BEFS Bulletin – Critical Data, New Funding Streams, and Carbon & Heritage

BEFS NEWS

Last week saw the successful launch of ScotLIS 3 – a critical tool for Scotland, a new report written by land reform expert Andy Wightman and commissioned jointly by BEFS and the David Hume Institute. BEFS Director chaired the launch event, ‘Scotland’s land information system: what is it and why it matters’, attracting over a hundred participants. It is clear from the report findings that siloed land information is holding back Scotland and BEFS noted that, “A fully functioning ScotLIS will support progress towards achieving Scotland’s net zero goals by 2045.”

The report outlines the background to ScotLIS, addresses the challenges, as well as the practical benefits and opportunities. The private and public sectors may all play a part in delivering ScotLIS and the report suggests five principles which will be vital to success in order to construct a single online portal, where all the land and property information can be examined and downloaded for analysis.

Skills within the sector is never far from BEFS work, and we’d like to draw readers’ attention to both the Prince’s Foundation Building Craft Programme 2023-2024; and the Europa Nostra (and partners) European Heritage Hub, building on connections and advocacy work across the sector, as well as promoting the wider European Year of Skills in 2023.

In implementing the reforms of Scotland’s planning system, the Scottish Government announced the recruitment of a National Planning Improvement Champion. The role will enable improvement within the Scottish planning system by supporting authorities with making improvements or efficiencies and, where appropriate, providing tailored advice to organisations within the sector including authorities, Scottish Government, agencies, community groups and developers. Further information about the role, including how to apply (by 31 March 2023), is available from the Improvement Service’s website.

RICS Scotland shared an update on their current activities, including developments from the second meeting of the reconvened Tenement Maintenance Working Group. At the working group, updates were provided by shared secretariat, BEFS and Under One Roof, and attendees included four MSPs and a wide range of built environment professionals and specialists.

Following the publication last year of The Value of Heritage report, this Bulletin features a blog focussed on Democratic tools for change, and the IHBC’s new advocacy route. Sean O’Reilly, IHBC Director has provided insight on IHBC’s work to establish the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Conservation, Places and People (CPP), and the relevance of the five recommendations included in their report for Scotland.

BEFS Bulletin readers may also recall the recent BEFS blog on the public sector’s role in delivering NPF4 through mixed use placemaking. The Investing In Our Place report on which the article was based has now been published by Scottish Enterprise. The report provides an overview of key lessons learned from case studies across Europe, and looks at applications of the design guidance through worked examples of potential future developments in Scotland.

Over the last year, the Heritage directorate within Historic Environment Scotland has been working on creating a quarterly newsletter for the wider Heritage sector: Lintel. The newsletter will keep readers updated on completed work, ongoing projects, and future plans. Read the most recent edition here where you can also sign up to receive future editions.

Also of interest to the sector – HES have just launched their Historic Environment Grants programme – with events taking place over the last few days to introduce the new structure to potential participants.

And finally, the Spring Budget was released yesterday (15/03/2023) BEFS will continue to monitor policy implications as they arise.

 

CONSULTATIONS

Culture in communities – your views
Scottish Parliament
‘Place-based’ approach to culture means giving people a greater say in shaping the cultural life of their local communities. This consultation wants to know more about what is happening in our local communities and understand aspects including what does good ‘place-based’ cultural policy look like in practice.
*Extended deadline* Closes 7 April 2023

Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan
Scottish Government
This consultation seeks views on the vision and the actions to transition to an affordable, resilient and clean energy system set out in the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan as well as understanding how maximum social and economic benefits from the energy transition for Scotland can be secured.
*Extended deadline* Closes 9 May 2023

Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment, RICS Professional Standard, 2nd edition
RICS
Consultation on the second edition of whole life carbon assessments in the built environment – a standard which mandates a methodology to track all carbon emissions from production of materials, construction process, use and disposal of built assets over their entire life cycle.
**NEW** Closes 18 April 2023

Gaelic Language Plan 2023-2026
HES
Views are invited on the HES Gaelic Language Plan 2023-2026. The plan will set out how HES intends to increase the use, learning and promotion of Gaelic and builds on the success of its 2018-2023 plan which was the first Gaelic Language Plan for the organisation.
**NEW** Closes 19 April 2023

Community Wealth Building
Scottish Government
Views are being sought on the internationally recognised Community Wealth Building (CWB) approach to economic development, as a key practical means for the Scottish Government to make progress towards realising the wellbeing economy vision outlined in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET).
Closes 25 April 2023

International Culture Strategy: survey
Scottish Government
Views sought to inform the development of a strategy to support the international aspirations and potential of Scotland’s culture sector.
Closes 26 April 2023

Review of National Outcomes: call for evidence
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government want to hear from people and communities across Scotland about whether their National Outcomes continue to reflect the kind of Scotland we want to see. They would also like to hear about how the National Performance Framework could have a bigger impact.
**NEW** Closes 5 June 2023

 

NEWS RELEASES

11 European heritage sites shortlisted for 7 Most Endangered Programme 2023 (Europa Nostra 25/01/2023)

National Churches Trust awarded £1.9m grant to boost skills, resources and funding (National Churches Trust 28/02/2023)

Projects in Dunoon, Aberdeenshire, Dundee and Dumfries announced as the winners of the 12th Scottish Empty Homes Awards (SHN 02/03/2023)

Parliamentary focus on actions needed to make Scotland’s towns stronger (STP 02/03/2023)

NHS Scotland Environment and Sustainability Strategy published (greenspace scotland 03/03/2023)

Carve out a career in built heritage (Department for Communities 06/03/2023)

Cadw and IHBC join forces to support energy efficiency training for Conservation Officers in Wales (IHBC 07/03/2023)

RICS launches consultation to help ensure consistent measurement of carbon (Project Scotland 07/03/2023)

Scotland’s Land Information Service: what it is and why it matters – Webinar recording (David Hume Institute 08/03/2023)

Shortlist revealed for record Museums + Heritage Awards 2023 (Museums + Heritage 09/03/2023)

RTPI Scotland Parliamentary Briefing on ‘The Role of Local Government and its Cross-sectoral Partners in Financing and Delivery a Net-zero Scotland’ (RTPI Scotland 13/03/2023)

HES launch new Historic Environment Grants programme (HES 15/03/2023)

 

OPINION & COMMENT

‘Uncomfortable heritage’: how cities are repurposing former slaughterhouses (The Conversation 27/02/2023)

Despite promising industry-led initiatives, more must be done to address Scotland’s skills shortages (SCN 28/02/2023)

Jenny Divine: Redressing the gender imbalance in public spaces – a reflection (RTPI 01/03/2023)

UN body backs calls from environmental and community campaigners to review planning appeal rights across Scotland (TFN 01/03/2023)

Climate change: Scotland’s cultural sector can help people engage with the problem – Dr Richard Dixon (The Scotsman 02/03/2023)

What impact will new minimum EPC requirements have? (RICS 03/03/2023)

Town centre living can underpin resilience of Scottish places (The Planner 03/03/2023)

Top five Scottish Archaeological sites and artefacts brought to life by digital technology (Dig It!  03/03/2023)
Includes a 3D model from a collection of traditional buildings featuring the most prominent examples of indigenous Scottish architecture.

Government urged to insulate Britain’s historic buildings (E&T 06/03/2023)

New retrofit hub to propel greener homes (SCN 06/03/2023)

How retrofitting the UK’s old buildings can generate an extra £35bn in new money (The Guardian 06/03/2023)

Scotland urgently needs a land information system for the climate crisis, says report (The Ferret 06/03/2023)

How climate adaptation plans for European cities are gradually getting better (CarbonBrief 06/03/2023)

Hunt urged to commit extra £6bn a year to making UK homes energy efficient (The Guardian 09/03/2023)

Is Scotland being left behind in the transition to a circular economy? (Scottish Environment Link 09/03/2023)

So You Want To Turn An Office Building Into a Home? (The New York Times 11/03/2023)

Old walls, new life? Britain’s builders embrace the retrofit revolution (The Observer 11/03/2023)

 

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Scottish Government to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament. Questions in which a member has indicated a declarable interest are marked with an “R”.

Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 31/01/2023
S6W-14566
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) PAS 2030 and (b) PAS 2035 qualified energy efficiency and retrofit professionals there currently are in Scotland.
S6W-14567
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) colleges and (b) training providers offer PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 training courses in Scotland, and what information it has on how this compares with the UK as a whole.
S6W-14568
To ask the Scottish Government how long it takes to obtain (a) PAS 2030 and (b) PAS 2035 certification, and what the estimated cost is of doing so.
S6W-14569
To ask the Scottish Government what modifications it has made to the PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 standards to take account of Scottish climate, housing stock and energy efficiency requirements.
S6W-14570
To ask the Scottish Government whether its area-based schemes and Warmer Homes Scotland schemes and their contractors have sufficient access to professionals who are trained in the PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 standards.
S6W-14571
To ask the Scottish Government what business impact assessment it conducted when implementing the PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 standards.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 28 February 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 02/02/2023
S6W-14585
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12522 by Patrick Harvie on 9 December 2022, whether it has concluded reviewing its “cost estimates to deliver the heat transition on this basis”, and when it plans to “provide a further update” in order to answer the question.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 2 March 2023

Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 06/02/2023
S6W-14710
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress towards completion of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) guidance documents, and by what date these will be published.
S6W-14711
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will issue guidance to stakeholders on how they should express their interest for inclusion in the Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group.
S6W-14713
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the establishment of a Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group, and by what date it will publish the final list of group members.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 March 2023

Oliver Mundell, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 10/02/2023
S6W-14898
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce planning application costs for retro-fitted solar panels in domestic properties.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 March 2023

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10/02/2023
S6W-14931
To ask the Scottish Government what the expected timeline is for applications to the 2024-25 round of the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP).
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 March 2023

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 21/02/2023
S6W-14785
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there may be a need for secondary legislation for the Glasgow School of Art reconstruction project, to ensure that the restoration of the building is as faithful to Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s original design as possible, and whether (a) it would be possible to introduce and (b) it will give consideration to introducing secondary legislation to this end under (i) the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 and (ii) section 63 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.
Current status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 2 March 2023

Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10/02/2023
S6W-14931
To ask the Scottish Government what the expected timeline is for applications to the 2024-25 round of the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP).
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 2 March 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 20/02/2023
S6W-15197
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £1.8 billion allocated towards the Heat in Buildings Strategy it has already spent.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 6 March 2023

Ariane Burgess, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 21/02/2023
S6W-15209
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to publish the interim findings from the Green Heat Finance Taskforce.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 6 March 2023

Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 21/02/2023
S6W-15237
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings in the WWF report, Affordable Warmth: Next Steps for Clean Heat in Scotland, in light of reports that Scotland will fall “significantly short” of its target for decarbonising heating in homes.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 6 March 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16/02/2023
S6W-15090
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a more detailed breakdown of where funding will be allocated from the budget line “Climate Action and Just Transition Fund” in the Scottish Budget 2023-24, which is set at £79.5 million.
Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 7 March 2023

Katy Clark, West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10/02/2023
S6W-14827
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support local authorities in efforts to repair older public buildings for continued use.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 March 2023

Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 27/02/2023
S6W-15411
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13127 by Patrick Harvie on 9 January 2023, when it expects to release the annual reports for the (a) Scottish House Condition Survey for (i) 2020, (ii) 2021 and (iii) 2022 and (b) Scottish Household Survey for (A) 2021 and (B) 2022.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 March 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16/02/2023
S6W-15115
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many (a) houses and (b) flats in Scotland have been demolished in each year since 1999.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 7 March 2023

Kaukab Stewart, Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 01/03/2023
S6O-01974
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the fourth National Planning Framework since its adoption on 13 February 2023.
Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur in the Chamber on 8 March 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16/02/2023
S6W-15124
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated to council housing maintenance budgets in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 8 March 2023

Katy Clark, West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 09/02/2023
S6W-14838
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to mandate any national infrastructure company with providing unbiased advice on investing in repairing and repurposing older buildings as part of Scotland’s commitment to net zero.
S6W-14839
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to redirect resources from the Scottish Futures Trust to any national infrastructure company.
S6W-14846
To ask the Scottish Government what actions it plans to take to ensure that any national infrastructure company is equipped to be able to provide advice on how local authorities can plan for wellbeing and net zero in their infrastructure investments.
Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 9 March 2023

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10/02/2023
S6W-14921
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to NHS boards to identify and deliver sustainable new uses for historic NHS-owned properties that are currently on the Buildings at Risk Register.
Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 March 2023

Edward Mountain, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date: 14/03/2023
S6M-08209
Debate on motion on the role of local government and its cross-sectoral partners in financing and delivering a net zero Scotland following publication of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee report on the Environmental Regulations (Enforcement Measures) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 01/03/2023
S6W-15473 R
To ask the Scottish Government what powers are available to (a) local authorities and (b) other public bodies to take action to address empty homes in Scotland.
Current status: Holding answer by Shona Robison on 15 March 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 02/03/2023
S6W-15512
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), what its key (a) priorities and (b) deliverables are in its implementation; what its key outcomes are, and within what timeframe those outcomes must be delivered.
Current status: Answer expected on 16 March 2023

 

EVENTS

For further listings, please see our events calendar.

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust – Spring Lecture Series: Tales from the Tron
Date & Time: Friday 17 March – Wednesday 24 May 2023
Location: Riddle’s Court, 322 Lawnmarket, EH1 2PG
In this five-lecture series, guest speakers will cover the story of the Tron from the fantastical public spectacles staged at the Salt Tron on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, via a shopper’s prehistory of Marlin’s Wynd, through to the Tron Kirk in its urban context and the working class and slum clearances of Old Edinburgh. The final lecture, A Walk through a Thinking Machine: from Riddle’s Court to the Tron with Patrick Geddes, will end with a walk to the Tron Kirk to explore how we use spaces and places to learn.

AHSS Joseph Sharples – The Workers Who Built The University Of Glasgow, 1867-71
Date & Time: Thursday 23 March 2023; 7:30pm
Location: Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow
Note: Lectures will also be streamed online via Zoom
Joseph Sharples, Curator of Mackintosh Collections at the Hunterian, uncovers the fascinating story of the hundreds of masons, joiners, bricklayers and labourers who were drawn from across the British Isles to work on George Gilbert Scott’s new University; one of the biggest building projects in Victorian Scotland.

RICS Post-pandemic wellbeing of young professionals: Construction’s next challenge?
Date & Time: Wednesday 29 March 2023; 4-5pm
Location: Online
The pandemic has brought about a change in working patterns and an increased focus on wellbeing in many industries. This webinar explores how recent entrants to the construction industry may face new challenges compared with their counterparts a few years ago as they adapt to new ways of working, including remote working and less in-person collaboration.

Edinburgh World Heritage – Paul Sandby’s Edinburgh
Date & Time: Wednesday 29 March 2023; 6pm
Location: Hybrid – Online and at St Mark’s Unitarian Church, 7 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2DP
Paul Sandby came to Edinburgh in 1747 as an unknown English draughtsman to draw maps for the military; he left the city 4 years later as a promising artist who would become the so-called father of English Watercolour. Join Andy Arthur, as he explores a 1750 watercolour view of Edinburgh, teasing out what has changed and what remains. Expect to see a fresh perspective on the city, and hear obscure and overlooked stories of Edinburgh’s past.

 

TRAINING

Social Enterprise Academy – Steps to Sustainability: Skills Sessions
Date & Time: 16 March-11 May
Location: Online
Range of training sessions for those working in the Heritage Sector covering: Retail Management Essentials, Digital Engagement, Fundraising, Marketing & PR, and Alternative Sources of Finance.

Fife Historic Buildings Trust – Conservation Engineering to Transform Inverkeithing Town House
Date & Time: Wednesday 22 March 2023; 12-1pm
Location: Hybrid – online via Zoom and at Scottish Lime Centre Trust, 2 Rocks Road, Charlestown KY11 3EN
An IHBC CPD accredited lunchtime talk on structural adaptations to make the A-listed Inverkeithing Town House fully accessible. Talk by Steve Wood, Conservation Accredited Engineer, MEng, CEng, MIStructE, Technical Director – Conservation, at Narro.

Retrofitting Traditional Buildings – Principles and Practice
Date & Time: Wednesday 19 & 26 April 2023; 9:30am-1pm
Location: Online via Zoom
An online technical masterclass, running over 2 half days, covering emerging research, best practice and case studies in the field of upgrading traditional and historic buildings. Addressing the following questions:  How do we protect our traditional buildings but make them fit for the future? What are the risks for small- and large-scale retrofit projects? How can unintended consequences be addressed when upgrading solid-walled buildings? The Whole Building Approach to retrofit!

Icon Scotland – Creating Conservation Videos Workshop
Date & Time: Thursday 11, 18 & 25 May 2023; 9-11am
Location: Online via Zoom
Over three sessions, learn about creating conservation video content to be used to educate, promote and share the profession. The workshop will cover the start-to-finish workflow for creating conservation videos, ethical and legal considerations of sharing conservation content, platforms and methods that support video content, and tips and tricks, such as repurposing footage. Sessions will take place one week apart and will allow attendees to create their own videos and receive feedback from the instructor.

 

VACANCIES

The Cockburn Association – Chair
The Cockburn Association is seeking to recruit a new Chair to replace Professor Cliff Hague OBE, who retires from the position in May 2023 following 6 years of excellent service. In 2025, the Cockburn will celebrate its 150^th anniversary. The new Chair will help frame the celebrations of this significant landmark event, which will include a major civic reception and publication. A key objective of the Chair is to drive the development of the Cockburn ‘brand’, increasing the support base and reaching out to stakeholders across the city, existing and new.  The Chair will be expected to bring their own network into the Association where possible and act as a figurehead to members and supporters.
Further information and a role description is available from the Director, Terry Levinthal: 0131-557-8686 or director@cockburnassociation.org.uk

The National Trust for Scotland – Heritage Compliance Officer
Salary: £34,376-£38,027 (subject to experience)
Status: Full-time (flexible working possible)
Location: Hybrid working, available for meetings in Edinburgh
The National Trust for Scotland is looking to recruit a heritage compliance officer to help identify and manage the conservation and operations risks. This is a unique opportunity to work across all aspects of a major heritage organisation, liaising with colleagues in all disciplines.
All enquiries and applications should be addressed to: Diarmid Hearns, Head of Public Policy, Risk and Environment: dhearns@nts.org.uk
Job Description

Planning Aid for Scotland – Director of Operations
Salary: £45,000-£51,500
Status: Full-time
Location: Hybrid working; able to attend office in Edinburgh
PAS are looking to appoint a dynamic individual to the newly created post of Director of Operations.
The successful candidate will help drive forward innovation and delivery, both within the organisation and with external projects and partners. This is an exciting time to join a dynamic, ambitious and responsive organisation, to help deliver solutions that support communities across Scotland.
For more information or an informal discussion, interested candidates should contact Johanna Boyd, Chief Executive: johanna@pas.org.uk
Find out more about the role and about PAS in the Position Profile.
Closing date: 5pm on Wednesday 22 March 2023

Scottish Lime Centre Trust – Principal Trainer
Salary: commensurate with knowledge and experience
Status: Full-time, Mon-Fri with some flexibility to work weekends
Location: Charlestown, Fife
The Scottish Lime Centre Trust is seeking a practically orientated and organised individual able to manage their own workload and work as part of a team, with the ability to pass on skills and knowledge to a wide audience range. This is an excellent opportunity for a time served stonemason, with advanced craft qualifications, to join a busy team to deliver a range of ‘hands on’ courses as well as work alongside the Building Advisory team. Full support, guidance and training will be given to the successful candidate to ensure that the practical training delivery meets the exacting standards of the SLCT.
Further details and applications
Closing date: Friday 24 March 2023

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