BEFS Bulletin 369: New resources, spring activity, and an approved Scottish Budget

Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations

BEFS NEWS

Yesterday Parliament approved the 2025-26 Scottish Budget. The SNP’s spending plans were supported by the Liberal Democrats, Scottish Greens, and Alba, with Labour abstaining. The budget includes more than £15 billion for local councils with a focus on affordable housing and the Heat in Buildings programme, as well as a commitment to increased support for the arts and culture.

The National Planning Improvement Team, working closely with 10 planning authorities from across Scotland, has completed the first cohort of the pilot of the National Planning Improvement Framework (NPIF), with each authority’s Improvement Action Plan and Performance Assessment Report sent to the authority’s Chief Executive and to Ministers. You can read the Improvement Action Plans and Performance Assessment Reports on the Improvement Service website.

In case you missed it – Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has launched a new resource, providing access to its collections, archives, images and information. Trove.scot unlocks millions of records online, spanning 5,000 years of history. Browse images of designated buildings, archive photography, objects held at HES Properties in Care – or explore the past of your local area!

Studies in Photography has issued a call for papers for their upcoming conference: Shifting Perspectives: Scotland’s Urban Architecture Through the Lens. The event will take place on 20 May 2025 in The Engine Shed, Stirling and is supported by Historic Environment Scotland, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Scottish Council on Archives. Academics, students, architects, photographers, and cultural historians will gather to discuss how photography influences not only the perception of Scotland’s built environment but also the way our modern towns and cities are planned and designed. More information can be found here.

News from the BEFS desk – BEFS Team are delighted to formally welcome Derek Rankine, BEFS new Head of Policy and Strategy, into post – to say hello or to find out more about our strategic advocacy plans across the built environment policy landscape feel free to get in touch!

A reminder that BEFS is welcoming applications for BEFS Board of Trustees, with the deadline of Monday 10 March fast approaching! This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to BEFS development – applicants are not required to have previous board level experience but should have a passion for the historic and existing built environment. If you have any questions about the role BEFS Director will be very happy to have a chat! Contact hjohnson@befs.org.uk.

And finally, a flurry of online activity – BEFS Members RTPI Scotland and The Cockburn Association have recently set up a new presence on LinkedIn. For more information on BEFS Membership visit our website.

 

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Please see our Link to Parliamentary Questions and Answers for recent questions regarding cladding remediation, the Land Reform Bill and energy efficiency.

 

CONSULTATIONS

Building regulations – proposed review of fire safety topics
Scottish Government
The purpose of this review is to consider changes to the standards and processes set within The Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (as amended) and other published guidance documents to improve provisions addressing fire safety. This consultation seeks to obtain the views and opinions of stakeholders on a review of building standards relating to the fire safety of historic buildings converted for hotel use and several other specific fire safety issues, to help ensure the safety of people in and around Scotland’s buildings. The Building and Fire Safety Expert Working Group was created to look at the long-term commitments outlined within the Cameron House Hotel SLWG Report and to review other aspects of Scottish Building Standards and fire safety guidance. This consultation reflects the outcomes and proposals of the Expert Working Group. Information on the review process to date, including minutes of the building and fire safety expert panel meetings, can be found here.
Closes 7 March 2025

Scottish Government’s Fourth National Planning Framework
Scottish Parliament
Following the Committee’s first annual review of NPF4, concerns were raised about local authority capacity to deliver the priorities set out in the spatial strategy and key policy goals. Since then, the Scottish Government has published a summary of responses to the consultation: Investing in Planning – A consultation on resourcing Scotland’s planning system. Ahead of their second annual progress review, the Committee is seeking views on the implementation of NPF4 and the progress made on this in the last year.
Closes 7 March 2025

Rural Delivery Plan: vision, strategic objectives and key performance indicators
Scottish Government
The Rural Delivery Plan will introduce, for the first time, a vision for rural Scotland, underpinned by a series of strategic objectives and key performance indicators which articulate where the government want to get to, how to plan to get there, and assess the impact of their ongoing efforts. The Scottish Government wants to work together with rural communities, businesses and stakeholders so that the vision, strategic objectives and indicators are informed by the views of those living and working in rural Scotland, to the greatest extent possible. The draft vision and strategic objectives have been built from previous work, such as the National Council of Rural Advisors (NCRA) recommendations and the outcomes from the Scottish Rural and Islands Parliament in 2021 and 2023. This survey gives everyone who has interest in rural Scotland a chance to share their views and to help shape the Rural Delivery Plan.
*NEW* Closes 17 March 2025

Industrial transition in Scotland
UK Parliament
The Scottish Affairs Committee is examining the socio-economic impact of industrial transition on communities. This inquiry examines the future of Scotland’s industrial landscape and the extent to which the UK Government’s forthcoming industrial strategy ‘Invest 2035’ is geared towards the challenges and opportunities facing Scotland today. The committee will also explore the future of Scotland’s industrial landscape and industrial change across a range of industries in Scotland, including growth-sectors like clean energy, carbon capture, space, data technology and gaming. The committee welcomes written evidence submissions on some or all of the questions which include: How can the UK Government achieve its objective of an industrial strategy with a ‘place-based approach’? How will the UK Government’s approach cohere with the Scottish Government’s economic plans, including its Green Industrial Strategy and National Strategy for Economic Transformation?
 *NEW* Closes 27 March 2025

Scottish Energy Performance Certificate Register Lodgement Fees and Penalty Charges
Scottish Government
This technical consultation builds upon previous Scottish Government consultations on EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) Reform in 2021 and 2023. The Scottish Government has issued its response to the 2023 consultation in January 2025, which sets out the final decisions on EPC Reform prior to laying new EPC Regulations in Parliament later during 2025. The Government plan to bring the new Regulations into force in the second half of 2026, to align with the introduction of the UK Home Energy Model Calculation Methodology. The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. You may find it useful to read or refer to while responding.
*NEW* Closes 28 March 2025

Cities in Placemaking 2025-2026
Placemaking Europe
This programme is a peer-to-peer learning experience for cities, designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to Placemaking, its application in the context of urban governance, and its implications for long-term systemic change. The goal is to create a collaborative effort that benefits from a wide range of perspectives, through interactive, participatory, and experiential learning, with a practical focus on the importance of Placemaking as a city-level strategy.
Closes 31 March 2025

Giving Voices to Historic Property Owners
Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture & City of Edinburgh Council
This University of Edinburgh project aims to understand what specific aspects of the Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas planning guidance (Consultation Draft 2024) require further clarification, and to explore possible improvements that will make the guidance more practical and accessible for historic homeowners. This project focuses on improving the clarity of the guidance document and making the content more accessible to all and is currently recruiting focus group and workshop participants for the project. Participants must be owner-occupiers of listed buildings and properties in a conservation area in Edinburgh.
Closes May 2025

Climate change duties – draft statutory guidance for public bodies: consultation
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is gathering views to help inform new Statutory Guidance for public bodies, to support them in putting the climate change duties into practice. The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (‘the 2009 Act’) places duties on relevant public bodies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contribute to delivery of the Scottish National Adaptation Plan, and to act in the most sustainable way. These duties are known as the climate change duties, or the public bodies climate change duties. Under the 2009 Act, Scottish Ministers are required to provide public bodies with guidance, to support them in putting their climate change duties into practice. Statutory guidance was originally published in 2011 and now requires to be updated. This consultation seeks your views on new draft Statutory Guidance which has been developed for this purpose, and which will replace the 2011 guidance. The consultation paper contains a full draft of the proposed Statutory Guidance. The questions in this consultation are intended to gather your feedback on the content of the guidance. Please read or refer to the guidance while responding.
*NEW* Closes 23 May 2025

 

NEWS RELEASES

Unlock Scotland’s past with trove.scot (HES 13/02/2025)

Statement following confirmation of withdrawal of UK Levelling Up fund money (Perth & Kinross Council 18/02/2025)

Grants awarded to support projects by Heritage Development Trusts (AHF 20/02/2025)

 

PUBLICATIONS

SPAB Strategy 2025-2030 Summary (SPAB 20/01/2025)

Addressing the UK’s heritage skills crisis: why we must act now (The University of Manchester 23/01/2025)

IHBC Context 182: examines ‘heating and ventilation’ because ‘Is anything more important to historic building conservation’. (February 2025)

Institute for Public Policy Research: Strategic Planning for Green Prosperity (IPPR February 2025)

Land supply for housing in rural Scotland (CaCHE 11/02/2025)

Skills Mismatches in the UK’s Creative Industries Report (Creative Industries Evidence & Policy Centre 12/02/2025)

Scottish Budget: the overall fiscal and spending outlook (IFS 20/02/2025)

 

SCOTTISH & UK: GOVERNMENTAL & PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS

Public participation in policymaking: exploring and understanding impact (Scot Gov 10/02/2025)

Building and fire safety – ministerial working group: Grenfell inquiry phase 2 minutes: January 2025 (Scot Gov 11/02/2025)

Correspondence between Ian Murray and the Economy and Fair Work Committee regarding funding governance for the City Region and Growth Deal Programme in Scotland (UK Gov 11/02/2025)

Energy Performance Certificate reform – lodgement fees and penalty charges (Scot Gov 12/02/2025)

Energy Performance Certificate reform – lodgement fees and penalty charges: partial BRIA (Scot Gov 12/02/2025)

Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group: annual report 2024 (Scot Gov 13/02/2025)

Policy paper: Building new towns for the future (UK Gov 13/02/2025)

Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns (UK Gov 13/02/2025)

Climate adaption reporting fourth round: heritage (UK Gov 14/02/2025)

How is Scotland Performing? National Indicators in the National Performance Framework (SPICe 17/02/2025)

Understanding the Increase in Scotland’s Arts and Culture Budgets (SPICe 17/02/2025)

Correspondence between the John Muir Trust, Scottish Crofting Federation, the Foresight Group and Foresight Natural Capital division, Moray Estates, Scottish Environment LINK and Wildland and the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee regarding the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 17/02/2025)

UK Government to Invest £2.6 Million in V&A Dundee (UK Gov 17/02/2025)

Construction: Skilled Workers written question (House of Lords 18/02/2025)

Making improvements in Rent Pressure Zones: guidance for landlords (Scot Gov 18/02/2025)

Scottish Local Government Finance Statistics 2023-24 (Scot Gov 18/02/2025)

Daily list of amendments, Housing (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 18/02/2025)

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee Minutes (Scot Parl 18/02/2025)

Community Wealth Building Progress and Future Ambition Debate (Scot Parl 18/02/2025)

Local Government, Housing and Planning: Official Report and Minutes (Scot Parl 18/02/2025)

Campaign launched to highlight tenants’ rights (Scot Gov 19/02/2025)

Correspondence between the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee and Mairi Gougeon on issues related to the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill  (Scot Parl 19/02/2025)

Climate action: First Minister’s speech: Ensuring a just transition to net zero (Scot Gov 19/02/2025)

Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 19/02/2025)

Scotland’s Heat Network Fund: application guidance (Scot Gov 19/02/2025)

Economy and Fair Work Committee Official Report and Minutes (Scot Parl 19/02/2025)

Restoring Scotland’s natural environment (Scot Gov 20/02/2025)

Major investment to boost growth and cement Britain’s place as cultural powerhouse (UK Gov 20/02/2025)

Daily list of amendments, Housing (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 21/02/2025)

 

OPINION & COMMENT

Navigating AI – Why Heritage Can’t Do This Alone (HES 10/02/2025)

Architecture, Empowerment, and Conservation (SPAB 12/02/2025)

A gathering of change in Scotland’s parliament (CaCHE 17/02/2025)

Biggest council tax rises in 20 years confirmed (BBC News 19/02/2025)

More than 40% of Scots want more action on empty homes (Scottish Housing News 24/02/2025)

 

EVENTS

For further listings, please see BEFS events calendar

Glasgow City Heritage Trust/Under One Roof – Taking Care of Your Tenement
Date & Time: Saturday 1 March 2025; 11:30am-1pm
Location: Reidvale Neighbourhood Centre, 13 Whitevale Street, Glasgow G31 1QW
Glasgow City Heritage Trust and Under One Roof are hosting a free event for tenement owners, landlords and interested residents to learn about maintaining historic tenement flats. The session will cover maintenance, management, communal repairs, and guidance on undertaking works. Attendees will also learn about GCHT’s historic environment grants programme and funding eligibility.

SHSMG – Using Social Media as a Tool for Advocacy
Date & Time: Thursday 6 March 2025; 3-4pm
Location:  Online
Do you use social media to promote Scottish history, heritage, archaeology, museums or archives? The Scottish Heritage Social Media Group’s March event will focus on how to harness the power of social media to promote advocacy work. Malini Chakrabarty, BEFS Communications Lead, will discuss their experience using social media to advocate for causes within and outwith the heritage sector. They will offer tried-and-tested tips, share insights into what’s worked and what hasn’t, and discuss their approach to advocacy going forward in an ever-changing social media landscape. This online event will conclude with a Q&A session.

Adaptation Scotland – Climate Adaptation for the Construction and Built Environment Sector
Date & Time: Thursday 6 March 2025; 1:30-4:15pm
Location: Edinburgh Climate Change Institute, High School Yards, Edinburgh EH1 1LZ
The Adaptation Scotland programme provides advice and support to help Scottish businesses, public sector and communities be prepared and resilient to the effects of climate change. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by sustainability charity Verture. As part of the 2023-2025 Adaptation Scotland programme, the plan is to organise a workshop for the Construction and Built Environment sector to identify key climate risks and collaboratively develop sector-specific guidance on adaptation and resilience. Proposed workshop outline: Introduction; Climate Trends and Projections; Identifying climate risks to the Construction and Built Environment Sector in Scotland; Exploring practical adaptation solutions; Identifying economic opportunities from climate adaptation goods and services and identifying climate risks to the Construction and Built Environment Sector in Scotland.

Europa Nostra – Women4Heritage 2025 – Women in the lead. Building peace through heritage protection
Date & Time: Friday 7 March 2025; 2:30-4:15pm
Location: Online
On the eve of International Women’s Day, Europa Nostra invites women who are heritage leaders, practitioners, innovators, communicators and volunteers of all ages and from all countries to join their #Women4Heritage online event. Bringing together women championing efforts to protect endangered tangible and intangible heritage and advance peacebuilding, serving as role models in the field, the event will offer the audience the opportunity not only to listen to their inspiring stories, but to exchange with them directly during a challenging informal dialogue. Together, the event aims to share a powerful message in alignment with the theme of IWD 2025: “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”

AHSS Lecture – Rockville: James Gowans’ ‘Romantic Rationalist’ Masterpiece
Date & Time: Monday 10 March 2025; 6:30pm
Location: Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL (wheelchair accessible)
The Merchiston Pagoda, Tottering Towers, Crazy Manor, Sugar Loaf House – call it what you may, Rockville was one of the most notable buildings in Victorian Edinburgh and indeed Scotland. Andy Arthur looks at the history of this remarkable building and its builder, James Gowans, and shows how Rockville’s ornate, Gothic form hid a formulaic, rationalist approach to architecture that has much in common with the ideas of Le Corbusier. Tickets available in advance or on the door: £6 / students £2 / season ticket for all 5 lectures: £25

EDAS – Unlocking Inclusive Growth: Challenges and Opportunities in Regional Economic Partnerships
Date & Time: Tuesday 11 March 2025; 3-4:30pm
Location: Online
Set against a backdrop of the growing role of Regional Economic Partnerships (REPs) and regional delivery within Scottish Government, join EDAS for an insightful exploration of the challenges and opportunities faced by REPs in delivering economic development activities, with a focus on inclusive growth. The session will provide a deep dive into key areas such as housing, transport, skills, and repopulation or population issues, which are critical to the success of REPs. It will offer a holistic view by incorporating both rural and urban perspectives, providing attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the unique issues and opportunities across different regions. Engage in interactive discussions, share experiences, and learn from real-life case studies presented by experts and practitioners.

SHBT – Digital Space & Place: Is Heritage Over?
Date & Time: Wednesday 12 March; 6-7:30pm
Location: Riddle’s Court, 322 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2PG
When shouldn’t we conserve buildings? In each session of our series of conversations, professionals and thinkers from Scotland and beyond have debated questions designed to challenge the practices of conservation, and to interrogate the assumptions that underly them. Challenging Conservation concludes with a discussion asking how we approach the most difficult decisions of all: what, and when, we choose not to restore.

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland – March Lecture: ‘Ethnogenesis and Kingship AD300-900’
Date & Time: Thursday 13 March 2025; 6-8pm
Location: Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL (wheelchair accessible)
This lecture will draw on over ten years of excavations and survey in Northeast Scotland to posit a new model for the development of kingship and the ethnogenesis of the Picts in Northeast Scotland. Continuities and connections between the Roman Iron Age and early medieval periods will be stressed and the talk will focus on the results of the major survey and excavation programme at Rhynie and the Upper Strathbogie valley which will soon be published as a Society of Antiquaries of Scotland monograph. This talk will be presented by Professor Gordon Noble MA PhD FSAScot, University of Aberdeen.

John Gilbert Architects – The Tenement Revealed: Book Launch
Date & Time: Thursday 13 March 2025; 1:30-4pm
Location: The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ
This event celebrates the launch of John Gilbert’s new book, The Tenement Revealed, published by Whittles Publishing. This beautifully illustrated guide explores the history and construction of Scotland’s tenements from 1700 to 1915, highlighting their significance in our urban landscape and their future in a changing climate. The event will feature a series of insightful talks from experts in architecture, housing, and conservation, reflecting on John Gilbert’s career and his contributions to tenement research. Speakers include: Peter Ranson (Chair, formerly Historic Environment Scotland) – guiding the discussion. Annie Flint (Under One Roof) – expert on tenement maintenance and co-author of The Tenement Handbook. Mary Taylor (formerly Scottish Federation of Housing Associations) – discussing the role of community-based housing associations. Matt Bridgestock (John Gilbert Architects) – reflecting on John’s legacy and Scott Abercrombie (John Gilbert Architects) – presenting an overview of The Tenement Revealed. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear first-hand about the book’s key themes, engage in discussions, and purchase copies on the day.

SPAB – Women in Conservation: a conversation
Date & Time: Tuesday 18 March 2025; 6-8pm
Location: Online
SPAB are hosting a special event to celebrate women in conservation and timing it in recognition of International Women’s Day in early March. Join them for a unique panel discussion, led by award-winning sculptor Nina Bilbey, to consider the creativity, skills, ambitions and barriers faced by women who have careers as carvers, sculptors, masons and conservators. Marcia Bennett-Male, sculptor, Josephine Crossland, stone carver, Marlène Lagnado, stonemason and letter-cutter, and Samantha Peacock, stonemason and stained glass conservator, will form the panel for an evening of insight and inspiration into what it means to be a woman in conservation.

AHSS Lecture – Graeme Smith: Enjoying Blythswood: William Harley – the Great Improver
Date & Time: Thursday 20 March 2025; 7:30pm
Location: St Andrews West Church & Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4JP
Note: Lecture will also be streamed online via Zoom
Graeme Smith, writer and campaigner, will describe how Glasgow’s New Town of Blythswood started and grew, and how it is today.  It became the city’s wealthiest and healthiest district and forms the largest part of today’s city centre. Tickets available in advance or on the door: £6 / students £2 / season ticket for all 5 lectures: £25

AHF/GBPT/Heritage Network event in Glasgow 
Date & Time: Tuesday 29 April 2025
Location: Glasgow
Heritage Network, Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) and Glasgow Building Preservation Trust (GBPT)  are joining forces to deliver an event in Glasgow in April. This is your chance to get together, discuss your experiences of heritage regeneration and learn from others, whilst hearing about projects local to Glasgow. Speakers and event details coming soon. To note your interest or if you have any questions, please contact Grace at grace.richardson@heritagetrustnetwork.org.uk.

 

TRAINING

ICHT – CPD: Leadwork Detailing & Practice
Date & Time: Wednesday 5 March 2025; 9am-4:30pm
Location: Inverness
This is an in-person, full day, technical CPD event aimed at contractors and professions involved in the specifying, detailing and installation of leadwork on traditional stone buildings of all sizes. The event will be delivered by the technical team from the Lead Sheet Training Academy and is provided with the support of Inverness City Heritage Trust and Highlands & Islands Traditional Building Forum. Cost: £50 per person. For further details and to book this event please email: c.maclean@maac-studio.com. Note: places for this event are limited.

Scottish Community Councils Network – Designing an Engagement Strategy for your Local Place Plan
Date & Time: Wednesday 5 March 2025; 5:30-6:30pm
Location: Online
At the heart of a Local Place Plan is hosting community conversations to enable good listening to diverse opinions before finding collaborative solutions. This session will look at some low-cost, simple to use tools for digital and face-to-face sessions that will help get the data you need in a format you can use. These questions will be considered during this session with a Q&A at the end. All training sessions will be delivered by Imagine If.Space and Place at the Table.

Edinburgh Napier University/Pattiesmuir Ltd – Introduction to Carbon Management and Achieving Net Zero
Dates & Times: Wednesday 5, 12, 19, 26 March 2025; 6-8pm
Location: Online
Following a successful pilot in 2024, Abi Truebig and Dr Keith Baker, directors of Pattiesmuir Ltd, will be delivering a second run of their Introduction to Carbon Management and Achieving Net Zero upskilling course for Edinburgh Napier University. The course is focussed on understanding the professional development needs of built environment and energy professionals and is designed specifically for adult learners. This year the course is being tailored towards housing, the built environment, and construction, and will include a guest session led by Magdalena Blazusiak, a chartered architectural technologist and a director of the Scottish Ecological Design Association. The course is being run online as four two-hour weekly evening sessions in March covering climate change, carbon accounting, and carbon management.

Edinburgh World Heritage – World Heritage & Climate Action webinar
Date & Time: Tuesday 11 March 2025; 7-8pm
Location: Online
Want to understand what the climate crisis means for World Heritage Sites? Sign up to World Heritage UK’s webinar on 11 March to hear Jenny Bruce, the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site Coordinator, and Yann Grandgirard, EWH Head of Climate Change, discuss the impact unusual weather has on our architectural heritage, and what measures we take to combat it.

HES/Engine Shed – Scottish Roofing: Materials and Practices
Date & Time:  Tuesday 11 March 2025; 9:30am-4pm
Location: The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ
Natural slate, lead and iron have been used to cover (and sometimes decorate) traditional Scottish buildings for generations. These morning talks will introduce you to the methods and materials traditionally used in Scotland for roofing and go on to discuss the prospects for reopening Scotland’s first working slate quarry since the 1950s. A networking lunch will provide you with the opportunity to continue discussions and explore the Engine Shed. In the afternoon, the speakers will lead a walking tour around Stirling’s Old Town to discuss a wide range of roof repair and conservation issues. For those who cannot join in person, a virtual ticket is available for the morning only.

Scottish Community Councils Network – Processing the data you gather for your Local Place Plan
Date & Time: Wednesday 12 March 2025; 5:30-6:30pm
Location: Online
So, you’ve gathered stories, ideas and data from 2-300 people in your community?  That’s a lot of information! What to do with it now? How do you make sense of all this insight in a systematic way that can help your council be accountable to the community for the decisions taken as to what to include in the Local Place Plan? This session demonstrates simple approaches to analysing data for a Local Place Plan, covering coding (thematising) your data, using excel to enable you to sort through the options and thinking about how to re-present this data in a way that will be useful for further, deeper conversations and decisions. These questions will be considered during this session with a Q&A at the end. All training sessions will be delivered by Imagine If.Space and Place at the Table.

SLCT – On the behaviour of Lime Mortared Masonry Masterclass
Date & Time: Friday 14 March 2025; 10am-4pm
Location: Scottish Lime Centre Trust, Charlestown Workshops, 2 Rocks Road, Charlestown
Fife KY11 3EN
Join Conservation Engineer, David Wiggins talk about Lime Mortared Masonry. David is a CARE-accredited conservation engineer, whose work centres around the care and repair of historic buildings. He has a doctorate in technical masonry conservation, and current convener of the Building Limes Forum. This masterclass will marry up his research and professional practice, and is primarily aimed at engineers, but will also be of interest to masons, other crafts and anyone who wonders how historic masonry works.

HES/Engine Shed – Conserving Timberwork and Timber Windows
Date & Time:  Tuesday 18 March 2025; 9:30am-4pm
Location: The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ
These morning talks will examine the wealth of timberwork in Scotland’s traditional buildings, from major structural features like joists and rafters, to delicate finishing details like skirting boards, mouldings, and panelling. The morning session will also look at how these features should be repaired, maintained, and conserved and focus part of the discussions on ways to repair traditional simple sash and case windows. A networking lunch will provide you with the opportunity to continue discussions and explore the Engine Shed. In the afternoon, there will be guided tours of Stirling’s Church of the Holy Rude and the nearby Great Hall of Stirling Castle to inspect their remarkable timber roof structures – one being ancient and the other of recent construction. For those who cannot join in person, a virtual ticket is available for the morning only.

Scottish Community Councils Network – An Introduction to NPF4 for your Local Place Plan
Date & Time: Wednesday 19 March 2025; 5:30-6:30pm
Location: Online
A Local Place Plan is different from a Community Action Plan is several ways.  But one of the trickiest to understand is the requirement to offer reasons for (justify) your proposals in terms of the existing policy documents that control development in your area. NPF4 already shapes development in your area and will continue to do so for the lifetime of your Local Place Plan. This introduction will give you confidence in finding you way around this document and using its policies to show the importance, significant and compliance of the proposals you are submitting in your Local Place Plan with a Q&A at the end. All training sessions will be delivered by Imagine If.Space and Place at the Table.

C&BS – Board Matters | Introduction to being a Board Member
Date & Time: Wednesday 26 March 2025; 9:30am-4:30pm
Location: Thorn House, 5 Rose Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PR
Do you have new trustees on your Board or have you taken on a trustee role yourself? C&BS Head of Board Development, Catriona Reynolds, takes new trustees and Board members through their paces in an information-packed, in-person course. During the day, you’ll explore: duties of charitable trustees/board members; different roles and responsibilities of board members and staff; meeting management and decision-making; advocacy and fundraising responsibilities; the trustee’s role in strategic planning; understanding the finances. A reading list, with all material available online, is provided in advance of the course to give you background information on different topics. Copies of any exercises will also be sent out in advance so that you can read them and, where appropriate, print them out before taking part.

RTPI – GIS training session
Date & Time: Wednesday 26 March 2025; 10am-5pm
Location: Edinburgh Futures Institute, 1 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3  9EF
Join the Improvement Service, with support from RTPI and A&DS, for a free in-person GIS training session tailored for planners and planning technicians looking to enhance their skills in ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online. This hands-on training will cover GIS basics, data wrangling, map creation, and crafting StoryMaps, offering practical exercises led by expert coordinators. Suitable for those with basic GIS knowledge, the session provides a planning-focused introduction to GIS tools. Bookings will open shortly on the RTPI website. Note: Places will be limited – however, a second session is planned for Autumn 2025. For more details or to confirm suitability, contact aline.kirkland@improvementservice.org.uk.

HES/Engine Shed – Vernacular Building Materials in Scotland
Date & Time:  Thursday 27 March 2025; 9:30am-4pm
Location: The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ
Vernacular building materials are items found and used locally by amateur builders. They can also be simple manufactured materials used for common or utilitarian buildings. In these morning talks, you will hear how and where these materials were used in Scotland over time. There will also be an exploration of the ways surviving examples are studied and catalogued. The day will also share initiatives taking place to enhance our understanding of the sustainable characteristics of these materials and their contribution to Scotland’s historic built environment. A networking lunch will provide you with the opportunity to continue discussions and explore the Engine Shed. In the afternoon, there will be a tour of the unique collection of restored Nissen huts at the Cultybraggan PoW camp at Comrie, followed by a visit to the recent construction of a traditional turf hut at Comrie Croft.

HES/Engine Shed – Level 3 Qualification in Energy Efficiency Measures in Older and Traditional Buildings
Dates and Times:  Tuesday25/Wednesday 26 March (booking closes 12 February); Wednesday 28/Thursday 29 May; Wednesday 10/Thursday 11 September; Wednesday 3 /Thursday 4 December 2025
Location: The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ
This 2-day course is accredited by the National Open College Network (NOCN) and delivered by experts leading the way in energy efficiency for traditional and older buildings. The programme includes three modules: recognise the age, nature, and characteristics of older and traditional buildings; evaluate the appropriate options for introducing energy efficiency measures to older and traditional buildings; make recommendations and give advice on introducing energy efficiency measures to older and traditional buildings. The cost of this is £495 for the two days.

 

VACANCIES

Heritage Network – Trainee (Scotland)
Salary: £24,750
Status: Full-time (37.5 hours p/w)
Location: Working from home or from an agreed shared workspace anywhere in Scotland
Heritage Network, formerly Heritage Trust Network, is recruiting for the post of Heritage Trainee (Scotland). This exciting role has been designed to help someone with a demonstrable interest in grass roots heritage restoration and regeneration to develop the skills, knowledge and networks they need to gain access to the heritage sector. This post will be of interest to those with an interest in outreach work in Scotland. This post is for a fixed term of twelve months, from 1 April 2025. The role is funded by Historic Environment Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland. More information and application details can be found here
Closing date: 12pm on Monday 3 March 2025

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust – Project Officer (Edinburgh & Lothians)
Salary: £32,000 pro-rata
Status: Fixed-term; 24 hours per week until June 2026 with possible extension to full-time permanent thereafter depending on funding
Location: On site at the Tron Kirk, Edinburgh
The Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is looking for a project officer to be a key part of their team, assisting with the delivery of high-quality conservation and restoration projects on behalf of the Trust by deploying best practice in the adaptive re-use of old buildings. As Project Officer for the Trust’s activities in Edinburgh & the Lothians, you would be working with the Project Managers, to help co-ordinate the project underway at the Tron Kirk, Edinburgh – one of the city’s most iconic historic buildings – as well as supporting a range of consultancy projects working with community organisations, development trusts, and local authorities.
More information and how to apply can be found here.
Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 9 March 2025

Fife Council – Built Heritage Officer
Salary: FC8 £40,358.57 – £44,225.49
Status: Full-time, Permanent
Location: Fife House, North Street, Glenrothes, Fife, KY7 5LT
Whether a recent graduate, an early career professional, or a seasoned built heritage practitioner, if you’re looking to develop your career in conservation planning, then Fife’s rich, varied, and locally distinctive built historic environment has a lot to offer. Based within the Policy & Place Team (Planning Services) the successful candidate will work alongside a fellow Built Heritage Officer within a small team of environmental specialists (archaeology, ecology and trees), supplying specialist advice to planners, decision-makers and customers on the management of change in relation to listed buildings, conservation areas and the wider built historic environment. Fife Council are currently shaping their future workstyles and, in light of current advice, are introducing blended home/office working that will include office access days each week with homeworking for the remainder of your working time. For further information please contact: Douglas Speirs – Douglas.Speirs@fife.gov.uk. More information on the role and how to apply is available here
Closing Date: Sunday 9 March 2025

BEFS Board – Trustees
The role of our Board of Trustees is to support our work and ensure strategic oversight of our advocacy, events and other activities. Whilst you don’t need to have previous board level experience, participation in other types of collective / voluntary group work and working as a team would be beneficial; and you do need to have a passion for the built environment. BEFS can support and provide training if you are new to being a board member. As a BEFS Trustee, you will have the opportunity to make an impact on Scotland’s historic and existing built environment, bringing your professional expertise to bear on shaping the organisation as we enter a new phase of development. Trustees are appointed for a period of three years, which can be extended for up to two additional periods. Trustees are required to attend four Board meetings a year, plus the AGM in December; meetings will be a mix of online and in-person (Edinburgh). We are particularly keen to hear from candidates with experience of the following:

  • Finance and fundraising;
  • Communications, digital and marketing;
  • Legal and contractual;
  • Human Resources;
  • Public Affairs;
  • Sustainability & Net Zero

Alongside these key skills we are also inviting expressions of interest for the roles of Chair and Treasurer. To find out more, please visit our website. To apply, please send us your CV accompanied by a completed application form to info@befs.org.uk. We actively encourage applications from people who identify as trans, non-binary, and genderqueer, neurodiverse and disabled; people from BAME backgrounds; people from working-class backgrounds, and people from all religious backgrounds. Whilst Board positions are not paid, BEFS will reimburse travel and subsistence expenses and make any reasonable adjustments to support you to participate.
Closing date: Monday 10 March 2025


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