BEFS Bulletin – Coming Up in 2019

BEFS News

Many will have picked up the news that the Heritage Lottery Fund has rebranded as the National Lottery Heritage Fund, as part of its Strategic Funding Framework 2019-24. There are further details in the News Release section below and they are holding open workshops in West Lothian, Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow, Inverness and Dundee over the next few months. Places are free but limited so booking is necessary.

You can still register to attend our Prioritisation & the Historic Environment Event at The Scottish Story Telling Centre on Monday 25 February. Discover more about our findings from the December workshop on the heritage sector and hear an update on how it complements the Our Place in Time – Built Heritage Investment Plan Group.

HES currently has 2 consultations running, covering four policy and managing change documents. BEFS has already held a workshop to gather Member views but, as ever, we encourage all organisations and individuals to form their own Consultation responses with further detail relating to their areas of knowledge and expertise.

The first, covers both Demolition and the Adaptation of Listed Buildings documents and closes at 6pm on Friday 15th February.

The second, covers Designations and Scheduled Monument Policy  and this closes on Tuesday 19th February.

There is also still time to contribute to the cross-party Scottish Parliamentary Working Group on Tenement Maintenance’s Consultation. Your responses are required by 27 February 2019; full details of the interim recommendations and how to respond can be found here.

Finally, don’t miss out on the range of upcoming events and training featured below.

Consultations

Valuation of Development Land (RICS)
Help shape valuation surveyors’ day to day work
Opened: 7 January 2019. Closes: 18 February 2019

Reinvigorating Commonhold: the alternative to leasehold ownership (Law Commission)
Opened: 10 December 2018. Closes: 10 March 2019

Consultation Responses

Scotland’s Forestry Strategy – 2019-2029 (SG 06/02/19)

Publications

Cultural Cities (CC 05/02/19)

Annual Cities Outlook Report (CFC 28/01/19)

Building Beautiful (PE 28/01/19)

Inform Guide: Damp Gables (Engine Shed 15/01/19)

Scottish Government News Releases

Action Against Flooding (SG 06/02/19)
Communities across Scotland to benefit from more than £700,000 additional funding to improve flood protection.

Compulsory Purchase in Scotland: A guide for property owners and occupiers (SG 04/02/19)
Guidance for property owners and occupiers who believe they may be affected by a Compulsory Purchase project.

New Fire Safety Standards for Scottish Homes (SG 01/02/19)
New rules to reduce deaths in household fires, with improved standards introduced for fire and smoke alarms in Scottish homes.

High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013 – Revised Guidance to Local Authorities 2019 (SG 31/01/19)
Revised guidance, following discussions with local authorities and interest groups, updating the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013 and addressing problems caused by high hedges.

Planning Application Decision Times Published (SG 29/01/19)
Statistics on quarterly planning performance, detailing number of planning applications decided across Scotland and average decision times for most types of application, including housing.

More Homes for Scotland (SG 25/01/19)
Funding increase assisting the drive to increase the supply of affordable homes via the 2019/20 Scottish Budget.

News Releases

Scottish Land Commission champions engagement process for successful land management (SLC 31/01/19)
Launch of new Protocol and toolkit setting out practical advice on how landowners, land managers and communities can work together to make better – and fairer – decisions about land use.

Heritage Alliance Travel Grant (IHBC 31/01/19)
The Heritage Alliance, with support from the British Council, is offering travel grants to support UK heritage professionals to develop mutually beneficial international projects and partnerships for their organisations. Apply here
Deadline: 5pm, Friday 15 February. Travel must be completed by 1 November 2019.

Scottish led project to be part of CACHE knowledge exchange funded projects (Cache 30/01/19)
University of Stirling project concerning Tenant Participation in the Private Rented Sector is one of five projects being funded.

New-look National Lottery Heritage Fund unveils plans for the next five years (HF 30/01/19)
A major devolution of decision-making across the whole of the UK is at the heart of new plans to distribute more than £1billion of National Lottery money to the UK’s heritage over next five years.

Heritage Alliance opens survey estimating Brexit impacts on heritage employees (IHBC 29/01/19)
The Heritage Alliance is calling on sector bodies to complete, share & retweet its 5-minute survey on EU Workers to help understand how Brexit will affect heritage sector employees.

Scotland’s Towns Partnership’s Funding Finder (STP 29/01/19)
The Funding Finder is the go-to place to source potential funding. Comprising nine categories, the Finder provides easy to read information on current funding streams, highlighting announcements of new funds and application deadlines. Download the January 2019 Funding Finder for more details.

2020 World Monuments Watch (WMF 29/01/19)
Nominations have opened for the 2020 World Monuments Watch. 25 sites from around the world in need of urgent action will be partnered with local stakeholders to design and implement targeted activities—including advocacy, planning, education, and conservation interventions in the historic built environment.
Deadline: 5pm, 1 March 2019

Social housing and green infrastructure design fund launched (GSS 28/01/19)
An opportunity for a path-finding social housing provider to access a package of financial and design support, helping to deliver an innovative social housing development and maximising the benefits of the vegetated land and water within and around housing sites.

Design Council launches Inclusive Environments CPD (DC 28/01/19)
Launch of a course for built environment professionals, providing them with an increased understanding and knowledge of inclusive design as standard practice at a national level.

My Place Awards and My Place Photography Competition (SCT 28/01/19)
The My Place Awards celebrate buildings, landscape, public realm and civic projects that have had a positive impact in local neighbourhoods, and delivered tangible benefits for communities.
Deadline: 22 February 2019

Funding announced for new collaborative centre for cultural value (AHRC)
The Arts and Humanities Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation, has announced new funding for the creation of a collaborative Centre for Cultural Value, the first of its kind in the UK.

Opinion & Comment

Ministers reject plans for £450m Loudoun Castle resort (BBC 07/02/19)

How private landlords are destroying our tenements (SHN 05/02/19)

Community Engagement in decisions relating to land (SLC 05/02/19)

Prince Charles could ditch Scottish Eco-Village (TFN 04/02/19)

Leith Walk Development Campaign – latest (TER 30/01/19)

Holmhead Stone Circle: A Megalithic Mistake (HES 28/01/19)

A wider perspective on the planning bill: why we are where we are with planning – Dr Andy Inch (PD 27/01/19)

Political uncertainty ‘takes toll’ on building activity (RICS 24/01/19)

Edinburgh Council could buy your tenement flat and rent it back – to get it fixed (EEN 24/01/19)

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-21388: Oliver Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 04/02/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what help it offers to communities that are seeking to (a) improve the appearance of buildings that are considered to be “eyesores” and (b) bring derelict buildings back to use.
Expected Answer date 04/03/2019

Question S5W-21336: Gail Ross, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 30/01/2019
To ask the Scottish Government how complete the Scottish Land Register is.
Expected Answer date 27/02/2019

Question S5W-21277: Kezia Dugdale, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29/01/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding the banning of most domestic wood burning stoves by 2022, in light of plans by the UK Government to do so.
Expected Answer date 26/02/2019

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-21030: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16/01/2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is responsible for the protection and enhancement of the country’s historic environment.
Answered by Fiona Hyslop (28/01/2019)

Question S5W-21031: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16/01/2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether Historic Environment Scotland, as a statutory consultee in the A9 dualling project, is responsible for the protection and enhancement of the (a) historic environment and (b) inventory battlefield at Killiecrankie.
Answered by Fiona Hyslop (28/01/2019)

Question S5W-21032: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16/01/2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it conferred sufficient power on Historic Environment Scotland to be able to protect and enhance the (a) historic environment and (b) inventory battlefield at Killiecrankie.
Answered by Fiona Hyslop (28/01/2019)

Question S5W-20978: Bill Bowman, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 14/01/2019
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Retail Consortium’s call for local authorities to be able to use a portion of the town centres fund for reducing non-domestic rates.
Answered by Derek Mackay (23/01/2019)

Question S5W-20977: Bill Bowman, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 14/01/2019
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish details of its proposed town centres fund, and what its position is on the Scottish Retail Consortium’s call for business improvement districts and other organisations to be eligible to bid for funding.
Holding Answer issued by Derek Mackay (28/01/2019)

Other Parliamentary Activity

Motions: Graham Simpson: Housing Through the Lens of Ageing (17/01/19)

Debates: Housing through the Lens of Ageing (29/01/19)

Events

AF2019 February Meet-up – Inverness
Date & time: Saturday 9 February; 10:15 (10:30 start) – 13:00
Venue: The Bike Shed, 21D Grant Street, Inverness IV3 8BN
Join the first Architecture Fringe meet-up in the North of Scotland!
These free-to-attend meet-ups are very laid back and are open to anyone considering taking part in or contributing to the Architecture Fringe 2019 Open Programme. The Open Programme is a non-curated platform for self-directed projects, exhibitions, events and happenings. The meet-ups are an opportunity for you to hear more about the Architecture Fringe itself, to share your project thoughts and ideas, get feedback and meet new people. The meet-ups are analogue so just bring ideas or images to stick up on the wall. Open to all, free to attend. A lovely way to spend a Saturday morning!

The State Funeral and Heraldry of Mary Queen of Scots
Date & time: Monday 11 February (18:00-19:00) in Edinburgh, Tuesday 12 February (19:30-20:30) in Aberdeen.
Venue: Monday in the National Museum Scotland auditorium, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF (use Lothian Street entrance); Tuesday in the Regent Building Lecture Theatre, Regent Walk, Aberdeen, AB24 3FX.
Lecture by John Malden FSA Scot, President Heraldry Society of Scotland Royal Heraldry.

Preserving and Interpreting the Berlin Wall in a World of New Walls
Date & time: Wednesday 13 February; 18:00 (£6 – booking via website)
Venue: The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling, FK8 1QZ
The Berlin Wall was the Icon of the Cold War, symbolising a divided world until its political fall in November 1989. Today, not much is left of the world famous155km structure. Thanks to efforts initiated in December 1989, seven sections of the Wall and other border installations were listed and officially designated Historic Monuments by 1992. Today, the Berlin Wall Foundation is responsible for four prominent sites with a total of approximately 4 Million visitors a year. How are these precious physical remains being treated? What stories are being told, and what does the Berlin Wall stand for today?

Tackling Flooding Together
Date & time: Saturday 16 February; 10:30-14:30
Venue: The National Christian Outreach Centre, Riggs Road, Perth PH1 1PR
The Scottish Flood Forum (SFF) is holding another of its successful community networking events with support from Floodre who are engaging with flood risk communities across Britain as part of their transition plan. This community focussed event will give people the opportunity to share experience and discuss what we can do to tackle flooding together in a mutually supportive environment, so come along and give your views.

Heritage Trust Network Event: Scotland Members’ Meeting – Dundee
Date & time: Monday 18 February; 10:00-15:00
Venue: Dundee Central Baptist Church
Join us for our quarterly members’ meeting, to hear key speakers and build your contacts within Scotland’s network of Building Preservation Trusts and Community Groups involved in the rescue of historic buildings. This meeting will focus on the new National Lottery Heritage Fund (former Heritage Lottery Fund) and will offer the chance to hear all about the new funding streams available and ask any questions. Non-members are welcome to attend their first meeting without joining up, Attendance is free.

Highlands’ Heritage Hooley
Date & time: Tuesday 19 February; 18:00-20:00
Venue: Inverness Town House, High Street, Inverness IV1 1JJ
Join us for some lively conversation about what’s happening in Scottish heritage in a beautiful setting with music and refreshments. We’re inviting groups involved with the built environment to learn from each other’s experiences and build up local connections, with the opportunity to pick the brains of the sector’s major stakeholders. Representatives from Historic Environment Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund, the Architectural Heritage Fund and the Heritage Trust Network, as well as local authorities, will all be there to answer your burning questions over a glass of something cheering in deepest darkest February.

Transforming Transport – Getting from A to EV
Date & time: Thursday 21 February, 14:00
Venue: The Studio, Level 9, 67 Hope Street, Glasgow, G2 6AE
From operators of energy assets, electricity networks to those working in transport, infrastructure and smart technology, this is a must attend event for anybody concerned with the detail surrounding the decarbonisation of our transport fleet. This event boasts speakers at the forefront of the transport transition – and is an excellent opportunity to learn about practical challenges and commercial opportunities delivering low-carbon transport will bring.

Central Belt Heritage Hooley
Date & time: Tuesday 26 February; 18:00-20:00
Venue: Linlithgow Burgh Halls, Linlithgow, EH49 7AH
Join us for some lively conversation about what’s happening in Scottish heritage in a beautiful setting with music and refreshments. We’re inviting groups involved with the built environment to learn from each other’s experiences and build up local connections, with the opportunity to pick the brains of the sector’s major stakeholders. Representatives from Historic Environment Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund, the Architectural Heritage Fund and the Heritage Trust Network, as well as local authorities, will all be there to answer your burning questions over a glass of something cheering in deepest darkest February.

Talks at the Lane present Colm Moore on Temporal Architecture
Date & time: Thursday 28 February; 18:30
Venue: Custom Lane, 1 Customs Wharf, Leith EH6 6AL
Custom Lane invites you to join Colm Moore of Clancy Moore Architects to discuss their practice as part of the Talks at the Lane series.
Colm Moore is a partner of Dublin based architecture practice Clancy Moore. Established with Andrew Clancy in 2008, the practice works across Ireland and Europe seeking to understand ‘context‘ the fullest sense of the word – physical, historical, social, legislative and economic.
Since 2008 the practice has been the recipient of a number of national and international awards including the 2012 AAI Downes Medal for excellence in architectural design. In 2015 the practice was one of four emerging Irish practices involved in the London Festival of Architecture. Then in 2018, they were presented with the accolade of BD Young Architect of the Year. The practices work has been published and exhibited worldwide.
This talk follow on from Izat Arundell & Collaborators, Rural Office for Architecture and STUDIO NIRO.
Booking Details

Archaeological Science: looking to the future
Dates & times: Monday 11 March; 18:00-19:00 in Edinburgh & Tuesday 12 March; 19.00-20.00 in Lerwick.
Venues: Monday in the National Museum Scotland auditorium, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF (use Lothian Street entrance); Tuesday in the Shetland Museum and Archives, Hay’s Dock, Lerwick, ZE1 0WP.
Lecture given by Dr Lisa Brown FSA Scot MCIfA, Archaeological Science Manager at Historic Environment Scotland.

Planning for Low Carbon Heat
Date & time: Tuesday 12 March; 10:00 – 16:00
Venue: Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2JL
The way we heat our buildings is going to change dramatically in the coming years. The new Planning (Scotland) Bill, Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and district heating regulations will have a significant impact on how planning approaches energy and place, with the potential to improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions and create new, local economic opportunities.
Zero Waste Scotland is hosting a free workshop to help planners understand more about the changing policy landscape and how these changes might be addressed in practice. The session is free for all planning professionals, whether in the public or private sector.

RICS CPD Day, Dunblane
Date & time: Thursday 14 March; 08:30 – 17:10
Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro, Perth Rd, Dunblane, FK15 0HG
Join RICS CPD Day, Dunblane to 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. The conference offers a choice of 18 breakout sessions to allow you to tailor the day specifically to your personal CPD needs, network with colleagues and peers in your region and put your questions to leading experts in their field.

RTPI Scotland Young Planners Conference 2019
Date & time: Wednesday 20 March; 09:00–17:30
Venue: Apex Hotel, Dundee
Our 2019 Young Planners’ Network conference takes place in the beautiful city of Dundee. This year we will be looking at how young planners can ‘deliver great places now and for the future’. A jam-packed line up with some of the most esteemed built environment professionals in the country will be complemented by afternoon workshops, helping improve and refine skills critical for your development as a professional planner. We are expecting another sell-out event so don’t delay and book tickets today.

Our Past, Our Future: Young People & Heritage
Date & time: Wednesday 27 March; 09:30-17:00
Venue: AK Bell Library, Perth
This one-day conference at the AK Bell Library in Perth will bring together a range of speakers to share their experiences working on different heritage engagement projects across Scotland. We will reflect upon activities undertaken during the Year of Young People (2018) and explore how best to support young people’s interest in the past as they become the heritage caretakers of the future. The keynote address will be given by Dr Jeff Sanders who has delivered high-profile projects for the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, including the successful Dig It! engagement programme since 2015.

Training

Conservation of Timberwork
Dates: Monday 18 February – Tuesday 26 March 2019 (5 days)
Venue: Forth Valley College, Stirling
Timber is one of Scotland’s most significant building materials.  It has a rich history from cruck frame houses to decorative internal timbers, and is used across a range of building features. This course will provide an introduction to the essential biology of timber used in Scotland over the centuries, and will trace its sources, from early early samples of Scots origin to imports from the Baltic states and North America.
Examine timber’s physical properties, its natural weathering and decay processes, and its resilience to man-made damage or interference. You will learn about the complex issues surrounding decay caused by wet and dry rots, and current best practice methods to remove and prevent fungal problems in timber.
You will learn current conservation principles and how to undertake appropriate repairs, from an initial survey, through to specification, procurement and on-site repair of existing or installation of new material – all according to best current principles of best conservation practice.
Cost: £420.

Historic Concrete and Cements Conservation
Dates: Monday 19 February – Tuesday 26 March (5 days, TBC)
Venue: Forth Valley College, Stirling
Examine the relatively recent traditions of cement, gypsum and lime concrete construction in Scotland’s in Scotland’s built environment, and the practical conservation issue surrounding this important traditional building material.
This course will give an overview of the development and use of concrete since the 18th century and the manufacture of its most common forms. You will discover the wide range of structures built using this material across Scotland, from lighthouses and viaducts, to houses and office blocks.
You will also learn about the practical challenges faced in repairing and conserving historic concrete structures. Discover the appropriate methods of surveying historic concrete structures, diagnosing defects and the urgency and practicality of repairs or treatment. You will also learn how to devise specifications for repairs using appropriate and sustainable materials, safe work practices and working with contractors with the necessary expertise.
Cost: £405.

Drystone Walling
Date: Saturday 2 March, 09:30 – 4:30
Venue: Merryhill Training Centre, Fife KY11 3DR
Have you always wanted to try drystone walling? Would you like to add to your skills set? Why not join us for this one day workshop aimed at those who would like to learn the basics of dry stone walling to be able to undertake their own projects. During the course you will construct a new drystone wall and also gain the techniques needed to repair existing structures.

Dates: Monday 4 March – Monday 3 June; 09:00 – 17:00
Venue: RICS, 125 Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4AD
Gain status in the market as a qualified expert witness
This 12-week blended learning programme designed to give you a sound knowledge of the law and best practice. Practically orientated and founded on the official RICS Professional Guidance, this course will ensure you develop the core competencies needed to be an effective expert witness.
What are the core competencies?
•    Managing the appointment
•    Managing the post appointment process
•    Constructing a comprehensive expert report
•    Cooperating productively with other experts
•    Delivering effective expert evidence in court
CTA:

Repairing Traditional Masonry P1 – Professional Level 1  
Dates: Tuesday 5 – Wednesday 6 March
Venue: Charlestown Workshops, Fife KY11 3EN
This is our most popular 2 day workshop for building professionals and provides an introduction to the effective conservation and repair of traditional masonry structures and buildings, for the most part using traditional lime based mortars.
By the end of the course attendees will be able to recognise vernacular and historic finishes to masonry buildings and will gain an understanding of building diagnostics in order to be able to develop specifications in relation to exposure, season, substrates and the nature of masonry repairs required.

Making & Using Hot Mixed Lime Mortars
Date: Friday 8 March
Venue: Merryhill Training Centre, Fife KY11 3DR
This one day workshop aims to provide an introductory guide to the preparation and use of ‘hot mixed’ lime mortars, that is, mortars prepared by slaking quicklime, sand and natural hydraulic lime binders (and possibly other additives like tallow or pozzolans) to more closely mimic the appearance and technical performance of conservation mortars and in some cases offer advantages in use and technical performance over more conventional ‘cold mortars’. More and more clients and specifiers are asking building contractors to make and use ‘hot mixed’ mortars on their repair jobs, so get ahead of the game and brush up your knowledge and skills with us.

Vacancies

Prince’s Foundation Building Craft Programme
Applications are now open for the Prince’s Foundation Building Craft Programme, where you will work with a wide range of building crafts and expert craftspeople to take your skills to the next level.
The Foundation believe it is crucial to preserve these valuable skills, which are gradually being lost as the average age of workers in the Historic Buildings sector approaches retirement age. The course is designed for craftspeople looking to bridge the gap between basic qualifications and becoming a master craftsperson working in the heritage sector.
Deadline: Friday 1 March 

BACK