How we take decisions on designations and casework
A break down of the decisions made by our Designations Team and our Planning, Consents and Advice Service, and who is responsible for approving them.
The Historic Environment Scotland Act 2014 established the functions we undertake. This includes activity covered by secondary legislation or regulation that deals with designation and the management of change for the historic environment.
Responsibility for these functions is delegated to our Heritage Directorate. The delegated decision making levels for this activity is set out below.
Designations
The designations team has delegated authority to make decisions about adding, removing or amending protected historic places. In exceptional cases advice may be sought from the Director of Heritage.
Statutory decisions are taken either by the Head of Designations, Deputy Heads of Designations or exceptionally the Director of Heritage. Non-statutory minor changes to records, such as text updates or adding photographs, can be made by Designation or Senior Designation Officers.
You can see a full break down below.
Decision approvals in Designations
For listed buildings
Decision | Approval given by |
|---|---|
New listing | Head of Designations (Grade 6) |
Delisting where structure survives | Head of Designations (Grade 6) |
Change to or from Category A listing | Head of Designations (Grade 6) |
Change to statutory information | Deputy Head of Designations (Grade 5) |
Delisting where structure no longer exists | Deputy Head of Designations (Grade 5) |
Change to or from Category B and/or C | Deputy Head of Designations (Grade 5) |
Decision not to list a proposed site or place | Deputy Head of Designations (Grade 5) |
Certificate of Intention not to List | Head of Designations (Grade 6) |
For scheduled monuments
Decision | Approval given by |
|---|---|
New designation | Head of Designations (Grade 6) |
Removal of existing designation where the structure survives | Head of Designations (Grade 6) |
Change to statutory information | Deputy Head of Designations (Grade 5) |
Change to extent of a scheduled monument | Deputy Head of Designations (Grade 5) |
Decision not to schedule a proposed site or place | Deputy Head of Designations (Grade 5) |
For the Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes:
Decision | Approval given by |
|---|---|
New designation | Head of Designations (Grade 6) |
Removal of existing designation | Head of Designations (Grade 6) |
Changing the extent of an existing designation | Deputy Head of Designations (Grade 5) |
Major change to the information in the record | Deputy Head of Designations (Grade 5) |
Decision not to add a proposed site or place to the inventory | Deputy Head of Designations (Grade 5) |
For the Inventory of historic battlefields:
Decision | Approval given by |
|---|---|
New designation | Head of Designations (Grade 6) |
Removal of existing designation | Head of Designations (Grade 6) |
Changing the extent of an existing designation | Deputy Head of Designations (Grade 5) |
Major change to the information in the record | Deputy Head of Designations (Grade 5) |
Decision not to add a proposed site or place to the inventory | Deputy Head of Designations (Grade 5) |
For Historic Marine Protection Areas
Decision | Approval given by |
|---|---|
Advice to Scottish Government on a new designation | Head of Designations (Grade 6) |
Removal of or change to an existing designation | Head of Designations (Grade 6) |
Decision not to recommend a new designation | Deputy Head of Designations (Grade 5) |
Planning and consents
Our Planning, Consents and Advice Service has delegated authority to deal with all consultations reaching us. In exceptional cases advice may be sought from the Director of Heritage.
Cases which are innovative, high profile, controversial or otherwise challenging are discussed internally before a final view is taken. Responsibilities may be delegated to cover temporary absences. The Head of Planning and the Head of Consents may delegate authority to each other or another Head of Service within Heritage when required.
You can see a full break down below.
Decision approvals in Planning, Consents and Advice
For scheduled monument consent
Decision | Approval given by | Quality control |
|---|---|---|
Grant | Deputy Head (Grade 5) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
Refuse | Head of Consents (Grade 6) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
Notify | Head of Consents (Grade 6) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
For scheduled monument enforcement action/decision
Decision | Approval given by | Quality control |
|---|---|---|
Informal resolution | Deputy Head (Grade 5) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
Formal Notice (Enforcement, Stop or Temporary Stop) | Head of Consents (Grade 6) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
Prosecution | Director (Grade 7) | Head of Consents (Grade 6) |
For planning/EIA/LBC/CAC applications
Decision | Approval given by | Quality control |
|---|---|---|
Objection | Head of Planning (Grade 6) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
No objection with comments | Deputy Head (Grade 5) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
No comment/standing advice | Senior Officer (Grade 4) | Senior Officer (Grade 4) |
For development plan advice (NPF4/RSS/LDP)
Decision | Approval given by | Quality control |
|---|---|---|
Challenge sufficiency of evidence report | Head of Planning (Grade 6) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
Formal representation on Proposed Plan | Deputy Head (Grade 5) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
General comments/advice on Proposed Plan or Delivery Programme | Deputy Head (Grade 5) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
General comments/ advice during plan preparation | Senior Officer (Grade 4) | Senior Officer (Grade 4) |
No comments/standing advice | Senior Officer (Grade 4) | Senior Officer (Grade 4) |
For Strategic Environmental Assessment
Decision | Approval given by | Quality control |
|---|---|---|
Challenge pre-screening determination | Deputy Head (Grade 5) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
Challenge screening view (out to in) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) | Senior Officer (Grade 4) |
Challenge adequacy and/or raise compliance issues | Deputy Head (Grade 5) | Senior Officer (Grade 4) |
General policy and principle-based advice on scope or adequacy of assessment | Senior Officer (Grade 4) | Senior Officer (Grade 4) |
No comments/standing advice | Senior Officer (Grade 4) | Senior Officer (Grade 4) |
For Legislation and national/regional/local level plans, programmes, policies, strategies and guidance
Decision | Approval given by | Quality control |
|---|---|---|
Advice on a novel or contentious case/significant interest for the heritage sector | Head of Planning (Grade 6) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
Seeking material changes and/or commits HES to support delivery | Deputy Head (Grade 5) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
General policy and principle-based comments/advice | Senior Officer (Grade 4) | Senior Officer (Grade 4) |
No comments/standing advice | Senior Officer (Grade 4) | Senior Officer (Grade 4) |
For advice to Reporters or Ministers e.g. Appeals, notified applications, examinations or similar procedures
Decision | Approval given by | Quality control |
|---|---|---|
Scheduled monument consent – formal statements etc | Head of Consents (Grade 6) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
Planning appeal instructions, formal statements etc. | Head of Planning (Grade 6) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
Additional comments | Deputy Head (Grade 5) | Deputy Head (Grade 5) |
No change in position/no comments | Senior Officer (Grade 4) | Senior Officer (Grade 4) |
General advice is approved and quality-controlled by a Senior Officer (Grade 4).
Responses to press enquires and to delegated Chief Executive and Director correspondence are approved by a Head (Grade 6) and quality-controlled by a Deputy Head (Grade 5).
Planning performance reporting
Our performance in the planning system is reported on annually. You can download our latest statement here: