Unesco heritage listing: Height of new projects capped at 18 metres Posted on 26 November 2008 08:!

8pm " #$%&#$ '%(N )Nov 2!* 2008+ : , nomination dossier approved b- Unesco in granting (orld Heritage .isting to #eorge 'own and /alacca has confirmed the international bod-0s endorsement for new development projects in #eorge 'own to be capped at 18 metres" ,ccording to the dossier 1 a cop- of which has been obtained b- the23n 1 new developments within both the core and b3ffer 4ones 5is allowed 3p to a ma6im3m of 18 metres meas3red from the gro3nd level 3p to the roof eave"7 'he dossier* however* ma8es no mention abo3t stat3s of projects that e6ceed the limit b3t were approved b- the Penang 9sland /3nicipal :o3ncil )/PPP+ before the Unesco listing was awarded" Unesco0s regional adviser to ,sia Pacific* &ichard $ngelhardt* had last wee8 warned that Penang0s heritage stat3s ma- be affected d3e to fo3r high rise projects approved in the conservation area" He said the sincerit- of an a3thorit- wo3ld be p3t into ;3estion if inappropriate str3ct3res were passed after application for heritage stat3s had been s3bmitted" <ormer state e6ec3tive co3ncillor 'eng :hang =eow then claimed on 2at3rda- that two of the projects* both along (eld >3a-* had been approved in accordance with g3idelines" He said the 2tate Planning :ommittee )2P:+ had in earl- 200? amended a five store- limit for new development in the inner cit-* to allow some high rise projects to ta8e place 5with conditions7" 'eng added that Unesco was made aware of the projects thro3gh a s3pplementar- doc3ment before the listing was given"

, b3ffer 4one of a (orld Heritage 2ite is an area aro3nd the site which has been identified to protect the vis3al setting of the site" @evelopment proposals within the b3ffer 4one will be considered for their impact 3pon the site" However* neither the dossier nor an eval3ation report b- the 9nternational :o3ncil on /on3ments and 2ites )9:%/%2+ ma8e an- mention of s3ch a 5s3pplementar- doc3ment7" )Unesco0s decision to list #eorge 'own and /alacca was based largel- on the 9:%/%2 eval3ation"+ 'he height restrictions in #eorge 'own0s heritage 4one are specified in the A#3idelines for :onservation ,reas and Heritage B3ildings0" #a4etted on ,3g 2C* 200?* these g3idelines were placed as a 8e- doc3ment in the dossier for Unesco to approve" 'he g3idelines also stip3late that the ma6im3m height of new developments 5located within the ensemble of heritage b3ildings or adjoining to important or highl- significant b3ildings7 shall not e6ceed that of the adjoining heritage b3ildings" 9:%/%2 in its eval3ation refers to the g3idelines as a 5relevant legal instr3ment7 for heritage conservation in #eorge 'own"

9nterestingl-* the dossier also comprises a Heritage /anagement Plan )H/P+ approved b- the 2P: on <eb 12* 2008* which mentions the e6istence of planning permissions and b3ilding plans approved prior to 200?" D9ss3es arise from these new development projects which have -et to be b3ilt b3t are now not in consonance with the new #3idelines for :onservation ,reas and Heritage B3ildings approved bthe 2tate Planning :ommittee in ,3g3st 200?*D the H/P sa-s" Both the dossier and the 9:%/%2 eval3ation also air concerns abo3t negative impact of to3rism in #eorge 'own" 'o3rist arrivals in Penang totalled three million in 2006* and is forecast to increase with the Unesco listing" 5:ontrol of to3rism press3res m3st be one of the goals of the management plan*7 the 9:%/%2 eval3ation sa-s"

59:%/%2 considers that the increase in visitors to the nominated properties co3ld potentialljeopardise their val3es* integrit- and a3thenticit- and recommends that the management plan incl3de meas3res for s3stainable to3rism development*7 it adds" 9ncidentall-* all the fo3r high rise projects are hotels" 'he three projects approved b- the former Barisan Nasional )BN+ government are developed b$astern E %riental Hotel 2dn Bhd )8Fm+* Bo3stead Holdings Bhd )!1m+ and ,sian #lobal B3siness 2dn Bhd )!1m+" , fo3rth project b- .ow =at #ro3p )8Fm+ was approved 3nder the new Pa8atan &a8-at state government on G3ne 26 this -ear* 10 da-s before the Unesco listing" 'he dossier also notes significant press3re on #eorge 'own from motor traffic and 5high impact projects7 s3ch as the monorail* for which a line was planned to end at the ferr- terminal"