ICYMI! Following a survey on sector experience of silica dust BEFS Associate Member Pvotal Consultancy has released research and a toolkit on silica dust and best practice. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4xqAvew

New silica toolkit launched as research exposes knowledge gaps

Senior managers across the construction sector do not have the awareness, knowledge or organisational support needed to effectively manage silica dust, according to a major new study funded through the Chartered Institute of Building's (CIOB) Paul Dockerill Award.

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Don't miss POWF's open survey on #ecclesiasticalexemption - you can respond until 1 September. Find the survey here: https://bit.ly/4fVGX7w

Ecclesiastical Exemption Survey

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

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Heritage in the water: are we in over our heads? BEFS Member Heritage Network have arranged a November conference to explore marine heritage. https://heritageinthewater.eventbrite.co.uk/?aff=no1listemailscotlandNONmembers

Did you know that BEFS Bulletin includes a Save The Date section with events all the way into November? Plan out your end-of-year with the sector here: https://www.befs.org.uk/latest/bulletins/befs-bulletin-401-sector-news-and-a-welcome-to-befs-newest-members/

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

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

befs.org.uk

BEFS Member Edinburgh World Heritage is hosting the city’s 2026 Traditional Building Festival Forum on 17-20 August. Book your free ticket: https://edinburghworldheritage4.beaconforms.com/form/254edf29?mc_cid=dbc5f23c66

A reminder! There is still time to contribute to the #ecclesiasticalexemption survey launched by POWF. The deadline is 1 September 2026. Contribute here: https://bit.ly/4fVGX7w Read more about POWF here: https://bit.ly/44vQiMG

POWF Web Page

Built with Readymag—a tool to design anything on the web.

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The organisers of the 2026 Scotland's Community Heritage Conversations Conference in Stirling in November are inviting proposed presentations and workshops from the sector: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scotlands-community-heritage-conversations-2026-sharing-our-strengths-tickets-1992060861662

ICYMI! What is the methodology underpinning designations policy in Scotland? Read the document from HES here, published in May of this year: https://bit.ly/4gyrD18

Designation Policy and Selection Guidance | Historic Environment Scotland

This document sets out the policy and selection guidance used by Historic Environment Scotland when we designate historic sites and places.

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This week, Hazel and Olivia from BEFS joined colleagues from the Retrofit Roundtable collective to meet with Kristopher Leask MSP, as part of a series of cross-party engagements calling for renewed policy action on retrofit.

BEFS Bulletin 401 is out now! 📣 Featuring the latest sector news and a warm welcome to three new BEFS Member bodies: https://www.befs.org.uk/latest/bulletins/befs-bulletin-401-sector-news-and-a-welcome-to-befs-newest-members/

Take a look at Scotland’s Towns Partnerships’ event report setting out the Scottish direction for towns and town regeneration: https://bit.ly/4vrGEWb

Historic Environment Scotland has confirmed to BEFS its plan to refresh planning advice for archaeology and conservation areas in consultation with the sector: https://www.befs.org.uk/latest/hes-confirms-plans-to-refresh-planning-advice/

HES Confirms Plans to Refresh Planning Advice for Archaeology and Conservation Areas

BEFS has been actively engaging with its Members and Working Groups on the implications of the late 2025 withdrawal of 46 planning guidance publications by the Scottish Government.

befs.org.uk

How do we leverage heritage to strengthen democracy? Europa Nostra has launched a free masterclass series exploring the topic through a European perspective. Level up your knowledge! Watch it here: https://bit.ly/4fg4T3Ma

What will the remaining two years of Our Past, Our Future (OPOF) look like? Following #SHEF20206, the OPOF team have released a post-event report exploring the discussions and action points. Read it here: https://bit.ly/4fBEI8R

Do you have experience with silica dust exposure? BEFS Associate Member Pvotal Consultancy is seeking views on experiences and the need for CPD on silica dust in the sector. Contribute here: https://bit.ly/4feZEBn

The uncertain future of grant funding for church repairs in Scotland is the focus of an exclusive in today’s Herald. The Places of Worship Forum, facilitated by BEFS, shares concerns about the future. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/26280629.scottish-church-funding-repair-crisis-deepens-vat-row/

It has recently been reported that the Scottish entries on SAVE’s buildings at risk register have doubled. Is a building near you on the register? Find out here: https://bit.ly/4bJ0ANb

The UK Gov House of Lords Committee have published a policy letter highlighting the holistic benefits and preventative spend inherent in supporting young people to pursue built environment careers. Read it here: https://bit.ly/3QSsHlT

The Clyde, Fife, Lothians and Forth communities can look forward to landscape transformation following £1m in funding for ‘climate forests’ to address climate vulnerability. Read the full announcement here: https://bit.ly/4vGKFqR

If you are looking to learn more about the funding allocation of the UK Gov Pride In Place Programme and see where regeneration interventions are concentrated across the nations, you can read the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s analysis here: https://bit.ly/4xRuJDv

Pride in Place: the scale of the challenge in Scotland

The Government’s Pride in Place programme has now allocated £480 million to high-need neighbourhoods across Scotland, over the next decade, but coordinated investment is needed to address the scale of need.

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Calling all heritage researchers! Do you have a paper on contemporary conservation that you would like to present at SPAB’s 2027 Conference ‘Honest Repair: 150 Years On’? The deadline is 31 Aug! Read more here: https://bit.ly/4v3vDtW

ICYMI! Scotland’s Community Heritage Conversations 2026 is an event series seeking contributions on the theme of ‘collaboration’ - do you have work you would like to showcase? Deadline 24 July. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4awlvTb

For some weekend listening you can tune in to Architecture and Design Scotland’s podcast episode on the Value of Design featuring voices from RIAS and BE-ST. Better outcomes for people, places, and climate in focus! Listen here: https://bit.ly/4eMjvYi

Scotland’s Landscape Alliance have launched their 5-year Action Plan for Scotland’s Landscape Charter, highlighting how our landscapes contribute to climate resilience, nature, and biodiversity. Read the Charter here: https://bit.ly/4409lhR #ScottishLandscapes

Launch of 5 Year Action Plan for Scotland's Landscape Charter - Scotland's Landscape Alliance

After one year of extensive consultation, we are delighted to publish this 5-Year Action Plan to help deliver Scotland’s Landscape Charter. The Charter highlights the vital contribution of Scotland’s landscapes to our lives in terms of climate resilience, nature and biodiversity, our health and wellbeing as well as our economy. It was launched in June 2025 and endorsed by the ...

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Last week’s red alert heatwave in the UK has lead The National Lottery Heritage Fund to ask how these types of extreme weather events affect heritage organisations. Deadline 5 July. Share your experiences here: https://bit.ly/4g8R7Sx

📣 BEFS Bulletin 400 is now in your inboxes, featuring a focus on landscapes, place, and built environment careers. We also have busy news and consultations sections. Don't miss out on the latest from the sector! Read it here: https://bit.ly/4wkM5r0

Reminder: Don't miss out on vacancies going in Scotland's built environment sector! You can find them on BEFS website: https://bit.ly/4gcIB54 and by subscribing to our Bulletin: https://bit.ly/4eOTurx #BuiltEnvironment #HeritageJobs

Our sector calendar this summer is busy! Make sure you don't miss the next invaluable conference, seminar, course, or CPD opportunity by subscribing to our Bulletin. Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/4eOTurx

Have you seen that POWF has an open survey on #ecclesiasticalexemption? To find the survey, and to find out why we are asking the sector for input, click here: https://bit.ly/3QZHSK7

How can we enable both the protection and continued use of Scotland’s many and varied places of worship?

The Places of Worship Forum (POWF) is seeking views on the best mechanism for these special buildings – both in and outwith worshipful use – and invites readers to participate in a survey on Ecclesiastical Exemption.

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ICYMI! Zero Waste Scotland have released two roadmaps to circularity, one for the built environment and one for energy infrastructure. If you’d like to learn more about accelerating circular practices, read the built environment roadmap here: https://bit.ly/4vRVg1O