Liverpool sets out battle plan to keep World Heritage status

Liverpool has set out a plan that authorities hope will help it keep a coveted World Heritage status that has been threatened by property development. A high level of development around Liverpool’s historic waterfront has led to UNESCO putting the city on its at-risk register. In particular, Peel’s £5.5bn Liverpool Waters development could “irreversibly harm” the historic area, according to UNESCO, and lead to the removal of the city from the World Heritage Destinations list. In a bid to fight back, the city’s plan outlines aims to balance its projected population growth and economic development over the next 15 years while protecting its historic areas. An eight-point action plan has been devised, which includes creating a tall buildings policy  and urban design guidelines. Liverpool said in the draft report that the benefits of the heritage status have to be balanced against the need to bring forward new developments in the city. “Balanced against [keeping the heritage status] is the continuing need to grow the city’s economy by prioritising economic growth via investment, development, business growth and subsequently job creation,” the report said. “It is this growth, which in part will take place within the World Heritage Site, which requires careful planning, high-quality design and respectful development.” The city council will discuss an action plan at a meeting next Friday. The plan will be submitted by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to Unesco, which will discuss the report at its World Heritage Committee in July. To send feedback, e-mail lucy.alderson@egi.co.uk or tweet @LucyAJourno or @estatesgazette