Survey Seeks Feedback on Buildings at Risk Register

VIEWS are being sought about the Buildings at Risk Register (BARR) kept by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to provide information on historic buildings at risk.

The list registers buildings that are vacant, suffering neglect or threatened with demolition. It gives the information needed to help preserve historic buildings and sometimes bring them back into use.

Just under 2,200 buildings are currently on the register, including churches, pubs, castles, stately homes, and buildings – many listed for their significance.

The survey wants the opinions of individuals, organisations, communities, and professionals who have an interest in the reuse of historic buildings at risk.

Buildings at Risk Survey

Philip Robertson, from HES, said: “The Buildings at Risk Register is intended for use by anyone with an interest in bringing buildings back into use. That includes property developers, heritage organisations, investors, architects, and individuals with an interest in renovating, re-purposing, or saving these buildings. We want to further understand who uses the register and how they use it.”

The Buildings at Risk Register started in 1990 in response to concerns over vacant listed buildings and those in Conservation Areas that had fallen into disrepair.

Philip Robertson added: “Reuse and regeneration of buildings at risk is a sustainable approach and it helps to contribute to successful placemaking and economic regeneration throughout Scotland. We’re keen to hear from community groups and others who are working to refurbish buildings at risk and to put them to good use. We want to hear how useful the register is for this purpose.”

Harlow Consulting is leading on the survey to help HES to understand the impact the Buildings at Risk Register is having. It will also make evidence-based recommendations from the study that will inform HES’s long-term decisions about this resource and how best to bring buildings at risk back into use.

Jennifer Brennan, Director at Harlow Consulting, said: “As well as estate agents, architects, heritage groups, developers, housing associations and local authorities, we want to hear from all voices, including those of the general public. We know that many people really care about heritage buildings in their communities, and in their neighbourhoods that are vacant or falling into disrepair.”

Take part in the survey here.

>>Read more about historic buildings in the news