Capital to retain heritage status

Published on Sunday 16 November 2008 21:19

EDINBURGH'S status as a World Heritage site looks to be safe, after Unesco inspectors revealed that controversial developments were unlikely to put the city's position in jeopardy.

A group of inspectors paid a three-day visit to the capital last week after receiving hundreds of letters from groups protesting about four construction sites.

But inspector Dr Mechtild Rossler, European chief of cultural World Heritage sites, said that the developments, which include the demolition of the C-listed former Canongate School and part of the Old Sailors Ark building as part of the Caltongate project in the Old Town, were exceptions and would not threaten the city's World Heritage title.

Although her official report will not be issued until next year, Dr Rossler said at the end of her visit to Edinburgh: "We are unhappy about demolition wherever it happens, and we said very clearly that listed buildings shouldn't be demolished, and when it can be proved they have not a very high value, this should be the exception.

"These are C-listed buildings and there are examples by the same architects and of the same period close by. I don't believe the World Heritage committee likes the idea, but it's a very unusual situation."

Edinburgh Council planning leader Jim Lowrie said: "I am delighted that the Unesco team have seen for themselves just how much we value our heritage and how much emphasis we put on striking the right balance."