Scottish Ministers today launched their policy on Listing and Listed Building Consent (LBC) for the country's 47,000 listed buildings, and launched a consultation with local authorities on a new joint working agreement.

Speaking about the policy paper, Culture Minister Linda Fabiani MSP said: "The SHEP is important for the successful management of the country’s heritage. Listing is about identifying and celebrating Scotland’s built heritage and is also a mechanism for its protection."

The SHEP now includes policies on Listing, the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest; and Listed Building Consent which deals with applications to alter or demolish listed buildings.

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The Minister went on to stress the link between listed building consent and the planning process. She added: "It allows consideration of the merits of a listing as part of planning proposals and is central to the sustainable management of the historic environment, in supporting economic regeneration and growth for Scotland."

The policy papers - to appear online only - will be consolidated with previous SHEPs into a single document which meets Ministers target to minimize the number of separate Government documents, and reduce duplication in outline text.

On the consultation between Historic Scotland and COSLA, a three month process, Ms Fabiani said: "The Joint Working Agreement is yet another positive, forward-thinking approach by Historic Scotland to streamline functions and responsibility. The aim is to improve communication between the Agency and local authorities to ensure improved partnership working. It will also deliver a system which effectively manages the historic environment - both locally and nationally - with greater precision and efficiency.

"I look forward to seeing how the joint working agreement progresses in the near future."

(GK/JM)