Report warns of 鈥榠rreversible鈥 damage鈥 to historic sites ahead of crunch meeting next month

Liverpool

Source: Sabena Jane Blackbird / Alamy Stock Photo

Unesco said that inadequate governance processes had resulted in a significant loss of authenticity to the city鈥檚 historic waterfront

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.

Everton image 4

Dan Meis鈥 拢500m Everton stadium will require part of the grade II-listed Bramley-Moore Dock to be filled in