{"id":27798,"date":"2020-09-29T16:01:15","date_gmt":"2020-09-29T15:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogsnew.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=27798"},"modified":"2020-09-28T16:14:48","modified_gmt":"2020-09-28T15:14:48","slug":"ihbcs-imho-governments-protecting-scotland-renewing-scotland-from-befs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=27798","title":{"rendered":"IHBC\u2019s \u2018IMHO\u2019: Government\u2019s \u2018Protecting Scotland, Renewing Scotland\u2019, from BEFS"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"person\"The Director of Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) offers his reflections on the \u2018Protecting Scotland, Renewing Scotland\u2019 government programme, highlighting areas of interest for the heritage sector.<\/h3>\n

image BEFS<\/em><\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

The low carbon economy does provide leverage for greater investment in the historic built environment<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

BEFS Director Euan Leitch writes:<\/p>\n

Protecting Scotland, Renewing Scotland: The Government\u2019s\u00a0Programme for Scotland 2020-2021<\/a>\u00a0was published on Tuesday. It covers the next seven months to March 2021. Neither heritage nor the historic environment are referred to directly within the programme but there are areas of direct and indirect interest.<\/p>\n

Large sums of money are associated with low carbon recovery and active travel but these were already set out in the 20-21 Budget. Much focus remains on fuel poverty and retrofit, with one mention of repair and maintenance in relation to town centres. The low carbon economy does provide leverage for greater investment in the historic built environment and will hopefully be more fully addressed in the imminent Infrastructure Investment Plan, Review of the Town Centre Action Plan, and the update of the Climate Change Plan.<\/p>\n

While it may be disappointing not to see the historic environment specifically referenced it is noteworthy that the overriding themes of inclusion, low carbon and localism are consistent with the findings of the recent meetings of the\u00a0COVID Historic Environment Resilience Forum<\/a>. The Scottish Government is further looking at the importance of regional networks, which also chimes with our \u2018call for ideas<\/a>\u2019.<\/p>\n

The following items are of direct interest:<\/p>\n