UK: jewels in the crown to be protected, but who will pay heritage price?

A national register is to be created to protect England's precious historic sites, bringing together everything from Stonehenge to Blenheim, from Canterbury cathedral to the wreck of the Hanover, an 18th century treasure ship breaking up on the seabed off Cornwall.

The culture secretary, Tessa Jowell...promised to beef up protection for World Heritage sites: Britain's range from the Tower of London to the old iron and coal works at Blaenavon in south Wales, but the honour which flags them up as among the world's most important brings no statutory protection.

The white paper includes the promise of"buffer zones" to protect the perimeters of some World Heritage sites from unsympathetic development...

English Heritage, the conservation quango which will take over responsibility for listing from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport -- in the past it has only recommended listings -- warmly welcomed the reforms...

Conservation groups cautiously welcomed the white paper, but were quick to warn more money will be needed to make it work...The National Trust welcomed the single register but also expressed concern over resources...

Conservation groups welcomed the government's acceptance of their passionate argument for new interim protection during the consultation process, to prevent owners flattening a building as soon as they learn of potential designation.

Related Links

Government reviews UK's heritage protection system (UKTV History)

Heritage Protection for the 21st Century -- White Paper (with links to several documents)

Contest to name Britain’s best-loved historic site