World Heritage Site

What are World Heritage Sites?
World Heritage Sites are places which are internationally recognised for their outstanding universal value. They are considered unique places, where their level of significance and individual characteristics are not usually repeated anywhere else in the world. There is no higher recognition of heritage value than World Heritage Site status. The World Heritage Convention was established in 1972 by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation). By signing up to the Convention, national governments commit themselves to identify, protect, conserve, present and pass on their World Heritage Sites to future generations, as part of a common universal heritage.

The World Heritage List includes cultural sites, natural sites and mixed sites. As of March 2009, there are 878 properties worldwide inscribed by UNESCO. Examples from around the globe include the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids, Angkor Wat, historic city centres such as Florence, Vienna, Havana, Old Quebec and Edinburgh and natural sites such as the Great Barrier Reef and Galapagos Islands. Being a World Heritage Site brings international recognition and enormous prestige.

When and Why did New Lanark become a World Heritage Site?

New Lanark was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in December 2001. It is one of only 5 in Scotland and 28 sites in the UK and overseas territories. For more information on UK World Heritage Sites and the UNESCO selection criteria which each World Heritage Site must demonstrate to justify inscription on the list, see following links -

http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/gb
http://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria/

New Lanark was nominated with regard to the following criteria:

Criteria (ii): to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;

Criteria (iv): to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;

Criteria (vi): to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.

Why is New Lanark important in global terms?


New Lanark is an exceptional example of a purpose-built 18th century mill village, set in a picturesque Scottish landscape near the Falls of Clyde. The village was founded by David Dale, a Glasgow industrialist and merchant, in 1785 and it is where, in the early years of the 19th century, the Utopian idealist Robert Owen inspired a model industrial community based on textile production. The cotton mills were operational from 1786 to 1968 and at the turn of the 19th century the mill buildings formed one of the largest groups of mills in the world. By the late 1960's New Lanark was in decline with many buildings under threat of demolition. The New Lanark Conservation Trust was set up in 1974 to conserve and restore many of the historic buildings in the village. Today New Lanark is a living and working community which attracts approximately 400,000 visitors per year and has a resident population of around 200. More information can be found at www.newlanark.org/thetrust.shtml and associated links.

The following statement is taken from the nomination evaluation document and relates to the criteria set out above:

Criterion (ii) When Richard Arkwright's new factory system for textile production was brought to New Lanark the need to provide housing and other facilities to the workers and managers was recognized. It was there that Robert Owen created a model for industrial communities that was to spread across the world in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Criterion (iv) New Lanark saw the construction not only of well designed and equipped workers' housing but also public buildings designed to improve their spiritual as well as their physical needs.

Criterion (vi) The name of New Lanark is synonymous with that of Robert Owen and his social philosophy in matters such as progressive education, factory reform, humane working practices, international cooperation, and garden cities, which was to have a profound influence on social developments throughout the 19th century and beyond.

Planning Implications and Management Plans
World Heritage Site status does not confer any additional statutory controls in Scotland. However, local authorities should develop planning policies to protect World Heritage Sites and their buffer zones and the significance of a World Heritage Site is a 'key material consideration' when making planning decisions. Please see following link for South Lanarkshire Council's Local Plan Policy ENV 21 which directly relates to New Lanark World Heritage Site and buffer zone: www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk UNESCO requires adequate management arrangements to be in place for World Heritage Sites, the development of a Management Plan is considered best practice. They are central to ensuring that World Heritage Sites and their Outstanding Universal Value are protected and managed for future generations. They should identify management issues and short to long-term objectives and establish a framework for decision making.

New Lanark Management Plan


At New Lanark, there are 3 main partners involved - the New Lanark Trust, South Lanarkshire Council and Historic Scotland as well as many other stakeholders - Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Power, local landowners and residents - within the site and its wider buffer zone.

The process of developing a Management Plan involves bringing together all key stakeholders to agree a common vision for the future of the site. The implementation of a Management Plan relies on the effective co-operation of all stakeholders and as a result links should be reinforced and projects and actions undertaken.

The Management Plan will set out the overarching strategic framework for management, based on analysis of the site's significance, and will define the 20-30 year vision and aims along with shorter term (5 year) and medium term (10 year) aims and objectives. The plan will provide a robust framework for identifying solutions to site specific needs within the World Heritage Site today and in the future by examining the main issues affecting the site and setting out the aims, objectives and actions required to manage and protect the site.

As World Heritage Site Co-ordinator, my main task is to co-ordinate the public consultation of the Management Plan Review which is taking place throughout 2009. I will be hosting discussions with stakeholders over the next few months with the aim of producing a draft for widespread public consultation.

Please contact the Co-ordinator for further information:


Ms Leigh M. Johnston
New Lanark World Heritage Site Co-ordinator
Mill 3, Level 6
New Lanark Mills
Lanark
ML11 9DB



01555 667212 (Direct)
01555 665738 (Fax)
leigh.johnston@newlanark.org