On 1 October the IHBC welcomed the long anticipated arrival of Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the new non-departmental Public Body (NDPB) which was formed following the transfer of functions from Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), while a new online planning portal has also been launched.
IHBC members may be especially interested in the changes brought about as a result of this, including a new right of appeal against decisions on scheduling, listing and scheduled monument consent.
Historic Scotland writes:
As of 1st October 2015, a new online planning portal is to be launched as the functions of Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) transfer to the new Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) Historic Environment Scotland. Formed to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment, the new organisation incorporates the strengths of two bodies who have been managing and recording the historic environment for over a century.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) was formed by the Historic Environment Scotland Act 2014. The act also outlines some changes relating to the regulatory work of the Heritage Management Directorate, who provide advice, guidance and policies on key subjects relating to the historic environment from designation to listings and scheduling. As well as simplifying procedures, the changes aim to make the process of planning in relation to the historic environment more transparent.
Throughout September 2015, the Heritage Management Directorate of Historic Environment Scotland carried out extensive work to let stakeholders and frontline planners see the final details of how the new historic environment legislation will affect them. This work involved conducting outreach sessions with local authorities across the country, and publishing the new Historic Environment Circular which can be accessed online.
Barbara Cummins, Director of Heritage Management for Historic Environment Scotland, said: ‘Although many elements of our work will remain the same, there are a number of key changes that will come into effect through the new legislation. This includes the introduction of a right of appeal against decisions on scheduling, listing and scheduled monument consent, as well as the publishing of our decisions online through a new planning portal. The Historic Environment Circular provides a comprehensive guide to these changes and Historic Environment Scotland’s wider role in the planning system.’
‘We are confident these changes will enable us to be more transparent in what we do to support the management of the country’s historic environment. As a result, we will be accountable to and deliver a better service for the Scottish people.’
From 1st of October 2015, Historic Environment Scotland will publish decisions taken in relation to scheduling monuments, listing buildings and handling scheduled monument consent online. Advice on planning applications will continue to be posted on the relevant local authority’s planning portal. Historic Environment Scotland will continue to be a statutory consultee on applications for consents within the planning system affecting certain aspects of the historic environment.
The Historic Environment Circular 1 is available to read or download as a PDF
Watch a short video about what the changes mean
