ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring Mission to Edinburgh - Historic Scotland

4. Papers from the 32nd Session of the World
Heritage Committee
4.1 Decision of the 32 nd Session of the World Heritage Committee, July 2008
Decision: 32 COM 7B.117
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined document WHC‐08/32.COM/7B,
Expresses its concern at the potential impact of the Caltongate development;
Deeply regrets that the State Party has approved this scheme in June 2008 not
complying with paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
Requests the State Party to invite a World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS joint
reactive monitoring mission to the property to consider the overall state of
conservation of the Old and New Towns and particularly the possible impact of
the Caltongate development on the integrity and outstanding universal value
of the World Heritage property, as well as the outline proposals for Leith Docks,
the St James Centre, and other current proposals;
Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1
February 2009, a report on the state of conservation of the property, for
examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009.
4.2 ICOMOS Report to the 32 nd Session of the World heritage Committee July
2008
Old and New Towns of Edinburgh (United Kingdom) (C 728)
Year of inscription on the World Heritage List
1995
Criteria: (ii) (iv) (ix)
Year(s) of inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger: N/A
Previous Committee Decisions: 27 COM 7B.81; 28 COM 15B.101
International Assistance: N/A
UNESCO extra‐budgetary funds: N/A
Previous monitoring missions: N/A
Main threats identified in previous reports: impact of fire at Cowgate; impact
of rubbish containers.
Current conservation issues
The Old and New Towns were inscribed on the World Heritage List for their
remarkable juxtaposition of two urban planning phenomena: the early
19