Have Your Say on Durham's World Heritage Site Plan to 2035

Durham's cathedral and castle have watched over the city for more than 900 years, and residents are being invited to help shape how they are looked after for the next decade. Durham County Council and its partners have opened a consultation on a new World Heritage Site management plan, setting out a vision through to 2035.

The timing is fitting. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the site's inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986, when Durham Castle and Cathedral were among the first group of UK sites to be recognised.

What the plan covers

The management plan sets out how partners intend to conserve, share and regenerate the site for future generations, while meeting UNESCO's protection requirements and supporting the visitor economy that the peninsula draws into the city. Among the specific aims flagged are restoring the cathedral's bells and organs and keeping entry to the cathedral free through voluntary donations.

A Strategic Partnership Board oversees the work, bringing together Durham Cathedral, Durham University, St John's College, the council, the City of Durham Trust, Historic England and UNESCO.

Best for: The consultation runs online through the council's Let's Talk portal, with in-person and online meetings arranged so people can hear about the plan and give their views before the closing date. Details are published on the council's website.

How to take part

Anyone who lives in, works in or loves the city can contribute. As Palatinate reports, the consultation includes both online and in-person sessions, giving residents a chance to comment on how the castle and cathedral are managed for years to come.

It is a rare chance to have a direct say in the future of the buildings that define Durham. For more on their story, see our guide to interesting facts about Durham.