Report warns of 鈥榠rreversible鈥� damage鈥� to historic sites ahead of crunch meeting next month
Liverpool鈥檚 World Heritage status could be scrapped as soon as next month after a Unesco committee said that too many modern developments had been built in the city鈥檚 historic waterfront.
A new report by the World Heritage Committee has recommended the city lose its World Heritage status ahead of a meeting in July when a final decision will be made.
The report said 鈥渨ith deep regret鈥� that new developments around the listed waterfront had caused a 鈥渟ignificant loss to its authenticity and integrity鈥� and that the process of further deterioration is 鈥渋rreversible鈥�.
It said it was the result of 鈥渋nadequate governance processes, mechanisms and regulations鈥� for new developments, and that obligations to protect and conserve the site had not been fulfilled.
The city has been threatened with demotion for over a decade because of major developments, including the Liverpool Waters projects.
The report also mentioned Everton鈥檚 new 拢500m Dan Meis-designed stadium, which will require part of the grade II-listed Bramley-Moore Dock to be filled in.
Liverpool mayor Joanne Anderson said removing the city鈥檚 World Heritage status was 鈥渉ugely unfair鈥� and invited committee members to visit Bramley-Moore Dock to 鈥渟ee it with their own eyes鈥�.
But heritage campaigner Wayne Colquhoun said city planners had 鈥減ushed the boundaries鈥� and ignored warnings by Unesco.
Liverpool was granted World Heritage status in 2004 because of its role as a major port during the 18th and 19th centuries, when it played a major role in the industrial revolution and migration from Europe to America.
It also was a major hub of the Atlantic slave trade. Earlier this month, the city shortlisted six architecture teams to design a new visitor experience around the historic Canning Dock to tell the story of its role in the slave trade.
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