The historic environment is a fundamental part of Scotland's cultural heritage and exists as an irreplaceable record which contributes to our understanding of both the present and the past. The historic environment also serves as a framework for the evolution and development of our urban environment. It has tremendous visual appeal, adds to the quality of our lives and helps reinforce a sense of local, regional and national identity. Scotland's historic environment is characterised by its diversity.
Elements are also of international significance.
They include some of the finest planning and architectural achievements, such as Edinburgh's New Town, other significant planned communities such as New Lanark, as well as more modest buildings and neighbourhoods valued for their distinctive local style, quality of workmanship, historical associations, and important archaeological remains. The historic environment is of immense importance for education, recreation, leisure, tourism and the wider economy. Scotland has a substantial legacy of historic buildings and historic landscapes many of which are of outstanding quality. There are over 43,000 listed buildings and almost 600 conservation areas in Scotland. In addition, there are other designations that serve to reinforce the protection given to the historic environment.