HES and planning in Edinburgh Steven Robb – Historic Environment Scotland

Historic Environment Scotland is the lead public body established to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment. We were formed in 2015 in a merger between Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS). We are a non-departmental public body with charitable status and are governed by a Board of Trustees, who were appointed by Scottish Ministers.

We’re responsible for more than 300 properties of national importance We’re responsible for more than 300 properties of national importance. Buildings and monuments in our care include Edinburgh Castle and numerous smaller sites, which together draw more than 3 million visitors per year. We’re responsible for more than 300 properties of national importance. Buildings and monuments in our care include Edinburgh Castle and numerous smaller sites, which together draw more than 3 million visitors per year.

We’re also responsible for internationally significant collections including more than 5 million drawings, photographs, negatives and manuscripts, along with 20 million aerial images of locations across the world. Pastmap – online website available to all – charts every listed building, conservation area, garden and designed landscape, scheduled monument, battlefield etc.

We invest about £14 million a year in national and local organisations, supporting building repairs, ancient monuments, archaeological work, the Conservation Area Partnership Scheme, and the voluntary sector. Whitehouse - Craigmillar

Our conservation experts provide guidance, training and technical research into Scotland’s built environment. Through our outreach programme, we promote community and individual learning engagement with Scotland’s heritage. We contribute to the Scottish Government’s strategy to tackle climate change and reduce Scotland’s carbon footprint.

We lead and enable Scotland’s first historic environment strategy Our Place in Time. Our Place in Time, published in March 2014, is Scotland’s first ever Historic Environment Strategy. It is an overarching document that aims to bring all parts of the sector together to work in partnership - to deliver positive outcomes for the historic environment.

Heritage Directorate One team covers Scotland – split into East and West and Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments.

Heritage Directorate Consulted on Planning Permission, Listed Building Consent and Conservation Area Consent. Planning Permission HES is consulted on developments that affect category A listed buildings or their setting. Also Battlefields, Designed Gardens and landscapes, scheduled ancient monuments. Listed Building Consent Development that affects a Category A or B listed building. Our only involvement in Category C listed buildings is substantial demolition. Conservation Area Consent Demolition of unlisted buildings within a conservation area. Category A listed buildings

Planning Permission Setting of Listed Buildings

Assessing Setting Setting can be important to the way in which historic structures or places are understood, appreciated and experienced. Where development is proposed it is important to: 1.) identify the historic assets that might be affected 2.) define the setting of each historic asset 3.) assess the impact of any new development on this

We believe, and agree with your Council’s CAA, that the field concerned is important to the wider setting of the Category A listed house and that consequently the development proposed would adversely affect its setting and that of the historic estate. It is bounded by the listed estate walling which allows the house’s setting to remain in open ground. Open views of the mature woodland that currently surround the house would be lost from Frogston Road West, and open views to (and from) the belvedere may also be altered.

Listed Building Consent Alterations and extensions to A and B listed buildings.

- architectural or historic interest - close historical association Listing buildings Criteria – The Historic Environment Scotland Policy Statement 2016 sets out the criteria we use to decide if a building merits listing. Main reasons for selecting a building for listing are: - age and rarity - architectural or historic interest - close historical association While the former Comiston Farmhouse survives largely intact, it is not considered to be a notable example of its building type. Furthermore, its special interest has been affected by the extensive change to its rural and agricultural setting and the loss of its associated steading. Developer proposed demolition and erection of 37 flats. Officers report does not even mention the loss of the building Councillors refused permission contrary to officer recommendation on policy grounds relating to the new development Reporters dismissed the appeal but also do not reference the existing building. Success based on the fact that the new scheme is not acceptable – no-one other than the community seems to want to talk about the existing building

This does not mean the building is of no interest. Comiston Farmhouse ‘While the former Comiston Farmhouse survives largely intact, it is not considered to be a notable example of its building type. Furthermore, its special interest has been affected by the extensive change to its rural and agricultural setting and the loss of its associated steading’. This does not mean the building is of no interest. There should be a way of assessing the importance of the building to the area. Developer proposed demolition and erection of 37 flats. Officers report does not even mention the loss of the building Councillors refused permission contrary to officer recommendation on policy grounds relating to the new development Reporters dismissed the appeal but also do not reference the existing building. Success based on the fact that the new scheme is not acceptable – no-one other than the community seems to want to talk about the existing building

Steven Robb Historic Environment Scotland Steven.Robb@hes.scot