World Heritage in Edinburgh

About World Heritage in Edinburgh

The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site was added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (UNESCO's) list of World Heritage Sites in 1995. The World Heritage Committee stated that the Edinburgh Old and New Towns "represent a remarkable blend of two urban phenomena: organic medieval growth and 18th and 19th century town planning": the Old Town and the neoclassical New Town.

Managing the World Heritage Site

UNESCO requires every world heritage site to have a management plan which says how the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the Site will be protected. OUV is the collection of attributes which make the area special and give Edinburgh its international importance.

Our Management Plan has been prepared in line with best practice, by a partnership of the City of Edinburgh Council, Historic Scotland and Edinburgh World Heritage. It provides a link between the international requirements of World Heritage, the planning process and the wider management issues involved in protecting a complex Site like Edinburgh . Its purpose is to provide an effective management framework for the World Heritage Site that will sustain its OUV, by enhancing understanding of the Site and its context within a thriving capital city and safeguarding the elements that make it important and must be protected.

The vision and objectives for the Site were informed by workshops, exhibitions and a wide range of consultation responses and this involvement has made a significant contribution to the finalised vision and objectives included in the Plan.  The Management Plan informs a separate Action Plan.

Do I live in the World Heritage Site?

The Council Atlas shows the boundary of the World Heritage Site, conservation areas and listed buildings.

Useful contacts

Jenny Bruce, World Heritage Site Co-ordinator - City of Edinburgh Council Jenny.bruce@edinburgh.gov.uk - 0131 529 3510

Adam Wilkinson, Director - Edinburgh World Heritage Adam@ewht.org - 0131 220 7725