CERTIFICATE OF INTENTION NOT TO LIST (COINTL)

A Certificate is a legal guarantee that the building or buildings named in it will not be statutorily listed as being of special architectural or historic interest during the five years from the date on which the Certificate is granted. In the event that a Certificate is granted a planning authority cannot serve a Building Preservation Notice (BPN) on the property in question during this period. (A BPN is a form of temporary listing served by the local planning authority under Section 3 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1997).

COINTLs were introduced on 1 December 2011 by section 18 of the Historic Environment (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2011 which inserts section 5A into the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

A COINTL provides certainty for owners and developers considering works to a particular building. The principle of the COINTL process is not to exempt a building from listing, but to consider whether it may or may not meet the criteria for listing at an early stage of development and planning proposals. If issued, a Certificate grants a five-year period where there is a guarantee of no listing taking place.

Anyone can apply whether or not they own the building.

More information on COINTLs is found in our guidance sheet -   Certificate of Intention Not To List (COINTL) [PDF, 175kb]

To apply for a COINTL you must first complete the proposal form which can be submitted by email or by post.


Historic Scotland will list a building which is found to meet the criteria for special architectural or historic interest (see criteria in the Scottish Historic Environment Policy, Annex 2, at www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/shep). Each case is considered on a case by case basis and, in exceptional circumstances, we may not list a building which is found to meet the criteria for listing. We may not, in similar circumstances, review existing listings.

These circumstances may include planning applications which affect the character of the building, an appeal period or appeal against refusal of planning permission, and/or other development proposals. This policy is under review and will be revised as part of a wider examination of the Scottish Historic Environment Policy due for completion within the period of our Corporate Plan 2012-15.


A list of COINTLs will be published here as they are issued.