While the UK does not have any cultural treasures on the Unesco world heritage “in danger” list, concerns have been raised about developments at Stonehenge and other cultural landmarks. Due to open next year, the retail-hotel-housing behemoth, situated in Edinburgh’s world heritage site, will boast 214 guest rooms, which includes 20 suites and an “Extreme Wow suite”, the W hotel’s name for its presidential suite. Westminster city council, along with English Heritage, said the 29-storey office block would blight the Westminster world heritage site by obscuring views of much-loved landmarks such as the Palace of Westminster. “In its bid for world heritage status the LDNPA used the very attributes of outstanding universal value that are now being damaged,” said Stephan Dömpke, the chairman of the WHW. The advisory body asked Unesco to make the Lake District’s continued inscription as a world heritage site dependent on the LDNPA acting to prevent further damage caused by the vehicles.

Source: The Guardian July 30, 2021 11:58 UTC