World Heritage Site Status
Joining the A-list
We are part of a county-wide partnership project to inscribe the Lake District as a World Heritage Site. The project brings together lakeland communities and businesses, the voluntary sector and public bodies at the local, regional and national level. The Partnership is seeking inscription under the cultural landscape category.
The partnership will put a case to the Government for inclusion on the World Heritage site list. The final decision rests with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
What happens now?
The Lake District World Heritage Site Steering Group met on 15 December 2006 and voted to proceed with development of a bid for World Heritage Site inscription. The next steps will include preparation of a Nomination Document and a World Heritage Site Management Plan. An important part of this process will involve consulting Cumbrian residents.
The Lake District World Heritage Site Steering Group is a group of local and national organisations chaired by Lord Clark of Windermere. It has an interest in taking forward a bid for World Heritage Site inscription for the benefit of the Lake District and Cumbria. The bid will be managed through a Programme Management Group chaired by Cumbria County Council.
Planning permission and World Heritage Site status
We do not believe World Heritage Site Inscription will introduce any additional planning policy restraint within the Lake District National Park. Read more details in Lake District World Heritage Site Bid Draft Planning Statement (opens Document Library).
Royal Institute of British Architects' opinion
The Royal Institute of British Architects in the Northwest discussed the planning implications of World Heritage Site Inscription in April 2008. They concluded that:
"The general consensus of opinion was that WHS status would have no additional planning control but conversely may be a tool and an opportunity to foster the development of the area as well as a lever to insist on even higher quality in the built environment than we already do as a National Park"
You can read the full RIBA article from the link on the Lake District World Heritage Project - Document Library (opens in new window)
More details
Take a look at the Lake District World Heritage Project website (opens in new window).
