Scotland’s Future Landscapes?

Encouraging a wider debate

SNH published a discussion paper in November 2003. The discussion paper set out SNH’s thinking on the prospects facing Scotland’s landscapes (2,256KB), and invited comments and debate on the issues that it raised and responses to eight specific questions.

The results of the consultation have been considered by the SNH Board, and followed up with a seminar (299KB) in September 2004. This provided the opportunity for discussion of the consultation's findings, and reflection on the way ahead. It is hoped that the discussion paper and seminar are only the start of a longer process of debate and action to determine the future of Scotland's landscapes. A Scottish Landscape Forum was established in June 2006 as part of this process.

Local Landscape Designations

Local landscape designations are a well-established and valued approach to protecting and guiding change in areas of particular landscape importance in Scotland. They can also play an important role at the local level in developing understanding and awareness of the landscape features and qualities that make particular areas distinctive and give communities a sense of place.

SNH and Historic Scotland have now jointly published guidance to assist local authorities to refresh their approach to landscape designations. This guidance has been developed from a review of local landscape designations initiated in 2003. This review was supported by a working group comprising representatives from the Scottish Executive and COSLA, together with a number of staff from a range of both rural and urban local authorities.

As part of this wider exercise to produce guidance on local landscape designations in Scotland, SNH recently undertook a mapping exercise of the current distribution of local or regional areas identified by the relevant local authority on account of their landscape value. This is based on data derived from Landmark Information Group.

This mapping includes a number of regional landscape designations identified in the Highland Structure Plan, though these have yet to be incorporated into many of the related local plans.

It is worth noting this is a dynamic picture across local authorities, and updates will be required as local and regional plans develop.