Our Regulatory Framework

We have a role in the Scottish planning system, offering advice on decisions that can affect the historic environment. We also have other formal roles and duties in other change management processes and consenting systems.

There are two key purposes to our regulatory and advisory role. The first is to protect and seek positive change for the historic environment. The second is to demonstrate how the historic environment can make a real difference to people’s lives.

Above all, we want to empower people and enable good decisions.

Our Regulatory Framework describes our approach to our roles taking decisions and providing advice on managing Scotland’s historic environment. It covers six main areas of our work:

• How we use listing, scheduling and other designations to create Protected Historic Places, and make sure they're looked after

• Our work to address dangerous buildings and conduct building surveys, including the threated building survey programme

• How we're putting the environment at the heart of public sector activity through environmental assessments

• Our role in the planning system  including advice on planning permissions and listed building consents

• The part we play in the management of all seven World Heritage Sites in Scotland

Anyone who engages with these services or wants to understand more about the decisions we take and the advice we give is encouraged to download the framework. You’ll find it full of useful links to sources of other information.

The framework also describes the goals and principles that underpin our work and how we will respond to challenges facing Scotland, including the climate emergency and ecological crisis. We're committed to using our regulatory and advisory roles to take positive action.

Our principles describe our focus as a modern, forward-looking, outcome-focused, proactive and enabling regulator. We will be dynamic, solution-focused, evidence driven, accessible and outcome-focused.

We have also set long-term goals help deliver our vision and give a shared understanding of what success looks like. Focusing on these goals keeps our work targeted and relevant:

• Valuing our heritage

• Looking after our heritage

• Improving equality

• Empowering communities

• Building a better future

• Responding to our changing climate

• Restoring biodiversity