BEFS Bulletin 401: Sector news and a welcome to BEFS newest members

BEFS News

Happy bulletin day to BEFS readers – we hope everyone is staying cool and hydrated in this warm weather!

BEFS is delighted to start this week’s edition by introducing and welcoming our three new Members, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), SAVE Britain’s Heritage, and the Scottish Council on Archives.

• CIOB is the professional body for construction management and leadership, promoting the science and practice of building and construction for the benefit of society. Their world-wide membership works in the development, conservation and improvement of the built environment.
• SAVE campaigns to bring new life to threatened historic buildings of all types and ages, raising awareness of the potential of reusing historic buildings and the sustainability benefits of upgrading and adapting them over demolition. SAVE’s Buildings at Risk register – a database of properties in need of new futures – has highlighted the plight of empty and threatened buildings all over the UK.
• The Scottish Council on Archives provides leadership for the archives and records management sector in Scotland, building national and international partnerships, delivering strategic advice and research, and developing projects spanning stakeholder engagement, education, and quality improvement.

The collective expertise of our new Members will strengthen BEFS work to advocate for and champion Scotland’s built environment. We are thrilled to have them all on board and look forward to working together – and with all Members – to continue to drive positive impact across the sector.

A further warm welcome is extended to Ronnie Hinds, who was last week appointed Interim Chair of Historic Environment Scotland. Mr Hinds was Chief Executive of Fife Council and most recently served as Interim Chair of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland. More about the appointment here.

Following Scotland’s Historic Environment Forum event last month, the SHEF 2026 post-event report is now out, providing a summary of the many discussions of the day, the key themes, and calls to action. As we move into the remaining two years of the delivery of Our Past, Our Future, SHEF continues to provide a mandate from the sector, shaping direction and delivery of our national strategy.

More from the OPOF delivery team this week as they share Mapping Scotland’s Historic Environment Sector, a new evidence resource as a first step towards understanding the range of the organisations that contribute to Scotland’s historic environment, and the role they play. This extensive dataset brings together information about organisations across the sector and provides a shared evidence base to help better understand its size, diversity and reach. The resource aims to enable a more consistent picture of the sector, allowing HES to support better collaboration, decision-making and future planning, to deliver the ambitions of Our Past, Our Future.
This is the first stage of an ongoing piece of work and HES are inviting organisations and individuals with an interest in Scotland’s historic environment to review the dataset and help improve it!
Feedback is welcomed on:

• Missing organisations
• Incorrect or outdated information
• Organisational classifications
• Gaps in the data
• Potential future uses for the dataset

To provide feedback email the OPOF team directly.

New advice has been published by the Scottish Land Commission: Next Steps for Community Ownership in Scotland sets out practical steps to expand community ownership across Scotland and help more communities benefit from owning local land and assets across the country, generating jobs, delivering homes and supporting vital local services.

A call to action – views are being sought in the development of new CPD courses on silica dust, to shape practical tools, industry guidance, and training interventions designed to improve how dust is assessed, controlled and managed. The project, led by Dr Scott McGibbon, is already highlighting critical gaps in knowledge, skills, and behaviours around silica dust management, from understanding legal duties and health impacts, to applying effective control measures and monitoring exposure. If you work in construction, or have experience or views that you would like to share, you are invited to complete a short survey.

And in case you missed it! The March 2026 closure of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme in Scotland has been the subject of much discussion in the Places of Worship Forum (POWF), facilitated by BEFS, with the uncertain future of grant funding for church repairs in Scotland the focus of a recent exclusive in the Herald. BEFS has written to the UK and Scottish Governments on this issue on behalf of POWF to highlight concerns and query future support arrangements.

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

Please see our link to Parliamentary Questions and Answers for recent questions regarding Urban Regeneration, Cladding Remediation, Skills, Fire Safety and a New Housing Agency.

Consultations

Construction Professional & Contractor – Silica dust training survey
Pvotal Consultancy
This survey relates to the development of flexible silica dust Continual Professional Development courses designed for professionals and managers, tailored towards individual professional roles. The goal is to understand more about current silica dust control & exposure experiences, so all insights will assist with developing the proper silica dust training resources and support. The survey will take about 5-10 mins and all data collected in this project will be processed in accordance with current UK Data Protection Law. Responses will remain completely anonymous and data collected will only be used for the purposes of this market research. Should you wish to find out more information about the project, please contact scott@pvotalconsult.com
*NEW* Closes 31 July 2026

Construction & Built Environment Graduate Apprenticeships | New pathways co-creation
Heriot Watt University
Heriot-Watt University is developing two new Graduate Apprenticeship pathways in Planning and Real Estate as part of their Construction and the Built Environment programme — and they want industry voices to help get it right. They’re inviting input through online sessions in August and a short questionnaire, covering everything from delivery models to curriculum content and recruitment demand. This is a genuine opportunity to influence the next generation of talent entering the sector.
Closes 31 July 2026

Permitted development rights: schools, assets of community value, defence and conservation
UK Government
This consultation contains proposed changes to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, as amended. It covers the following areas: extending the existing temporary permitted development right for schools affected by RAAC; removing assets of community value from the demolition permitted development right; changes to the permitted development right that allows development by the Crown on closed defence sites; and new permitted development flexibilities to enable the development of conservation measures within Environmental Delivery Plans. Applies to England only.
Closes 5 August 2026

Call for Evidence: Strategy for the built environment professions, trades and occupations
UK Government
The UK Government Single Construction Regulator prospectus declared that a new strategy for the built environment professions, trades and occupations will be published in 2027. This call for evidence is an important route to gathering the information government needs to inform this strategy. Responses are encouraged from those involved across the whole building lifecycle. This includes: those directly employed in the full range of built environment professions, trades and occupations; clients (commercial, public sector and domestic); manufacturers; education providers; those working in adjacent sectors such as insurance, legal and financial services; and professional bodies, trade bodies, statutory regulators and consumer or representative organisations. Applies to England only.
Closes 12 August 2026

Pre-budget scrutiny 2027-28: Public Service Reform
Scottish Parliament
The Public Service Reform Committee is seeking views as part of its pre-budget scrutiny 2027-28. This inquiry will consider how the 2027/28 Scottish Budget can promote public service reform, including by removing barriers to progress, promoting preventative approaches, and simplifying the delivery of public services. The intention of pre-budget scrutiny, which takes place in advance of the publication of the Scottish Budget, is that committees will use pre-budget reports to influence spending proposals still under development by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Parliament welcomes responses from a wide range of individuals and organisations, including public sector leaders, community planning partnerships, trade unions, academics and think tanks, representatives from the third sector, and staff who deliver services within or on behalf of the public sector.
*NEW* Closes 14 August 2026

Pre-budget scrutiny 2027–28: affordability and sustainability of Scotland’s tax and spending plans
Scottish Parliament
The focus of this year’s pre-budget scrutiny inquiry is on the affordability and sustainability of Scotland’s tax and spending plans. Pre-budget scrutiny seeks to influence how the Budget is prepared, improve transparency and increase public awareness of the Budget, consider how the Government’s Budget for the coming year should respond to new fiscal and wider policy challenges, and lead to better results and outcomes when compared against the Scottish Government’s targets and goals. There are 11 questions in the Finance and Public Administration Committee’s call for views. The Scottish Parliament welcomes responses from a wide range of individuals and organisations, including members of the public, advocacy groups, professional bodies, industry experts, academic institutions, government agencies, and any other stakeholders with an interest in the affordability and sustainability of Scotland’s tax and spending plans.
*NEW* Closes 14 August 2026

Enhancing standards and guidance for archaeology: sector survey
Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) & Historic England
Finding and using the right standards and guidance in archaeology isn’t always straightforward, even though they underpin the profession. CIfA is working on a new project, with funding from Historic England, to make the UK’s archaeological standards and guidance landscape clearer and easier to navigate. This short survey is for anyone who works with/in archaeology in the UK — whether full time, occasionally, as a volunteer or student. If you would like to see a copy of all questions in advance, you can access a copy of the survey script from the CIfA project page. Your responses will be analysed anonymously and used to: identify which standards and guidance the sector uses, finds helpful, and finds problematic; prioritise areas for development and revision; and understand the barriers practitioners experience when accessing and using guidance. This survey forms part of the Phase 2 research project Enhancing and promoting CIfA Standards and guidance on archaeological practice (HE9408). If you have any questions, please contact Head of Professional Standards and Project Lead, Jen Parker Wooding.
*NEW* Closes 16 August 2026

Council Tax High Value Property Bands (Mansion Tax)
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is seeking views on the proposed rates for two new Council Tax bands for high-value residential properties in Scotland, commonly referred to as a “Mansion Tax”. The intention is for the new bands to take effect from 1 April 2028 and they will be based on estimated property values as at 1 April 2026. The two new bands will be: for properties valued between £1 million and £2 million; and for properties valued at more than £2 million. The addition of these new property bands will ensure that the highest-value properties make a fairer and more proportionate contribution within the existing system. The change is expected to affect fewer than 1% of residential properties in Scotland. Your views will help inform the rates that are set for the new bands before legislation is introduced to the Scottish Parliament. Read the consultation paper.
*NEW* Closes 24 August 2026

Improving proportionality and building safety outcomes in building control
UK Government
The UK Government is committed to ensuring the emergency repairs provision is fit for purpose, proportionate, and protects resident safety and welfare and is considering proposals to expand the scope of the provision. This consultation seeks views on proposals regarding the emergency repairs provision for building work to the existing Higher-Risk Buildings (HRB) regime. The consultation also seeks views on how guidance and clarity around what constitutes an emergency repair can be improved. Evidence and views on these proposals are invited and form part of a broader package of reforms which the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) and the BSR are considering to improve proportionality, efficiency, and safety in the HRB regime.
*NEW* Closes 3 September 2026

National Lottery Good Causes: Fund what matters to you
UK Government
The UK Government has launched a call for views on the National Lottery Heritage Fund distribution system. The current system for distribution of good cause funding launched in 1994, and 32 years on the Government is taking action to ensure it still reflects our priorities as a society, meets the needs of communities across the UK, and resonates with players. The Government is interested in hearing from a diverse range of people and organisations from across the UK to gather feedback on how the National Lottery good cause funding is being spent. The full background, as well as how to respond by post, can be found here.
*NEW* Closes 23 September 2026

trove.scot feedback survey
Historic Environment Scotland
trove.scot is a platform which brings together Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) wealth of unique and diverse collections in one convenient place. It combines information from the Historic Environment Portal, Canmore, SCRAN, and Property in Care Collections. It’s a tool for everyone to find out about listed buildings and other designated places, see archive images and explore every corner of Scotland. HES want to hear your views and experiences of using trove.scot. Your feedback will inform future work on the website.
Closes 28 February 2027

Building Standards Scotland Certification Register
Scottish Government
Scottish Government Building Standards Division has commissioned an independent research contractor, Ember Technology, to review the requirements for a new Certification register. The Certification register holds details of Approved Certifiers of Design and Construction. The register can be used by members of the public looking to engage the services of companies and organisations who provide certification services for design and construction under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003. Local Authority Verifiers also use the register to confirm the validity of certificates of design and construction submitted as part of the building warrant application and completion certificate process. As part of this project, they would like to hear your opinion on the system and how this can be improved.
No closing date provided