Guidance Note for Completing the Application form for the UK Tentative List of Potential Sites for World Heritage Nomination   
15 March 2010   

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Introduction

The application form is the first stage of a process which is designed to produce a list of sites in the UK and overseas territories, capable of proceeding to nominations which would succeed to be inscribed on the World Heritage List by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

The form is deliberately brief so as not to impose unnecessary costs on applicants.  Short  statements should be provided in response to each of the questions. The form is intended to produce summary information to identify those sites which deserve more detailed consideration, because, on the face of it, they have the potential to meet UNESCO’s stringent  tests. All the applications will be considered by an independent expert panel and, in some cases, further information may be sought. 

In addition to the information on the form, the evaluation of applications will take into account whether a proposed site reflects the UNESCO priorities for filling gaps on the World Heritage List, in line with UNESCO’s Global Strategy. Following research by  the official advisers to the World Heritage Committee,  International Council on Monuments and Sites  (ICOMOS) and International Union for Conservation of Nature  (IUCN), the Committee wishes to  address the imbalance between regions of the world and categories of sites. It would like to see nominations of more natural sites and sites which reflect changing views of the heritage, so there would be fewer architectural sites and more new sites which reflect human development through other means.  Further guidance on this matter is included in the consultation paper World Heritage and the Nation:  Identifying, Protecting and Promoting our World Heritage, available DCMS WH portal: http://www.culture.gov.uk/ukwhportal/  and from UNESCO:  http://whc.unesco.org/en/globalstrategy/ .

Detailed guidance on the UNESCO rules and requirements is  available in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, (OG). References are provided to the relevant paragraphs of this document and the full text is available on the UNESCO website:  (http:/whc.unesco.org/en/guidelines). 

The following notes should assist applicants to complete the form. In addition, the Information Sheets in the application pack provide useful background on World Heritage issues.

General advice on the application process is available, and enquiries in the first instance should be addressed to the UK National Commission (UKNC).  
Contact: Harry Reeves, Secretary General, UKNC, Suite 98, 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL
Telephone: 0207 766 3490 
Email: hreeves@unesco.org.uk  

Question by question guidance

(1)	Name of proposed World Heritage Site. Please  tell us what the site is called. 

(2)	Geographical Location.  Applicants should state the country or region, and provide an A4 map of the location of the site, with grid references to its central point, and a plan showing the main elements of the site. A maximum of 6 photographs may also be submitted. In the case of proposed serial nominations, or dispersed sites,  please supply this information for each part of the site.

(3)	Type of Site. You should state whether the proposed site is a cultural, natural or mixed site, or a cultural landscape. (OG  45-47)

(4) 	Description. In your short description of the site you should pay particular attention to its physical characteristics.

(5)	History. A short note of the major events in the evolution of the site since its origins should be provided.

(6)      Why do you think the site should be inscribed as a World Heritage Site?   Nomination and management of these sites is a major undertaking and can be costly. Bear in mind that although a site may be important in our national context, it does not necessarily follow that it can be a World Heritage Site and this may not be the best means of managing a particular site. Please therefore indicate the main reasons why you think the site should be a  World Heritage Site.

(7)    Please say why you think the site has Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).  The importance of World Heritage Sites goes beyond national significance. This means they are important for cultural or natural heritage reasons which are so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and that  they have truly international significance for all mankind. They are said to have  Outstanding Universal Value, viewed from an international perspective. You should provide a brief statement to explain how this applies for this site, including the principle features that demonstrate its importance. (OUV is explained in OG 49-51 and 77-78)

(8)   Outstanding Universal Value (OUV): UNESCO criteria.
 To  assist the process of determining whether a site has OUV, UNESCO considers nominations under 10 specific criteria.  A site must meet one or more of these criteria, which are set out at the end of this Guidance Note. Applicants should chose criteria appropriate for their site, and provide a short  explanation for each criterion chosen. (OG 77)

(9)    Authenticity. This only applies to cultural and mixed sites and means assessing the extent to which the site’s Outstanding Universal Value is expressed through a variety of its qualities, (known as attributes in this context),  such as form and design, or use and function. It also measures the extent to which the important qualities of a site remain undamaged or unchanged over time. The information sources that relate to the site must be credible and truthful.  In some cases degradation of the fabric of the site itself, or development, could have affected a site so that it no longer has its original important qualities. For cultural and mixed sites, please provide a short statement to explain how far the original characteristics of the site remain, as this will indicate whether it can still demonstrate it has authenticity. (OG 79-86)

(10)	 Integrity. For cultural or mixed sites proposed under criteria (i) – (vi) integrity is assessed as the extent to which the original fabric of the site remains as a measure of wholeness of a property. Does the proposed site contain all the key elements which contribute to its Outstanding Universal Value?  Integrity takes account of how far  the site demonstrates all the significance for which it is considered to have OUV, and is considered in relation to the particular importance, or OUV of the site. Degradation or damage to the property is a relevant consideration.  Repair or reinstatement of original fabric is not always a barrier but needs to be taken into account. Please state how much original fabric there is, and its condition. Please note significant works that have been carried out on a site. (OG 87-89). 

For natural sites the test of integrity is specific according to the criterion chosen. For detailed guidance on integrity in relation to sites proposed under criteria (vii) –(x)  please refer to the OG 90-94. Information Sheet 6 also provides help on integrity. 

(11)  Are there other similar sites already on the World Heritage List? If you are aware of any similar sites, please list them. The current List can be seen on UNESCO’s World Heritage website.

(12)  	What distinguishes the site from other similar sites? Sites which achieve World Heritage inscription will have been compared with other sites in the same category in other countries, and judged to be the best, or at least a prime example, of their kind because of the unique importance, or OUV, that they possess. A full comparative analysis is not required at this stage but to put the site into context, you should list other similar sites and say why the site submitted differs from these. 

(13)  How does the site contribute to meeting UNESCO’s priorities for a balanced, representative and credible World Heritage List?  Certain kinds of site have a greater potential to complete gaps in representation on the List. These include natural sites, cultural landscapes or sites from under-represented countries. It would be helpful to indicate whether your site is in any of the under-represented categories. For further guidance on this complex matter please refer to OG 55-60 and http://whc.unesco.org/en/globalstrategy/.

(14)  	What benefits do you think inscription on the World Heritage List would bring? Management of a site to meet the UNESCO requirements can lead to improved conservation and protection. While the benefits from World Heritage status are not automatic, there is opportunity for local and national communities to contribute to managing sites and through this process a range of social and economic benefits can result, both for the stakeholders and local and other communities. Please tick the boxes to indicate which of the  benefits you anticipate, noting any others that you expect the designation would bring. You should also indicate who would be the main beneficiaries.   

(15)  Are there any known threats to the proposed World Heritage Site?
Large scale development, or a range of  other issues such as coastal erosion, flooding or other effects of climate change could alter the character of a site, and undermine its value. This  could mean a World Heritage Site could ultimately be removed from the World Heritage List, as recently happened to Dresden. Applicants should provide information in relation to any known threats or potential impacts. (OG 96)

(16)  Legal Protection. Applicants should state any legal protections, or other designations for the site, such as whether it is listed, scheduled or covered by European directives together with local planning legislation and planning guidance.  (OG 96-98)

(17)	Ownership. Depending on the nature of a site, the support of legal owners can be very important. In complex sites, such as a city centre like Edinburgh,  there will be many owners and it may not be possible to identify even the main ones. Where possible,  please list  the principle owners and statements from them should be attached to the application. 

(18)    Local Authority support for the site.  Sites can cross Local Authority boundaries so you should indicate all those with a responsibility for the site. Local Authorities are the Planning Authority and are in the front line in managing development and infrastructure, both of which can affect any World Heritage Site. It is extremely unlikely that any site can proceed to nomination without the support of the relevant Local Authority/ies. Please indicate whether the proposal has this support and provide a statement from each relevant Local Authority. Please also say whether the site is already included in any local planning policies and guidance.

(19) Stakeholders.  Please list the main bodies or individuals or communities involved in the site. It is important to UNESCO that the stakeholders are involved in managing sites and that there is local support for  World Heritage Sites in order for them to benefit the community, at local and wider levels. 

(20)  	How will the Site be managed.  There are a number of different models for managing  World Heritage Sites across UK.  Key to all these is the World Heritage Site Management Plan which the UK government requires for all World Heritage Sites.  Applications should briefly describe proposed arrangements for the management of the site, including who will be responsible, and how the benefits mentioned in question 14 will be realised. (OG 108-112) 

(21)	Funding for nominations. The process of preparing for World Heritage nomination tends to be time-consuming and expensive. It would be helpful to have an indication of how the nomination would prepared and also how this work would be funded. 

(22 	Funding for managing the site. Please also provide an indication of how the future management of the site will be funded. 

UNESCO’s criteria for the assessment of Outstanding Universal Value 
 (para 77 of the Operational Guidelines)

(i) represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;

(ii) 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;

(iii) bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;

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

(v) be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;

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

(vii) contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;

(viii) be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;

(ix) be outstanding examples representing significant ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;

(x) contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

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