Sustainable Procurement Tools

Overview: heritage protection and enhancement

This guidance is concerned with buying products or services that have potential negative impacts on heritage, or there are opportunities to enhance heritage.

This guidance may be considered, where relevant, alongside Construction Policy Note (CPN) 1/2023 which draws attention to the publication of a new chapter (chapter 18) within the Client Guide to Construction Projects.  The guidance provides an overview of the client’s role in planning for sustainability in construction projects, particularly during the project initiation phase.

It is important that when we have identified heritage risks or opportunities associated with the products or services that we buy, that we understand the alternative options available to us. This will be achieved through gathering market intelligence and good pre-procurement supplier engagement.

The categories of procurement that can have both a positive and negative impact on heritage range from construction, land management, estates and facilities and fishing.

Many opportunities to make improvements will need to be identified at the design stage of the procurement. 

This may include decisions regarding protection measures needed when undertaking infrastructure or construction projects.

Description of risk or opportunity

Will the supply of products or providing of relevant services potentially impact negatively on Scotland's protected areas (land and marine) and historic buildings, or the public's use of these sites?  

Is there an opportunity to enhance Scotland's protected areas or the public's use of them?

For example, impacts on protected areas and sites as a result of providing products or services. Heritage may be enhanced through, for example, protecting and enhancing Scotland's heritage resources, and allowing improved access to them. 

Disclaimer: This guidance is provided to support the embedding of relevant and proportionate contract/framework requirements and the information and examples are provided in good faith. To the extent that this guidance contains any information concerning procurement law such information does not constitute advice to you.

The content of this guidance is not to be construed as legal advice or a substitute for such advice, which you should obtain from your own legal advisers if required. Scottish Government is not and shall not be held responsible for anything done or not done by you as a result of this guidance.