HERITAGE guardians are to move to tighten planning guidelines, re-open unused buildings and make grants easier to obtain under a plan of action to protect Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site.
It comes after Unesco investigators paid a two-day visit to the city prompted by concerns over developments including proposals to turn the former Royal High School, below, into a £75m luxury hotel and the £850m St James Centre development, which has had it's unusual "ribbon" hotel design criticised.
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The plan comes after a consultation into the running of the World Heritage Site by its managers Edinburgh City Council, Historic Environment Scotland and Edinburgh World Heritage.
A central element to emerge was the push to keep such protection to the fore in planning decisions, with the management plan report saying: "The site’s skyline and setting are vulnerable to unsympathetic development.
"A majority of key views from the skyline study cut across the site; their protection is essential to the protection of the historic environment."
It also said securing temporary uses for underused and unused buildings should become a priority.
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The report went on: "Edinburgh retains most of its significant buildings and spaces in better condition than most other historic cities of comparable value.
"More than 350 applicants received a grant in the lifetime of the previous management plan.
"Steps should be taken to make the process more transparent and accessible."
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The UK national committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which has a special role as official adviser to Unesco, criticised the planning culture in the city, with the advisers saying: "Evidence of the potentially negative impacts of cumulative new developments is becoming increasingly apparent."
The consultation highlighted that more can be done for the general state of repair and ongoing care and maintenance of historic buildings.
Many buildings require some form of repair or maintenance to windows, roofs, stonework or guttering.
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The management plan includes a new new voluntary shared repairs service and improving the promotion of existing grant programmes to continue the strong tradition of conversation and preservation in the site.
Adam Wilkinson, director of Edinburgh World Heritage, said: “The new management plan for the site describes many of the achievements of the past five years, as well as areas where we all need to do a better job.
"Through a very open process of consultation and partnership, we have identified a series of new programmes that we believe will make a real difference to the better conservation, management and promotion of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh.
"We’d love as many people as possible to read the summary of the plan and let us know what they think.”
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Steven Robb, of Historic Environment Scotland, said: “Edinburgh’s World Heritage site, along with the other five we boast across Scotland, is a huge asset, both in terms of the city’s profile as a visitor destination and a place to live and work. It also helps enhance a positive perception of Scotland overall on the global stage.
“It’s therefore paramount we ensure it continues to be a thriving space within the capital, and the management plan sets out that vision through its six themes and suggested actions.
"We now look forward to hearing people’s views on the plan when the next public consultation gets underway early next month.”
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Ian Perry, council planning convener, said: “Our World Heritage Site is of crucial importance to the future vision and development of the city."
A further consultation will now run from Monday, April 3 to Monday June 5 to give the public the opportunity to comment on the proposed plan.
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