UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee has called on the government to refuse planning permission to the Peel Group’s £5.5bn Liverpool Waters scheme.
The United Nations’ cultural and educational agency has expressed its “extreme concern” at the 150-acre waterfront regeneration project and plans to put Liverpool’s continued status as a World Heritage site up for discussion in 2012.
But UNESCO highlighted an English Heritage report which argues that Peel’s plans are not in compliance with the Liverpool Urban Development Plan.
Opposition to Peel’s plans emerged at the 35th World Heritage Committee, which met recently in Paris. It follows complaints by heritage campaigners about development along Liverpool’s waterfront, including Neptune’s Mann Island scheme.
Liverpool was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004 as “Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City” owing to the fact that it is a prime example of a commercial port from the time of Britain’s greatest global influence.
A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: “All parties agree that regeneration of the area is important; however, there is considerable concern that the current proposals from Peel Holdings may have an impact on the Liverpool World Heritage Site.
“As a result, there will be a joint WH Centre/ICOMOS mission to Liverpool, likely to be in the autumn, to examine the Liverpool Waters proposal and its potential impact, and to assess planning procedures and the overall development strategy for the site.”
On Twitter, Frank McKenna, chairman of business group Downtown Liverpool in Business, wrote: “I’d be delighted if UNESCO removed Liverpool’s World Heritage Site status. More hindrance than help.”
daniel.cunningham@estatesgazette.com
