buildings and the skills and materials to build, and maintain, them.
Guided Walk: Sports on Glasgow Green
Date: Weds 15th August 2018 | 6-8pm.
Location: Glasgow Green.
In August Glasgow will co-host the inaugural European Championships. Glasgow is no slouch when it comes to sport, and our sporting heritage runs deep. Long before there was a Hampden Park, Kelvin Hall or a Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Glasgow Green was where the city went to play and compete. Join GCHT on a leisurely stroll around Glasgow Green’s sporting highlights, including the West Boathouse, a lost lido, and a one of the oldest outdoor gyms in the UK.
Celebrating Scotland’s Industrial Heritage
Date: 16 August, 9.30am – 4.30pm.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
A one-day conference dedicated to celebrating Scotland’s extraordinarily rich industrial heritage.
Speakers from across the heritage sector will talk about how they became involved with industrial heritage, why it is so important to Scotland, the extent of its global reach, and why it is such a crucial part of our future.
Prices: £36 Historic Scotland Members. £40 Non-Members.
Booking essential | T: 01786 234 800 | E: technicaleducation@hes.scot
Falkland Craft Symposium 2018
Dates: 17-19 August.
Venue: Falkland Stewardship Trust, The Stables, Cupar KY15 7AF.
Following the great success of previous years, SPAB Scotland are once again supporting the Falkland Stewardship Trust in their annual celebration of traditional crafts. Throughout the three days there will be many practical activities in progress including working with wood and stone, firing up a lime-kiln, pointing with earth and lime mortars, repairing two magnificent estate walls, and so on.
Mortars and Binders
Date: 30 August, 9.30am – 4.30pm.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ.
A one-day seminar where recent research and publications by Historic Environment Scotland on traditional mortars will be presented and discussed.
Learn about the composition, specification and application of historic mortars and binders. While focusing on hot mixed lime mortars in traditional and historic building, other binders will be introduced.
Prices: £54 Historic Scotland Members (Concessions). £60 Non-Members.
Booking essential | T: 01786 234 800 | E: technicaleducation@hes.scot
Burns Monument Tour
Date: Saturday 1st September 2018 at 10.30am.
Venue: Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Murdoch’s Lone, Alloway, Ayr KA7 4PQ.
SPAB Scotland are pleased to be able to offer this rare chance to be up close to the wonderful stone carvings on the Burns Monument in Alloway, Ayrshire. The National Trust for Scotland are undertaking a programme of major repair work to the monument, chiefly comprising lime grouting the ashlar work from inside in order to fill many voids throughout the structure. In association with the main contractor Conservation Masonry Ltd, the event will be run by building surveyor and clerk of works to the monument project, Kinlay Laidlaw, who will give a short lecture about the building and the proposed repair works prior to leading the tour on the scaffolding.
War Memorials: Sharing Success Conference and Workshops (Scotland)
Date: Tuesday 4th September.
Venue: Engine Shed in Stirling.
War Memorials Trust and Historic Environment Scotland are hosting a free conference on war memorials on 4th September. Taking place at the Engine Shed in Stirling the day will feature presentations, Q&As and workshops as well as an opportunity to explore the conservation exhibits. It is designed to review some of the war memorial activities in Scotland through the centenary of World War I and consider the future of war memorials beyond 2018. The main conference will run from 10am to 3pm with two optional workshops running from 3.30pm – 4.45pm if attendees wish to extend their
Contemporary Approaches to Sustainability in European Cities
Date: September 20 @ 13:00 pm – 18:30 pm.
Venue: Western Park Conference Centre, 319 Perth Road, Dundee, DD2 1NN.
The Academy of Urbanism and University of Dundee are delighted to convene a special event to consider the application of contemporary strategies to make medium-sized cities more sustainable in environmental, socio-economic and cultural terms. We have invited senior speakers from leading AoU European City Finalists, including Bilbao, Copenhagen, Freiburg and Ljubljana together with additional input from Scottish and UK specialists. This event is coinciding with the opening of the new V&A Dundee, Scotland’s first design museum. Hear from four exceptional cities and be one of the first to step inside this major new attraction!
Traditional Buildings Materials and Skills – Highlands & Islands Traditional Building Forum Conference
Date: Fri 21 September 2018.
Venue: Smithton Church, 1 Murray Road, Smithton, Inverness IV2 7YU.
This conference includes presentations and exhibitors on traditional building materials including stone, mortar, timber, metals and glass and will conclude with a case study of the recently completed Inverness Town House repair project. This event is being jointly sponsored by CIOB, RIAS, RICS & CITB.
Debate: What’s the point of Listing Buildings?
Date: Thurs 27th September 2018 | 6.30-8.30pm.
Location: Glasgow (venue tbc).
There are over 1,800 listed buildings in Glasgow. Our panel will consider whether these designations fully reflect what the city and its people value about the historic built environment. Should we be trying to save historic buildings which are unlisted and outside of conservation areas? Who might they be valuable to?
Edinburgh Doors Open Day with SPAB
Date: Saturday 29th September 11am – 4pm & Sunday 30th September 11am – 4pm.
Location: Trunks Close, 55 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR.
SPAB Scotland will once again be hosting craft demonstrations as part of Edinburgh Doors Open Day weekend. Come and speak to us, find out about what we do for building conservation, campaigning, and events in Scotland. Our demonstration this year will focus on stone carving, and we are lucky to have two SPAB William Morris Craft Fellows, Heather Griffith and Innes Drummond on hand to guide you through the skills of a stonemason. They will be giving short demonstrations throughout the day, and will oversee a small hands-on area where you can have a go yourself.
Training
CPD: Surface appearances and deeper truths: Thermography and moisture analysis in the built environment
Date: Thursday 9th August 2018 | 12.30-1.30pm.
Venue: 54 Bell Street, Glasgow.
This seminar will discuss the use of infrared thermography and subsurface moisture analysis to understand the performance of buildings and structures.
Gardening in Scotland: Principles and Practice
Date: Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th August, 2018.
Location: The National Trust for Scotland’s Pitmedden Garden, Ellon, Aberdeenshire, AB41 7PD.
This 2-day course will combine classroom-based learning with practical “hands-on” training to provide those attending with an understanding of the skills and techniques necessary in order to establish and maintain a garden in Scotland. The subjects to be addressed range from planning and designing a garden, through to the selection of plants, soil preparation and the development of a maintenance programme, as well as the effects on our gardens and the wider landscape resulting from the, now apparent, norm of unpredictable weather. The Course will be of immense value, not only to private individuals, maintaining or creating their own gardens, but also to those professionally involved in gardening and associated landscape projects.
Architectural Traditions
Date: 27 August. 5 days over 3 weeks: 39.5 taught hours.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ.
Learn about the progression of Scottish architectural styles, building materials and construction technologies from the prehistoric period to the 20th century.
Price: £630.
Building Fabric & Function
Date: 29 August. 1 day per week over 4 weeks: 19 taught hours
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
Get an introduction to traditional Scottish building methods and materials, and learn how the elements of a building interact and function together as a whole.
Price: £315.
Use of Stone in Traditional Architecture
Date: 30 August. 15 days over 10 weeks: 55.5 taught hours.
Venue: The Engine Shed, Stirling, FK8 1QZ.
Explore how stone has been used as a vital element of Scotland’s historic built environment from prehistoric times to the present day.
Price: £1,230
CPD / Seminar: History and Conservation of Ceramic Tiles
Date: Thursday 27th September 2018 | 10.00-1.30pm.
Venue: Kelvin Hall, Glasgow.
This half day event will focus on the history and conservation of ceramic tiles with particular reference to Glasgow. The session will include a look at the history of tile design together with practical examples of tile repair methods and conservation projects.
Vacancies
Intern Project Officer
Royal Town Planning Institute are looking for a motivated person who can use evidence gathering and collaborative skills to support our ongoing work influencing the Planning Bill, and work to develop new thinking that will inform a vision for Scotland’s built and natural environment in 2050. As context to this, enthusiasm to promote to a wide audience the value of an empowered and effective planning service will be required. You will be organised, have a degree level qualification in a relevant social science subject and have strong communication skills and an understanding of the current issues facing planners and the planning system.
Closing Date: 9am on Monday 13 August 2018.
Event Manager
Chartered Institute for Archaeologists are looking to recruit an Events Manager to manage our varied programme of conferences and events. The Events Manager will be responsible for the development, organisation, and marketing of the Chartered Institute’s programme of internal and external events and will work with senior staff to develop and improve these.
Closing date for applications is 5pm on Monday 20 August. Interviews are expected to take place in the week commencing 3 September.
Langholm Alliance for Action Facilitator (part time)
SURF is seeking a part-time Facilitator to support its Alliance for Action programme site of Langholm. Langholm is the newest site in SURF’s Alliance for Action initiative. The successful applicant will be responsible for helping to build on local demand for new economic opportunities, an enhanced tourism offer, and increased collaboration between local groups and initiatives in the Dumfries and Galloway town. SURF’s 2017-18 Alliance for Action feasibility study for Langholm established broad consensus on the town’s main strengths. These included its historical significance, a strong culture of community activity, and a high quality physical and natural environment. It also highlighted significant social and economic challenges.
The closing date for applications is Monday 20 August.
Skills Training Officer
Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust is a charity established in 1988 with the aim of conserving and promoting archaeology and architectural heritage in Perth and Kinross for the benefit of residents, visitors and future generations. Our Strategic Plan 2017-22 identifies ‘supporting the sectoral skills base through delivering skills training’ as a key priority. We wish to appoint a conservation professional on a one-year fixed-term basis to help us deliver our existing skills training projects, including boat building, traditional building skills training and an archaeology field school, and to lead on the development of a project plan and funding package for a 3-year training programme to run from 2020-22.
The closing date for applications is 17:00 on Friday 31 August 2018