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The Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) has launched the first phase of a project aiming to develop a new approach to tackling rural regeneration as well as the crisis in traditional skills.
SHBT writes:
Rural Scotland is suffering from both the dereliction of historic buildings and endemic gaps in skills, both in modern and traditional construction methods. Now, SHBT is embarking on a new project which aims to tackle both of these issues together.
We are delighted to have received support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via Scottish Borders Council to fund a feasibility study based in Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders, that will generate new approaches to entrenched problems in how we manage our architectural heritage and (re)use it sustainably.
Taking on several derelict or vacant historic buildings in a rural community, SHBT will explore how a cluster approach of smaller projects, rather than a larger one-off capital renovation, may deliver a greater impact. Furthermore, that these projects can be delivered via a model focussed on working with local business and training local people in the crafts and trades to not only save buildings where they live, but provide them with skills and employment for the rest of their lives.
Dr Samuel Gallacher, Director of SHBT says, ‘Inspired by the National Trust for Scotland’s Little Houses Improvement Scheme and driven by the critical traditional building skills shortage in rural areas, this new model promises to both save historic buildings and provide aspirational and meaningful career paths for local people who want to learn and work in the area they grew up in. We are excited by the socio-economic benefits of this approach, helping to counter the negative impacts of unmaintained historic buildings in small towns and villages.’
Colin Tennant, Head of Technical Conservation at Historic Environment Scotland, ‘We welcome Scottish Historic Buildings Trust’s ingenuity and initiative to propose this fresh approach to dealing with some of our historic built environment’s most entrenched issues: skills and rural dereliction. Historic Environment Scotland is delighted to support this feasibility work and will be providing our knowledge and advice to help steer this important project.’
