{"id":38660,"date":"2023-12-29T17:53:08","date_gmt":"2023-12-29T17:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogsnew.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=38660"},"modified":"2023-12-29T17:53:52","modified_gmt":"2023-12-29T17:53:52","slug":"ihbc-welcomes-scotlands-new-sustainable-investment-tool-sit-from-hes-befs-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=38660","title":{"rendered":"IHBC welcomes Scotland\u2019s new Sustainable Investment Tool (SIT), from HES, BEFS and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The IHBC has welcomed Scotland\u2019s new Sustainable Investment Tool (SIT), which enables visualisation around decision making for projects and investment in built heritage, a tool supporting the strategy for Scotland\u2019s historic environment – Our Past, Our Future<\/em>.<\/h3>\n
image: SITOOL.co.uk<\/em><\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

IHBC Director Se\u00e1n O\u2019Reilly said: \u2018The IHBC\u2019s next Annual School, from 12-15 June 2024 in Reading – #IHBCReading2024 \u2013 will look at policy and economics in \u2018Place & Building Care<\/em>\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Topics will include introducing new tools and technology that, properly used, can help save money or reduce regulation, or both together.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Services and innovations such as the new Sustainable Investment Tool (SIT) from BEFS and its partners can help play a critical role in these matters!\u2019<\/p>\n

BEFS writes:<\/p>\n

The ability of the sector to demonstrate its continued value and impact across a changing landscape, and the importance that investment in built heritage and the historic environment has for Scotland, has never been more significant.<\/p>\n

Investment in our existing buildings and heritage contributes to positive outcomes for people and places across a huge number of areas, including employment, the environment, good places for communities, healthy town centres, and homes. Sustainable investment is also important as current economic conditions and climatic impacts increase the challenges felt by all, including our existing built environment.<\/p>\n

The Sustainable Investment Tool (SIT) enables visualisation around decision making for projects and investment in built heritage. It will help organisations as well as community and interest groups with heritage assets to explore sustainability, enabling greater resilience for Scotland\u2019s places.<\/p>\n

The SIT is released by Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS), with the support of Historic Environment Scotland, on behalf of the Our Place in Time \u2013 Built Heritage Investment Group (BHIG) and supports the new strategy for Scotland\u2019s historic environment \u2013 Our Past, Our Future.<\/p>\n

Using the SIT will help support the decision-making process by demonstrating the Economic, Cultural, Environmental and Social outcomes of potential investment in built heritage across a range of categories.<\/p>\n

The structure the SIT provides can aid communication of the value heritage assets (and their related projects) can bring across a wide range of indicators \u2013 ultimately broadening the understanding of heritage value and heritage potential. It is not intended to be a definitive solution to prioritisation and investment decisions.<\/p>\n

The SIT is useful across to wide range of users, including: community groups, asset holders, funders and practitioners. It will help start conversations about wider value, advocating for the benefits heritage assets deliver, and demonstrating how built heritage contributes to positive outcomes for people across wellbeing, net zero and the economy….<\/p>\n

Ailsa Macfarlane, BEFS Director said: “This has been a truly collaborative piece of work, created through an iterative process of consultation and discussion with input from across the heritage sector and beyond, with discussions around difficult decisions as the starting point. We would like to thank all those who engaged and brought their expertise, knowledge and enthusiasm to the many conversations and consultations.”<\/p>\n

Emily Tracey, Head of Policy, Strategy and Systems at HES: “We welcome the launch of the Sustainable Investment Tool, a collaborative effort which showcases the industry\u2019s collective commitment to innovation and sustainable development. It will provide a valuable framework for making informed decisions that sustain and enhance the benefits of Scotland\u2019s historic environment for people and communities, now and into the future.<\/p>\n

“This will be an important tool for those involved in the management of historic sites and for the sector more widely, and we look forward to exploring how this innovative resource can be applied as part of our work to manage the assets in our care, to further understand and maximise their cultural, social, environmental and economic significance.”<\/p>\n

THE STORY OF THE SIT….<\/h2>\n

The project to develop the SIT began in recognition of the difficult decisions to be made for our existing built environment, in the face of economic and climatic impacts.<\/p>\n

Many organisations and individuals gave their time, views, methodologies and valued critique to develop a suggested set of Principles for Prioritisation<\/em>. These Principles were discussed at a public event in Edinburgh in February 2019\u2026.<\/p>\n

These discussions determined that:<\/p>\n