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Portsmouth Harbour in bid to become World Heritage Site

Portsmouth Harbour, the Isle of Wight and Spithead may bid to become a World Heritage Site – the world’s first ‘Cultural Seascape’.

Reaction and feedback has been very positive from the 150 representatives from local councils, heritage groups, businesses, community groups and local societies who attended a launch event at the Historic Dockyard last month.

First put forward in 2006, the idea to add the harbour, adjacent waterfront area and parts of the Isle of Wight coastline to UNESCO’s World Heritage List has since gathered pace. There are currently 851 World Heritage Sites, 27 of them in the UK.

The 1972 World Heritage Convention aims to protect the values of cultural or natural sites that could deteriorate or even disappear, often through lack of funding to preserve them.

For Portsmouth Harbour, the Isle of Wight and Spithead to be included on the World Heritage List as a cultural heritage site, it must have outstanding and universal values and meet one or more of the criteria set by the World Heritage Committee including:

• playing an important role in the development of human values over time, or within a cultural area of the world
• being an outstanding example of a type of building, technology or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history
• setting an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land use or sea use which is representative of a culture
• directly linking with events, living traditions, ideas or beliefs with artistic and literary works of outstanding significance

Following a nomination, there is an 18 month period of evaluation by one of UNESCO’s expert advisers before the World Heritage Committee makes a final decision. A steering committee including representatives from local councils and heritage groups is now working to finalise the bid.
 
The benefits of being a World Heritage Site include:

• an improved and richer environment for all
• integrated planning and conservation policies
• protection for a unique site
• heritage-led regeneration
• expansion of port and marine industries
• increased business investment
• higher international profile
• development of a year-round tourism economy

From Roman times the Navy in Portsmouth Harbour and Spithead has been the focus for the protection of national interests and trade, and the area has been crucial in developing of international power and wealth creation.

The bid could potentially attract international attention, funding and investment and act as a catalyst for improved conservation. If successful this would be a massive boost for Portsmouth’s cultural life and identity. 

The process is still at a very early stage but support and comments about the proposal support are welcome.

To comment on the plans contact worldheritageportsmouth@googlemail.com.

Associated documents:

• Leaflet about the WHS bid  (0.55 MB)

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