About Us

20 May 2025

Share your views on the future of heritage designation

We have launched a public consultation on new strategy for the nation’s protected historic places.

A green landscape on a cloudy day. To the right, there is a small circular rock structure, to the left you can see two unusual looking mounds. Behind them you can see trees and fields.

Crawick Multiverse (© HES)  

We are gathering views from the public on its new draft strategy for heritage designations in Scotland.

Designation is the system that legally recognises and protects some of Scotland’s most culturally significant historic sites and places, including currently more than 55,000 historic buildings, archaeological sites and monuments, as well as gardens, battlefields and marine sites across the country.

To inform its new strategy, HES undertook a strategic review of the current system of designations which included targeted engagement with a range of stakeholders. We found that while there is broad support for Scotland’s heritage designation framework, stakeholders wanted us to be more forward-looking in how it carries out this work, setting clearer priorities, simplifying processes and embracing new technologies.

In response, the new strategy will look to lay the foundation for a more effective, strategic and proactive approach to designation in Scotland by:

  • Looking forward to develop a shared understanding of long-term priorities for heritage protection.
  • Improving data and records to ensure more accurate and reliable information supports heritage management and decision-making.
  • Improving services to make timely and transparent decisions through effective prioritisation and engagement, and by streamlining processes and innovation to improve efficiency and accessibility.
  • Understanding impact by gathering evidence of the benefits and impacts of heritage protection through research and engagement.

Dara Parsons, Head of Designations at HES, said:

Heritage designation has existed in Scotland since the 19th century, and in that time the context has changed dramatically. The way society values heritage has shifted, and we need to ensure our designation approach remains relevant, effective and fit to face future challenges.

“That’s why we’ve developed this new strategy, which sets out our direction for the next ten years. By 2035, our vision is that our protected historic places will more fully reflect Scotland's rich and diverse heritage. Protecting these places and providing accurate and accessible information about them will deliver better heritage outcomes and wider community benefits.

“Feedback from stakeholders has been vital in developing the strategy, and we’re keen to widen that engagement through this consultation. We’d like to hear from anyone that has an interest in how our historic places should be protected and managed now and in the future.”

Members of the public will have until 1 July to share their views. 

Share your views

About Designations

  • Designation has existed in some form in Scotland since 1882, when the Ancient Monuments Protection Act was introduced.
  • Listing began in 1947 under legislation which sought to provide a system of statutory designation for ‘buildings of special architectural or historic interest’ to work within the planning system.
  • The five principal national-level designations in Scotland are Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, The Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes, the Inventory of Battlefields and Historic Marine Protected Areas.

About Historic Environment Scotland (HES) 

  • We are the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. It is at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future, investigating and recording architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes across Scotland and caring for more than 300 properties of national importance. We are also the lead on delivering Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.
  • Historic Scotland, Scran, Canmore, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, and Edinburgh Castle are sub-brands of HES.
  • View our press pack and keep up to date by registering to receive our media releases. Already registered? You can unsubscribe at any time by following the unsubscribe link, included in every email.

Follow HES

Facebook: @HistoricEnvScotland | @VisitHistoricScotland
Instagram: @HistEnvScot | @historicscotland
Blog
LinkedIn

For further information, please contact:

Claire Mullaney
Historic Environment Scotland Media Office
07721 959 962
communications@hes.scot

Share