What is scheduling?

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 gives Scottish Ministers the powers to compile and maintain a Schedule of monuments of national importance. Scheduling is the process of adding monuments to this list.

Historic Scotland, an executive agency of the Scottish Government, recommends monuments for scheduling, actively enourages positive management of scheduled monuments and controls work to them through the legal consent process.

Not all nationally important archaeological sites and monuments are eligible for scheduling. For instance, we cannot schedule portable objects, churches in use, occupied houses and wrecks that are already protected under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.

Who decides what is to be scheduled?

Historic Scotland deals directly with all matters affecting scheduled monuments, on behalf of Scottish Ministers. The final decision on what is scheduled rests with Historic Scotland.

How are sites selected for scheduling?

Most scheduling takes place as part of a rolling programme focusing on those parts of Scotland that appear to be under-scheduled, and where scheduling will most quickly make a positive difference. Historic Scotland may commission thematic research to inform this analysis.

How are sites assessed for national importance?

Historic Scotland assesses monuments against guidance and criteria set out by Scottish Ministers. This takes account of a wide range of factors, including artistic, archaeological, architectural, historic, traditional, aesthetic, scientific and social.

The Scottish Historic Environment Policy on scheduling contains more detail about protecting Scotland’s nationally important monuments.

Is scheduling the same as listing?

Scheduling is not the same as listing, which is designed to protect historic buildings and structures and is an entirely different legal process. However, both provide a foundation to ensure the management of change is informed.