Local authorities have a major role to play in the management of World Heritage Sites.

World Heritage Sites are places recognised under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention as having outstanding universal value for the whole world. By joining the Convention in 1984, the United Kingdom has recognised its obligation to care for such places, of which there are now 18 in England out of 27 altogether in the UK and its dependent territories. Such care covers the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations of such places.

The range of World Heritage Sites in England is very wide. There is one natural site, the Dorset and East Devon Coast. The 17 cultural sites include major archaeological sites such as Stonehenge and Avebury, and Hadrian’s Wall, as well as major buildings such as Canterbury and Durham Cathedrals. The urban cores of Bath and Liverpool are also World Heritage Sites. Common to nearly all English World Heritage Sites is that they are in multiple ownership and use.

What are the implications of being a World Heritage Site?

International Recognition and Accountability

World Heritage status can bring enormous prestige to a site and help foster social cohesion and pride in a local community. It may help to promote the site internationally and attract new visitors, if appropriate, and encourages the highest quality standards for welcoming visitors and managing the site and can act as the focus for tourism and economic regeneration.  It also means international accountability.  If a site is threatened, it can be added by the World Heritage Committee to the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger.

Improved Protection and Management of the Site

The protection of a World Heritage Site is the responsibility of national governments, working with the local authorities and stakeholders. To ensure that all World Heritage Sites are managed in a sustainable way each nomination must be accompanied by a World Heritage Site Management Plan developed by a Steering group.  Such Plans help ensure the preservation of the site by establishing a framework for decision making. They identify opportunities and long-term objectives. All UK sites have Management Plans in place.  In addition, governments submit a periodic  report to UNESCO every six years on the state of conservation of World Heritage Sites in their territory.

Planning Implications

In the UK, World Heritage Sites are protected primarily through designation and through the planning system  as World Heritage Sites are key material considerations (PPG 15) when Local Planning Authorities determine applications. World Heritage Sites are  from 1st October 2008 article 1(5) land which means that certain types of permitted development are not allowed.  Revised call in regulations for World Heritage Sites and a new circular on World Heritage Sites and accompanying English Heritage guidance was issued for public consultation in May 2008.  This reinforces the instruction in PPG 15 that Planning Authorities should  have appropriate policies in their regional and local plans to protect, promote and preserve Wold Heritage Sites.

The implementation of the WHS Management Plan relies on the effective co-operation of the stakeholders.  These work most effectively when a coordinator is employed. At Stonehenge, the WHS Management Plan was adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance by Salisbury District Council, and there is a WHS Policy in the Local Plan.  It is to be hoped that other Local Authorities will also adopt their Management plans or elements of them.

New Partnerships and Projects

The process of developing a Management Plan involves bringing together all the key stakeholders to agree a common vision for the future of the site. As a result, working links are reinforced and new projects emerge. At Stonehenge, over 70 organisations and individuals were involved in this process and Hadrian’s Wall unites over 53 different authorities.  World Heritage status may also make it easier to negotiate additional funding, protection or expertise. For instance, at Stonehenge and Avebury, a special grant scheme was put in place following the publication of the WHS Management Plans. It encourages farmers to convert arable land to grassland for the benefit of the archaeological landscape, the setting of Stonehenge and biodiversity. It was made possible thanks to an exemplary partnership between English Heritage, the National Trust, English Nature and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Additional advice is available from your local authority conservation team, English Heritage at policy@english-heritage.org.uk, ICOMOS UK and the Local Authorities World Heritage Forum.