What steps it is taking to prevent demolition of listed buildings in Edinburgh including those on the site of the old Royal Infirmary of Ed…

Historic Scotland works closely with the City of Edinburgh Council to safeguard the built heritage. The result is that very few listed building are demolished.
Applications for demolition of listed buildings require to be advertised, and planning authorities must have regard to all representations received. The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 requires planning authorities to notify to Scottish ministers applications for consent for the demolition of any category of listed building which they are minded to approve. This is to afford ministers the opportunity to call in for their owndetermination applications which they judge to merit further consideration. Eachcase is considered on its merits but the policy of Scottish ministers is thatno worthwhile building should be lost to our environment unless it is demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that every effort has been exerted by allconcerned to find practical ways of keeping it.
The former site of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is the subject of a very large redevelopment which will regenerate the area and re-use a number of important and prominent historic buildings within the World Heritage Site. The work currently underway involves the welcome removal of later additions and the demolition of certain listed buildings accepted as structurally unsound or obsolescent within the context of this important scheme. The work has been authorised through the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.