Bath councillors want to drop its unique UNESCO world heritage status so it can build new homes to meet Labour’s targets
Bath and North East Somerset Council is considering changing the wording of Bath’s UNESCO World Heritage inscription, a move that could require the city to give up and later reapply for the status. Councillors say the designation’s protections limit where homes can be built, while the Government has nearly doubled the council’s housing target.
The target has risen from about 14,000 to 27,340 homes across the council area; Bath’s share is around 5,900. A proposed 2,000-home expansion west of Bath was rejected by the planning inspectorate without UNESCO’s support, and most other city homes would need to fit on smaller sites. Reapplying after delisting could take several years, and UNESCO would decide whether to restore the status.
- Bath may relinquish UNESCO status to make housing expansion possible.
- The council’s housing target rose from about 14,000 to 27,340.
- Reapplying for heritage status could take several years.
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UNESCO World Heritage status is a designation given by the United Nations to places of outstanding cultural or natural importance. Bath received this status because of its Roman remains and Georgian architecture, which are considered among the world's most significant. The designation brings prestige but also comes with strict building protections designed to preserve the city's character.
Bath Council is now under pressure from the Government to build many more homes. The Government's housing target for the council area has nearly doubled, and Bath is expected to provide around 5,900 new homes. However, UNESCO's protections make it difficult to build large developments, particularly within the heritage area itself.
Some council members believe the only way to meet these targets is to remove Bath's UNESCO status, which would allow more construction. Giving up the status could take several years to arrange, and there is no guarantee UNESCO would grant it again if the city later sought it back. The situation highlights a tension between protecting historic cities and meeting modern housing needs.