Updating the Historic Environment Policy for Scotland (HEPS)

Overview

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is asking for your views on the Historic Environment Policy for Scotland (HEPS) to inform an update to this national policy. 

HEPS is relevant whenever a decision will affect the historic environment. It can be used to inform policies, strategies and guidance as well as for decision making in the planning system. 

We want to hear about how you use HEPS and how it can be improved to ensure good decision making for the historic environment.  

Background 

The current version of HEPS was published in 2019. You can read the PDF version of HEPS [774.9 KB] or visit our webpage and review the wider context of the policy on the HES website. 

Talking About Heritage 

HES recently completed the Talking About Heritage engagement project, which gathered views from people across Scotland about what heritage means to them and how it should be cared for.  

These insights will help shape the refreshed policy, and your views will take this work further. You can review the Talking About Heritage engagement report to inform your responses. 

Why your views matter

Whether you have never heard of HEPS before, use it everyday, or are somewhere in between, your feedback is really valuable to us.  

Your responses will inform how we update HEPS to ensure it enables good decision making for the historic environment. All the questions are optional so you can choose which ones feel most relevant to you and your role.