Consents for scheduled monuments

Scheduled Monuments are legally protected sites of national importance. This means the written consent of Historic Environment Scotland is required for most works on them including repairs. This must be in place before the works begin. These pages explain what needs consent, why it matters, and how you can get advice and make your application.

Many scheduled monuments require little attention, but sometimes owners, occupiers and others may want to do work that would benefit a monument. Or they may want to do other work that would not affect the monument’s significance. This might include:

• Simple changes in land use

• More proactive management, perhaps using specialist conservation skills

• Other work on the land that would not affect the monument’s significance

• Geophysical survey to learn more about the monument

There are two types of consent that may be required for works. Scheduled monument consent covers most works within the monument. Metal and mineral detecting consent is needed for metal detecting and some surveys .

Find out more about works that need consent

Scheduled monuments and the information they contain are finite resources – they help tell the story of Scotland’s past. The consents system allows us to make sure that works are legal, suitable for the monument, well considered, and done in an appropriate way. It is a criminal offence to carry out works, or to allow works to be carried out, on a scheduled monument without consent. 

The value of a monument to the nation’s heritage is the main consideration in deciding applications for consent. Works on a scheduled monument should normally have minimal impact on a monument’s cultural significance.

As each monument will require treatment specific to its individual characteristics, significance and condition, any proposed change to it must be fully and clearly justified. Certain works may be appropriate at one monument, but not at another. The Historic Environment Scotland Scheduled Monument Consents Policy  guides decision-making.

The consent process allows us to provide targeted advice and expertise where appropriate to ensure that the important cultural value of our most important historic sites is maintained.

We normally recommend you contact us early on to take advantage of our free advice service. We can give advice about the works you are proposing, how to make an application and what information to include. After your application is submitted, it normally takes up to eight weeks to get a decision – but the process can be quicker and easier if you have discussed your plans with us in advance.

The scheduled monument consent process

Some monuments are both scheduled and listed. Where this is the case, only scheduled monument consent is required for any works (parts of the listed buildings legislation do not apply in this situation.) 

Scheduled monument consent is separate to the statutory planning process, but it may run in parallel in cases where planning permission is also required. Such cases are normally dealt with most effectively if applications for planning permission and scheduled monument consent are submitted at the same time. 

Our role in planning

For more information or if you have any questions, please email us at hmenquiries@hes.scot or contact us by phone on 0131 668 8716