Construction & Property Scotland

Apply for listed building consent in Scotland

How to apply for listed building consent (LBC) in Scotland. Covers when consent is required, the three categories of listing, the application process through local planning authorities, HES consultation requirements, and penalties for unauthorised works. Scotland has approximately 47,000 listed buildings.

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If you own, lease, or plan to carry out works on a listed building in Scotland, you may need listed building consent (LBC) before starting any work that would affect the building's character. LBC is separate from planning permission - you may need both.

Unlike scheduled monument consent, LBC applications in Scotland go to your local planning authority, not to HES. The planning authority must consult HES on applications to demolish any listed building and on works to category A and B listed buildings; routine alterations to category C buildings generally do not require HES consultation. For category A buildings, the authority must also notify Scottish Ministers (through HES) before granting consent.

This guide explains what listing means, when you need consent, how to apply, and what happens if you carry out works without it.

What listing covers

When a building is listed, the protection extends to the entire building - both interior and exterior, regardless of which parts are of special interest. It also covers any object or structure fixed to the building, and any freestanding object or structure within its curtilage that was there before 1 July 1948.

This means internal alterations, removal of fixtures, and changes to outbuildings or boundary walls may all require LBC even if they would not need planning permission.

The three categories of listed buildings

Scotland classifies listed buildings into three categories. All categories carry the same statutory protection, but the category affects how applications are handled.

How to apply for listed building consent

Follow these steps to apply for LBC in Scotland.

  1. 1

    Check the listing

    Search the HES listed buildings database to confirm the category and what is covered. Check whether any part of the curtilage or associated structures are included.

  2. 2

    Seek pre-application advice

    Contact your local planning authority for pre-application guidance. For Category A buildings or complex proposals, also contact HES directly. Pre-application advice can save time and identify issues early.

  3. 3

    Prepare your application

    You will need a completed LBC application form, a design statement explaining the proposals and their impact on the building's character, detailed plans and drawings (existing and proposed), photographs, and a heritage impact assessment for significant works.

  4. 4

    Submit via ePlanning Scotland or your local authority

    Submit your application through the ePlanning Scotland portal or directly to your local planning authority. There is no fee for LBC applications.

  5. 5

    Allow for consultation

    The planning authority will consult HES and may consult others. For Category A buildings, the authority must notify Scottish Ministers through HES before granting consent. This adds time to the process.

  6. 6

    Await the decision

    The planning authority will determine your application. Consent may be granted with or without conditions, or refused. You have a right of appeal to Scottish Ministers if consent is refused or granted with conditions you consider unreasonable.

Penalties for unauthorised works

Carrying out works to a listed building without consent is a criminal offence, even if you did not know the building was listed. Ignorance of the listing is not a defence.

What to do next

If your building is in a conservation area, additional controls may apply to demolition and external works. If the building is also a scheduled monument, only scheduled monument consent is required (not LBC). For projects involving multiple heritage designations, consider seeking specialist heritage advice early in the process.

Official guidance and services