Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) has held a seminar to discuss the issue of safeguarding Scotland’s crumbling buildings: the case for Building MOTs
Over 40 professionals from across the Built and Historic Environment sector attended the seminar, on 2 June, to discuss the best way to address issues of structural damage and disrepair in Scotland buildings.
The urgency of this issue was graphically illustrated in May of this year when part of a block of flats in the Rosemount area of Aberdeen collapsed after a section of the tenement gave way. The situation was such that emergency workers had to be called out to help evacuate residents from the building.
BEFS has said that a survey every two or three years is the only way of addressing an increasing number of structurally damaged buildings and today’s seminar discussed the various issues surrounding this and how to address them. The cost of not maintaining buildings was highlighted as was the need for some form of maintenance programme. The lack of public awareness on the issue was also discussed along with various options for how surveys would be undertaken.
BEFS’ Director Craig Stirrat said: ‘There is an increasing number of structurally damaged buildings in Scotland and this seminar is the start of a call for Government support for regular inspection and maintenance of older buildings. We need to share best practice, and promote investment in traditional skills and locally available materials. No-one is suggesting that this problem can be solved overnight but a regular MOT which would give an assessment of the state of disrepair of any building is a firm foundation on which to start’.
