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If you are seeking emergency action or an urgent policy change please contact one of your 8 MSPs or the Scottish Government directly
If you are seeking emergency action or an urgent policy change please contact one of your 8 MSPs or the Scottish Government directly

Closed petition PE2105: Safeguard Scottish Listed Buildings at risk of unnecessary demolition

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to set a minimum evidence requirement to prevent unnecessary use of emergency public safety powers to demolish listed buildings.

Background information

The emergency powers in the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 can, in our view, allow for the demolition of listed buildings without sufficient evidence to justify the decision. This is in conflict with planning safeguards in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.  The following policy controls are needed to address this loophole in legislation and to ensure listed buildings (LBs) are not exposed to unjust demolition:

1. Enhanced policy guidance on the minimum evidence and processes required by local authorities before making decisions on the demolition of LBs under emergency powers.

2. A mandatory policy requirement for local authorities to engage with conservation accredited engineers in all cases involving LBs.

  • Created by Lydia Franklin on behalf of SAVE Britain's Heritage
  • Date closed 11 February 2026

This petition was considered by the Scottish Parliament

Find out about the decisions taken on this petition

4,028 signatures