On Tuesday, the Scottish Parliament unanimously lent its support to the Historic Environment Scotland Bill. This allowed the new body to be established, subject to Royal Assent.
Named as Historic Environment Scotland, the new body will play a key role delivering the country's first strategy for the historic environment, 'Our Place in Time', as well as ensure Scotland's heritage is protected and promoted. It It will also provide additional benefits to Scotland's people, and deliver the functions of Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS).
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In addition, the Bill will help simplify the public sector landscape by reducing the number of Scottish public bodies.
The organisation is expected to be fully operational by October 2015.
Welcoming the announcement, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, said: "As well as being central to telling the story of our nation, the historic environment already supports more than 40,000 jobs, contributes well over £2 billion a year to Scotland's economy, and contributes to the wellbeing of our communities. There is no reason why it cannot offer more.
"Historic Environment Scotland will take forward the government's contribution to delivering Scotland's first national strategy to ensure our diverse historic environment is understood, valued, cared for, protected, enjoyed and enhanced – now and for future generations.
"The complementary nature of Historic Scotland and RCAHMS has long been recognised. They both work well and that is clear in the praise I hear for the great work that both do. Bringing them together to create a strong and efficient single lead body is the next logical step to sustain and enhance this.
"The new approach will bring resources, skills and experience together, and it will simplify procedures. That will help to create the conditions in which our historic environment can flourish."
(JP/MH)
