Built Environment Forum Scotland

🌍 BEFS has responded to the Draft Climate Change Plan (2026–40), welcoming its vision and ambition, but calling for clearer delivery detail and a stronger whole-systems approach across buildings, skills, reuse and place.
Read our response → www.befs.org.uk/wp-c...

📄 Read the report →housingevidence.ac.u...

Housing Quality and Health- an Economic Analysis examines the economic impact of poor-quality housing on health outcomes in Scotland, highlighting significant costs and the need for stronger evidence, monitoring, and investment to inform future health and housing policy.

New report from UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence 🏘️🩺

POWF Newsletter - Research in Action on Church Heritage In this edition of the POWF Newsletter, Dr. Emily Johnston and Dr. Lizzie Swarbrick share an update on Research in Action on Church Heritage (ReACH), a project addressing the urgent challenge of church closures across Scotland. The initiative has launched a symposium, established a Heritage Action Group, and is building a comprehensive database of Scotland's 860+ churches at risk. Dr Emily Johnston FSAScot is ReACH's Communities Officer. She joined the team in August 2025 after her PhD at the University of Edinburgh, specialising in community engagement in archaeology. Dr Lizzie Swarbrick is the Research Manager for ReACH and is an art and architectural historian, specialising in Scottish medieval churches.

📩 The Places of Worship Forum (POWF) Newsletter is out. Our featured blog highlights ReACH, responding to the challenge of church closures across Scotland and building a database of 860+ at-risk churches.
📖 Read the blog: ow.ly/KvvQ50YcKZc
🔎 POWF: ow.ly/yEwu50YcKZb l

Museums: Scotland's Stories, Scotland's Future Our campaign for the 2026 Scottish elections calls for political parties to recognise museums and galleries as essential civic institutions.

Find out more and get involved 👉

As the election approaches, the campaign makes the case for museums as essential civic institutions — supporting learning, wellbeing, community connection, fair work and economic recovery, and shaping Scotland’s future, not just preserving its past.

Museums Galleries Scotland has launched Museums: Scotland’s Stories, Scotland’s Future 🏛️

🏛️In case you missed it - BEFS submitted a statement on the Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill, supporting a formal three-year review and transparent reporting, while highlighting risks around levy income replacing existing maintenance budgets. Read more 👉 www.befs.org.uk/wp-c...

Packed with real artefacts, replicas, games and activities, it’s designed for schools, youth groups and community archaeology projects exploring chambered cairns of the North Channel.

Find out more & borrow a toolkit 👉www.archaeologyscotl...

The Bare Bones Toolkit from Archaeology Scotland brings the Early Neolithic to life for learners of all ages 🪨🦴

Zero Waste Scotland shares practical advice on how built environment businesses can take first steps towards circularity, focusing on reuse, resilience and long-term value without major cost. 🏗️♻️
Read more 👉 www.zerowastescotlan...

IHBC has welcomed the UK Government’s Warm Homes Plan, but is urging a risk-based approach to retrofit, with stronger understanding of traditional building fabric to avoid future failures.
Read the IHBC NewsBlog 👉 newsblogs.ihbc.org.u...

🧾 BEFS has published its response to Historic Environment Scotland’s draft Properties and Collections Strategy. We welcome the focus on collaboration and transparency, while highlighting questions on prioritisation, divestment and long-term maintenance. Read more 👉 www.befs.org.uk/wp-c...

BEFS 2026 Manifesto: Building Foundations for a Better Scotland  BEFS has drawn together a call to action for the next Scottish Government. Our Manifesto outlines how essential investment is key to unlocking substantial value for public money and driving progress across vital public policy portfolios, including environmental sustainability, skills and economic development, housing, poverty, and health - unlocking the immense potential of our built heritage to deliver warmer homes, local employment, thriving town centres, and much more.

895,000 tenement properties. 45% with critical disrepair.

The Tenement Maintenance Working Group has 3 evidence-based solutions: ✅ 5-yearly inspections
✅ Compulsory owners associations ✅ Building reserve funds

Time to implement them 🏢 Read our full manifesto:

Expression of Interest (EOI) | Start Your Submission The first step to adding your living heritage to the UK inventories. Use this short form to register interest, access support, and join workshops.

🌍 New opportunity: communities can now submit an Expression of Interest for the UK Inventory of Living Heritage. From crafts and oral traditions, to food and performing arts, nominations are open across the UK. Learn more and take part 👉

📣 Consultation open: Historic Environment Scotland is seeking views on Fair Work across the historic environment. Employers and organisations in receipt of government funding are invited to share their awareness and approach. Take part here 👇

As the 2026 election approaches, sector manifestos are sharpening focus on the existing built environment. The Chartered Institute of Building in Scotland has published From Ambition to Delivery, setting out practical actions on housing, climate change and building safety. 📘 www.ciob.org/industr...

BEFS Bulletin 390: Sector strategies, manifestos, and funding implications for places of worship Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations

BEFS Bulletin 390 is out 📣 Sector strategies, manifestos, and funding implications for places of worship, plus the latest built environment news, policy updates, consultations and opportunities. Take a look 👇

Find out more and respond here 👉

NEW consultation alert!
Scottish Building Regulations: Fire Safety review and Compliance is now open.
The consultation seeks views on fire safety standards, compliance plans and responses to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report.

Closes 10 April 2026 🗓️

Historic Churches Scotland - Director Historic Churches Scotland is seeking a new Director at an exciting and pivotal stage in the charity’s development

BEFS Member Historic Churches Scotland is recruiting a new Director ⛪
A senior leadership role guiding the conservation and future of Scotland’s most at-risk historic churches, with a strong focus on communities, fundraising and strategy.

Details and application info 👇
🔗

National Planning Framework 4 National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) is our national spatial strategy for Scotland. It sets out our spatial principles, regional priorities, national developments and national planning policy. It should be read as a whole and replaces NPF3 and Scottish Planning Policy.

🔗 National Planning Framework 4:

Publications declutter - Planning and Architecture Withdrawal of planning advice

In case you missed it 📑
The Scottish Government has withdrawn national planning advice, including PAN2/2011 (Planning & Archaeology) and PAN71 (Conservation Areas). Sector concerns remain around clarity and decision-making.

More detail in the SG blog 👇
🔗

Reminder: Don't miss out on events and training in Scotland's built environment sector!
Check the BEFS Calendar for upcoming opportunities: www.befs.org.uk/events/
Stay updated - subscribe to BEFS Bulletin: befs.us10.list-manag...

#BuiltEnvironment #ScotlandEvents"

BEFS Vacancies BEFS seeks dynamic new Director to strategically support the sector.

Details and how to apply 👇
🔗

⏰ Deadline approaching: BEFS is recruiting a Net Zero Lead

This new role will drive a co-ordinated, evidence-led approach to Net Zero, connecting sector research, building capacity, and championing the historic environment’s role in tackling the climate emergency.

Scottish Budget 2026 to 2027 The Scottish Budget sets out the Scottish Government's proposed spending and tax plans for 2026-27, as presented to the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Government’s 2026 to 2027 Budget has been published 📊
Built environment commitments include £7.6bn in capital investment, more carbon-free heating, and action on warm, affordable homes.

Read the full Budget 👇
🔗

🔗 Committee statement: www.befs.org.uk/wp-c...
🔗 Bill details: www.parliament.scot/...

The Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament 🏗️
If passed, it would fund cladding remediation and apply to some new residential developments from April 2028.

Read BEFS’s response and statements 👇
🔗 Consultation response: www.befs.org.uk/wp-c...