by gap74 » Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:53 pm
From Historic Scotland's Memorandum of Guidance on Listed Buildings (since replaced by a document called SHEP, but with similar guidelines - I'm guessing these works started when the former was still applicable though):
CHURCHES
Works to listed churches in use do not at present require listed
building consent. However, the Housing and Planning Act 1986
contains an order-making power to limit the scope of this exemption.
During the currency of this revision of the Memorandum, it is
expected that this power will be used and that proposed works to the
exterior of listed churches will become subject to listed building
consent. Religious denominations or groups wishing to retain
exemption for internal works will be required to establish their own
systems of control which meet guidelines to be set out in an Order
covering the changes.
EDIT: The relevant sections from SHEP:
Under the terms of section 54 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation
Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 any ecclesiastical building which is for the time being
used for ecclesiastical purposes in Scotland is exempt from the need to apply for
listed building consent. The exemption for ecclesiastical buildings does not cover
the demolition of a listed ecclesiastical building, since by definition ecclesiastical use
must cease before demolition is carried out. Neither does it apply to any works
to a former ecclesiastical building which has passed into secular use or which is
disused. Exemption does not apply to a building used or available for use by a
minister of religion as a residence. Similarly, listed churchyards taken over by local
authorities as graveyards are not exempt from the requirement to obtain listed
building consent for works to those graveyards.
Notwithstanding the exemption, there is a voluntary arrangement currently in
place and agreed by Historic Scotland, the Scottish Churches Committee and
COSLA, in consultation with the Scottish Society of Directors of Planning. Under
this arrangement it was agreed to apply listed building control to buildings used
by certain denominations in respect of works proposed to the exterior of churches
in ecclesiastical use. The following denominations only, being members of the
Scottish Churches Committee, are included:
Associated Presbyterian Churches
Baptist Union of Scotland
Church of Scotland
Free Church of Scotland
Free Presbyterian Church
Methodist Church in Scotland
Roman Catholic Church in Scotland
Scottish Episcopal Church
United Free Church of Scotland
United Reformed Church Scotland Synod (formerly Scottish Congregational
Church)