Buildings at Risk

Identifying and reporting a building at risk.

The Buildings at Risk Register is run by the Royal Commission (RCAHMS).

Historic Scotland have guidance dedicated to informing the public on Buildings at Risk.

What is a Building at Risk?

The Buildings at Risk Register identifies buildings which are important architecturally or historically, which are considered to be at risk, either in the immediate term or in the long term. The building can be listed or unlisted and in a conservation area. The building could simply be a vacant property with no clear future or in some cases they can be almost ruinous.  It usually meets one or more of the following criteria:

  • Vacant with no identified use
  • Suffering from neglect and or/poor maintenance
  • Suffering from structural problems
  • Fire damaged
  • Unsecured and open to the elements
  • Threatened with demolition

How many Buildings at Risk are there in Argyll and Bute?

The Buildings at Risk Register is always changing as more buildings are abandoned or some are restored. Currently there are almost 250 buildings at risk in Argyll and Bute.

How do I report a Building at Risk?

Visit the Buildings At Risk site to recommend a building for the Buildings at Risk Register (BARR).  

The BARR is maintained and run by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) and they have a specialist team who deals with the BARR. To discuss Buildings at Risk with them contact the BARR team at:

Are Buildings at Risk for sale?

Just because a building is on the Buildings at Risk Register does not mean that the owners wish to dispose of their property. The main purpose is to monitor the condition of at risk buildings in Scotland. Some owners have informed RCAHMS that their property is available for purchase and this information is available on the specific building's page on the Buildings at Risk website. In most cases however there are no plans for the owners to sell the properties. Whilst you can contact the council for guidance, we are unlikely to be able to give you any more information on the building than is already available on the Buildings at Risk pages. If you contact the team at RCAHMS they are more likely to have information available as they may have been in contact with the owners. Do note, however, that the Buildings at Risk team do not act as the agent for properties on the register and will not become involved in negotiations.

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