World Heritage Site Management Plan Update 2025

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the management plan for the Forth Bridge is being updated, and people with an interest in the bridge and local area are being invited to help to shape the draft plan.

The Forth Bridge was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2015.  UNESCO asks that all World Heritage Sites maintain a management plan to support the future management needs of a World Heritage Site, to coordinate the interests of associated organisations, groups and individuals, and to maximise the benefits and minimise any negative impacts from the World Heritage Site status. 

The Forth Bridge’s Management Plan is now ten years old and is being updated in 2025 for the next ten-year period.  A multi-partner working group has begun the task of updating the management plan with membership drawn from Network Rail, Fife Council, City of Edinburgh Council, Historic Environment Scotland, VisitScotland and Transport Scotland.  The process is being overseen by the wider Forth Bridges Forum and Forth Bridge World Heritage Management Group.

Members of the public are initially being asked for their input into the content for the new management plan via an online questionnaire. There will be further consultation on the draft management plan when it is ready later this year.

Councillor Altany Craik, Fife Council's spokesperson for finance, economy and strategic planning, said:  "The Forth Bridge is a much-loved Scottish landmark, internationally recognisable as an impressive feat of engineering from the Victorian age. Over 135 years after it opened, an average of 220 trains per day still cross the bridge with passengers or freight. The management plan will draw together updates on policies and issues that are being seen to affect the protection of the World Heritage Site.”

Councillor Joan Griffiths, Convener of the Planning Committee at the City of Edinburgh Council added: “The Forth Bridge has an impact on travel for residents and businesses far and wide, and anyone with an interest in the bridge or World Heritage is encouraged to respond to the questionnaire which is being centrally coordinated by Fife Council on behalf of all the partners on the Working Group”. 

Complete the questionnaire by 30 June 2025