To check if a building, site or place is designated
There are two ways to search for designations through our portal:
For listed buildings, we recommend you carry out both a record and map search.
A quick guide about how to search is below. If you haven’t read the detailed guidance in our designations search user guide we recommend that you do this before searching. If you are still unsure, you can contact our designations team on 0131 668 8914 or by email at designations@hes.scot.
Record (text-based) search
- Go to https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/search
- Enter the name, keyword or reference number into the box and click search
- Results are displayed in map and list form
- Zoom in and click on an icon on the map to find the designation, or click on the designation in the list below
- Zoom and pan to correct designation
- Not the right result? Change your search terms and/or try a map search
Map search
- Go to https://portal.historicenvironment.scot
- Click Map search (opens Designations Map Search website)
- Zoom in and pan across map to the correct location or enter place in search box
- Zoom in and click on an icon on the map to find the designation, or click on the designation in the list below
- Too many results? Clear your search, change your search terms and/or use filters to narrow your search
- Click on the designated area or listed building
What our map records show
All scheduled monuments, entries on the inventory of gardens and designed landscapes, entries on the inventory of historic battlefields and historic marine protected areas have a legally defined boundary which is shaded on the map as a shape known as a polygon to help you to identify it. It is generally easiest to search for these designations using the map.
Listed buildings are shown as coloured dots (known as point data) on the relevant building on the map. Category A listed buildings are red, category B are blue and category C are pink.
The names of listed buildings tend to change frequently over time and the listed building record may not have been updated to reflect that change. For example, a factory may now be converted into flats and while the building remains listed the address of the site may not have been updated so a record search on its own using the new flat addresses would not show that the building was listed.
All new and newly revised listings are given both point data and a polygon (shaded in blue) like the other designations. However, the majority of listings have point data only.
The dots on the map (or point data) which indicate the presence of a listed building may not always be accurate. Sometimes, dots have been placed on the wrong building or exactly on top of each other making it difficult to determine if there are a number of different listings on the same site. While we are working to correct these, because of the large number of listed buildings (over 47,000), there are a small amount of inaccuracies. Please email us at designations@hes.scot if you spot inaccurate point data.
Reliance on search function
Although this search function has been provided for convenience, if you intend to rely on the list, it is your responsibility to check the list as a whole and not rely exclusively on the search function. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of a reliance on the search function and failure to check the full list of designations. Find out more about this in our terms and conditions.
Searching for and commenting on designation consultations
Historic Environment Scotland welcomes participation in our decision-making on designating sites and places.
Through our Portal, you can search for and comment on consultations by Historic Environment Scotland to add, amend, and remove entries to the list of buildings of special architectural and historic interest, the schedule of monuments of national importance, the inventory of gardens and designed landscapes, and the inventory of historic battlefields.
Applications to add, amend and remove a designation are published on the portal and are open to comment until shortly before we take our decision.
Searching for designation consultations
The search tool allows you to search by a case number if you know it (e.g. 30005678), or by case type (e.g. designation enquiry). You can also filter out the results to select only cases ‘in progress’ – these are the cases where we’re inviting comments as we haven’t yet made a decision.
A map screen appears which helps you to find the consultation you’re looking for.
What you can comment on
We will consider comments and representations which are material to our decision-making, such as:
- Your understanding of the cultural significance of the site or place and whether it meets the criteria for designation.
- The purpose and implications of designating the site or place. We consider whether these are relevant to the case.
- Development proposals related to the site or place. Where there are development proposals, we consider whether to proceed with designation in line with our designation policy.
- The accuracy of our information.
You can find our designation policy and selection guidance on our website.
Comments we don’t consider
We do not consider comments and representations on non-relevant/material issues, such as:
- Economic considerations
- Abusive or offensive remarks
- Whether you personally like, or do not like, a proposal
How to make a comment
You can make comments through our Portal, by clicking on the ‘email your comments about this case’ on the case page. This generates an email with the relevant case details added that will be sent to the Designations Team..
If you are unable to email your comments please phone us on 0131 668 8914.
How we deal with your comments
You will receive an acknowledgement when you send us your comments.
When a consultation closes we consider the comments before arriving at our decision.
We include a summary of comments which are material to our decision-making in our report of handling. This is the document which sets out how we have reached our decision and it is published on our portal. Keeping an eye on our portal is the best way for you to find out about the outcome of any case. We will, however, notify an owner/occupier and the planning authority when we issue our decision.
It is important to note that a proposal to designate a site or place will not be stopped just because a lot of people object to it or are in favour of it. Sometimes our work can produce opposing views and it is our role to ensure that our decision-making is transparent and that the reasons for our decision are taken clearly, and in line with our policies.
For information on how we take decisions please see our website.
You can also find information on how we treat your personal data on our Privacy Notice.
Designation applications are published on the Portal. The names and addresses of applicants are made available unless the applicant requests that their details are not published. Other personal or special category data is removed from documents before publication.
Individuals who wish to make a comment or representation about a designation consultation will need to provide their email address, but do not need to provide other personal information such as names, or addresses.
We do not publish the personal data or detailed comments in our report on handling. Please be aware, however, that we are a Scottish public authority and are therefore subject to the provisions and obligations set out in the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs). This means that any person who makes a valid request for recorded information held by us (subject to certain exemptions and exceptions) will be entitled to receive it. For the avoidance of doubt we may disclose information if we consider we are required to do so under FOISA and EIRs.
Searching for and commenting on applications for scheduled monument consent
Historic Environment Scotland welcomes participation in our decision-making on determining applications for scheduled monument consent.
Searching for decisions
You can find information on scheduled monument consent decisions on our Portal.
The search tool allows you to search by a case number if you know it (e.g. 30005678), or by case type (e.g. scheduled monument consent). You can also filter out the results to select only cases ‘in progress’ – these are the only cases where we’re inviting comments as we haven’t yet made a decision.
A map screen appears which helps you to find the decision you’re looking for.
What you can comment on
We will consider representations which are material to our decision-making, such as:
- Potential impacts on biodiversity or protected species and places.
- If you think that a proposal may conflict with our Scheduled Monument Consents Policy.
- If you think a proposal is supported by our Scheduled Monument Consents Policy, for example it would provide public benefits that we should take into account.
You can find our Scheduled Monument Consents Policy on our website.
Comments we don’t consider
We do not consider comments and representations on non-relevant/material issues, such as:
- Economic considerations
- Abusive or offensive remarks
- Whether you personally like, or do not like, a proposal
For scheduled monument consents applications we normally issue our decisions within eight weeks, but sometimes more quickly than this. If you wish to make a representation on a scheduled monument consent application then please contact us as soon as possible and we can make sure we leave enough time to consider your comments.
How to make a comment
Comments can be made electronically through our Portal, by clicking on the ‘Email your comments about this case’ on the case page. This generates an email with the relevant case details added so that we can tell what case your comments refer to.
If you would prefer to contact us through other means, you can always write to us at Heritage Directorate, Historic Environment Scotland, Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh EH9 1SH.
How we deal with your comments
You will receive an acknowledgement when you send us your comments.
Once we receive all the comments on a case, we analyse these before arriving at our decision.
We include a summary of comments which are material to our decision-making in our report on handling. This is the document which sets out how we have reached our decision.
It is important to note that a proposal to issue scheduled monument consent will not be stopped just because a lot of people object to it or are in favour of it. Sometimes our work can produce very opposing views and it is our role to ensure that our decision-making is transparent and that the reasons for our decision are taken clearly, and in line with our policies.
Keeping an eye on our Portal is the best way for you to find out about the outcome of any case. Once we have arrived at our decision, this will be made available on our Portal. We will, however, also contact everyone who made comments to us when we issue our decision.
For information on how we take decisions please see our website.
You can also find information on how we treat your personal data on our Privacy Notice.
Scheduled monument consent applications are published on the Portal. The names and addresses of applicants are made available. Any other personal or special category data will be removed from documents before publication.
Individuals who wish to make a comment or representation about a scheduled monument consent application will need to provide their email address in sending comments, but do not need to provide other personal information such as names, or addresses.
However, providing this information is necessary if you want us to tell you when we have reached a decision. We do not publish the personal data or detailed comments in our report on handling. Please be aware, however, that we are a Scottish public authority and are therefore subject to the provisions and obligations set out in the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs). This means that any person who makes a valid request for recorded information held by us (subject to certain exemptions and exceptions) will be entitled to receive it. For the avoidance of doubt we may disclose information if we consider we are required to do so under FOISA and EIRs.