Liverpool Could Lose UNESCO World Heritage Status

New and planned developments are risking the integrity of Liverpool's historic waterfront, according to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

1 minute read

July 4, 2021, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The historic waterfront of Liverpool looms above the water.

Jeanette Teare / Shutterstock

"Liverpool is set to lose its World Heritage status, according to a UNESCO report citing detrimental waterfront developments 'eroding the integrity' of the site," reports Alice Finney.

The report amounts to a draft decision to delete Liverpool from the list of World Heritge sites, explains Finney. "UNESCO, which maintains the prestigious list of sites of significant historical and cultural interest, will make a final decision next month."

The developments threatening the status of Liverpool's waterfront include the £5.5 billion Liverpool Waters development, among other developments, including plans for a new football stadium in Bramley-Moore Dock.

It's not the first time UNESCO has considered the idea of removing Liverpool from the list of World Heritage sites. A similar threat in 2017 prompted Historic England to create a "Desired State of Conservation Report," which includes the suggestion to implement a "skyline policy" for tall buildings.

Wednesday, June 30, 2021 in Dezeen

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Black and white photos of camp made up of small 'earthquake shacks' in Dolores Park in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees

More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

April 15, 2025 - Charles F. Bloszies

People walking up and down stairs in New York City subway station.

In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving

Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.

April 18 - Scientific American

White public transit bus with bike on front bike rack in Nashville, Tennessee.

Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan

Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.

April 18 - Bloomberg CityLab

An engineer controlling a quality of water ,aerated activated sludge tank at a waste water treatment plant.

Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding

The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.

April 18 - Smart Cities Dive