Phil Harding, leader of the Saltford Environmental Group, has proposed a controversial solution to the region’s housing crisis: Bath should abandon its UNESCO World Heritage status. Harding argues that Bath’s protected status limits new housing developments within the city, placing undue pressure on nearby Saltford, which faces proposals for 1,300 new homes on its green belt.
Bath, internationally celebrated for its Roman baths, Georgian architecture, and the Royal Crescent, gained its World Heritage designation in 1987. The status has protected the city’s unique heritage but also imposed stringent development restrictions. Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) uphold an agreement with UNESCO to prevent projects that might compromise the city’s historic features.
Saltford, a neighboring village, now risks significant expansion with plans to build hundreds of new houses. Harding, who has lived in Saltford for over 30 years, warns that this influx strains local infrastructure and primarily benefits Bath’s job market rather than Saltford’s community. He emphasizes, “I’m not against new housing, I’m against putting housing in the wrong place," suggesting that removing Bath’s heritage status could unlock development opportunities within the city itself.
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While some heritage sites have been delisted by UNESCO—like Oman’s Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in 2007 and Liverpool’s Maritime Mercantile City in 2021—these decisions were made by UNESCO due to loss or damage to attributes, not by site representatives. Whether a site can voluntarily surrender its status remains unclear; UNESCO has yet to respond to inquiries about such processes.
Despite protection, B&NES has permitted several new developments within Bath, including Bath Press and Mulberry Park in Combe Down. Councillor Matt McCabe, Cabinet Member for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development at B&NES, highlighted the value of World Heritage status, balancing it with the need to address housing shortages through careful planning and community engagement.
Recent local efforts, such as a cross-party housing summit and the signing of a groundbreaking housing accord, demonstrate a unified commitment to tackling the housing crisis. The accord aims to deliver affordable homes while respecting communities and infrastructure needs. Officials like Councillor Kevin Guy and West of England Mayor Helen Godwin stressed cooperation as essential for meaningful solutions.
Victor da Cunha, CEO of Curo and Chair of the Housing Mission Delivery Board, praised Bath and North East Somerset Council for pioneering this cross-party collaboration, which promises to unlock economic growth through improved housing supply.
As Bath weighs preservation against development demands, the debate over its World Heritage status highlights a complex challenge: how to protect historic identity while ensuring sustainable growth and housing for the future.