Bath Considers Shedding UNESCO Status to Meet Housing Targets

Bath, Britain's only entire city designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is contemplating temporarily relinquishing its status to meet increased housing targets set by the national government. The Liberal Democrat-run council is weighing this decision after the housing target for Bath and North East Somerset was doubled, from approximately 14,000 to 27,340 homes.

Currently, development within Bath is subject to stringent conservation rules, requiring new constructions to closely match local heritage materials. The city's World Heritage inscription, which includes its natural setting as a "hollow in the hills," has also restricted new suburban housing developments. To build these homes, the council would need to alter the wording of the inscription, a process that requires delisting and reapplying for UNESCO approval.

The council is facing a planning inspectorate directive that its local plan, which includes a proposal for a 2,000-home westward expansion of the city, would be rejected without UNESCO's support. This expansion, along with other developments primarily on brownfield sites, aims to meet a target of 5,900 homes within the city, a figure local councillor Matt McCabe noted is only slightly more than the target for the much smaller town of Keynsham.

McCabe explained that the council has approached the government about the doubled housing target, stating, "We can't expand the city and we can't build up because of the UNESCO listing." He expressed belief that Bath could regain its World Heritage status after a potential temporary delisting, adding that the council plans to "try and start those conversations in the new year."

The delisting and reapplying process could take several years, with changes needing to be submitted to the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) for recommendation to UNESCO. Bath was first designated a World Heritage Site in 1987 and was later included as part of the Great Spa Towns of Europe World Heritage Site in 2021.

Opposition Labour councillors have previously advocated for discarding the World Heritage status to allow for greater housing development. Labour group leader Robin Moss has stated that "UNESCO is proud of other World Heritage Site cities where the locals aren't priced out."

Some residents have voiced concerns about the prospect of losing the status permanently, questioning whether it could be reinstated. Others argue that the status is meant to protect the city and that giving it up, even temporarily, undermines its purpose. There are also concerns about the council's ability to regain the status once relinquished.

However, some locals believe that losing UNESCO status would not significantly deter tourism, noting that visitors are primarily drawn to attractions like the Roman Baths. They also point out that heritage designations often come with restrictions but lack corresponding funding, leading to issues with maintaining historic buildings.

A six-week public consultation on the local plan is currently underway and runs until October 30.