Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) has published its ‘Places of Worship: Planning Forward Event Outcomes Report’.
BEFS writes:
Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) is an umbrella body for organisations working in the built environment in Scotland. Drawing on extensive expertise in a membership-led forum, BEFS informs, debates and advocates on the strategic issues, opportunities and challenges facing Scotland’s existing built environment. BEFS is a supporting member of the Climate Heritage Network. On 27 August 2025, BEFS arranged an interactive conference for all stakeholders engaged with or interested in the future of buildings that currently serve as Places of Worship, or have previously done so, in all parts of Scotland.
The participative conference was held in The Pyramid in Anderston, Glasgow, a former Church of Scotland property that is now a community-owned multi-purpose hub. The event brought together planning authority decision makers and those actively involved in: owning, managing or running places of worship; funding places of worship; giving heritage advice, and any national organisation that has an interest in the sustainability of communities who may become owners of places of worship.
The 50 participants in attendance included Members of two Working Groups facilitated by BEFS: the Places of Worship Forum and the Conservation Officers Group, in addition to representatives of stakeholder bodies from the public, private and voluntary sector. The event purpose was to:
- Share best practice and exchange ideas;
- Highlight case studies and build connections;
- Discuss how best to approach the busy pipeline of pending applications;
- Explore perspectives from planning decision-makers, practitioners and communities.
This report summarises the main outcomes from the full-day event, which comprised presentations, facilitated breakout discussions, a strategic mapping session, funding and signposting information, an exhibition space, networking opportunities, and a tour of The Pyramid.
