ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the specific challenges facing historic urban cultural landscapes where balancing sustainable development must consider conserving heritage significance. It discusses appreciation of the contradictions that sustainable development and social sustainability presents for historic urban cultural landscapes. The chapter explores efforts to transform conventional heritage principles into tools for sustainable development. It provides an analysis of the extent to which the principles of sustainable development have been integrated into management practices at four World Heritage urban landscapes. The chapter argues that cultural heritage is as intrinsic to sustainable urban development as combating poverty and changing consumption patterns. The concept of a dynamic cultural setting is stressed because it resonates with the social sustainability principles of equity, participation, inclusion, diversity, and sense of place. Despite recognition of the importance of an integrated approach to planning and management, the key documents for all four properties failed to articulate clear organisational structures, management responsibilities, and links to national sustainable development frameworks.
