Written evidence submitted by Maritime
Greenwich World Heritage Site (arts 109)
1. MARITIME GREENWICH
WORLD HERITAGE
SITE
1.1 The UK Government's responsibilities
in respect of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention which the Country
joined in 1984 including nominating Sites for WH status are exercised
by the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport.
1.2 Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site
was inscribed by UNESCO in 1997. All WHS are required by the Convention
to have Management Plans, primarily to protect the Outstanding
Universal Values of the Site. Since 1999 a Steering Group, supported
by an Executive of local partner organisations, has implemented
a Management Plan for the Site.No direct funding has been received
from DCMS for the World Heritage Site, although three major partners,
Royal Parks, the National Maritime Museum and Greenwich Foundation
for the Old Royal Naval College receive grant-in-aid from the
Department.
1.3 All historic fabric requires repair
and maintenance and this demands investment which has been sought
successfully on a capital and revenue basis. In order to secure
such investment Maritime Greenwich has been established as a visitor
destination. This has seen a five-fold increase in visitor numbers
since Inscription with an annual count now of some 10 million.
1.4 The partnership that has evolved over
a period of 13 years offers a model for private/public arrangements
in other areas.
2. INWARD INVESTMENT
2.1 Maritime Greenwich has gone through
a substantial period of change since the WHS Inscription of 1997.The
most significant change was the departure of the Ministry of Defence
from the Old Royal Naval College and the setting up of Greenwich
Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College. Subsequently this
led to the establishment of the Maritime Greenwich University
Campus with Greenwich University and Trinity College of Music
leasing the Royal Courts.
2.2 Greenwich Park is administered by Royal
Parks. The National Maritime Museum has been located in Greenwich
since 1937.
2.3 Greenwich Town Centre,which makes up
the remainder of the World Heritage Site, is a lively shopping
centre containing Greenwich Market. Much of the freehold, as with
the Old Royal Naval College, is owned by Greenwich Hospital.
2.4 In 1999 the arrival of the Docklands
Light Railway substantially increased the accessibility of the
Site from central London.
2.5 The changes that have taken place over
some 13 years have included a substantial investment in the fabric.
This is assessed at £250 million. The Heritage Lottery Fund
have given grants totalling £75 million.
2.6 In 2010 it was announced that London
Borough of Greenwich will become a Royal Borough in 2012.This
is largely due to the royal connections that the Maritime Greenwich
World Heritage Site has had over some five centuries.
3. THE PARTNERSHIP
3.1 The Maritime Greenwich WHS Steering
Group consists of the national heritage organisations and local
partners including:
— The Heritage Lottery Fund;
— London Borough of Greenwich;
— The National Maritime Museum;
— Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal
Naval College;
— Trinity College of Music;
3.2 The Maritime Greenwich WHS Executive,
which supports the Steering Group, consists of local partner organisations
indicated *.
3.3 A number of groups dealing with particular
aspects work to the WHS Executive. These cover marketing, visitor
management, learning, transport and design.
4. THE VISITOR
ECONOMY IN
GREENWICH SINCE
2002
4.1 Since 2002, the WHS Marketing Group
has invested a total sum of £760,000 cash and more than £500,000
worth of in-kind assistance from partners into marketing the destination
Maritime Greenwich, a World Heritage Site.
4.2 Prior to the WHS Marketing efforts,
when detailed visitor numbers were also less readily available,
visitor numbers had grown steadily. However the increased profile
of Maritime Greenwich has given an annual increase of nearly one
million visitors (12%) to the borough of Greenwich since 2002.
Maritime Greenwich now receives around 9.6 million visitors.
4.3 The spend per head has risen from £48
to £55, nearly a 15% increase.
There has been a 9% increase in the number of
visitors choosing to stay overnight—over 600,000. The day
visitor market however still remains dominant at 94% of the total
market.
4.4 The results of the marketing programme
have therefore been very positive and indicate the strength of
a coordinated approach by the WHS partnership.
4.5 The decision by the International Olympic
Committee to award the 2012 Games to London may well have been
assisted by the special qualities of Maritime Greenwich, which
featured strongly in the submission by the UK. Greenwich Park
will be the venue for the equestrian and modern pentathlon events
for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. There is no doubt that
the outstanding setting provided by the Old Royal Naval College
and the Royal Park will feature very prominently in the world-wide
coverage of the Games.
5. RESPONSE TO
THE POINTS
RAISED BY
THE COMMITTEE
5.1 Impact of spending cuts
5.1.1 The Partnership at Maritime Greenwich
has implemented a Management Plan for the last 11 years to assist
the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Culture Media
and Sport. This has been achieved without direct funding. However
possible future spending cuts may well affect the individual partners
in the WHS and lead to a deterioration in the presentation and
maintenance of the Site overall.
5.2 Working partnerships
5.2.1 The partnership at Maritime Greenwich
represents a successful model and delivery mechanism.
5.3 Level of public subsidy
5.3.1 There is at present no direct public
subsidy for Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site.
5.4 Funding distribution
National Lottery funding policy guidelines
5.4.1 The Heritage Lottery Fund have been
very helpful in assisting schemes throughout the World Heritage
Site. A number of these individual grants have involved the recognition
of the World Heritage Site context and in some cases have included
a condition by the HLF for signage etc to link up with other parts
of the Site.
5.4.2 However it would be very helpful if
HLF grants could be made on a more holistic basis, not just site
by site. In this way a number of aspects of visitor management
and interpretation could be greatly improved.Better signage is
a clear example but this could extend to interpretation of the
WHS too.
5.4.3 The HLF grants are limited to restoration
of building fabric and it has proved impossible to obtain help
with schemes to improve the wider environment. For example the
landscape of the Old Royal Naval College has been carried out
without external funding although the setting of these buildings,
often described as the finest that the UK possesses, is of paramount
importance. Greenwich Town Centre remains in need of similar environmental
improvement and a system of grant aid that recognised the importance
of the wider environment would be most welcome.
5.5 Impact of recent DCMS changes
5.5.1 Maritime Greenwich is a venue for
two of the 2012 Olympic Games events as well as for the Paralympics.
A great deal of work has been undertaken by the heritage agencies
to ensure that the historic fabric is not threatened by the works
required. The focus of world attention on Maritime Greenwich during
2012 gives an opportunity to champion the wider concept of world
heritage.
5.5.2 The expectations of the country are
recognised and the WHS partners in Maritime Greenwich are working
to have the Site in its best state for the Games. Work is proceeding
on a number of capital projects to ensure completion in time for
2012.These include the restoration of Cutty Sark, the development
of Greenwich Pier, improvements to Cutty Sark Gardens, the part-pedestrianisation
of Greenwich Town Centre and the construction of the Sammy Ofer
Wing of the National Maritime Museum.
5.5.3 As well as these capital projects
there will be work needed to bring a number of services etc. up
to a satisfactory standard including coach facilities, toilets,
gates, road crossings and the street environment. There is no
central funding available from DCMS for any work in respect of
the 2012 venues.
5.5.4 Three of the main WHS partners,the
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Foundation and the Royal Parks
receive funding from DCMS. Maritime Greenwich will be representing
and showcasing the best of the nation's heritage in 2012.
Any reduction in this funding will put the repair
and appearance of the Site at risk, thus jeopardising the appearance
of the World Heritage Site.
5.5.5 (unused)
5.5.6 To date negotiations with LOCOG have
not resulted in any substantial legacies from the Games. It is
disappointing that some of the temporary works needed for the
events, will not become permanent improvements. This includes
the provision of new road crossings and a tangible waterfront
legacy.
5.6 Role of businesses and philanthropists
More Govt. incentives re private donations?
5.6.1 The Maritime Greenwich WHS partnership
involves partners from all sectors of the economy. This has been
particularly successful in marketing the Site. A number of schemes
being pursued by WHS partners have benefitted from private donations
including the National Maritime Museum, the Cutty Sark Trust and
Greenwich Foundation. It is estimated that over £43 million
has been received from philanthropic sources for the various schemes
undertaken in the WHS since Inscription. Without this support
it is most likely that some of the schemes would not have reached
fruition. Any encouragement that central government can give for
future donations will materially assist in maintaining and improving
the World Heritage Site.
September 2010
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