New Lanark
Factors affecting the property in 2016*
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Pleasance Housing proposal (housing development in the buffer zone)
- Proposed extension of the Hyndford Quarry
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2016
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2016**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2016
On 10 December 2015, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report (available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/429/documents), which addresses progress made in the implementation of World Heritage Committee Decision 38 COM 7B.37, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014) regarding the potential adverse impacts of the Hyndford Quarry extension and Pleasance Housing projects on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and its buffer zone.
The State Party responded that on the Hyndford Quarry, following a Public Inquiry, the proposed extension of the quarry within the buffer zone of the property was referred to Scottish Ministers and has been turned down. Furthermore, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note that following the negative outcome of the Inquiry, the CEMEX company, which had submitted the application, announced a new commitment related to all World Heritage sites. This commitment specifically mentions this property in addition to its general commitment to World Heritage, which states that “CEMEX unequivocally recognizes that World Heritage sites are no go areas for extractive activities, and nothing in either the sites or their Buffer Zones must interfere with their Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) nor impinge in any way on their setting), notes specifically that “Regarding the New Lanark World Heritage site, CEMEX acknowledges the recent decision of Scottish Ministers and is committed to working together with the Ministers, the local authority, relevant NGOs and other interested parties to ensure the ongoing best interests of the World Heritage site, its OUV and setting.” The stopping of the Hyndford Quarry development in the buffer zone and the unequivocal above-mentioned new commitment given by the developer are to be welcomed.
Regarding the Pleasance Housing development, the State Party responded that approval in principle was given for this development in 2012. Although the local council has stipulated that detailed plans will be scrutinized by Historic Environment Scotland, these may not come forward as formal planning applications. If they do, a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) will be carried out before final approval is given, in which event the State Party will submit the HIA to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies.
The State Party further noted that funding recently awarded to New Lanark Trust will go towards restoration works within the property that address key conservation issues identified in the management plan.
The setting of the property is however still vulnerable as the Pleasance Housing development has been given approval in principle on a landscape site visible from the property without a detailed HIA being undertaken. It is noted that HIAs will not necessarily be required for the detailed plans for this development, unless they are submitted for full planning.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2016
The outcome of these two developments suggests that the setting of the property needs to be more adequately defined, particularly in relation to how it supports the OUV of the property, so that HIAs are undertaken well in advance of development projects in the setting being considered for approval.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2016
40 COM 7B.105
Omnibus Decision
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7B,
- Takes note with satisfaction of the measures taken by the States Parties concerned to address its previous requests to mitigate the threats on the Outstanding Universal Value of the following World Heritage properties:
- Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower (Azerbaijan),
- Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex (Russian Federation),
- New Lanark (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland),
- Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point (United States of America);
- Encourages the States Parties concerned to pursue their efforts to ensure the conservation of World Heritage properties;
- Recalling the benefits to States Parties of systematically utilizing Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) in the review of development projects, also encourages States Parties to integrate the EIA/HIA processes into legislation, planning mechanisms and management plans, and reiterates its recommendation to States Parties to use these tools in assessing projects, including assessment of cumulative impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value of properties, as early as possible and before any final decision is taken;
- Reminds the States Parties concerned to inform the World Heritage Centre in due course about any major development project that may negatively impact the Outstanding Universal Value of a property, before any irreversible decisions are made, in line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines.
Draft Decision: 40 COM 7B.105
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7B,
- Takes note with satisfaction of the measures taken by the States Parties concerned to address its previous requests to mitigate the threats on the Outstanding Universal Value of the following World Heritage properties:
- Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower (Azerbaijan),
- Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex (Russian Federation),
- New Lanark (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland),
- Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point (United States of America);
- Encourages the States Parties concerned to pursue their efforts to ensure the conservation of World Heritage properties;
- Recalling the benefits to States Parties of systematically utilizing Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) in the review of development projects, encourages States Parties to integrate the EIA/HIA processes into legislation, planning mechanisms and management plans, and reiterates its recommendation to States Parties to use these tools in assessing projects, including assessment of cumulative impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value of properties, as early as possible and before any final decision is taken;
- Reminds the States Parties concerned to inform the World Heritage Centre in due course about any major development project that may negatively impact the Outstanding Universal Value of a property, before any irreversible decisions are made, in line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Documents examined by the Committee
40COM (2016)Exports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
