The Edinburgh approach to urban heritage : why a buffer zone?

The architectural ensemble of Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, UNESCO World Heritage since 1995, is among the sites affected by urban development. The absence of a buffer zone is assumed to be one of the causes of the impact and the recently adopted Historic Urban Landscape approach aims to assist on managing and mitigating impacts of urban development by integrating urban heritage conservation and urban management. Edinburgh has a long history in this approach, as it was the living laboratory of Patrick Geddes. To ensure that eminent patterns of change caused by urban development do not negatively impact the attributes conveying cultural significance of outstanding universal value in Edinburgh, this research is following in Geddes footsteps. It aims to discuss the effectiveness of the current management plan including tools such as the local conservation areas and the skyline study by mapping changes. The research is intended focus on the benefit globally and locally on the future of the buffer zones and discussions on buffer zones for new and future nominations to the World Heritage list.