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This is not an isolated problem. According to the latest figures
available from Historic Environment Scotland, 2,214 buildings were listed on the Buildings at Risk Register as of early 2024, out of a total pool of approximately 47,400 listed buildings nationwide¹. Around 8% of Category A-listed buildings, the highest heritage grade, are considered at risk². Many of these cases result from earlier repair efforts failing to align with traditional building methods, leading to ongoing deterioration. Effective conservation requires more than technical knowledge alone. It relies on collaboration with skilled craftspeople who understand materials like lime, stone, leadwork and timber. It also requires time; heritage projects tend to unfold in layers and can’t always follow rigid project timelines. Equally critical is early engagement with communities when a building holds significance, whether visual, historic, or through active use. In such cases, engaging with the community can bring meaningful benefits to the conservation and future of the space. Community memory – how a building was used, how it’s changed and what it could become – often holds insight that the archive doesn’t. When communities are part of the design process, the results are typically more resilient, more specific and more valued in the long term. This approach helped guide our recent concept proposals for
Pittencrieff House in Dunfermline – a 17th-century laird’s house in the public park, gifted by Andrew Carnegie. The building remains unused, but to make it functional again, we put forward a proposal to repurpose it and add a contemporary extension. This approach
ensures the integrity of the original house is maintained while returning the structure to active use. The aim wasn’t just to restore its physical condition, but to reflect its ongoing civic role and ensure it remains relevant to today’s park visitors. Additionally, in places like St Andrews and Prestonpans, urban developments have led to the discovery of Bronze Age artefacts, pottery pits and medieval foundations. These discoveries often require sensitive design changes and adapted construction methods to protect archaeological value in situ or enable interpretation. When handled with care, heritage-led design can do more than preserve, it can add to evolving narrative. As heritage buildings face mounting pressures, from climate adaptation to dwindling craft skills and tight budgets, architects have a vital role to play. Through thoughtful, collaborative design and imaginative repurposing, these structures can be rejuvenated to meet modern needs while preserving the character and meaning that make them irreplaceable. But to achieve this, the industry must invest not only in materials, but in time, craftsmanship and community because true preservation is as much about people as it is about place.
1 Historic Environment Scotland (2024). Review of Buildings at Risk Register Published. 2 Historic Environment Scotland (2024). Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland. 3 UK Parliament Culture, Media & Sport Committee (2025). Protecting Built Heritage. 4 Country Life (2025). If we want to keep our architectural heritage, why do we tax those who repair it?
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