As a relative newcomer to the WHS family, I wonder if I could ask for your experience/advice?
Have any of you have had occasion to comment on planning applications within your WHS or Setting which have the potential to negatively impact on the OUV. If so, what channels did you use and what was your experience of the process?
If you have some experience you can share, please contact me at p.j.gibson@durham.ac.uk.
Following a campaign by a network of organisations involved in the conservation, protection, promotion and conversion of historic industrial sites, the Council of Europe has declared 2015 as European Industrial and Technical Heritage (EITH) Year.
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Historic England (HE) and The Prince’s Regeneration Trust (PRT) are organising an event to tie in with EITH 2015.
The central theme is re-use, with a focus on developing new uses for vacant, at-risk industrial buildings by connecting them to creative industries businesses, developers, investors, other commercial opportunities and community-led/not-for-profit organisations.
Historic buildings help to provide diversity in the nature and affordability of commercial floorspace. They are adaptable, flexible spaces, often with lower rents, and are crucial to the development of new industries, particularly creative and the knowledge economy. Creative companies largely want to work in premises near other like-minded enterprises, often in mixed-use, independent, adaptable, flexible spaces which can offer attractively-low rents.
This approach is embodied in places like London’s Shoreditch and Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Equally, industrial buildings can easily be converted to residential use, providing different typology and identity.
We’re delighted that the conference will be held at Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). The Museum is housed in the former Liverpool Road Stations, one of Manchester’s most important and historic sites.
Day One will explore the role of the public sector in encouraging the creative reuse of industrial heritage and commercial opportunities presented by historic buildings, with a focus on creative industries, development and regeneration uses. It aims to connect with businesses, investors and local/national decision makers.
Day Two will explore opportunities to develop new uses and engage with commercial partners to leverage investment and funding with a focus on not-for-profit groups, community organisations, heritage sector partners and historic building owners.
The UNESCO website makes it very clear that this commitment – building peace in the minds of men and women – is at the very foundation of the United Nations, established after the horrors of World War Two.
UNESCO was created as part of this new UN, and stated the following in its constitution “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed”. It goes on to say that “a peace based exclusively upon the political and economic arrangements of governments would not be a peace which could secure the unanimous, lasting and sincere support of the peoples of the world, and that the peace must therefore be founded, if it is not to fail, upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind”.
While trying to digest Friday’s atrocity in Paris over the weekend, it was very clear to me and anyone looking at the news or on social media that people everywhere want to play their part, express their support, and show their solidarité for the people of Paris and France.
I can understand if you ask, what have World Heritage Sites got to do with Friday’s events? In themselves, absolutely nothing, but within this context of UNESCO’s mission, and the fact that the designations are UNESCO designations, surely there are ways in which World Heritage Sites can be more proactively used as forces for peace in the world – even if only as flag bearers for the wider aims of UNESCO, and the wider goals that it can achieve.
UNESCO say “Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration.” We have seen recently the global outcry at the desecration of Palmyra. Looking deeper, perhaps part of the reasons for its destruction was because it was thought to be a symbol whose damage would send a strong message to the world. Conversely, its destruction has been a very tangible act which people can relate to – someone said to me that would be like ‘blowing up Stonehenge’, and you can imagine the response that would bring in the UK.
The World Heritage Convention also indicates that the unique nature of the concept is its “universal application” and that Sites “belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located.” This simple statement gives us a tangible means to bind ourselves together – all 191 states who have signed up to the convention.
In an uncertain world, the future of nations depends not only on their economic capital or natural resources, but on their collective ability to understand and anticipate changes in the environment – through education, scientific research and the sharing of knowledge.
In an unstable world – marked by fledgling democratic movements, the emergence of new economic powers and societies weakened by multiple stress factors – the educational, scientific and cultural fabric of societies – along with respect for fundamental rights – guarantees their resilience and stability.
Looking at this gives me a little hope that our national and global networks of outstanding places might be able to play a role, albeit probably a small one when dwarfed with the collective power of people and governments, in helping meet these laudable aims. It is probably by working with people and with governments that this may happen, and I sincerely hope that it can for whilst the World Heritage Convention is arguably doing a good job at conserving our cultural and natural heritage for future generations, is it helping to meet its wider role within UNESCO?
As for what to do, I don’t have the answers, but I urge all of you involved in World Heritage to bring this wider mission to the front of your minds, consider it in your plans, your hopes and your aspirations for your World Heritage Sites, and be bold.
As I finish writing this I have noticed on the twitter hashtag #solidarite that Durham Cathedral and St Georges Hall Liverpool, both constituent parts of World Heritage Sites, have lit up their buildings with the tricolor to show their solidarity with France. Perhaps my hope is not unfounded!