Scotland's Historic Environment Audit

What is Scotland’s Historic Environment Audit (SHEA)?

SHEA is an ongoing project which will over time provide an assessment of the state of Scotland’s historic environment . The long-term aim of the audit is to provide a comprehensive set of statistical information about the state of the historic environment, including the extent and condition of our assets, the threats they face and the contribution they make to our economy and quality of life.

Why do we need an audit?

The value and potential of Scotland’s historic environment has not been fully measured or explored. As well as its vast economic value, it also represents an imprint of past generations, one that forges connections between people and the places they live and visit.

The audit process, including a widespread consultation, aims to help the sector build up baseline information on the historic environment thereby providing an evidence base on which to make judgements on its condition, and information that is of practical use for the sector in managing it.

How will the results be used?

The audit will provide an evidence base of statistical information that can be analysed and then used by all groups which have an interest in the historic environment. Information will be used by local authorities, the Scottish Government and the historic environment sector as a whole to inform decisions on the management of the historic environment, and the development of policy, strategy, planning and resource allocation.

Who is involved in undertaking the audit?

The audit provides an important opportunity to develop the evidence base for the historic environment sector as a whole, and to promote both local and national collaboration and joint working. The success of the audit (and its ability to provide meaningful outputs) relies on input from local authorities, the Scottish Government and heritage organisations to provide advice on data sources and to share knowledge and data.

Following a report from the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland (HEACS), Scottish Ministers instructed Historic Scotland to lead the audit. The HEACS report is available here  www.heacs.org.uk/documents/2004/HEACSauditreport.pdf

A Historic Environment Audit Stakeholder Advisory Group (HEASAG), comprising a range of historic environment organisations, has been established to provide advice to Historic Scotland on the audit.

HEASAG Remit

HEASAG is an invaluable advisory and debating forum. The purpose of the group is to take an overview of all aspects of the historic environment audit in order to:

• act as the primary regular mechanism for senior members of stakeholder organisations to come together to influence and understand the development and evolution of the historic environment audit;
• provide advice to Historic Scotland on data sources for the audit and facilitate the sharing of knowledge and data;
• act as a consultative forum for material to be made available on the website;
• consult with and inform the sector about the audit;
• manage the sector’s expectations in relation to the audit;
• provide advice to Historic Scotland on the form and content of audit reports;
• advise on priorities for the ongoing audit.

HEASAG Membership

Membership of the group will be kept under review. However, it currently comprises senior representatives from the following organisations.

• Historic Scotland (HS) (Chair)
• Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland (HLF)
• Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS)
• Historic Houses Association for Scotland (HHAS)
• Scottish Society for Directors of Planning (SSDP)
• National Trust for Scotland (NTS)  
• Built Environment Forum for Scotland (BEFS)
• Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland (HEACS)
• The Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers: Scotland (ALGAO: Scotland)
• Scottish Government Rural Directorate.

For further information on membership, areas of HEASAG work and links to these organisations please visit the stakeholders section of this website.