Could London Lose its UNESCO Status?

New high-rise towers spreading throughout central London are threatening the character of the city's most important historic sites, reports Martin Bailey.

2 minute read

January 16, 2013, 1:00 PM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


UNESCO, the United Nations organization responsible for identifying and protecting the world's most important cultural and natural heritage sites, is criticizing the British government for allowing skyscrapers such as the 95-story "Shard" to be built so close to the world heritage listed Tower of London. The criticism is pitting preservationists against planners and developers in the English capital.

"Earlier this month, the former heritage minister John Penrose, who stepped down last September, admitted that the Shard 'nearly didn’t happen' because of its impact on the Tower. He is calling on English Heritage, with guidance from Unesco, to formulate a policy that would lead to 'selecting the best views of our city and townscapes' to be protected in a similar way that buildings can be listed for preservation."

"The present situation, Penrose says, lacks clarity, which makes it difficult for developers and offers insufficient protection for the most important views."

"The Greater London Authority, however, is reluctant to bow to Unesco pressure. Edward Lister, London’s deputy mayor responsible for planning, said that he would 'fight' for growth, which means new buildings. 'We understand [Unesco’s] concerns, but have to balance them with the demands for an expanding city,' he said."

"Despite the recession, the capital is currently witnessing a boom in the construction of tall office blocks. If this continues in the vicinity of the Tower and around the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey (London’s other World Heritage Site) there is a concern that Unesco would consider adding them to the “Heritage in Danger” list. In 2009, Dresden lost its status as a World Heritage Site when a new bridge over the Danube was erected at a sensitive spot near the city’s historic centre."

Wednesday, January 9, 2013 in The Art Newspaper

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3, 2025 - Governing

White park shuttles with large Zion logo on side and red rock cliffs in background in Zion National Park.

Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”

Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.

1 hour ago - Reasons to Be Cheerful

Chart of federal transportation funding comparing Biden and Trump administration spending.

Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden

Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.

2 hours ago - Transportation for America

Close-up on yellow and black TAXI sign on top of beige car in central Munich, Germany.

German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence

Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.

3 hours ago - Bloomberg