World Heritage Site put on 'danger' list

Liverpool Waters Scheme could lead to the city losing it's World Heritage Status

The multi-billion redevelopment of the Liverpool riverside would 'fragment and isolate the different docks' according to Unesco.

During their meeting in Russia on Tuesday, the World Heritage Committee placed Liverpool on the Danger list because of the Liverpool Waters plans.

The idea from developers Peel would see the derelict dock area transformed into a skyline which would, along with the sister scheme Wirral Waters, create a skyline to rival places like Sydney, Shanghai and Dubai.



Unesco's World Heritage Committee said that if the plan goes ahead: "Liverpool may entirely loose the outstanding universal value for which it was given World Heritage status.

"The site includes six areas in the historic centre and docklands is a testimony to the development of Liverpool as one of the world's major trading centres in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Liverpool City Council have already given outline planning permission, with the regional government office now looking over the ideas to decide whether there should be a Public Enquiry into the scheme, although the government have already waved through the Wirral Waters plans, where preparation work has already become.

A Liverpool City Council spokesman has told Heart that: "We believe that this decision is premature as the Government has not yet determined whether the Liverpool Waters application can go ahead.

"We also believe the safeguards which were put in place when it was considered by the planning committee will ensure that the World Heritage site is protected.

"The city council is continuing to discuss the plans with the developers and other interested parties and have always firmly believed that Liverpool can retain its World Heritage status while sensitively developing the derelict docklands.

"It is important to note that although this decision has been made it does not mean that Liverpool is in imminent danger of having its status removed.

"This is a long term development which will take several decades to complete and as it progresses we will continue to work to ensure that we can reach a situation which satisfies all parties."