Forth Bridge World Heritage Management Plan Update 2025

Overview

We are looking for your input into the next Forth Bridge Management plan. This opportunity is for everyone who has an interest in the bridge. You do NOT need to live in Fife to take part.

The Forth Bridge achieved UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2015 by satisfying the following two criteria regarding its Outstanding Universal Value: 
 
Criterion (i): The Forth Bridge is a masterpiece of creative genius because of its distinctive industrial aesthetic, which is the result of a forthright, unadorned display of its massive, functional structural elements. 

Criterion (iv): The Forth Bridge is an extraordinary and impressive milestone in the evolution of bridge design and construction during the period when railways came to dominate long-distance land travel, innovative in its concept, its use of mild steel, and its enormous scale. 

UNESCO World Heritage Sites maintain a Management Plan.  The Management Plan for the Forth Bridge is now 10 years old and is being reviewed and updated.  This questionnaire will help direct the contents and priorities for the updated future Management Plan. 

If you would like to read the full Management Plan from 2015, please use this link.   
forth-bridge-world-heritage-nomination-management-plan.pdf 

The purpose of the Management Plan is to support the future management needs of the Forth Bridge, to coordinate the interests of associated organisations, groups and individuals, and to maximise the benefits and minimise any negative impacts from World Heritage Site status.  This questionnaire explores themes and activities identified in the original management plan. 

The 2015 Management Plan had 5 elements for a Management Vision for the Forth Bridge World Heritage Site: 

• To manage the Forth Bridge in a sustainable manner which conserves, enhances and promotes its Outstanding Universal Value both within and around the Site itself, but also at a national and international scale  

• To carefully balance the requirements of protection and conservation against the need for access to the Forth Bridge, and the interests of the local communities in encouraging sustainable economic growth  

• To engage with and deliver benefits to the local communities around the Forth Bridge whilst also minimising any negative effects that might follow inscription 

• To develop opportunities for education and learning, especially in the context of the adjacent road bridges  

• To generate income and employment that adds value to the local economy and can contribute to the conservation and promotion of the Forth Bridge. 

The update to this plan is being managed by the Forth Bridge World Heritage Management Group.  Members of this group include Historic Environment Scotland, Network Rail, Transport Scotland, VisitScotland, Fife Council, City of Edinburgh Council, West Lothian Council, Crown Estate, local Community Councils, History Groups and Heritage Trusts.   

Why your views matter

This questionnaire is open to anyone between 02/06/2025 and 30/06/2025.  Further consultation on the draft management plan will take place later in the year.

No personal data will be collected during the completion of this questionnaire.  Any comments used as examples in the analysis as examples will be anonymous.   
Privacy Policy 

Fife Council is hosting this questionnaire on behalf of the partners in the Forth Bridge World Heritage Management Group.  It is likely to take about 20 minutes if all questions are completed.