Liverpool Council has launched a new plan to shape a multi-billion pound, "heritage-led" development of the city's historic docklands.
The city launched the North Shore Vision document on Wednesday morning at an event attended UNESCO representatives, as it continues to fight to retain the famous world heritage status.
The document revealed by Mayor Joe Anderson said Liverpool was rising to the challenge of saving the status - with the event aimed at convincing the heritage body that the city can both respect it and move forward with vital regeneration.
The city has been 'at risk' of losing its famous heritage status since 2013 after UNESCO raised concerns about the major Liverpool Waters development scheme led by
The heritage body has previously said that this year is Liverpool's last chance when it comes to retaining its status.
The regeneration of the north docks is seen as vital to the prosperity of some of the poorest areas of the city - with Everton's planned new stadium at and the Ten Streets Project amongst the plans hoped to take the city forward.
But Liverpool doesn't want to lose the UNESCO status it was handed in 2004 - and today's launch of the North Shore Vision is aiming to convince the heritage body that the city can respect its famous heritage while moving the city forward with vital regeneration.
The North Shore Vision is the first development document in the 海角视频 to adopt guidelines set out by the United Nations on Sustainable Development and UNESCO’s own model for developing Historic Urban Landscapes.
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The vision will be used to guide the future growth of 260 acres of largely derelict brownfield land in one of the poorest areas of the 海角视频.
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It is hoped the vision will make Liverpool an 'international beacon of heritage-led regeneration.'
This area encompasses Peel L&P’s Liverpool Waters and the Ten Streets District, and lies almost exclusively with the city’s World Heritage Site and its Buffer Zone.
The vision is supported by a new interactive website - - curated by urban design company Planit, which explains the history of the area and proposed future schemes in hi-definition detail.
The vision has been put together by a consortium of planning professionals, designers and heritage experts including the city’s World Heritage Team and World Heritage Task Force and Steering Group – as well as representatives from Historic England, DCMS, RIBA and University of Liverpool.
The North Shore Vision is to be formally adopted by Liverpool City Council, which commissioned the document as part of a programme of work in response to UNESCO placing the city’s World Heritage Status on the at risk register in 2013.
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One key stakeholder in the area, Everton Football Club, has already informally used the vision to help shape proposals for its new football stadium at Bramley Moore Dock, Liverpool Waters, which will require some of the dock to be infilled.
The North Shore webinar, which was due to be held in Spring before Covid-19 lockdown began, included keynote speakers such as Sir Neil Cossons, former Chair of Historic England.
As well as Dr Anatole-Gabriel,Chief of the Europe and North America Unit at the World Heritage Centre, the audience also included representatives from UNESCO as well as their advisory body ICOMOS.
They heard Mayor Anderson reaffirm that Liverpool’s World Heritage Status, which was awarded to the city in 2004, is of great importance to the city and that UNESCO’s fears over tall buildings in Liverpool Waters have been addressed.
Mayor Anderson, who last week ruled out a zip-wire attraction through another part of the city’s World Heritage Site, stated that the scheme was “a world away from its original concept” and added that thanks to almost £1bn of investment Liverpool’s World Heritage Site has never been in better shape.
He also applauded the developers Peel L&P for signing up to the North Shore Vision, which he said would “balance the needs of a growing city whilst protecting our World Heritage Status”.
Mayor Joe Anderson said: “Liverpool has wrestled - often quite publicly - with the idea of balancing the economic need to develop, with the need to respect the heritage of these unique but dilapidated docklands.
“We’ve been listening to the concerns of UNESCO – and we’ve been talking to Peel L&P to see how those concerns can be addressed without compromising the ambition we all share to develop this area.
“The result is the North Shore Vision and it is going to play a fundamental role in the multi-billion pound renaissance of this area over the coming decades, creating thousands of much needed jobs. I firmly believe the way this has been developed will make Liverpool an international beacon of heritage-led regeneration.
“The new website for the vision will also bring the story of the North Shore vividly to life – both its past and future – with a whole series of new interactive imagery explaining the principles of the strategy and its goals. As a result anyone and everyone will be able to see what is being planned.
“I want to thank everyone involved in putting it all together. Their timing is perfect. For the first time in 50 years, investment is beginning to happen in our North Shore from the Ten Streets and Liverpool Waters right up to Bramley Moore Dock.
“The first signs of this change are for all to see with business and residential developments in Princes Dock and Central Docks, a new Ferry Terminal and investment in new roads and infrastructure. Also, the renovation of Stanley Dock is a shining example of how the city’s historic buildings can be repurposed to reflect the needs of the new Liverpool and stimulate new growth and jobs.
“The template is clear and through the North Shore Vision we are finessing that approach – and developing it for others to learn from.”
Darran Lawless, development director at Peel L&P’s Liverpool Waters, said: “We are delighted to see the vision for the North Shore finally revealed today. We have been working in the background with the partners for nearly a year now, sharing our ambitions and our concerns, working out how best we could engage our local, national and international audiences, and best present our collective ambitions.
“We have shared openly our digital assets and the story of our changing plans, as have others, to create a truly unique way of presenting our vision for Liverpool Waters, not in isolation but as an integral piece of the North Shore ambition.
“Working with the city council, Everton FC and other partners, we want to breathe new life into the docks with the creation of thousands of jobs, new homes and a destination for world-class sport, tourism and leisure facilities to help attract new business and investment opportunities
“As we emerge to face the post-pandemic challenges, we are convinced this collaborative, partnership working will become an international exemplar of heritage-led, inclusive regeneration and growth.”