Regeneration
Download our guidance on the sustainable reuse of historic buildings and read about examples of regeneration taking place across Scotland.
At Historic Environment Scotland, we champion the regeneration of historic buildings.
We offer advice, guidance and support around their use, reuse and adaptation. We advocate for sustainable reuse that protects the cultural significance of these buildings while keeping them in use and cared for.
Our grants and funding schemes support projects that promote and protect our historic environment, and we work with community groups who are interested in championing their local heritage and taking historic buildings into community ownership.
Our guidance
Below you can download our guidance relating to regeneration:
Managing Change in the Historic Environment: Use and Adaptation of Listed Buildings
This guidance note aims to support, promote and enable the continued use, reuse and adaptation of listed buildings.
Read moreGuide to Energy Retrofit of Traditional Buildings
This guide looks into the thermal retrofit of traditional buildings to improve their energy efficiency, through a range of fabric improvements measures to different elements of a structure.
Read moreConversion of Traditional Buildings Parts 1 & 2
Advice for practitioners, developers, building owners and local authorities regarding the application of the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 to the conversion of traditional buildings.
Read moreCase studies
Our series of Refurbishment Case Studies, includes examples of energy efficiency upgrades and repairs to historic buildings. They cover everything from wall and window upgrades in Edinburgh tenement flats to the installation of a biomass at a castle on Royal Deeside.
Browse all Refurbishment Case Studies
From a distillery in the Borders to a library in Orkney, our Use and Adaptation Case Studies use examples from all over Scotland to explore how change can be managed in listed buildings:
West Dunbartonshire Council Headquarters, Dumbarton
After years of uncertainty the Former Academy and Burgh halls became the new home of the West Dunbartonshire Council.
Read moreHawick Distillery, Scottish Borders
Adapting a former electricity company building to form the first distillery in the Scottish Borders since the start of the Victorian period.
Read moreThe Garment Factory, Glasgow
This case study illustrates how this garment factory was adapted from a Victorian warehouse into a distinctive modern office building.
Read moreIngram Centre, Kilmarnock
Adapting a vacant key town centre building into an innovative business centre.
Read moreForfar Academy, Angus
This case study illustrates how a 200-year-old school building in Forfar town centre was transformed to provide much-needed affordable homes.
Read moreMarr College, Troon
This case study illustrates how the 1930’s school was extended to upscale the school to 21st century.
Read moreStromness Library, Orkney
This case study illustrates how minimal interventions and early action brought an old library back into use as a creative arts centre.
Read moreDuns Primary School, Scottish Borders
This case study illustrates how the old high school was adapted into a smaller primary school by selectively demolishing parts of the historic high school to create a modern primary school.
Read moreBuildings at Risk Register
The Buildings at Risk Register (BARR) began in 1990 in response to concern at the growing number of Scottish buildings that were vacant and had fallen into a state of disrepair. It provides information about properties of architectural or historic merit that are considered to be ‘at risk’.
We've run the BARR as an in-house service since 2015. We commissioned a review of the register in 2024. Following the review, the decision was taken to pause the BARR. We're currently exploring alternative approaches to support the long-term sustainable reuse of historic buildings that are vacant, neglected or at risk of demolition.
During the pause, the existing BARR website will remain accessible as a resource, however it will not be updated and we are not accepting nominations for additions to the BARR.
Buildings at Risk Register Review
A review into the impact of the Buildings at Risk Register into bringing vacant buildings back into use.
Read moreRelated pages
Community ownership and empowerment
Across Scotland, community ownership is becoming an important tool for regeneration, sustainability, and social wellbeing.
Historic Environment Policy for Scotland
The historic environment matters us to all. This policy supports good decision making for Scotland's unique places.
Places of worship
These pages bring together advice, guidance, and support for protecting and adapting historic places of worship.
