Listing explained

How will being listed affect me?

Listing will only begin to affect you if you decide to alter or extend the building. At this point you will need to consult with your local planning authority to see if they think you should apply for listed building consent (LBC).

Will I be consulted?

Although not required by legislation, Historic Scotland makes reasonable effort to consult the owner or occupier of a property under consideration for listing. This consultation gives us the opportunity to explain fully what a listing means, to discuss the significance of the property with you and to discuss and advise on any conservation issues you may have.

Will I be notified of new lists and amendments to existing lists?

Once the planning authority has received the final list from Historic Scotland they must notify owners, lease-holders and occupiers that their buildings have been included in, or removed from, the list. They need not advise of any changes to existing lists. Where Historic Scotland is making significant changes to these, however, we will have sought to consult with the owner in advance.

What benefits are there to being listed?

Listing will protect the special character of your building. As an owner, you will have access to useful advice and information from Historic Scotland and your local planning authority. A survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors showed that in 2001 rental values for listed offices grew by 6.5% in comparison to 3.8% for unlisted offices and they have also out-performed unlisted offices over the last 21 year period due to faster rates of rental growth.

Certain works which have listed building consent are eligible for zero-rated VAT. This requires that the work has been given listed building consent and has been carried out by a VAT registered building contractor. Listed Places of Worship are now partially exempt from VAT for repair. See Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

For more information contact HM Revenue and Customs (who oversee the VAT relief) by phoning the National Advice Service on 0845 010 9000, or email enquiries.sco@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk or you can write to HM Revenue and Customs, Written Enquiries, Portcullis House, 21 India Street, Glasgow, G2 4PZ. For more information on this contact HM Revenue and Customs.

Will the value of my house fall?

There is no evidence to suggest that listing will have a negative effect on the value of your house. On the contrary, listing marks it out as being a building of special interest and character. It is mentioned by estate agents as a selling point as a mark of quality.

Can you make me undo things that have been done in the past before the building was listed?

No. A building is listed as it is at the point of addition to the lists; you will not be asked by Historic Scotland to undo any change retrospectively.

How can I appeal against listing?

Although there is no formal right of appeal against listing, Historic Scotland is always prepared to consider people's views. Listing decisions are made solely in relation to the architectural or historic interest of a building, and any reassessment of a building will be made on the same basis.

If you wish to make an appeal against a listing, please write to; Historic Scotland Inspectorate, Listing Team, Room 2.20, Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1SH. Please indicate why you consider that the property is no longer of special interest.

Where can I see the lists?

The list can be accessed via the following sites:

• Planning offices
• Historic Scotland

Historic Scotland and RCAHMS also provide a link to the lists through a map base, through the PASTMAP website.

How many buildings have been listed?

There are 46,969 listed buildings (as at 29/06/07)

Approximately 8 percent are in Category A, 51 percent in Category B and the remainder in Category C(S). This number will change as the resurveys are conducted.

Less than 1 percent of the nation’s total building stock is listed.