UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places of cultural, historical or natural significance to all of the global community. We conserve them for this and future generations.
The City of Bath is exceptional for being doubly inscribed (or appearing twice) on the UNESCO World Heritage List:
- In 1987, it was inscribed for its Hot Springs, Roman archaeology, Georgian buildings and natural landscape setting.
- In 2021, it gained a second UNESCO inscription, as one of eleven Great Spa Towns of Europe: fashionable towns laid out around natural springs which are used for health and wellbeing.
Learn more on the Bath World Heritage website
Why we are consulting
It is an important part of requirements for World Heritage status that we develop and follow a Management Plan for Bath. This aims to balance necessary development and growth of the city with protecting and preserving what UNESCO recognises as its Outstanding Universal Value (or OUV). Effective management depends on the awareness and co-operation of as many organisations and citizens within and beyond the site as possible. In short, the WHS is for everyone to enjoy and experience.
Every six years, we review and update our Management Plan, revisiting our vision and priorities. This review process incorporates changing local needs, expert guidance, learning from the management of other World Heritage Sites, and public feedback from people who live, work in, and visit the city.
What we are consulting on
This consultation offers you an opportunity to have your say on the vision and priorities of the Draft Management Plan for 2024 to 2030. The consultation documents consist of:
For comment: The Draft Plan
- Full Draft Plan document, and executive summary
For reference: Appendices
The city and its context
- Maps of The World Heritage Site and indicative boundary
- Map of Green Belt Land
- Maps of The Cotswolds National Landscape and Conservation Areas in Bath
- Diagram of the Hot Springs
- City history timeline
Programme documentation
- The history so far of Bath's World Heritage status
- Glossary of terms used in the Management Plan
- Ownership and other stakeholders
- Bibliography and further reading
View the consultation documents
Who we are consulting
We are interested to hear the views of residents, businesses, visitors and anyone with an interest in the heritage and the future of Bath.
We aren't asking for your personal details, but we'd love to know if you're responding to the consultation on behalf of a club, group or organisation.
We're also planning a media campaign and working with our Community Engagement Team, to ensure that we hear from as many people as possible, including groups which are under-represented in our typical consultation responses.
Have your say
This consultation runs from 25 November 2024 to 17 January 2025.
The quickest and easiest way to respond to the consultation is to use our online form.
You can also view a paper copy of the World Heritage Site Management Draft Plan at our Libraries or Information and Advice Services.
If you'd like to view the Draft Plan in an alternative format, please contact us at: World_Heritage@bathnes.gov.uk
If you prefer to respond by post, please send your comments to: The World Heritage Manager, The Pump Room, Stall Street, Bath, BA1 1LZ
Next steps
- We will collate your feedback and produce a summary report for the World Heritage Site Advisory Board. We will also publish this on the Bath World Heritage website.
- We will submit the final Management Plan for endorsement by the WHS Advisory Board, the council, and the UK Government (Department of Culture, Media and Sport). In turn, they will submit it to UNESCO.