---
title: "National Centre for Retrofitting Traditional Buildings"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000811294"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000811294"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000811294.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000811294.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND"
published: "2026-02-23"
---

# National Centre for Retrofitting Traditional Buildings

Buyer: HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000811294

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## Summary

Historic Environment Scotland is actively inviting tenders for the construction of the National Centre for Retrofitting Traditional Buildings in Stirling. This project, tagged under the Tender stage, aims to revolutionise the retrofit of traditional buildings using low-carbon materials and methods. The procurement process for this works contract follows an "open procedure," ensuring transparent competition. The centre will function from The Engine Shed in Stirling, with submissions closing on 24 March 2026 at 17:00. The tender is valued at £710,000 and encourages electronic submissions through the Public Contracts Scotland platform. Key project objectives include embodied and operational carbon reduction alongside extensive knowledge transfer activities.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses experienced in delivering complete building solutions. With a focus on sustainable practices, including modular off-site construction and integrating advanced low-carbon technologies, companies specialising in eco-friendly construction materials and methods are highly encouraged to apply. The lab seeks to showcase innovations in using Scottish timber products, aiming to boost Scotland's role as a leader in sustainable construction. This creates an ideal setting for contractors with expertise in using home-grown engineered timber and those interested in contributing to the circular economy within the built environment. Opportunities for knowledge transfer and educational interaction further position this project as a growth avenue for the involved business entities.

## Notice

National Centre for Retrofitting Traditional Buildings

### Lot Information

Lot 1

This notice relates to a contract opportunity relating to the building of the Retrofit Lab, which is to be Historic Environment Scotland's new Scottish National Centre for Retrofit of Traditional Buildings. The new building is to be located next to and operated from The Engine Shed, Historic Environment Scotland's National Conservation Centre, in Stirling. HES has been awarded funding from Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) through their Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) Fund to establish the Retrofit Lab, a centre for innovation in the retrofit of traditional buildings and the use of low carbon retrofit materials. This project is being developed in partnership with Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (BE-ST). BE-ST is Scotland's national innovation centre for the built environment, working to accelerate the sector's just transition to zero carbon. BE-ST collaborates with industry, academia, the public sector, and communities to drive research, innovation, and commercialisation, through the adoption of advanced construction materials, products, and technologies. As part of this mission, BE-ST has launched the Mass Timber Centre of Excellence: a dedicated facility to advance the use of homegrown engineered timber in construction, strengthen the supply chain, and promote Scotland as a leader in sustainable building solutions. Project Objectives: The primary role for the Retrofit Lab is 'Knowledge Transfer' and will comprise of the following key components: 1. Welcome: Facilities to support the activities of the building and complement those at The Engine Shed. 2. Learning Space: Focus on improving the energy efficiency of traditional buildings through education, training, promoting best practice and demonstrating practical technical solutions. 3. Equipment Library: Train and educate on how to use scientific equipment associated with retrofit and provide equipment that can be used in other locations to inform understanding of buildings and success of interventions. Therefore, the primary Retrofit Lab activity will include: - Lectures, presentations, classroom learning; - Display, exhibition; and - Demonstration, workshops, interaction with equipment. Project Opportunities: The Retrofit Lab project is to be a demonstrator for 1. Embodied Carbon: - Prioritisation of local and low carbon material specification, in particular: home-grown Scottish engineered timber structure, Scottish timber internal linings and external cladding, Scottish natural insulation products and floor finishes. - Prioritisation of circular economy design and specification: reduce, reuse, recycle; and - Modular off-site construction: prefabrication, designed for disassembly, demountable for reuse, minimum waste. 2. Operational Carbon: - Fabric first approach: High levels of airtightness and insulation, control of solar gains; - Highly efficient technologies utilising low-carbon energy: Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP), Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR), LED Lighting; - On-site renewables: PV solar panels; - Provision of battery storage to align the use of solar energy generation to suit demand; and - Responsive Local Controls HES is seeking a supplier experienced in developing and delivering complete building solutions to achieve the project objectives and realise the project opportunities.. HES was granted Planning Permission for the Retrofit Lab by Stirling Council on 16th May 2025, Ref: 25/00141/FUL

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB550180 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Works |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning, Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 23 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 24 Mar 2026 |
| Future notice date | 21 Nov 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £710,000 |
| Lots value | £710,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH9 1SH |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | Southside/Newington |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh South |
| Delivery location | TLM77 Perth and Kinross, and Stirling |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 45 - Construction work

### Codes

- 45000000 - Construction work

## Release History

- 23 Feb 2026 at 00:00 - Tender - PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB550180
- 26 Sep 2025 at 00:00 - Planning - PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP540093

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP540093
  National Centre for Retrofitting Traditional Buildings - National Centre for Retrofitting Traditional Buildings
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB550180
  National Centre for Retrofitting Traditional Buildings - National Centre for Retrofitting Traditional Buildings

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://historicenvironment.scot
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000811294
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=820010
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=820010
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000811294. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000811294.json.