Current status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 30 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that Historic Environment Scotland introduce a policy to recommend to planning authorities that they serve a building preservation notice at the outset of any instance where it has been requested to assess a building for designation but where that building may be subject to development proposals, or otherwise at risk of demolition during the designation assessment process.
The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 sets out that it is for planning authorities to issue a Building Preservation Notice, as such, any policy Historic Environment Scotland may introduce would be guidance only and would not supersede the legislation.
Designation is not a barrier to development proposals or to applications for planning permission, rather it is designed to ensure that appropriate consideration of the cultural, social, environmental and economic value of Scotland’s historic environment is taken into account during any planning process.