Management Plans for World Heritage Sites - Unesco

Chapter II. Modules explained l
If possible and reasonable the plan should explain whether and how, within the framework
of spatial, state and regional planning, authorities responsible for protecting
World Heritage are involved in the consultation procedure. Especially with respect
to the protection of surroundings of a World Heritage site (protecting view perspectives,
silhouette and panorama), it is important to consider the requirements of the
World Heritage Convention and of the protection goals as early as possible, e.g. in
determining locations of windfarms, transmission and receiving towers, industrial
plants etc. Bad developments can also be prevented by describing a World Heritage
site and the qualities that determine its value in a technical paper on cultural landscapes
that contributes to state planning. Also regularly scheduled meetings on this
topic are advisable and worth mentioning in the management plan.
Building management planning is used to prevent any construction-related bad
developments. It establishes the framework in which all the individual building
projects must function in order to receive approval according to the planning laws
specified in the Federal Building Code (referred to as BauGB hereafter), dated
8/12/1986. Consideration of matters concerning monument protection is a binding
requirement in communal building management planning according to Section 1.6,
No 5 (BauGB). This refers to the “interests of structures with cultural significance,
monument protection and conservation, neighbourhoods worthy of conservation,
streets and squares of historical, artistic or urban significance, as well as the overall
appearance of the local area and landscape.” 22 It is the responsibility of the building
management planning authority to prepare and implement construction and other
uses of communal properties in accordance with the requirements of this building
code. Building management plans include a land-use plan (preparatory building
management plan), a local building plan and/or project and development plan.
Building management plans are required to address the interests mentioned above
within the framework established in Section 1.7 (BauGB).
Local building plans especially thus offer a good way to ensure preventive protection
of World Heritage sites by steering the course of the approval procedure for competing
projects. If building management planning is a central instrument of protection
for a World Heritage site, two things should be explained in the management plan:
how the World Heritage site can be protected: firstly, by putting forth the protection
goal in terms of the object itself, its surroundings and its visual integrity; sec-
22 Federal Building Code (Baugesetzbuch 986, BauGB), Section . (working translation
of the German Commission for UNESCO).