Liverpool stripped of world heritage site status
It was decided by a ballot of UNESCO representatives today
Last updated 21st Jul 2021
Liverpool has been deleted from the World Heritage List after a UN committee found developments including the new Everton FC stadium threatened the value of the city's waterfront.
The city was named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in 2004, joining places including the Taj Mahal, Egypt's Pyramids and Canterbury Cathedral.
But on Wednesday, following a secret ballot, the World Heritage Committee voted to remove the site from the list, in a decision described as "incomprehensible'' by Liverpool mayor Joanne Anderson.
The committee, made up of representatives of 21 countries, was asked to make the decision after a report said "inadequate governance processes, mechanisms, and regulations for new developments in and around the World Heritage property'' resulted in "serious deterioration and irreversible loss of attributes''.
Discussions on the future for the city began on Sunday but by Monday members had been unable to reach a consensus view and delegates from Norway proposed a secret ballot be held on the issue.
Announcing the decision this morning (Wednesday 21 July), committee chairman Tian Xuejun said 20 votes had been cast.
Thirteen had been in favour of deleting the city, five had been against the proposal and two ballot papers had been invalid.
Mayor Anderson said:
"I'm hugely disappointed and concerned by this decision to delete Liverpool's World Heritage status, which comes a decade after Unesco last visited the city to see it with their own eyes.
"Our World Heritage site has never been in better condition having benefitted from hundreds of millions of pounds of investment across dozens of listed buildings and the public realm.
"We will be working with Government to examine whether we can appeal but, whatever happens, Liverpool will always be a World Heritage city. We have a stunning waterfront and incredible built heritage that is the envy of other cities.
"Our commitment to maintaining and improving our buildings remains as strong as ever and will continue to be a key part of our drive to attract visitors, along with leisure, retail and events.
"I find it incomprehensible that Unesco would rather Bramley Moore Dock remain a derelict wasteland, rather than making a positive contribution to the city's future and that of its residents.
"I'll now be seeking to draw together all the UK heritage bodies in a round table to plan a positive future with further investment.''
The area has been on the List of World Heritage in Danger since 2012, when the committee decided the Liverpool Waters development, planned for the city's northern docks, was a potential danger to the site.
Plans for Everton's new £500 million stadium were approved earlier this year despite objections from heritage body ICOMOS, acting on behalf of Unesco, as well as the Victorian Society and Historic England.
A report considered by the committee, meeting virtually and in person in Fuzhou, China, said:
"The approved planning application for a new football stadium in Bramley-Moore Dock within the property adds to the ascertained threat on the property's outstanding universal value (OUV) and is directly contrary to the approach requested by the committee for this property.''
Liverpool City Council said £700 million had been invested in upgrading historic assets within the site in the past few years and a further £800m was due to be spent in the next five years, including on Everton's move from Goodison Park to the dock area.
Everton say the development will be good for the city and that "Respecting and enhancing the heritage has always been a key principle in the Club’s vision for a new stadium development."
They add: "Everton will be investing up to £55m to preserve, restore and celebrate the heritage assets at Bramley-Moore Dock."
"The UNESCO World Heritage Status issue is a complex one and not just about a new Everton stadium but development across the entire northern docks."
"It is something that has been debated for more than 13 years."
"As a club, Everton are keen to invest in and embrace heritage throughout the scheme and have been working with HE and all the relevant agencies to ensure this is being done in the most appropriate way throughout our proposals."
However, despite the decision, local business experts suggest it won't harm the city's reputation as a tourism hotspot.
Bill Addy, the Cheif Executive of the Liverpool BID (Business Improvement District) Company said:
"Liverpool has done a good job of protecting its heritage and people recognise that it is a historic city with fabulous listed buildings and people will still come and visit to enjoy the city to feast their eyes on our waterfront."
"Will it impact the visitors? No. Will it impact the tourists who come on our cruise ships to view the river and the waterfront? No. Will it impact the Beatles tourists that come from around the world? No."
"This has been seen to be a committee of bureaucrats from countries around the world."
"It needs to have a greater, more open and transparent response to it."
"The majority of the tourists that come to Liverpool would say it's a great historic site, but it's a living city as well. And that's more important."