Bath & North East Somerset Council has denied reports that it wants to relinquish the city's World Heritage status in order to deliver more affordable housing.
Council leader Kevin Guy said there was ‘no intent at all’ for Bath to give up its unique double inscribed status. He said the council wants to work with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to show how heritage can be protected while tackling the growing need for affordable homes.
He said Bath urgently needs more affordable homes, best placed in areas with good transport links and designed to high environmental standards.
The council will keep pressing government to talk to ICOMOS/UNESCO on protecting Bath's uniqueness without limiting its ability to grow, he added.
‘Any change to the wording of Bath’s World Heritage designation would involve a highly complex and uncertain international process. There is no council policy, and no proposal, to ask the government to relinquish Bath’s World Heritage status,’ he said.
‘What we are seeking is greater clarity on how we can work with national and international partners to protect the enormous heritage and economic benefits that World Heritage status brings, while ensuring Bath remains a living, thriving city with homes that local people can afford.’
