Guardianship
Part of the Heritage Counts series. 3 minute read.
The 'Guardianship' theme includes datasets about initiatives that protect the historic environment through the management of World Heritage Sites, the Heritage Champions initiative, and historic data about the development of Building Preservation Trusts.
World Heritage Site management
Every World Heritage Site (WHS) requires effective management to ensure that their outstanding universal value, authenticity and integrity are maintained into the future. To effectively conserve these sites, they must be able to respond to the changing needs of our society. World Heritage Site management plans focus on identifying, conserving and making sustainable use of each site’s outstanding universal value. Management plans for World Heritage Sites in the United Kingdom are hosted on the website of UNESCO.
In 2022, there were 20 World Heritage Sites in England. Of these, 12 had management plans, 11 of which had been updated in the last 5 years.
World Heritage Site management plans, 2022
Over half of World Heritage Site (WHS) management plans were up to date in 2022
Figure GUA 4.1 – A dial diagram showing that 55% of WHS in the UK have management plans that were updated in 2022. Source: Historic England.
Heritage Champions
In 2022, 46% of local authorities in England had a Heritage Champion, down from 51% in 2021.
Each year, Historic England reviews its database of Heritage Champions.
What is a Heritage Champion?
Heritage Champions are usually local councillors who have been nominated by their authority to promote all aspects of the historic environment in their area. Whether or not to have a Heritage Champion, and how a champion is nominated, is up to each local authority's discretion.
Local Authority Heritage Champions, 2021/22
Figure GUA 4.2a – An arrow graphic showing the number of Local Authorities in England with Heritage Champions has dropped by 5% between 2021 and 2022. Source: Historic England.
Figure GUA 4.2b – A comparative bar chart across the regions with 2021 figures against 2022 figures. Click the legend to see each year separately. Source: Historic England.
Dataset
-
Guardianship
Spreadsheet of the raw data. It is our aim to help improve the usability, accessibility and machine-readability of statistical spreadsheets, please bear with us whilst we make these improvements.
