Cabinet 2 September 2005 Durham World

Cabinet

2 September 2005

Durham World Heritage Management Plan – Draft Public Consultation Document

Report of David Miller, Acting Director of Environment

Purpose of the Report 1 To inform Members of the completion of the Draft Management Plan and the public consultation exercise that is being carried out in conjunction with the Vision for Durham City. Members are recommended to agree the publication of the Plan for public consultation. A copy of the Plan is available in the Members’ Resource Centre.

Background 2 In 2003 a steering group was set up to produce the Durham World Heritage Site Management Plan comprising of the owners of the site, the Cathedral Chapter, the University and St John’s College, together with the City of Durham, English Heritage, Durham County Council, One NorthEast and the Charter for the Conservation of Historic Towns and Urban Areas (ICOMOS UK). In 2004 Chris Blandford Associates was commissioned by One NorthEast to produce the Management Plan for public consultation.

3 Durham Cathedral and Castle World Heritage Site was inscribed onto the World Heritage list in 1986 after being nominated by the UK Government in its first list of potential world heritage sites. This place on the UK first list firmly locates Durham World Heritage Site with the company of such prestigious and well loved UK world heritage sites as Stonehenge, Avebury, the Tower of London and the Giant’s Causeway.

4 It is a Government requirement now that all existing UK world heritage sites agree a World Heritage Site Management Plan to be produced during 2005. The core aim of the Plan is to ensure that the outstanding universal value of the site is sustained and conserved for the benefit of future generations. The Plan has been produced in accordance with guidance issued by ICOMOS and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Aims and issues identified in the Plan

5 The over-arching aim of the Management Plan is: “To describe an approach to the future management of Durham Cathedral and Castle World Heritage Site that will retain and strengthen the balance between conserving the historic environment, enhancing the local character and amenities of the World Heritage Site and surroundings, with the need to keep the World Heritage Site in active and appropriate use, primarily as a religious, educational and residential working environment.” 6 To support the above the Plan sets out 8 further aims (see Appendix 2). These range from developing guidelines to protect and sustain the uses on the site, encouraging and promoting an understanding of its history and importance to developing a programme of projects to conserve and enhance the site.

Key issues

7 i) The need to put management procedures and structures in place to safeguard the site. ii) The poor state of Durham Castle which is included on the English Heritage Buildings at Risk Register. iii) To address the issue of the World Heritage Site’s boundary. It is considered that the site has been defined by a boundary that was drawn too tightly around its two main buildings and which does not encapsulate and therefore protect some of the key significances of the World Heritage Site.

8 In addition to the above key issues other issues facing the site have been organised in the Management Plan into five general themes: • Managing the World Heritage Site • Conserving the site and its significances • Using the site • Understanding the site • Enhancing access and sustainable transport.

Key principles and management objectives

9 The Plan sets out six key principles for Durham Cathedral for the management of the World Heritage Site and these are set down in Appendix 2 together with the management objectives.

10 It is proposed that all actions at the World Heritage Site need to be tested against these principles to ensure that they are in keeping with the spirit of the Management Plan.

Implementing the Plan

11 Currently World Heritage Site Management Plans have no statutory basis, rather they provide an advisory policy framework for guiding and influencing current, planned or potential management initiatives at a variety of scales and for different purposes. Achieving the desired aims for the World Heritage Site therefore depends on those signing up to the Management Plan working effectively together in partnership towards the agreed objectives.

12 The Members of the steering group therefore have a central role to play in the implementation and monitoring of the Management Plan. They have an important role to play in creating sense of ownership and support for the objectives of the Plan amongst all users of the site and those that may be affected by the Plan. They have a responsibility to promote the Plan to potential funders, to raise the funds necessary to 2 address the key issues raised in the Plan and to work towards the removal of the Castle from English Heritage’s Buildings at Risk Register.

13 In order that progress within the Plan may continue, the advisory and co-ordinating role of the World Heritage Site Management Plan steering group needs to continue; this steering group will be reconstituted as the Durham Cathedral and Castle World Heritage Site Co-ordinating Committee. One of the first actions of this Committee will be the consideration of the appointment of a World Heritage Site Officer to support them in their work.

14 The Management Plan’s objectives will be achieved through a wide range of actions. Objectives are outlined in Appendix 2.

Main Actions

15 That the World Heritage Site be extended to include Palace Green initially and that this be reviewed again in six years time when the Plan is reviewed. The extent of the existing World Heritage Site is shown on the attached plan.

16 That English Heritage and the University of Durham agree a schedule of work required for removing the Castle from the Register of Buildings at Risk and that funding be sought for this work.

17 That support is provided for the implementation of the Durham Riverbanks Management Plan and the projects that it contains. The Durham Riverbanks Management Plan and the allied Durham Riverbanks Gardens Project Conservation and Management Plan cover the areas of the Durham Peninsula around the World Heritage Site. The wooded riverbanks and gardens provide a dramatic setting for the Cathedral and Castle and the continued management and conservation of these areas has been recognised as a key priority. The World Heritage Site and the riverbanks area can be seen to complement each other and perhaps the management of both sites could be considered as a whole.

The County Council’s Built Environment Strategy

18 This was adopted by Cabinet at its meeting on 10 March 2005. One of the tasks identified in the Strategy is the need to work closely with partners to produce and agree the World Heritage Site Management Plan.

Recommendations and Reasons 19 That Members agree the publication of the Draft Management Plan for consultation as part of the Vision for Durham City. A further report will be produced to inform Members of the result of the public consultation exercise.

Background Papers Durham World Heritage Management Plan – Draft Public Consultation Document Contact: Rod Lugg Tel: 0191 383 3646

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Appendix 1: Implications

Finance

There may be the need to identify potential funding to implement some of the recommendations at a future date.

Staffing

It is proposed that the partnership support the creation of a World Heritage Site Officer which would be supported by partners.

Equality and Diversity

Will be taken into account.

Accommodation

No implications.

Crime and disorder

Will be considered as part of any proposals.

Sustainability

The Plan will help to sustain and enhance the World Heritage Site. Any proposals will be subject to a sustainable development appraisal.

Human rights

No implications.

Localities and Rurality

Durham City. Marginal impact. The proposals will consolidate the status and the management of the World Heritage Site as a heritage and educational resource and religious centre.

Young people

The views of young people will be canvassed as part of the consultation exercise.

Consultation

Consultation on the Plan will be carried out as part of the Durham City Vision.

Health

The recommendations in the Plan will assist with health and well-being.

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Appendix 2: Durham World Heritage Management Plan. Draft Public Consultation Document

Key Aims

• To enable the definition of the significance of the World Heritage Site, in line with World Heritage committee procedures. • To maintain the quality and local distinctiveness of the World Heritage Site and its environment. • To understand the processes and the history of the World Heritage Site and use this knowledge to better inform plans for the current use and enjoyment of the site for its religious and educational establishments, as a visitor attraction and as a local community resource; and for future uses and enjoyment of the site. • To set out guidelines for the use of land, buildings, landscape, townscape and cultural assets of the World Heritage Site, and include guidance for their sustainable conservation and maintenance. • To recommend how the educational and interpretational potential of the site could be realised further, to better inform the public as well as the formal users of the various buildings and functions housed within the World Heritage Site. • To develop sustainable tourism and a positive visitor experience. • To develop a programme of projects to implement the above, conserving and enhancing the World Heritage Site for all. • To sustain the current uses of the World Heritage Site as the most appropriate way of maintaining and enhancing its significance.

Key Principles

• That Durham Cathedral and Castle World Heritage Site will be managed by concensus, achieved through an active partnership between all of the site managers, owners and relevant statutory agencies. • The Management Plan’s vision, key principles and objectives will provide the over-arching framework for all plans, policies and decisions relating to the World Heritage Site. • All decisions and actions at the site will have at their core the need for the high quality and informed conservation of the outstanding universal value and related significances of the World Heritage Site. • The management of the World Heritage Site will aim towards an increase in the World Heritage Site’s accessibility, including the reasonable and practical removal of physical, sensory, intellectual, social, cultural and organisational barriers to access. • The management of the World Heritage Site will promote and increase knowledge and understanding of the Durham Cathedral and Castle World Heritage Site and its significances for all. • All decisions and actions at the site will be based on the principles of sensitivity and appropriate sustainability as defined by the Budapest Declaration on World Heritage.

5 Heritage Management Plan Objectives

Objective 1 Establish a World Heritage Site Co-ordinating Committee. Objective 2 Recommend that DCMS (Department of Culture, Media and Sport) invite the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to approve a revised Statement of Significance and the extension of the site to include Palace Green and undertake a future review of the World Heritage Site boundary. Objective 3 Conserve the setting of the World Heritage Site and encourage appropriate and sensitive development to support the on-going regeneration of Durham and its environs. Objective 4 Monitor risks and periodically review the risk monitoring process. Objective 5 Seek funding for the management, conservation and promotion of the World Heritage Site. Objective 6 Regularly monitor the condition of the Durham World Heritage Site in line with the indicators in the Management Plan and periodically review the Management Plan. Objective 7 Continue to monitor the built heritage resource to ensure that problems are rapidly identified and addressed. Objective 8 Ensure that the World Heritage Site owners are supported in their management and conservation of the World Heritage Site. Objective 9 Ensure that the built heritage of the World Heritage Site is conserved and that sympathetic materials, style and techniques are utilised by all conservation projects within the World Heritage Site. Objective 10 Complete the works necessary to remove the Castle from English Heritage’s Buildings at Risk Register. Objective 11 Continue to develop and implement the high quality management of the peninsula’s archaeological resource. Objective 12 Conserve and enhance the historic character and form of the peninsula and World Heritage Site’s historic townscapes, landscapes and open spaces. Objective 13 Continue to research document and conserve the World Heritage Site’s intangible values, qualities and significances. Objective 14 Continue to support the skills present at the World Heritage Site including those relating to Christian worship, education, built heritage conservation and music. 6 Objective 15 Further develop the high standard of collections, curation at the World Heritage Site. Objective 16 Ensure that the aims of the University complement the conservation of the outstanding universal value and related significance of the World Heritage Site. Objective 17 Ensure that Christian worship remains the primary use of the Cathedral, and that other uses do not impact upon its function. Objective 18 Maintain, enhance and support community access and activities in the World Heritage Site. Objective 19 Continue to develop a co-ordinated, high quality sustainable visitor experience at the World Heritage Site, which does not impact negatively on the outstanding universal value of the World Heritage Site. Objective 20 Maximise the benefits brought to the region by the sustainable and appropriate use of the World Heritage Site as a visitor attraction, and maximise the benefit to the World Heritage Site of the local and regional development of Durham’s tourism. Objective 21 Continue to support and enhance the high quality educational provision at the World Heritage Site in a manner that is inclusive and accessible to all. Objective 22 Support high quality research that enhances the understanding and management of the World Heritage Site. Objective 23 Improve access to the World Heritage Site for non-vehicle users and promote pedestrian and cycle modes of transport. Objective 24 Improve access between the bus and rail stations and the World Heritage Site, and encourage improvements for facilities and information available at the stations. Objective 25 Improve facilities and experience for coach parties to the World Heritage Site in a way that does not impact upon the outstanding universal value of the World Heritage Site and its setting. Objective 26 Monitor and assess car use within the World Heritage Site. Objective 27 Identify and remove physical, social, organisational and intellectual barriers to access across the World Heritage Site where reasonable and practical.

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