Current status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 30 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that Historic Environment Scotland revise its policy to not normally list buildings that are subject to development proposals at an advanced stage, in light of reports of recent cases where this has been seen as counterproductive.
As detailed in its ‘Designation Policy and Selection Guidance’, Historic Environment Scotland aims to act proportionately within the Scottish Regulators Code of Practice.
Although that means usually avoiding any unnecessary intervention in the planning process or other regulatory processes where there are development proposals by adding a new designation, the individual circumstances are fully considered, including the implications of the proposed designation and the effect development proposals would have in each case.
I have asked Historic Environment Scotland to write to the member to explain its policy further.