The Historic Urban Landscape and the Geography of Urban Heritage

This article reflects on the extent to which the commitment set out under Article 5 of the 1972 UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 'to adopt a general policy which aims to give the cultural and natural heritage a function in the life of the community and to integrate the protection of that heritage into comprehensive planning programmes', is reflected in the ambition and interpretation of the 2011 UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape. It questions the degree to which that Recommendation's evolution and formulation addresses the long-standing failure to interpret and position the broad spectrum of values of urban heritage within the mainstream of urban planning policy and practice. In the context of today's over-arching global priorities, this article concludes by advocating greater engagement with United Nations agendas, including the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.