World Heritage and the Planning SystemWorld Heritage and the Planning System

Steve TylerSteve Tyler

Spatial Strategy ManagerSpatial Strategy Manager

Greenwich CouncilGreenwich Council

Content

• Greenwich Context• Planning Policy• Planning Applications• Some Key issues and Benefits• Key Guidance:

– Circular 07/09 Protection of World Heritage Sites– English Heritage Guidance Note (July 09)

Greenwich Context

• Diverse Borough: physically, socially, economically• Part of Thames Gateway Regeneration area• Significant physical regeneration• Planning permission granted for nearly 30,000

residential units in last ten years• Olympics Host Borough• But third of Borough is open space

Greenwich Heritage Context

• 20 diverse Conservation Areas• 3 Historic Landscapes• Nearly 1,000 entries on statutory list• Nearly 1,000 entries on local list• 9 Scheduled Ancient Monuments• Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site

Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site

Maritime Greenwich comprises one of the finest and most dramatically sited architectural and landscape ensembles in the British Isles. The strong historic association of the area with seafaring, the navy, royalty and the measurement of time and distance, combined with the brilliant architectural expressions of them within a historic landscape context, make Maritime Greenwich a place of ‘outstanding universal value’

Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site

• Inscribed 1997

• Statement of Significance agreed 2008

• Management Plan 1999, revised 2005

• Steering Group (stakeholders), Executive Group (key partners), Coordinator

Greenwich Planning Context

• Unitary Development Plan: adopted 2006• LDF Core Strategy: draft for consultation late summer

2010 adoption mid 2012 • 3,000 planning applications a year

National Planning Context

• No statutory recognition of World Heritage Sites as an historic asset

• Included in draft Heritage Protection Bill but not proceeded with. Para 6.9 Advice Note

Planning Policy

• Plan led system• ‘It is essential that policy frameworks at all levels

recognise the need to protect the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage Sites’. Para 8 Circular 7/09

• Policies for the protection and sustainable use of WHS, which supplement international and national policy should be included in RSS (SDS in London) and LDF (Core Strategy). Policies should also apply, as appropriate to its setting including any buffer zone. Para 10 Circular 07/09

Planning Policy

• Policies should be based on five principles. Para 12 Circular 07/09:1. Protecting the WHS and its setting, including any buffer zone, from

inappropriate development2. Striking a balance between the needs of conservation, biodiversity,

access, the interests of the local community and the sustainable economic use of the WHS in its setting

3. Protecting a WHS from the effect of changes which are relatively minor but which, on a cumulative basis, could have a significant effect

4. Enhancing the WHS where appropriate and possible through positive management

5. Protecting WHSs from climate change but ensuring mitigation is not at the expense of authenticity or integrity

Local Development Frameworks

• LDF – collection of local development documents• Core Strategy - the principal Development Plan Document (DPD): It is

essential that appropriate policies are included in the Core Strategy. Para 7.4 Advice Note

• Proposals Map should show WHS boundary and buffer zone. Para 7.7 Advice Note. (Note may have many designations over same area).

• The Core Strategy can be complemented by other LDF documents including Area Action Plan (AAP) and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD). Para 7.4 Advice Note

• AAPs can be used to protect areas particularly sensitive to change. Para 5.4 PPS12

• SPDs can only provide greater detail on policy it cannot make it. Para 6.1 PPS12

Local Development Frameworks

• Policy must refer to protection of ‘Outstanding Universal Values’ of the Site

• Where OUVs not defined use Statement of Significance in the interim.

• Refer to Management Plan in reason to the Policy

Local Development Frameworks

• Buffer Zones / Setting– ‘The buffer zone is the area surrounding the WHS which has

complementary legal restrictions placed on its use and development to give an added layer of protection to the WHS’. Para 16 Circular 7/09

– ‘The setting of a WHS is the area around it (including any buffer zone) in which change or development is capable of having an adverse impact on the WHS, including an impact on views to or from the Site’. Para 15 Circular 7/09

– Policies should be included in LDFs of authorities bordering a WHS as well as the authority in which the Site is located. Para 7.4 Advice Note

Planning Applications

• ‘The Outstanding Universal Value of a WHS indicates its importance as a key material consideration to be taken into account by the relevant authorities in determining planning and related applications and by the Secretary of State in determining cases on appeal or following call in’. Para 8 Circular 07/09

• Advice note: Paras 7.9 – 7.13

Planning Applications

• It is essential to consider the impact of each development proposal on the OUV

• Applicants should detail the impact their proposals will have on OUV and indicate how these effects would be acceptable

• For significant proposals this should be part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and. (Note for EIAs WHSs are classed as ‘sensitive areas’).

• Design and Access Statements are required for development proposals affecting WHSs

• In cases likely to have a significant impact on OUV pre application discussions should be carried out with the planning authority and English Heritage. Para 7.11 Advice Note

Planning Applications

• Call in:– Local authorities are required to refer to the Secretary of State any

development proposals affecting WHSs which they are minded to approve but to which English Heritage have an objection. Para 19 Circular 7/09 / Town and Country Planning (England ) Direction 2009

• UNESCO World Heritage Committee:– WH Committee have asked to be informed by national

governments of proposals for major restorations or interventions which may affect the OUV.

– Decision to refer is taken by DCMS taking into account English Heritage advice. All call in cases will be considered for referral. Para 7.12 – 7.13 Advice Note

Planning Applications

• In October 2008 WHSs were added to article 1(5) in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 - to protect WHSs from minor incremental changes which could erode OUVs. Para 20 Circular 07/09

• Local authorities can also further restrict permitted development rights under Article 4 and Article 7 (minerals operations) if they consider it expedient to do so to protect OUV. Para 21 Circular 07/09

Some Key Issues

• Tall Buildings• Development v

Conservation?• Influencing smaller scale

applications• No additional state funding

for local authorities

Some Key Benefits

• International recognition of heritage quality

• Source of civic pride• Helps lever in external

funding• Tourism and marketing• Royal Borough status!