The Tower of London World Heritage Site Consultation on the Outstanding Universal Values

The Tower of London was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. There are 911 World Heritage Sites worldwide. These include such internationally recognised places as the Taj Mahal and natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef. World Heritage Sites need very careful management and protection. A new consultation has just been launched on a document that will help to achieve this.

Since 2007, UNESCO has asked new World Heritage Site nominations to include a 'Statement of Outstanding Universal Value'. UNESCO now wants all existing Sites, including the Tower of London, to have similar statements.

Statements of Outstanding Universal Value are made up of several elements, including the Statement of Significance and inscription criteria as well as Statements of Authenticity, Integrity and Management and Protection Requirements. Once finalised, the draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It will then be considered by the World Heritage Committee. For the Tower of London this process is already well underway as the World Heritage Committee has already approved the Statement of Significance and inscription criteria; these cannot be altered.

The UNESCO-approved Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, as a material consideration in the planning process, will be a crucial reference for those making decisions on how best to manage the World Heritage Site and look after its special features. Such a clear definition should help to protect the World Heritage Site for this, and future, generations.

Draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value PDF

This consultation ended on 31 December 2010.