BEFS Bulletin – Talking About Heritage

Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications, Consultations And More.

BEFS News

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has published updated results of a follow up survey scoping the impacts of COVID-19 on the country’s historic environment sector. Key findings from the latest survey show the most common effects on the heritage sector were again loss of revenue, with 70% of respondents citing this; while 65% of those surveyed noted postponement/cancellation of planned income-generation or marketing events having the biggest impact on their operation. 63% of respondents also listed loss or postponement of work due to the ongoing pandemic. More details here.

In response to the issues and challenges facing the sector, and to support COVID-19 recovery activity, Make Your Mark working group is proposing a Community Heritage Volunteer Recruitment Campaign and HES would like your views on it. Make Your Markis a sector-led campaign currently under development which will aim to increase the number and diversity of heritage volunteers in Scotland. Further information about the campaign can be found via the link to the survey here.

Applications are now open to the NLHF-funded Business Support Programme, ‘Surviving to Thriving’ – developed by Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) and partners – with applications due by noon, 3 December.

The Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders Archaeology Conference has just launched its programme for 21st November.

Tonight at 6pm, HES are Talking About Heritage in relation to the current consultation, still time to book your place.

Finally, we have updated our COVID-19 Funding Advice page with recent developments.

Opened 7 Oct 2020 and closes 30 Nov 2020.

Community Heritage Volunteer Recruitment Campaign
Opened 14 Oct 2020 and closes 15 Nov 2020.

Emerging from lockdown survey – Museums Galleries Scotland

H2020 SHERPA project welcomes your opinions on the challenges, opportunities and vision for rural areas of Scotland to 2040.

Proposed Changes to Pre-Application Consultation Requirements in Planning
Closes 6 Nov 2020.

Island Communities Impact Assessments Guidance and Toolkit
Closes 9 Nov 2020.

Programme for Reviewing and Extending Permitted Development Rights (PDR) in Scotland – Consultation on Phase 1 Proposals
Closes 12 Nov 2020.

Draft Infrastructure Investment Plan – 2021-22 to 2025-26
Closes 19 Nov 2020.

Fair Rents (Scotland) Bill
Closes 7 Dec 2020.

HES – Talking About Heritage
Closes 15 Dec 2020.

Publications

Supporting flagship cultural venues (SG 24/10/20)
Three flagship venues will receive funding as part of the ongoing emergency coronavirus (COVID-19) support for cultural and heritage organisations.Proposals for tourism recovery (SG 23/10/20)
The Scottish Tourism Recovery Taskforce has published its recommendations for supporting the sector’s recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.Grants for businesses (SG 23/10/20)
Details of grants available to businesses as part of Scotland’s refreshed strategic approach to suppressing coronavirus (COVID-19) have been published.

News Releases

Unique underwater discovery of medieval Scottish bridge (HES 29/10/20)

One of the most important structures of medieval Scotland has been rediscovered after being hidden beneath the waters of the River Teviot for centuries.Celebrating Archaeology in Scotland 2020 Launch! (AS 27/10/20)
We are proud to present ‘Celebrating Archaeology in Scotland 2020’, the third issue of our report on the delivery of Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy.The circular economy in numbers (RICS 21/10/20)
Construction materials and the building sector are responsible for more than one-third of global resource consumption. Modus crunches the numbers on the challenge the construction industry has to become more circular.

New Future Leaders’ Forum to transform skills in the built environment (SCN 19/10/20)
Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) is calling on early career professionals and students with drive, ambition and determination to join a new Built Environment Future Leaders’ Forum.

Black History Month (HES 10/20)
Throughout October, we’re celebrating the achievements of inspirational people and sharing the stories history books often forgot or intentionally wrote out.

Opinion & Comment

Structures of Oppression (AT 10/20)

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-32766: Andy Wightman, Lothian, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 26/10/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what specific steps it has taken to inform homeowners of the changes introduced by the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (Tolerable Standard) (Extension of Criteria) Order 2019 since January 2019, and when it took these steps.

Parliamentary Questions and Answers

Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Government in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.

Question S5W-32143: Oliver Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 29/09/2020
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its Programme for Government advising that plans for the Transient Visitor Levy have been put on hold due to COVID-19, and that “future consideration of the levy will take account of the changed context the industry is operating in”, for what reason a similar approach was not extended to its proposals on short-term let regulation.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (14/10/2020)

Question S5W-32142: Oliver Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 29/09/2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered piloting its proposed short-term let regulations before implementation.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (14/10/2020)

Question S5W-32140: Oliver Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 29/09/2020
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its short-term let consultation document makes no reference to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism sector.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (14/10/2020)

Question S5W-32139: Oliver Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 29/09/2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a business regulatory impact assessment to accompany its plans to introduce short-term let licensing and planning control areas.
Answered by Kevin Stewart (14/10/2020)

Motions

Putting Artists In The Picture: A Sustainable Arts Funding System For Scotland

Events

For the latest information about BEFS Members’ events see our events calendar.

Festival of Place
Date & time: 2 – 13 November 2020.
Online.
Festival of Place presents an exciting season of inspiring talks and dynamic workshops for city-shapers, placemakers, planners, developers, architects and investors. Shape your own learning across two weeks of keynote speeches, think-ins, masterclasses, case studies and placehacks about how to design and develop places where people thrive; putting citizens first. Come together with international urban shapers in our social lounge to question, challenge and learn.

Partners in Planning Online Conference: Working with Climate Change in Mind
Dates & times: 9th – 13th November at 4pm.
Webinars.
Partners in Planning invite you to attend this online conference looking at at how planners can work together to support the climate change agenda. Over the course of the week there will be a one hour session each afternoon looking at different aspects of the impact planning can have on our environment. Please see the outline agenda below for further details of each afternoons topics. This conference is free, we welcome all built environment professionals and students to join us in the discussion.

Why Are Tenements Tiled?
Date & time: Thursday 12th November 2020 | 6pm.
Zoom event.
Tenement flats have provided homes to Glaswegians for almost two centuries. Join GCHT and conservation consultant Darren McLean for a fascinating evening lecture, which will explore ‘wally tiles’ and their history. Some tiles are now in poor condition, while others are near pristine, yet they all make a statement about the time that they were installed. This talk will cover not only tiles within the common areas of tenements but also complimentary element such as glass and metal. With stunning pictures, case studies and expert knowledge from Darren, this surely an event not to be missed by tenement tile enthusiasts!

Scotland’s Community Heritage Conversations 2020-21: Celebrating Resilience
Date & time: Sat, 14 November 2020; 10:00 – 12:30.
Online Event.
Our first Conversation will be a half-day event on the morning of Saturday 14th November, under the banner ‘Celebrating Resilience’, and we have invited speakers from community groups who have pushed forward with their projects during this oh-so-challenging year, and have ambitions for the immediate future. With your help, we will be creating a memorable day of talks through hearing from you all about your involvement with community heritage in testing times.If you seek a monument, gaze around
Date & time: Thu, 26 November 2020; 18:00 – 19:00.
Online Event.
Sculptors and experts share and discuss the city’s outstanding monuments and public art. Special guests include sculptor Alexander Stoddart. Edinburgh World Heritage autumn 2020 programme. Great sculptors have lived and worked in Edinburgh for centuries, and the city has one of the finest collection of public monuments of any city. In this live event, our panel will talk about their favourite Edinburgh sculpture, and discuss whether the city’s monuments present an incomplete and outdated version of the past. Special guests include sculptor Alexander Stoddart, the Queen’s Sculptor in Ordinary in Scotland, Director of Edinburgh Art Festival Sorcha Carey and more.

Training

CPD: The Sustainable Renovation Guide with Chris Morgan

Date & time: Wednesday 11th November 2020 | 12.30-1.30pm.
Zoom Meeting
The ‘Sustainable Renovation Guide’, created by Chris Morgan in association with SEDA and The Pebble Trust, describes ten ways in which those involved in the retrofit and renovation of Scotland’s homes can improve upon current practice, achieving better energy performance while simultaneously gaining wider sustainability benefits. GCHT is delighted to collaborate with Chris to present this CPD, which will be of interest to anyone working with existing buildings, from those working in government, housing associations and councils, as well as architects, surveyors, builders and those wanting to refurbish their own homes. This CPD will include detailed information and drawings of exactly how parts of a building can be upgraded along with a commentary on practical issues to look out for, and why our guidance differs from most conventional wisdom on the subject.
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