Developing a heritage impact assessment framework for cultural World Heritage protection: a case study of West Lake Cultural Landscape

A structured heritage impact assessment (HIA) framework, tailored for World Heritage contexts, demonstrates that late-stage interventions can effectively mitigate adverse development impacts on Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). Applied to the West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou—a UNESCO-listed site under significant urban pressure—the framework identifies critical visual disruptions from a hotel expansion and proposes targeted mitigation strategies, such as height reduction and landscape buffering. By integrating value-based assessment with practical tools for heritage attribute identification and impact evaluation, this approach offers a transferable solution to balance development pressures while preserving cultural integrity. The study underscores the necessity of rigorous, adaptive planning in heritage-sensitive urban contexts.

Zhou, B., & Xu, L. (2026). Developing a heritage impact assessment framework for cultural World Heritage protection: a case study of West Lake Cultural Landscape. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 44(2), 150–160. https://doi.org/10.1080/14615517.2026.2658403