INTRODUCTION
PLANNING AND THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT
1. The protection and enhancement of the historic environment contributes to the Scottish Government's central purpose 1 This resource enhances national, regional and local distinctiveness, forges connections between people and places and promotes a positive image of Scotland across the world. It can also contribute to the success and regeneration of communities and provide educational, training and employment opportunities. Scottish Ministers therefore place great weight upon its proper protection through the planning system
2. This Scottish Planning Policy ( SPP) supersedes and consolidates National Planning Policy Guidelines - NPPG 18: Planning and the Historic Environment and NPPG 5: Archaeology and Planning. It sets out the national planning policy for the historic environment and indicates how the planning system will contribute towards the delivery of Scottish Ministers' policies as set out in the current Scottish Historic Environment Policy ( SHEP) 2 produced by Historic Scotland (available at www.historic-scotland.gov.uk).
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT
3. The conservation and management of the historic environment contributes directly to sustainability in a number of ways. These include the energy and materials invested in a building, the scope for adaptation and reuse and the unique quality of historic environments which provide a sense of identity and continuity in a period of rapid social and economic change.
4. The historic environment can play a key part in promoting sustainable economic growth and regeneration by offering attractive living and working conditions that will encourage inward investment. It is of particular importance for supporting the sustainable growth of tourism and leisure.
ROLE OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND OTHERS
5. The Government expects local authorities and others to maintain and strengthen their commitment to stewardship of the historic environment, and to reflect this planning guidance in their policies and their allocation of resources. Planning authorities should adopt suitable policies in their development plans and give effect to them through their development management decisions.
6. Historic Scotland's role is as an agency within the Scottish Government directly responsible to Scottish Ministers for the protection and promotion of the historic environment. Historic Scotland has specific responsibilities in respect of statutory and non-statutory historic environment designations and is a statutory consultee under Strategic Environmental Assessment ( SEA), Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA) and the General Development Procedure Order ( GDPO). The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland ( RCAHMS) is a key partner of Historic Scotland and surveys, records and makes available data on Scotland's ancient monuments and buildings.
7. Responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of the historic environment lies with the owners and manager of historic assets and they are encouraged to seek expert advice where appropriate. Partnership between owners, users and public authorities is often the key to the long-term conservation of the historic environment. Bodies such as the Scottish Civic Trust, the National Trust for Scotland, the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, Archaeology Scotland, the Built Environment Forum for Scotland. the Garden History Society and others along with local amenity bodies, community councils and building preservation trusts play a significant role in safeguarding and promoting the historic environment. In addition, Architecture and Design Scotland ( A+DS) offers expert advice on design for selected development proposals, which are on, adjacent to or in close proximity to historical environment interests.