Westminster WHS

The Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including St Margaret's Church were inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1987 in recognition of the outstanding universal architectural, historic and symbolic significance of this group of buildings and spaces. These beautiful buildings are not museums. They are places of work, worship and education for many hundreds of people every day and they stand prominently at the busy hub of London, a World City. So the challenge is to safeguard the heritage of the site, while continuing to serve the ever changing needs of the divine mission of the Abbey and the democratic purpose of the Houses of Parliament.

As a State Party to the World Heritage Convention the UK Government must provide for protection and management of each WHS in the country. A World Heritage Site Management Plan has been prepared which establishes a strategy for managing the Westminster WHS into the future, which can assist in balancing the multiplicity of activities, requirements and opportunities of the site. Before the document is finalised, we would like to have your views on what is important about the site and the vision and objectives for its management.

 Westminster: a unique place

The two institutions housed in the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey have intertwined histories stretching back over one thousand years. They are the descendants of the royal palace and abbey established on Thorney Island by Edward the Confessor in the 11th century. Throughout the history of the complex, pre-eminent architects and craftsmen have been employed, from Henry Yevele and Hugh Herland, the mason and carpenter of Westminster Hall, to Sir Charles Barry and AW Pugin on the New Palace and Wren and Hawksmoor on the Abbey. Both the Abbey and Palace contain decorative schemes, furniture and fittings and works of art of international importance.

Westminster is a place where the British monarchy, church, state and law have evolved. Westminster Abbey houses the shrine of Edward the Confessor and the tombs of English monarchs, important statesmen and women, as well as beloved poets, authors and musicians. Since its foundation the Abbey has been the focus of national religious occasions and ceremonies. It is the place where monarchs have been crowned. The Palace of Westminster is the birthplace and cradle of parliamentary democracy and of common law, including the system of trial by jury, two concepts which have been emulated across the world.
Both Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster are icons. Many thousands visit each day to experience their history at first hand and they are used by the world's media as emblems of Britain.

Vision

The vision for the future of the Westminster World Heritage Site is for it to be:

• A living, sustainable place, where the outstanding universal values and architectural, symbolic, historic and other significances are safeguarded
• Set within a public realm that is attractive and sensitive to the universal values and significances of the site
• A place where people can come to work, learn, worship and visit with comfort, safety and enjoyment
• A place where people of all nationalities and abilities can be inspired by its unique character and beauty, and its rich living history.

Objectives

Objectives for the management of Westminster World Heritage Site

29 objectives form the framework for managing the site in the future. They address the following issues:

• Achieving coordination in conservation management activities across the WHS
• Achieving a coherent World Heritage Site within a boundary that reflects its outstanding values
  safeguarding the Outstanding Universal Values of the WHS from beyond its boundaries
• Maintaining the architectural significance of the WHS
• Sustaining and complementing the existing uses
• Improving the public realm within and around the site
• Improving access for all
• Improving visitor amenities
• Enhancing intellectual access to the architecture and history of the site

Feedback

Do you agree with the principles of the Management Plan and its objectives?

Do you have any other comments about the Management Plan?

We welcome your views on the principles and objectives of the management plan. Please send your comments to janet.miller@atkinsglobal.com

Westminster World Heritage Site

Introduction - 466k
Section 1 - 2506k
Section 2 - 51k
Section 3 - 42k
Section 4 - 16k
Section 5 - 244k
Section 6 - 25k
Appendix 1 - 95k
Appendix 2 - 22k
Appendix 3 - 44k
Appendix 4 - 35k

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