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More information here: Building regulations – proposed review of fire safety topics

The purpose of this review is to consider changes to the standards and processes set within The Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (as amended) and other published guidance documents to improve provisions addressing fire safety. This consultation seeks to obtain the views and opinions of stakeholders on a review of building standards relating to the fire safety of historic buildings converted for hotel use and several other specific fire safety issues, to help ensure the safety of people in and around Scotland’s buildings. The Building and Fire Safety Expert Working Group was created to look at the long-term commitments outlined within the Cameron House Hotel SLWG Report and to review other aspects of Scottish Building Standards and fire safety guidance. This consultation reflects the outcomes and proposals of the Expert Working Group.

Closes: 7 March

Information on the review process to date, including minutes of the building and fire safety expert panel meetings, can be found here. 
Closes 7 March 2025

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The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is to examine the importance of built heritage in the UK and the barriers to its preservation. The inquiry will examine issues with funding and whether current finance models are suitable and accessible.  It will also engage with how the Government can tackle practical and regulatory challenges, such as the availability of skilled practitioners, the managed decline of assets on publicly-owned land, and policy issues arising from net zero targets and planning policy. Alongside this, MPs will highlight the importance of built heritage for economic regeneration and to community identities, as well as how those communities can be empowered to manage their local built heritage assets.

You can find the survey here

Closes 2 February 2025

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Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture & City of Edinburgh Council
This University of Edinburgh project aims to understand what specific aspects of the Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas planning guidance (Consultation Draft 2024) require further clarification, and to explore possible improvements that will make the guidance more practical and accessible for historic homeowners. This project focuses on improving the clarity of the guidance document and making the content more accessible to all and is currently recruiting focus group and workshop participants for the project. Participants must be owner-occupiers of listed buildings and properties in a conservation area in Edinburgh.

For more information and to sign up, follow the link.

*NEW* January-May 2025

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BS 40101, Building performance evaluation of occupied and operational buildings (using data gathered from tests, measurements, observations and user experience) – Specification, was launched early in 2022. The standard was intended to be applicable to recently completed and existing buildings of all types and scales to provide a consistent basis for establishing and recording the actual in-use performance of buildings. It was intended that results obtained through the application of the standard could satisfy diverse needs ranging from verification of designed performance, providing information on which to improve design and delivery of future buildings, to understanding performance prior to (and after) improvement works and investigating reasons for excessive energy demand or occupant concerns.

With BS 40101 having been in circulation for over two years, it is time to take stock to understand where and how the standard is being used, the purposes it is being used for and why it is not being used where it could be beneficial. Following this survey BSI is expected to set in motion a refresh of the standard to enable it to be used more widely. The anonymized results of the survey will also be shared with the wider BPE community including those involved in training/CPD, development of guidance material and case studies to improve the adoption building performance evaluation and hence improve the performance of buildings in use.

Whether you are an existing user of BS 40101, someone who carries out any form of building performance evaluation, a client, designer, constructor, finance provider or are involved in policy and regulation in the buildings and building improvement sectors, please take a few minutes to respond to the survey here.

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