Govt open for Heritage submission

Culture minister Margaret Hodge has invited local authorities to submit applications for sites to be considered as candidates on the Tentative List to become a World Heritage site.

The application process opened today (March 16th) after it had previously been announced that the government would tighten their criteria for 'fewer and fitter' sites to be put forward to the UNESCO Committee.

At the time of the announcement, Ms Hodge said: 'We want a process that ensures that only sure-fire winners with outstanding universal value go forward.'

Currently, the UK has 28 Heritage sites, including Stonehenge (pictured), and is one of the ten best-represented states in the world.

Ms Hodge said: 'I am looking forward to seeing a new generation of sites take their place alongside some of the world's most iconic World Heritage Sites.

'This is a new and exciting opportunity to think about what we can offer to the world with places of outstanding universal value that will help showcase the very best of the UK.'