BEFS Bulletin – Funding Announcements, Consultations and Autumn Events
Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations
BEFS NEWS
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) is front and centre of the news again this week. BEFS is a member of a cross-sector working group and will be following this topic carefully as it unfolds. A Ministerial Statement in the Scottish Parliament is scheduled for this afternoon (Thursday).
In more positive news, major funding announcements in August will provide a much-needed boost to the sector.
The announcement of £5.2m from UK charity, the Hamish Ogston Foundation to Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is extremely welcome, towards addressing the lack of specialist skills needed to conserve and maintain Scotland’s historic built environment. Craft Your Career will support vital skills training and includes 60 pre-apprenticeship training places, focusing on introductory construction and employability skills, initially delivered in partnership with Fife Council, Fife College and The Ridge social enterprise in East Lothian.
The latest round of funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund is excellent news and the £4.4m will go towards protecting some of Scotland’s most important heritage, impacted by the pandemic.
In addition, The National Trust for Scotland has secured over £1m from the HES Partnership Fund to conduct vital work across its built heritage properties, whilst The Glasgow Building Preservation Trust and the Glasgow City Heritage Trust have received funding of £50,000 and £240,000 respectively from Glasgow City Council. Museums Galleries Scotland are also in receipt of £500,000 from the Scottish Government, to support the resilience of museums and galleries to continue their important work engaging with communities and telling the stories of their places and people.
In further funding news, after the success of its first round in 2022, Edinburgh World Heritage has announced the launch of the second round of the Climate Emergency Grant. The grant will provide funding to private owners and public, private and third sector organisations wishing to carry out targeted energy efficiency improvements or climate change adaptation interventions alongside conservation repairs in their traditional properties – specifically focusing on historic windows, doors and rainwater goods. Applications must be submitted by Sunday 24 September.
The Scottish Civic Trust’s My Place Awards 2024 are now open for entries. The awards for Community-led Projects recognise recent community-led built environment projects that have transformed their locality, including historic buildings or monuments that have been reused or refurbished; more information can be found here.
The 11th Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival held in August proved to be a great success, attracting over 400 people to events varying from demonstrations on sash and case windows and lime rendering, to talks on energy efficiency in traditional buildings.
And finally, please save the date: Wednesday 29 November! SPAB and BEFS will be hosting a Places of Worship conference, for decision makers looking at the future of places of worship in transition. This event will bring together the interests of Places of Worship Forum (POWF), and the Conservation Officers Group (COG). The event will explore: What decisions will need to be made? What does best practice look like? How can we support good decision making for all our places? More information about the in person event, including location and how to book will be released soon.
CONSULTATIONS
RICS Retrofit Standards 2023
RICS
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is gathering input from RICS members and industry professionals on the new RICS Residential Retrofit Standard for 2023. This new standard will be developed following the consultation, as a response to a demand for high quality, residential retrofit advice, spurred on by increasingly high energy prices and UK government net-zero targets.
Closes 12 September 2023
Effective Community Engagement in Local Development Planning Guidance
Scottish Government
This consultation concerns guidance on effective community engagement in the local development planning process, inviting views from planning authorities and communities on the clarity and helpfulness of the guidance in informing people when engagement will be most effective.
Closes 13 September 2023
Visitor Levy Bill – call for views
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Government has proposed a new law which would allow local authorities to introduce an additional charge when someone pays for overnight accommodation. MSPs on the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee are examining the details.
Closes 15 September 2023
Fairer Council Tax
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government and COSLA are inviting responses to this consultation on a fairer council tax system, which concerns the Council Tax charges (also referred to as multipliers) for properties in valuation Bands E to H.
Closes 20 September 2023
Call for Evidence: Restoration and Renewal Recall
UK Government
The Public Accounts Committee has previously reported on the failures of transparency and “wasteful, nugatory spending” in the Restoration and Renewal programme, and expressed serious concern about ongoing risks and hazards in the deteriorating UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are seeking written evidence submissions regarding the ‘real and rising risk” that the Palace of Westminster will be destroyed by a catastrophic event before it is restored.
Closes 6 October 2023
Energy Performance Certificate Reform Consultation
Scottish Government
The purpose of this consultation is to set out the Scottish Government’s final proposals for Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reform and to seek stakeholder views ahead of the introduction of new legislation.
Closes 16 October 2023
Enhancing the accessibility, adaptability and usability of Scotland’s homes
Scottish Government
This consultation sets out proposed updates to Part 1 of the Housing for Varying Needs design guide and to building standards and guidance.
Closes 19 October 2023
Building Warrant Fees
Scottish Government
This consultation seeks to obtain the views on proposed increases to the building warrant fees required to deliver change to strengthen the building standards system and the development of a new building warrant fees model in Scotland.
Closes 24 October 2023
Mandatory training on planning for elected members
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is intending to implement mandatory training on planning for elected members as part of a wider package of measures to improve the performance of the planning system as a whole. This consultation is seeking views on the proposed approach to implementing this training.
Closes 26 October 2023
Heat networks regulation: consumer protection
UK Government
The UK Government is seeking views on consumer protection requirements such as pricing, which will be introduced as part of the heat networks regulatory framework.
*NEW* Closes 27 October 2023
Management of burial grounds, application for burial, exhumation, private burial and restoration of lairs: regulation in Scotland
The consultation paper sets out a range of proposals and approaches with the aim of clarifying and streamlining existing burial practices as well as introducing new provisions; including the management of burial grounds and restoration of lairs.
Scottish Government
*NEW* Closes 17 November 2023
CONSULTATION RESPONSES
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill (BEFS 01/09/2023)
BEFS response reiterates the important role that the existing built and historic environment can and should play in a sustainable circular economy.
Permitted Development Rights Review – Phase 3 (BEFS 23/08/2023)
BEFS recognises the intentions of the proposed changes, towards easing pressure on planning teams to deliver ambitious net zero targets, and to enable easier implementation of climate beneficial solutions within planning. This response urges caution however, as unintended consequences of some of the proposed exemptions should be considered, in particular around the proposals for replacement windows, solar panels and potential impacts on conservation areas and other designations.
Budget Scrutiny 2024-25: Funding For Culture (BEFS 18/08/2023)
BEFS considers that the importance of examining the budget is not just to look at what is within the cultural portfolio – but to understand how our cultural heritage can be eroded through a lack of investment in data, in planning, and in regeneration; many of the aspects that help to support genuine place-based approaches.The Culture Strategy as it stands speaks to a different time, with different pressures, different benefits, and a different social and economic outlook. What is needed is a mechanism that can leverage action for delivery and collaboration. BEFS questions whether another Strategy or Action Plan needs to be formed (or refreshed as it is phrased here), and whether the strategies within the sector could instead be supported to deliver effectively.
New National Parks – Appraisal Framework (BEFS 04/08/2023)
BEFS strongly welcomes the inclusion of cultural heritage and the historic environment as components but would suggest that presenting cultural heritage and natural heritage as separate criterion could undermine their fundamentally symbiotic nature.
NEWS RELEASES
RTPI appoints Dr Caroline Brown as Director for Scotland, Ireland and English Regions (RTPI 04/08/2023)
RTPI selects Grayling to battle misinformation (RTPI 07/08/2023)
University of Stirling teams up with National Trust for Scotland to boost heritage research (University of Stirling 17/08/2023)
Doors Open Days Launches Full 2023 Programme (Doors Open Days 17/08/2023)
Historic Environment Scotland launches new heritage professional learning programme (HES 29/08/2023)
Skills Development Scotland and Built Environment – Smarter Transformation form partnership to build critical construction skills for Net Zero target (BE-ST 29/08/2023)
PUBLICATIONS
The GIS for Climate Hub: resources for climate analysis and to develop more advanced workflows (Esri 2023)
National Trust – Making Climate Adaptation Matter (Public First June 2023)
European Cultural Heritage Skills Alliance Report: Identifying gaps and needs in the
educational and training programmes (Charter 30/06/2023)
Pointing the way to the future (HES 21/07/2023)
This position statement refers to Historic Environment Scotland’s role in the planning system and other decision-making processes for land management.
Online Heritage Community Directory (Historic England August 2023)
State of the Fair Work Nation Report (IPPR Scotland August 2023)
Museums Galleries Scotland – A look back at 2022/23 (MGS August 2023)
Strong foundations: The value of regenerating social housing – and how we can pay for it (Social Market Foundation 04/08/2023)
Museums Galleries Scotland – Capital Resilience Fund 2023 Guidance (MGS 18/08/2023)
Home Improvement: A Triple Dividend – Part One: Boosting the British economy (Demos & Centre for Ageing 23/08/2023)
New study demonstrates a small fraction of the £1.9bn in housing funding handed back to the Treasury last month could deliver £10bn in economic benefits annually if spent on retrofit
Highlands & Islands Enterprise 5 Year Strategy (HIE 29/08/2023)
National Report on the Scottish Social Housing Charter: 2022-2023 (Scottish Housing Regulator 31/08/2023)
Committing to delivery: Certainty and leadership for a just transition to a net zero, climate resilient future for Scotland (Climate Emergency Response Group 31/08/2023)
Updated Strategy: 20 Minute Neighbourhoods (City of Edinburgh Council 31/08/2023)
SCOTTISH & UK: GOVERNMENTAL & PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS
2022 Heat Network Consumer and Operator Survey (UK Gov April 2023)
Report on the experiences of heat network consumers and operators following surveys from March to July 2022 and interviews from November 2022 to January 2023, ahead of consultation.
Net Zero Public Sector Buildings Standard and Document Suite (Scot Gov August 2023)
SPICe Spotlight: Update blog on the Scottish carbon capture and storage cluster (SPICe 02/08/2023)
Heat Networks Quarterly Report – July 2023 (Scot Gov 04/08/2023)
New plans for heat network customers to receive fairer prices for cleaner heating (UK Gov 04/08/2023)
Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme Quarterly Report – July 2023 (Scot Gov 04/08/2023)
Scottish Safer Buildings Accord: developer commitment letter (Scot Gov 08/08/2023)
Council tax base 2023: form and guidance (Scot Gov 16/08/2023)
Planning and environmental appeals: guidance for reporters (Scot Gov 21/08/2023)
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in education settings (UK Gov 31/08/2023)
Information on how to identify reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), and what responsible bodies and education settings must do if it is confirmed in their buildings.
Overview of the UK heat network market and the opportunities it presents (UK Gov 01/09/2023)
Victoria Borwick appointed as Chair of VisitEngland Advisory Board (UK Government 01/09/2023)
Association of Construction Attorneys: revised scheme (Scot Gov 01/09/2023)
SPICe Spotlight: How is Scotland Performing? (SPICe 04/09/2023)
Education Secretary Statement to Parliament on RAAC in education settings (UK Gov 04/09/2023)
School Estates Statistics (Scot Gov 05/09/2023)
OPINION & COMMENT
Opinion: why hydrogen is not the solution to decarbonising our homes (Nesta 27/07/2023)
RICS: A Future-Thinking Outlook on Residential Retrofit with Historic England’s Hannah Reynolds #83 (RICS August 2023)
£4.4million for exceptional Scottish heritage impacted by the pandemic (NHMF 02/08/2023)
Can Britain’s churches still be saved? (Prospect Magazine 03/08/2023)
Understanding our homes is starting point for switching to clean heat (The Herald 03/08/2023)
Owners of vacant buildings in Glasgow could be forced to sell (The Herald 03/08/2023)
Edinburgh Council amends ‘unlawful’ short-term lets plan (BBC News 04/08/2023)
Back to the stone age: the sustainable building material we’ve all been waiting for (The Guardian 06/08/2023
Scottish visitor attractions struggle to open this summer as staff shortages bite (The Scotsman 06/08/2023)
Net zero: can cities become carbon-neutral on their own? Here’s what the evidence suggests (The Conversation 08/08/2023)
Your country needs you . . . to learn heritage craft skills (The Times 11/08/2023)
Creating a tipping point for radical change (Creative Carbon Scotland 11/08/2023)
Scotland’s history hidden behind high-security fencing (The Times 12/08/2023)
Historical buildings: Threatened by skills shortage (BBC News 13/08/2023)
Preserving the past shouldn’t adversely impact our future (The Herald 14/08/2023)
Blog: Are tenants and home-buyers looking for heat pumps? (UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence 16/08/2023)
EPCs Scotland: What are they, what do they mean for home owners and landlords, and what is the proposed legislation? (The Scotsman 17/08/2023)
Rural housing stock in Scotland at risk with ‘totally unrealistic’ energy proposals, property experts warn (The Scotsman 18/08/2023)
Patrick Harvie’s heat pumps strategy in doubt as progress stutters (The Herald 20/08/2023)
Blog: NLHF Chief Executive, Eilish McGuinness, reflects on the latest milestones along the 10-year journey to a new strategy, Heritage 2033 (National Lottery Heritage Fund 21/08/2023)
Anger as Edinburgh tourism plan will close self-caterers (The Herald 22/08/2023)
‘Bodge job’ complaints over Warmer Homes Scotland scheme (BBC News 23/08/2023)
Scottish island communities are being ignored – and tourism may suffer (The National 26/08/2023)
Scottish Government confirms no extension for short-term lets licence deadline (BBC News 29/08/2023)
Fresh rockfall concerns at Edinburgh Castle lead to new remediation works (Ground Engineering 30/08/2023)
Thousands of pupils may have to start term online as over 100 schools affected by crumble-risk concrete (The Guardian 31/08/2023)
Blog: The short-term lets licensing scheme (The Fraser of Allander Institute 31/08/2023)
MSPs call for firms to use empty parts of vast office at Victoria Quay (The Herald 31/08/2023)
Scale of concrete risk in Scottish schools not yet known (BBC News 01/09/2023)
Organisers hail success of annual event celebrating traditional buildings (Project Scotland 01/09/2023)
SNP ministers seek more power over land sales to ensure communities benefit more from developments (The Times 01/09/2023)
Scottish universities and colleges find defective concrete in their buildings (The Times 04/09/2023)
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”.
Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 03/07/2023
S6W-19722
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with National Records of Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.
Current status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 4 August 2023
Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 14/07/2023
S6W-19951
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many privately-owned land holdings over 500 hectares are used for (a) food production, (b) timber production, (c) energy generation, (d) carbon sequestration, (e) affordable housing, (f) flood reduction, (g) nature recovery and (h) natural heritage.
Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 4 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 20/07/2023
S6W-20092
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the stakeholder responses to its public consultation on the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, and, if so, when it will do so.
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 7 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/07/2023
S6W-20040
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to homeowners who are dissatisfied with their property factor.
S6W-20041
To ask the Scottish Government whether its proposed Housing Bill will make any provisions regarding property factors.
S6W-20042
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to amend legislation covering the operation of property factors.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 8 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 25/07/2023
S6W-20093
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the letter from the Chair of the Just Transition Commission to the then Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work, dated 15 February 2023, whether it will provide an update on the Supply Chain Development Programme, including further detail on (a) target sectors, (b) job-creation targets, (c) longevity for employment and (d) fair work criteria and objectives.
Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 8 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 12/07/2023
S6W-19919
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost of decarbonising all of Scotland’s schools, broken down by local authority area.
S6W-19920
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost to local authorities of decarbonising all of their buildings.
S6W-19921
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost to NHS boards of decarbonising all of their buildings.
S6W-19922
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost to universities of decarbonising all of their buildings.
S6W-19923
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost to all arm’s length external organisations of decarbonising all of their buildings.
S6W-19924
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost of it decarbonising all of its buildings.
S6W-19925
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with COSLA regarding the cost of decarbonising all local authority buildings.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 9 August 2023
Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 14/07/2023
S6W-19952
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it (a) has reportedly stopped offering interest-free loans for residential solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems and (b) decided not to accompany the cessation with any press release or publicity; what consultation was undertaken before withdrawing the loans, and for what reason it did not consider a grace period to be appropriate.
S6W-19953
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason solar PV and storage is not considered to be an installation that “will maximise decarbonisation of heat or reduce heat demand”, as stated in the announcement on the Home Energy Scotland website, in light of reported analysis stating that it can provide consumers with significant savings on carbon emissions and energy bills.
S6W-19954
To ask the Scottish Government how many loans and grants Home Energy Scotland provided in 2022-23; for what amount, and for which technologies.
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 9 August 2023
Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26/07/2023
S6W-19642
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it undertook with the Educational Institute of Scotland Further Education Lecturers Association (EIS-FELA) on the recommendation in the final report of the independent review of the skills delivery landscape, Fit for the Future: developing a post-school learning system to fuel economic transformation, to establish a single national funding body, including any amalgamation of responsibilities from Skills Development Scotland, the Scottish Funding Council and the Students Awards Agency for Scotland.
Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 9 August 2023
Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/07/2023
S6W-20049
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the integration of the Skills 4.0 model into work-based learning and the broader skills and education systems.
S6W-20051
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of its Skills and Training budget detailing (a) resources committed per programme, (b) staffing costs and (c) capital costs in each of the last five years.
S6W-20052
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the number of (a) graduate, (b) foundation and (c) modern apprenticeships by (i) occupational grouping and (ii) employer size in each of the last five years.
S6W-20071
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a full list of employers that have at least one employee currently undertaking a graduate apprenticeship.
Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 9 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 20/07/2023
S6W-20094
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the response from the Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work to the chair of the Just Transition Commission on 28 March 2023, which was published on 14 April 2023, whether it will publish further detail regarding the outstanding work required to deliver decarbonisation of one million homes by 2030, particularly in relation to (a) financing, (b) skills and (c) workforce capacity.
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 9 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 20/07/2023
S6W-20097
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the definition of “green jobs” published by the Office for National Statistics, whether it will provide further detail on the allocation of its £100 million Green Jobs Fund, including the (a) amount already allocated and (b) outcomes to date.
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 9 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 24/07/2023
S6W-20102
To ask the Scottish Government, following initiatives such as the 2016 Enterprise and Skills Review, its 2017 commitment to improving skills planning, and the 2022 Auditor General for Scotland report, Planning for skills, which stated that the “Scottish Government has not provided the necessary leadership for progress”, what assessment it has made of the reasons for the reported lack of progress in planning for workforce skills.
Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 9 August 2023
Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 18/07/2023
S6W-20026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of school buildings that currently pose a risk to life, (a) in total and (b) broken down by local authority.
S6W-20027
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was of using external designers for school building projects, from 2016-17 to date, (a) in total and (b) broken down by local authority.
S6W-20028
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of school buildings are currently believed to be past their estimated initial design life, which could be extended with adequate maintenance, broken down by local authority.
Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 14 August 2023
Carol Mochan, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 19/07/2023
S6W-20063
To ask the Scottish Government what it considers to be an acceptable distance between existing residences and wind farm developments, and what its position is on whether the number of separate wind farms in proximity to a residential area should be taken into account when judging the suitability of a new wind farm development.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 14 August 2023
Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 28/07/2023
S6W-20292
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of listed buildings in Scotland that are currently undergoing retrofitting projects relating to energy efficiency improvements.
S6W-20294
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on the number of listed buildings in Scotland that have been retrofitted with energy efficiency improvements since 1 January 2021.
Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 14 August 2023
Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 18/07/2023
S6W-20025
To ask the Scottish Government how many schools were in good or satisfactory condition, from 2016-17 to date, (a) in total and (b) broken down by local authority.
S6W-20029
To ask the Scottish Government how many pupils are currently learning in a school that requires major rebuilding or refurbishment, broken down by local authority.
Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 August 2023
Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 19/07/2023
S6W-20046
To ask the Scottish Government when it last carried out risk assessments on each school building for which it is responsible and that contains reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete; whether it has published the outcomes of any such assessments, and if this is not the case, whether it plans to do so, and how regularly any such assessments will take place in the future.
S6W-20047
To ask the Scottish Government, in each case where a risk assessment has been carried out of school buildings that contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, whether any recommendations made as part of the assessment have been undertaken and completed, and if this is not the case, what the reasons are for this not having been done.
S6W-20048
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has published all minutes of any discussions that relevant ministers have had with (a) officials and (b) local authorities regarding the issue of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in school buildings.
Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 15 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 20/07/2023
S6W-20095
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its announcement of the successful projects for year one, whether it will provide further detail on the allocation of the Just Transition Fund to ensure transparency and value for money.
Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 20/07/2023
S6W-20100
To ask the Scottish Government how much private sector investment has been secured, to date, for Scotland’s transition to net zero, as part of the Green Growth Accelerator programme.
Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 15 August 2023
Maurice Golden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 21/07/2023
S6W-20139
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out into indoor air quality in public buildings, and what plans it has to carry out any further such research.
Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 15 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 25/07/2023
S6W-20087
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the academic environmental research, Delivering net zero in the UK: twelve conditions for success, which was published on 10 July 2023, in particular in relation to any implications for net zero policy in Scotland of the research’s findings that (a) deploying low-regret solutions on a large scale, (b) engaging with communities, (c) taking an interdisciplinary and whole systems approach and (d) upskilling and capacity building in the workforce and government are among the conditions for success.
Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26/07/2023
S6W-20090
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the letter from the Chair of the Just Transition Commission to the then Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition and the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, entitled Further Advice on the Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, which was published on 17 April 2023, and when it will publish a response to the Commission.
Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 August 2023
Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 02/08/2023
S6W-20379 R
To ask the Scottish Government whether its national acquisition programme will be subject to the Scottish Government’s Principles for Programme and Project Management, and what the programme’s relationship will be with the affordable housing supply programme.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 16 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 20/07/2023
S6W-20096
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to roll out initiatives similar to the Just Transition Fund, which is primarily focused in the north east and Moray, for communities across Scotland.
Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 17 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 20/07/2023
S6W-20099
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Green Growth Accelerator programme, including how much of the £200 million public sector investment has already been allocated.
Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 18 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 20/07/2023
S6W-20101
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a detailed response to each of the 15 recommendations of the independent review of the skills delivery landscape.
Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 18 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 25/07/2023
S6W-20098
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to (a) people over 30, (b) single parents, (c) people on low incomes and (d) carers, to move into green jobs, including in relation to training and upskilling, in light of reports that such training requires significant time commitment and can result in a real-terms pay cut that many people cannot afford.
S6W-20233
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19781 by Lorna Slater on 21 July 2023, what targets it has set to address any green skills shortages.
Current status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 22 August 2023
Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 02/08/2023
S6W-20364
To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place for the removal of any asbestos, where it is damaged or in a poor condition, across the NHS estate, and what the timeframe is for this work.
S6W-20365
To ask the Scottish Government what the budget has been for NHS estate maintenance in each of the last three years, and what plans it has to increase this funding.
S6W-20366
To ask the Scottish Government what funding is in place for the (a) management and (b) removal of any asbestos across the NHS estate in 2023-24.
Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 August 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 09/08/2023
S6W-20500
To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs have been created as a result of the Energy Transition Fund awards that meet the Office for National Statistics definition of “green jobs”, which is “employment in an activity that contributes to protecting or restoring the environment, including those that mitigate or adapt to climate change”.
S6W-20501
To ask the Scottish Government when the next bidding rounds for the Energy Transition Fund will be announced.
Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 24 August 2023
Ariane Burgess, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 23/08/2023
S6W-20832
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with delivering the Bute House Agreement commitment to ensure that community housing trusts are adequately funded so that they can support the delivery of enhanced rural home building plans.
Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Paul McLennan on 24 August 2023
Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 28/07/2023
S6W-20265
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has commissioned on converting gas boilers to run on alternative fuels.
S6W-20266
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the public regarding alternatives to domestic gas boilers.
S6W-20267
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16060 by Patrick Harvie on 11 April 2023, whether it has commissioned, or plans to commission, updated research on the efficiency of heat pumps in domestic homes, since the evidence review of August 2021.
S6W-20268
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether its reported proposals to require households to improve their energy efficiency rating, including potentially penalising the use of gas boilers, is compliant with human rights legislation.
S6W-20269
To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings it has had with stakeholders in the private housing sector regarding proposed changes to heating efficiencies regarding gas central heating.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 25 August 2023
Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 28/07/2023
S6W-20293
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it expects that all listed buildings in Scotland will have been retrofitted with energy efficiency improvements.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 25 August 2023
Annie Wells, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 31/07/2023
S6W-20323
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote the Home Energy Scotland grants scheme, which was announced on 2 December 2022, in the Glasgow region.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 25 August 2023
Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 02/08/2023
S6W-20336
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness of the reported greater levels of effectiveness of ground-source heat pumps compared with air-source heat pumps.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 25 August 2023
Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 03/08/2023
S6W-20396 R
To ask the Scottish Government how its housing policies aid and promote downsizing in the social and private sectors.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 25 August 2023
Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 08/08/2023
S6W-20453
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to (a) the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme, (b) Area-Based Schemes and (c) Home Energy Scotland in the 2022-23 financial year.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 25 August 2023
Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 14/08/2023
S6W-20630
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19674 by Shona Robison on 31 July 2023, which organisations it has contacted.
S6W-20633
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19683 by Shona Robison on 31 July 2023, when the cross sector Working Group will be set up; who will be part of it, and what work has been undertaken so far.
Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 29 August 2023
Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 07/08/2023
S6W-20449
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when compulsory sales orders will be introduced in Scotland, in light of the reported announcement by the leader of Glasgow City Council on 3 August 2023.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 30 August 2023
Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 23/08/2023
S6W-20827
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that local communities are aware of their rights in terms of community land ownership, and are better supported to access those rights.
S6W-20828
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make land ownership in Scotland more transparent, particularly where land may be held by those currently under UK sanction or by other hostile parties.
Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 31 August 2023
Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15/08/2023
S6W-20664 R
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many homes there are in each parliamentary region, including a breakdown of how many homes have an EPC rating below grade C.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 4 September 2023
Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 15/08/2023
S6W-20667
To ask the Scottish Government whether its More Homes Division is subject to a recruitment cap, and, if so, when any such cap was put in place and when it is expected to end.
S6W-20668
To ask the Scottish Government how many members of staff have (a) resigned and (b) retired from its More Homes Division in each quarter since May 2021, and how many are due to retire in the year to April 2024.
S6W-20669
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) headcount and (b) FTE staffing level was of its More Homes Division in each quarter since May 2021.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 4 September 2023
Maurice Golden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 16/08/2023
S6W-20691
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20139 by Jenni Minto on 15 August 2023, whether it will provide an update on the composition and activity of the task group considering indoor air quality, as outlined in the report, Cleaner Air for Scotland 2.
Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 4 September 2023
Gillian Mackay, Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 08/08/2023
S6W-20470
To ask the Scottish Government how much it received from the UK Government in relation to cladding issues following the Grenfell Tower fire; how much of this has been spent on removing dangerous cladding, and where this was.
S6W-20471
To ask the Scottish Government which buildings in (a) the Falkirk area and (b) Scotland have been identified as having issues with dangerous cladding, and when work on these buildings will be undertaken and any potential danger addressed and/or cladding removed.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 5 September 2023
Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15/08/2023
S6W-20651
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been raised from short-term let licence application fees in each local authority area since their introduction.
S6W-20652
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the level of fees that have been applied for various short-term let licence applications in each local authority area since their introduction.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 5 September 2023
Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 14/08/2023
S6W-20627 R
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17172 by Patrick Harvie on 11 May 2023, whether it will provide (a) a breakdown of the 10 applications and the reasons that they have been rejected, invited to resubmit following feedback or referred to alternative funding sources and (b) details of any additional applications since the question was answered.
Current status: Answer expected on 11 September 2023
Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 14/08/2023
S6W-20631
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19778 by Graeme Dey on 25 July 2023, when the Scottish Funding Council guidance on reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete will be delivered.
S6W-20632
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19677 by Shona Robison on 31 July 2023, when the scoping exercise will be completed.
Current status: Answer expected on 11 September 2023
Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15/08/2023
S6W-20653
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to exempt mid market rent properties from regulations in the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022.
S6W-20654
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce land value capture.
S6W-20655
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent from the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund in each year since its creation.
S6W-20656
To ask the Scottish Government how many homes have been retrofitted through the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund in each year since its creation, also broken down by local authority area.
S6W-20657
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to roll out the Winter Heating Payment to households in 2023-24.
Current status: Answer expected on 12 September 2023
Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15/08/2023
S6W-20665 R
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many homes in each parliamentary region Warmworks Warmer Homes Scotland is planning to improve to at least EPC grade C; by what date this work will be completed; how many homes in each region have received such assistance to date; what other schemes are working alongside Warmer Homes Scotland to ensure that no homes are listed below EPC grade C, and by what date it anticipates that this target will be achieved.
Current status: Answer expected on 12 September 2023
Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 15/08/2023
S6W-20670 R
To ask the Scottish Government how frequently its Innovative Finance Steering Group meets; on what dates it has met since it was established; what its full (a) remit and (b) membership is; whether its remit extends beyond the affordable housing supply programme, and where the minutes of its meetings can be accessed.
Current status: Answer expected on 12 September 2023
Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 24/08/2023
S6W-20844 R
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications from (a) registered social landlords and (b) local authorities have been (i) received and (ii) approved for the National Acquisition Plan since it was announced on 19 July 2023.
Current status: Answer expected on 22 September 2023
Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 25/08/2023
S6W-20851
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it used to identify and nominate railway stations for the UK Government Department for Transport’s Access for All programme.
Current status: Answer expected on 25 September 2023
Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 25/08/2023
S6W-20861 R
To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates that the £60 million for the National Acquisition Plan will be spent in full in 2023-24.
Current status: Answer expected on 25 September 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 28/08/2023
S6W-20685
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the total number of public sector buildings and their carbon footprints, broken down by public body responsible for managing the buildings.
S6W-20686
To ask the Scottish Government what the electricity consumption was of public sector buildings in (a) 2022, (b) 2019 and (c) 2018.
Current status: Answer expected on 26 September 2023
Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 28/08/2023
S6W-20874
To ask the Scottish Government what the status is of the £9.6 million loan granted by the Scottish Partnership for Regeneration in Urban Centres (SPRUCE) fund in 2012 for the development of 110 Queen Street, Glasgow.
Current status: Answer expected on 26 September 2023
Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 30/08/2023
S6W-20918
To ask the Scottish Government how the Energy Consents Unit assesses the potential impact on communities of battery storage sites that are to be built around them when approving or denying an application.
Current status: Answer expected on 28 September 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 30/08/2023
S6W-20922
To ask the Scottish Government when the next bidding rounds for the Just Transition Fund will be announced.
Current status: Answer expected on 28 September 2023
Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 04/09/2023
S6W-20958
To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware of the safety concerns regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
S6W-20959
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many public buildings in Scotland have been built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
S6W-20960
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to ensure that public buildings that have been built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete are safe to be used.
Current status: Answer expected on 19 September 2023
Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 04/09/2023
S6W-20968
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a list of all hospital buildings that are (a) suspected and (b) have been confirmed to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
S6W-20969
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the reported 255 NHS buildings that are suspected to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete have been inspected by structural engineers.
S6W-20970 R
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish an inspection schedule for all NHS buildings that have still to be inspected for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Current status: Answer expected on 19 September 2023
EVENTS
Royal Society of Edinburgh – Curious Event
Dates & Times: Monday 4 – Sunday 17 September
The RSE’s two-week Curious event is on now, and features free talks, workshops, tours and exhibitions both online and in-person.
More information and Bookings
SPAB – Scotland’s Churches Lecture Series
Dates & Times: Friday 8 – Tuesday 26 September 2023
Location: Online
A series of 5 online lectures, and one building visit investigating the current issue of church closures in Scotland, and how these buildings and communities can be helped. Tickets can be purchased individually, or as a block booking. All lectures will be recorded, and links sent out following the event. If you cannot make the live talk, but wish to watch it on demand, advance booking is required – the live presentation will be recorded, and a separate link will be emailed to you after the recording is prepared (with viewing access of the recordings until 31 October 2023).
Dunbar CARS and The Ridge SCIO – Intro to Dendrochronology
Date & Time: Tuesday 12 September 2023; 1- 4pm
Location: 88 High Street, Dunbar EH42
Learn about dendrochronology and woodworking analysis and its application to historic buildings in Dunbar. Join Dr Coralie Mills and Hamish Darrah from Dendrochronicle for a presentation at No. 88 High Street followed by a buildings archaeology tour. Find out about tree ring dating, historic woodworking evidence, ship timbers, and more.
To book: email Lucy@the-ridge.org.uk
Under One Roof – Maintenance and management for tenement flat owners
Date & Time: Wednesday 13 September 2023; 1-3pm
Location: Community Room, The Dunbar Town House, High Street Dunbar EH42 1ER
This free and informative event hosted by Under One Roof, in partnership with East Lothian Council, is aimed at owner-occupiers and landlords who want to learn more about maintaining and managing their tenement flats. Topics covered will include tenement maintenance and management and communal repairs from Under One Roof’s tenement expert.
RTPI – NPF4 Policy 11. Energy: Solutions and Impacts
Date & Time: Tuesday 12 September 2023; 5:30-7:30pm
Location: Gillespie Macandrew, 5 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 8EJ
Join the RTPI for a discussion on NPF4 Policy 11 – Energy: Solutions and Impacts. John Petrie Managing Director at Petrie Buchanan will discuss solutions in delivering renewable, low energy and zero emission technologies and will also highlight the impacts that these technologies have on existing infrastructure. This is followed by a Q & A session with Sandy Telfer, Planning Manager at Gillespie MacAndrew, and Bob Salter, Director at Geddes Consulting, joining the panel with John.
Dunbar CARS and The Ridge SCIO – Creating Virtual Dunbar
Date & Time: Saturday 16 September 2023; 2-3:30pm
Location: 88 High Street, Dunbar, EH42
John McCreadie will give an illustrated talk on the art and science of laser scanning. Find out how the technology is being used to create a digital model of medieval Dunbar, including a demonstration of how the laser scanner works. There will also be a demonstration of how to create accurate 3d models of objects found on site at the Black Bull Close using just your mobile phone.
To book: email Lucy@the-ridge.org.uk
CaCHE – Beyond Niddrie Road: Retrofit solutions for older housing
Date & Time: Tuesday 19 September 2023; 9:30am-4:30pm
Location: voco Grand Central Glasgow, 99 Gordon Street, Glasgow G1 3SF
Join the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) for “Beyond Niddrie Road: Retrofit Solutions for Older Housing”, on September 19 2023. This free one-day event, held at voco Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow, aims to explore strategies for integrating retrofit across older housing in Glasgow, Scotland and the wider UK. Alongside the wider lessons from the evaluation of Niddrie Road, attendees will gain insights into key topics, among others, concerned with retrofitting older housing, including the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESHH) review, funding and delivery streams working at Glasgow, Scottish and UK government levels, thinking through incentives to speed up mass retrofit, and tenement strategies for achieving net-zero, while retaining our built environment heritage.
RTPI – Visit to North Whins, Findhorn
Date & Time: Thursday 21 September 2023; 2:30-4pm
Location: Findhorn
Representatives from Duneland and Green Leaf Architecture will provide a tour of a 9 unit terrace currently under construction as part of a wider expansion of the Park in Findhorn known as North Whins. Permission in Principle is in place for 38 residential units and 3 commercial units. The overall development seeks to incorporate high quality design, utilise eco-friendly materials and renewable energy in a manner that successfully integrates with the valued dune landscape. After the tour there will be an opportunity for questions and discussion. Core CPD Housing and Environmental Planning
Workshop: Scottish Non-domestic Buildings Archetype and Low-carbon Heating Approach
Date & Time: Friday 22 September 2023; 9:30am-1pm
Location: Edinburgh Climate Change Institute, High School Yards Conference Room, Edinburgh EH1 1LZ
After a successful first workshop, this event will focus on non-domestic buildings across Scotland.
This workshop series emerges from the need to develop an archetype and low-carbon heating approach that delivers Scotland’s net-zero targets. Discussions during this workshop will include the methods to improve our built heritage, the surrounding public and private space, and the communities that depend on future infrastructure upgrades. Workshop 3 (date tba) will consider conservations and climate change resilient retrofit of Scottish buildings through an archetype and low-carbon heating approach.
Under One Roof – Tenement maintenance and retrofit event
Date & Time: Tuesday 26 September 2023; 1-3pm
Location: Lochgilphead Baptist Church, Union Street Lochgilphead PA31 8LP
This free and informative event for tenement flat owners is hosted by Under One Roof and Argyll & Bute Council. Topics covered will include tenement management and maintenance, energy efficiency, and retrofit, as well as an update from James Lafferty on the Lochgilphead Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS). Presentations will be delivered by Under One Roof’s tenement expert and there will be the opportunity for a Q&A at the end.
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland – Rhind Lectures 2023: What Has Maya Archaeology Done for Us?
Date & Time: Friday 29 September – Sunday 1 October 2023
Location: Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL
Introducing Precolumbian Maya civilisation. These lectures, presented by Professor Elizabeth Graham, Emeritus Professor of Mesoamerican Archaeology, Institute of Archaeology, University College London will cover Maya intellectual achievements as well as Mesoamerican contributions to modern diet and health. As Maya urbanism has been a major research interest of Elizabeth for years, Lecture 2 – Stone Cities, Green Cities: What We Can Learn from Maya Urbanism will cover her work with a team who are drawing from Maya urbanism in planning housing and especially the integration of greenspace, and in some cases agriculture, in cities. Please note by booking an in-person ticket, this gives you access to all six sessions, but due to limited capacity please book early to avoid disappointment.
RIAS – Conservation 2023: Climate, Policy and Practice
Date & Time: Tuesday 31 October 2023; 1-4:30pm
Location: Online
Booking is now open for the RIAS online Autumn Conservation Seminar. Presentations will be from RIAS Conservation Accredited architects on: the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Palm House restoration project and the historical research and carrying out of practical conservation at Invereshie House in the Cairngorm National Park. Learn about Historic Environment Scotland’s Climate Change policy in relation to the historic built environment and various aspects of retrofit, including issues of moisture, damp and condensation and other key issues.
Further information and bookings
TRAINING
Culture & Business Scotland – Introduction to Fundraising
Date & Time: Wednesday 20 September 2023; 10:30am-4:30pm
Location: Anderson Strathern, 1 Rutland Court, Edinburgh EH3 8ES
This comprehensive introductory course, led by Pam Judson, is perfect for anyone new to fundraising. It is designed to equip you with essential knowledge and insight into the Scottish funding landscape and provide you with case studies, examples and tools needed to get you started. Suitable for fundraisers, volunteers, board members.
Scottish Lime Centre Trust – Lime Pointing
Date & Time: Friday 29 September 2023; 9:30am-4:30pm
Location: Merryhill Training Centre, Charlestown, Dunfermline KY11 3DR
Would you like to undertake repointing works as part of a renovation project or simply as general maintenance to traditional masonry structures? This practical ‘hands on’ training day will give participants the skill to undertake repointing works with confidence. This course will provide a sound understanding of traditional building technology, repair techniques and the materials to use when carrying out repointing.
Historic Environment Scotland – An Introduction to Building Conservation
Date & Time: Tuesday 10 October 2023; 9:30am-1:30pm/9:30am-4pm
Location: The Engine Shed, Stirling
Join HES to explore the strategies and philosophies governing architectural conservation in Scotland. The course will examine the nature of traditional Scottish building materials, and outline how international standards of good conservation practice can be applied to offset or adapt to the impact of climate change on our historic built environment. A networking lunch will provide an opportunity to continue discussions and explore the Engine Shed and the full-day experience includes an afternoon site visit to Bannockburn House for a technical tour of this remarkable late 17th-century mansion and to identify conservation techniques in practice.
Historic Environment Scotland – Heritage Planning
Date & Time: Wednesday 18 October 2023; 9:30am-1:30pm/9:30am-4pm
Location: The Engine Shed, Stirling
Members of Historic Environment Scotland’s Heritage Team and Stirling Council will discuss how they manage change to Scotland’s built heritage, both in strategic terms as well as practical matters. This includes how proposals to alter listed buildings or build new developments in conservation areas are reviewed, considered and determined both fairly and transparently. A networking lunch will provide an opportunity to continue discussions and explore the Engine Shed and the full-day experience includes an afternoon tour through Stirling’s Old Town to discuss recent developments in the conservation area, key buildings of concern for the council and other matters affecting the significance of the city’s historic townscape.
VACANCIES
Stirling City Heritage Trust – Heritage Trainee
Salary: £23-25,000 pa
Status: Full-time; fixed term until 31 March 2025
Location: Stirling
Stirling City Heritage Trust have an exciting new Heritage Trainee post. The role is suitable for a recent graduate who is keen to develop a career within the heritage sector. They need to be a self-starter who has enthusiasm for traditional buildings, heritage and particularly energy efficiency and tackling the Climate Emergency, and will work with other team members to help promote and deliver the new Retrofit Project, organising of training events for contractors and delivery of outreach activities. The role requires someone with great communication and organisational skills, enthusiasm for traditional buildings and how we can improve their energy efficiency and a flexible, ‘can do’ attitude. The Trust will offer shadowing with the team, training and on the job experience of live heritage projects.
More information and applications
Closing date: Monday 11 September 2023
ALGAO: Scotland – Before the Museums Project Consultant/Contractor
Fee: Fixed rate of £11,600 inc. VAT
Status: Opportunity to Tender; project delivery date by 1 March 2025
ALGAO: Scotland is inviting tenders to help with the final phase of the ‘Before the Museums project’. The overall project aims are to create a smooth transition of finds from their recovery during archaeological fieldwork through to their deposition at a museum in Scotland. The delivery phase of this project is divided into two interlinked delivery streams:
1 – Create standards and guidance for commercial archaeological contractors depositing archaeological assemblages with Museums.
2 – Agree and implement a processing fee which will accompany deposited assemblages.
Tenders are invited from consultants/ contractors to help with delivery. The winning tender will work with stakeholders from the museums sector; archaeological contractors and Local Authority Archaeologists to enable this. More information and detailed brief.
Closing date: Tenders should be returned by Friday 29 September 2023
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.
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