ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring Mission to Edinburgh - Historic Scotland

Underpinning its success, setting it apart from almost all other cities in the
world, is the quality and drama of its environment. In 1995, the centre of the
city, essentially the Old Town and New Town, was designated as a World
Heritage Site. There are many other designated areas of architectural, historic,
landscape and nature conservation interest, a large number of listed buildings,
archaeological sites and monuments. Also, with a population of less than
450,000, it is not a large city, and the accessibility of the surrounding hills,
countryside and coastal areas is part of its attraction, to residents and many of
its business leaders.
One of the Core Aims of the plan, as listed on page 10 is:
• To protect the built and natural heritage of the city and have special
regard for the impact of new development on the World Heritage Site
Para 4.4 (pp 34‐35)
The World Heritage Site:
Edinburgh’s historic core was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites
in 1995. The Edinburgh site covers the whole of the Old Town, the greater part
of the New Town and Dean Village and a lesser part of three other
conservation areas (Figure 4.1 below refers). Inclusion on the list is recognition
of a site’s ‘outstanding universal value’. No additional statutory controls result
from designation, but in agreeing to the designation, the World Heritage
Committee had to be satisfied that the site will be subject to control and
management mechanisms which will ensure the effective conservation of its
nominated cultural properties. Policies in the Local Plan are therefore the
principal means through which the tangible attributes of the World Heritage
Site – the special character of listed buildings, conservation areas, monuments,
archaeology, gardens and landscapes – are protected and if possible enhanced.
In addition, government guidance through SPP23 Planning and the Historic
Environment states that the impact of proposed new development upon a
World Heritage Site will be a key material consideration in determining
planning applications. Edinburgh World Heritage was established in 1999 with
specific responsibilities for the site, including the preparation of a management
plan. The current management plan was approved by the Council and Historic
Scotland in 2005. This contains an authoritative account of the site’s attributes
– its nominated cultural properties. If relevant, a reference to the
management plan should be made in the design statements required by Policy
Des 1.
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