Statement of Outstanding Universal Value
Why is Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal internationally important?
Studley Royal Park including the ruins of Fountains Abbey World Heritage Site
is one of Yorkshire’s greatest assets. This consultation provides an opportunity
for local people, community groups and other organisations to comment on its Statement
of Outstanding Universal Value. This Statement sets out formally why Studley
Royal Park including the ruins of Fountains Abbey is internationally important
and what qualifies it to appear on the World Heritage List. It also sets out
how requirements for management and protection of these qualities are being met.
This document is important for the protection of what makes Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey internationally significant. It defines the World Heritage Site’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). The United Kingdom signed up to protect the OUV of its World Heritage Sites when it ratified the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972).
This document is important for the protection of what makes Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey internationally significant. It defines the World Heritage Site’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). The United Kingdom signed up to protect the OUV of its World Heritage Sites when it ratified the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972).
The planning system has a very important role in this protection. Planning Circular 07/2009 states clearly the need to protect the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage Sites, while the guidance accompanying the new Planning Policy Statement 5 on Planning for the Historic Environment (2010) identifies the Statement of OUV as a critical resource for local planning authorities in plan-making and reaching decisions relating to the significance of World Heritage Sites. The document will also inform all management decisions which should prioritise the protection of OUV as defined in the Statement. Your comments on the Statement of OUV could therefore contribute to protecting the very special qualities of Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey for this and future generations.
Since 2007 UNESCO has required a Statement OUV for all new World Heritage Properties. Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey were inscribed in 1986. All sites inscribed prior to 2007 are now required to submit retrospectively a Statement of OUV. This must be based on the original reasons for inscription set out in evaluation and decision documents from 1986. The process of producing the Statement of OUV is not an opportunity to change or add to the reasons for inscription but a chance to distil them into a single document which will be key to protecting the World Heritage Site. The Statement reflects challenges which have emerged over the last 25 years as well as changes in the management and protection context.
The Statement of OUV consists of five sections:
1. Brief Synthesis
2. Criteria for Inscription
3. Statement of Integrity
4. Statement of Authenticity
5. Management and Protection
This document has now been submitted to the World Heritage Committee for approval.
