Decision 45 COM 7B.204

Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) (C 1215)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.60 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Welcomes the continued application of the World Heritage Site (WHS) Supplementary Planning Document, WHS Planning Toolkit, Planning Performance Agreements, and neighbourhood development plans to protect the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the 2015 ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission and previous Committee decisions, as well as the adoption of the revised Management Plan for the property;
4. Also welcomes the early engagement of Historic England in specific planning applications and in wider guidance and policy implementation, and encourages the State Party to ensure that the advice of Historic England and the WHS Planning Officer continue to inform statutory decision making;
5. Notes the ongoing engagement regarding the North Quay Phase 2 projects and the commitment to implement the recommendations provided by ICOMOS, and requests the State Party to submit revised plans for the Hilltop site, amended in line with the recommendations of ICOMOS, to the World Heritage Centre for review by ICOMOS before granting approval;
6. Acknowledges the information provided by the State Party concerning the South Crofty Mine, and in particular the details requested on the boundary treatment, but considers that further updated information should be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, and therefore requests the State Party to submit a comprehensive information package on the current status of this project, taking into account the recommendations of the 2013 mission and recalls that any plans of a potential reopening of the mine shall be subject to impact assessments in line with Paragraph 118bis of the Operational Guidelines and using the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context;
7. Invites the State Party to continue to ensure that, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, details of significant changes to statutory documents and any new planning applications which may impact on the OUV of the property are submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies before final decisions are taken;
8. Further acknowledges the efforts made by the State Party for increased interpretation, research and stakeholder involvement across the property;
9. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2024, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session.