Stonehenge and Avebury Statement of Outstanding Universal Value

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Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site is one of Wiltshire’s and the UK’s greatest assets. It is internationally recognised as one of the most precious places in the world alongside cultural marvels such as the pyramids and natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef. Due to their international importance World Heritage Sites need very careful management and protection. The Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (SOUV) should help us to provide this.

The SOUV summarises exactly what it is that makes Stonehenge and Avebury internationally important. The document is an important reference for those making decisions on how best to manage the World Heritage Site and look after the very special features which qualify it to appear on the World Heritage List. The statement should help us to focus on what it is about the World Heritage Site that we need to protect for this and future generations.

Since 2007 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has asked new World Heritage Sites to provide a SOUV as part of the nomination process. Stonehenge and Avebury became a World Heritage site in 1986 and, along with a large number of other sites across the world inscribed prior to 2007, has had to provide a retrospective SOUV.

Following work by the Steering Committees and working groups for both Stonehenge and Avebury and a period of public consultation the SOUV was finalised and submitted to the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) in 2010.

Draft Stonehenge and Avebury Statement of Outstanding Universal Value document submitted to UNESCO 2011 The draft SOUV 341kb was submitted to UNESCO's World Heritage Centre in Paris in February, 2011. The process of evaluation by UNESCO will take at least 18 month but the draft SOUV already carries weight in the planning process and should assist us in better protecting, conserving and managing our World Heritage Site. The draft SOUV should be referred to when plan making and considering planning applications in line with guidance related to Planning Policy Statement 5 on the Historic Environment and World Heritage Planning Circular 07/09. It also provides a synopsis of the Site's significance for members of the public interested in the World Heritage Site.

Last updated: 19 April 2011