OLD AND NEW TOWNS OF EDINBURGH WORLD HERITAGE SITE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2017 – 2022 Chapter 1 Introduction 2 Appendix A: The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh Appendix B: World Heritage Site 54 1.1 Foreword A.1 Description of the Site 1.2 What is World Heritage? A.2 Justification for Inscription 1.3 Scope and Status of the Plan A.3 Integrity 1.4 Planning and Policy Framework A.4 Authenticity 1.5 How does it sit alongside other relevant plans? 1.6 The Management Partners Appendix B: Management of the World Heritage Site 68 1.7 Preparation and Structure of the Plan B.1 Governance Chapter 2 Vision and Aims 8 B.2 Ownership 2.1 The Vision B.3 Planning, Policy and Legislative Framework 2.2 Aims of the Management Plan Appendix C: Review of the Previous Plans 72 Chapter 3 Description of the Site 10 C.1 First Management Plan (2005–2010) 3.1 Location C.2 Second Management Plan (2011–2016) 3.2 Key Facts C.3 Case Studies 3.3 Key Figures Appendix D: Useful Links 84 3.4 The Statement of Outstanding Universal Value D.1 Conservation Areas 3.5 Safeguarding of the OUV D.2 Key View Policy Chapter 4 Action Plan 20 D.3 Attributes 4.1 Introduction D.4 The Consultation Process 4.2 Consultation D.5 Further reading 4.3 Six Key Challenges – The Actions D.6 Acknowledgements 4.4 Other challenges – A Way Forward Chapter 5 Implementation & Monitoring 50 5.1 Implementation 5.2 Monitoring 5.3 Risk Preparedness Read this plan at ewh.org.uk/managementplan Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site Boundary World of Edinburgh Towns Old and New 2 1 Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Foreword by Ms Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External The Scotland’s inspirational historic environment creates a powerful sense of place which helps define us as a nation as well as contributing strongly to our modern, dynamic and flourishing country. We value it both in terms of the striking, characteristic places it provides for us to live, work and play in, as a huge asset attracting visitors from around the world, and as a reminder of our rich history. We therefore treat it with care, and aim to pass it on with pride to benefit future generations. Scotland’s strategy for the historic environment, Our Place in Time, aims to ensure that the historic environment is in a position to weather the challenges it faces and continues to be understood and valued, cared for and protected, enjoyed and enhanced. Developed collaboratively by our historic environment sector, it advocates a Team Scotland approach to sustaining our historic environment. The way we manage our World Heritage Sites is an exemplar of this approach. World Heritage Sites are judged to be of such importance to all of humanity that they transcend national boundaries. It is a requirement of UNESCO that all World Heritage Sites have a Management Plan in place to ensure the protection and management of these global treasures for future generations. We in Scotland understand that this responsibility is a great one, which is why we recognise and relish the challenges that are associated with a World Heritage Site designation. I believe that management plans should act as a tool to allow World Heritage Sites to continue to develop in a way that is respectful of their past, whilst helping to promote the many attributes with which they are blessed. I am grateful to the individuals, bodies and organisations who have contributed to the production of this document, the Plan for managing the World Heritage Site focussed on our capital city, and particularly to the Site’s management partners, who have undertaken a great View of the Hub from the Castle deal of work in its preparation and production. “The wider city relies on Central Edinburgh for its working and social life, as a place of recreation, Vision retail and natural amenity, whilst its most iconic skyline and spaces inspire a strong sense of identity and belonging. We share an aspiration for the World Heritage Site to sustain its Outstanding The strength of this Management Plan lies in the cross-agency partnership working involved in its Universal Value by safeguarding and enhancing its exceptional historic preparation. This has set the standard for the efforts required in delivering the Action Plan over the next five years; to play its part in ensuring that Edinburgh accommodates more people, jobs and activity and environment. This underpins a confident and thriving capital city centre, its the quality of life of its residents and the quality and character of its built and natural environments is communities, and its cultural and economic life. enhanced and not put at risk.” Councillor Adam McVey, Council Leader 2 3 Chapter 1 Introduction 1.2 What is World Heritage? 1.3 Scope and Status of the Plan World Heritage captures the cultural and natural The geographical scope of the plan relates to the ‘Festival City 2’ by Ross Macintyre aspects of the global community that are the WHS itself. This is clarified in section 3.1 (location). most significant, unique or best examples of their The Plan is a partnership document. It represents the kind according to the United Nations Education, consensus view of the members of the Old and New Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). It Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site Oversight is important because it promotes important cultural Group and Steering Group. traditions and places as belonging to everyone. The Management Plan sets out what is significant There are over 1000 World Heritage Sites globally about the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World and UNESCO is the organisation responsible Heritage Site, as a basis for understanding its for adding to or removing from the List. The important qualities, in order to determine the action list is intended to ‘ensure as far as possible the necessary to protect and manage it. identification, protection, conservation and presentation of the world’s irreplaceable heritage’. The Management Plan: Each site must demonstrate that it is fulfilling its • Includes the shared vision, long-term goals and obligations in respect of UNESCO’s requirements in shorter-term actions to preserve the Old and New implementing the World Heritage Convention. Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site’s OUV The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh • Helps to explain the special qualities and values of the Site Edinburgh has long been celebrated as a great city: an ancient capital, the medieval Old Town • Advocates existing protective policies alongside the world renowned eighteenth century • Influences the day-to-day management issues classical New Town, all situated in a spectacular landscape of hills and valleys beside the wide • Provides supporting information on managing estuary of the Firth of Forth. the opportunities and threats facing the Site It is the recognition of these qualities that led to the • Provides a framework to monitor the condition city’s inscription by UNESCO as a World Heritage of the built environment Site in December 1995. The Management Plan’s success is dependent upon All World Heritage Sites have an associated the delivery of its objectives which, in turn, depends Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (SOUV), on stakeholders across the Site making a commitment which explains the importance of the Site. The to the Action Plan. The careful coordination of SOUV is the term UNESCO applies to the detailed partner organisations is possible through the World description of what is unique about the Site. Heritage Site Steering Group. Through collective effort it will be possible to use resources to best effect. World Heritage Properties in the United Kingdom The Plan works within the Local Development Plan of the City of Edinburgh Council, which sets To date, there are 31 World Heritage Sites in the out planning policies to guide development. The United Kingdom. The five other Scottish Sites are Management Plan is a material consideration in the New Lanark, St Kilda, the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, planning process (see chapter 1.4 for further details). the Frontiers of the Roman Empire (the Antonine Wall) and the Forth Bridge. Other urban centres Whilst it is not a statutory document, the Plan will in the UK with World Heritage Site status are Bath, continue to inform and respond to other policies and Greenwich, Durham, Liverpool and Westminster. management proposals relating to the WHS area. 4 5 Chapter 1 Introduction 1.4 Planning and Policy Framework 1.5 How does it sit alongside other relevant plans? Scottish Planning Policy and Environmental Local Development Plan Assessment Regulations require planning Locality Improvement Plan The Local Development Plan (LDP) sets out The Policy Env 1 World Heritage Sites states: authorities to take account of OUV both in Locality Improvement Plans (LIPs) 2017–2022 will be launched at the end of 2017. policies and proposals to guide development. their policies and decisions on cases. They aim to deliver citizen and community ‘priorities and aspirations’. It was adopted in November 2016 and “Development which would harm the qualities which justified the inscription of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh and/or the Forth Bridge as World Heritage Sites or would have a Amongst other policies that serve to protect replaces the Edinburgh City Local Plan The Locality Improvement Plan covers the city centre and the World Heritage Site. detrimental impact on a Site’s setting will not be permitted. This policy requires development the historic envionment such as conservation and Rural West Edinburgh Local Plan. The It will include the following Management Plan objectives: to respect and protect the outstanding universal values of the World Heritage Sites and their areas, listed buildings, designed landscapes policies in the LDP are used to determine settings.