There are currently seven locations in the UK and its overseas territories that are being considered for the prestigious designation of UNESCO World Heritage status.
The UK government has proposed several locations for consideration to be added to the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. These locations include York city centre, Birkenhead Park, and an iron age settlement in Shetland, among others. UNESCO World Heritage status is granted to places of significant cultural, historical, or scientific importance.
The UK already has 33 such sites, including Stonehenge. The global list overseen by the United Nations agency includes sites such as Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and historic areas of Cairo.
The government’s “Tentative List,” which is updated every 10 years to identify potential new additions to the list, has added five new locations from the UK and its overseas territories.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed the new sites that are being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status.
These include ::
- York, which has a rich history from its Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Norman inhabitants, with civic and religious buildings, including the iconic Minster.
- Birkenhead Park in Merseyside, which was a pioneer in bringing green spaces to urban areas when it opened in 1847 and inspired the creation of parks across the world, including New York’s Central Park.
- The Zenith of Iron Age Shetland, which consists of three ancient settlements dating back thousands of years.
- The East Atlantic Flyway, a migratory bird route over western parts of Europe, including several counties in the UK, is being considered for its vital importance to bird populations and wildlife.
- Finally, the Little Cayman Marine Parks and Protected Areas, in the UK overseas territory of the Cayman Islands, are being considered for their exceptional importance to marine biodiversity and natural beauty.
In addition to the five new sites, two other locations submitted their full nominations to UNESCO earlier this year and remain on the government’s Tentative List. The Flow Country, a vast expanse of peatland covering Caithness and Sutherland in the north of Scotland, is being considered for its crucial role in supporting biodiversity. The Gracehill Moravian Church Settlement in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, is also being considered for its historical significance as a unique example of a Moravian settlement from the 18th century.
Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, the Heritage Minister, has stated that all of the proposed locations would be deserving of the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage status, and that the government will fully support their efforts to achieve this recognition. The Minister believes that being added to the list would provide international recognition and benefits for these sites, and looks forward to the outcome of the nominations.
Laura Davies, the HM Ambassador to UNESCO, has praised the inclusion of the five new sites on the Tentative List, stating that they showcase the diverse and stunning natural and cultural heritage of the UK and its overseas territories. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed that it will collaborate with local authorities and devolved administrations to develop and strengthen the bids for these sites to be granted the prestigious Unesco World Heritage status.
