1. Introduction

1.1 The World Heritage Convention

Some stakeholders and readers may not be familiar with the key concepts surrounding World Heritage, so management plans need to provide sufficient explanation of these as context.

It is helpful for management plans to begin with a brief introduction to the 1972 World Heritage Convention, the World Heritage List, and the Operational Guidelines to explain how the Convention is implemented in practice, and why a management plan is needed.

1.2 The World Heritage Property

This section could offer a brief paragraph introducing the property. This could include an introduction to what the inscribed property comprises and where it is situated to provide some context before further detail is given later in the plan.

1.3 Protection and Management Requirements

This section should explain the need and importance of having a robust protection and management framework to support the conservation of the site's Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and safeguard its future (5). All UK World Heritage properties must have a management plan in place.

1.4 Purpose and Status of the Management Plan

This section should articulate the role of the management plan:

• As 1 element of the site's management system
• As a tool to guide management on a daily basis and provide a longer-term strategic framework
• To guide decision-making regarding developments with the potential to affect a site's OUV
• As a material consideration in the planning system for both local plan-making and development management processes. The status of the management plan as an adopted or formally endorsed document should be emphasised to help decision-makers determine the weight the management plan should carry as a material consideration in the planning process

1.5 Engagement in the Management Planning Process

Management plans should include a brief summary of engagement with partners and stakeholders through the Steering Group or Committee, as well as any wider engagement. More detailed explanations of individual roles involved with day to day management can be included in Section 4 (Current Management).

1.6 Related Plans

Management plans are one part of a suite of related conservation and management documents for different aspects of the property or other designations within it. Various national strategies, regional plans and subsidiary plans which address specific aspects of management such as setting studies, disaster risk or visitor management may also be relevant. This section should summarise the relationships between these plans and how they influence the protection and management of the property. 

A World Heritage property management plan should link to other related documents and sign-post to these where relevant to avoid duplication (6).

1.7 Lifespan and Review Schedule for the Management Plan

Management planning is an iterative process. A structured review process is essential to ensuring a management plan is adequately drafted and working effectively in practice.

A rolling review schedule can strengthen the role of plans as a legitimate material consideration in the planning process in England by virtue of them being up to date. Regular review also means management plans can evolve to reflect changing circumstances and new pressures the site may be facing.

Review periods within the management cycle offer an opportunity to reassess, update and enhance the plan and actions to implement it and identify areas for improvement or gaps in content. Elements of management plans may need expansion or amendment in response to certain factors, but not every review will necessarily prompt a complete rewrite.

The 2023 Enhancing Our Heritage Toolkit 2.0 (EOH 2.0) is designed to support this review process. It contains 12 practical tools which can be used throughout the management cycle to support self-assessment of different elements of a management framework (for example, Values, attributes and management objectives; Governance arrangements).

There are a number of review mechanisms which may be integrated into site management planning:

• A management effectiveness assessment: This should occur at the end of any Management plan cycle for sites with a Management plan period of about 5 years. An additional mid-term review could support continued efficacy for properties with longer planning cycles
  
  The management effectiveness assessment should be used to determine the extent of update a management plan would require. Depending on the amount of revision needed, a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) may be triggered. Any final decision on the necessity for an SEA should be taken once a first draft of a revised plan has been produced and the nature of any changes, and subsequent environmental impacts, are more apparent. Historic England can provide support in this process. Contingency time for the potential need for an SEA should be built into management plan review schedules (7).
• Progress monitoring: This should take place every 1 to 2 years, against an agreed action plan or monitoring indicators
• Evaluation of individual elements of the management system: This should be ad-hoc, using the tools provided in EOH 2.0 to evaluate specific elements of the management system such as boundaries and governance arrangements as required in support of decision-making
• Reactive reviews, for the following reasons:
  • When urgent attention is required, based on the results of the monitoring process or the advice of UNESCO,
  • When faced with a catastrophic situation,
  • When the property is inscribed, or risks inscription, on the List of World Heritage in Danger, or
  • If major changes make implementation of parts of the plan impossible (8)

This section should present the duration of the management planning cycle and a schedule of the types and frequency of planned reviews.

Footnotes

5. Protection & management is 1 of the 3 pillars of Outstanding Universal Value. Paragraph 78 of the Operational Guidelines states: "To be deemed of Outstanding Universal Value, a property must also meet the conditions of integrity and/or authenticity and must have an adequate protection and management system to ensure its safeguarding"
6. UNESCO., ICCROM., ICOMOS., and IUCN (2023). 'Enhancing Our Heritage Toolkit 2.0', UNESCO, 23. (Accessed 19 February 2025)
7. Historic England's Advice Note 8 (2016) advises that: "In certain circumstances, it is possible that the emerging management plan may set out policies to protect the OUV that will be akin to development management policies more usually found in local plan documents. Where this is the case, the responsible authority will consult Historic England as to the likely effects of the plan before deciding whether SEA is required"
8. UNESCO., ICCROM., ICOMOS., and IUCN (2013). ‘Managing Cultural World Heritage', UNESCO, 144. (Accessed 19 February 2025)