Durham WHS Management Plan consultation

Views are being sought on a new management plan aimed at conserving the beauty of Durham Castle and Cathedral WHS for generations to come.

The Durham City landmark was the first UK cultural heritage site to be included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1986.

In preparation to celebrate the 40^th anniversary in 2026, Durham County Council and its partners have created a new World Heritage Site (WHS) Management Plan looking ahead to 2035.

It sets out a vision for the site to remain a landmark for Durham, with key aims to conserve, share and regenerate it for future generations.

Building on extensive community engagement, the WHS Management Plan describes what makes the site special, both globally and locally; explains how it is protected and managed; and analyses issues facing its conservation and management.

The new Management Plan, from 2025 to 2035, will achieve the following:

• – Satisfy the requirements of UNESCO to protect its designated status
• – Be a useful tool to generate investment
• – Together with the Durham City Conservation Area Management Plan, become a material consideration in the planning process while informing future planning policy and development management
• – Form part of the evidence base for the next County Durham Plan and Durham City Neighbourhood Plan
• – Link into the county’s plans around the visitor economy to improve vibrancy and pride of place and to support inward investment and innovation

Public consultation for the plan will take place online and in-person over a period of six weeks through the council’s Let’s Talk portal at www.letstalkcountydurham.co.uk. Here, people can also find details of an online meeting on Wednesday 12 November at 11am. There will also be an in-person meeting that will take place in the Town Hall on Tuesday 4 November at 6pm.

The consultation runs for 6 weeks closing at 5pm on the 4 December 2025.