The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. The site covers an area of approximately four square kilometres and contains nearly 4,500 individual buildings as well as ancient monuments, designed landscapes and conservation areas.
In 2016, the public were asked to reflect on Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site and the issues related to it. The themes that scored the lowest in the public’s eye have become the main focus of the five-year Action Plan, which is part of the main Management Plan, covering the period 2017-22.