Liverpool waterfront: What does Unesco World Heritage status actually mean?

Liverpool waterfront officially stripped of World Heritage status after 17 years. Credit: PA

Liverpool has officially been deleted from the World Heritage List after a UN committee found developments threatened the value of the city’s waterfront.

But it's not the first time this has happened. The historic dockland was placed on Unesco's World Heritage in Danger list in 2012.

There are currently 53 sites on the list due to armed conflict and war, pollution, poaching and over-development.

Sites like Dresden Elbe Valley in Germany and the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in Oman, were stripped of their title within two years of each other.

Machu Picchu is one of the most well-known Unesco World Heritage sites. Credit: PA

What does having a World Heritage Status actually mean?

A World Heritage site is a natural or cultural landmark that has been selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 

They can be located anywhere in the world and are deemed worthy of preserving for both present and future generations.

Some of the most recognised UNESCO world heritage sites today include Machu Picchu, in Southern Peru, and the Taj Mahal in the Indian city of Agra.

Taj Mahal, India. Credit: PA

What are the advantages of having World Heritage status?

Once a site has been recognised as having this prestigious title, it immediately drives more tourists, travel writers and other news organisations to the area. For many countries, this could help to bring new economic benefits.

As well as this, it can generate funds for restoration and preservation of the site.

The title also means it is protected under the Geneva Convention against destruction or misuse during wartime.

How many Unesco World Heritage Sites are located in the UK?

There are 26 cultural world heritage sites, four natural and one which is a mixture of the two in the UK. Here is a full list:

Natural

  • Dorset and East Devon Coast

  • Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast

  • Gough and Inaccessible Islands

  • Henderson Island

The Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland. Credit: Liam McBurney/PA

Cultural

  • Blaenavon Industrial Landscape

  • Blenheim Palace

  • Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church

  • Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd

  • City of Bath

  • Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape

  • Derwent Valley Mills

  • Durham Castle and Cathedral

  • Frontiers of the Roman Empire

  • Gorham's Cave Complex

  • Heart of Neolithic Orkney

  • Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications, Bermuda

  • Ironbridge Gorge

The Lake District was handed the title of World Heritage site in 2017. Credit: PA

  • Jodrell Bank Observatory

  • Maritime Greenwich

  • New Lanark

  • Old and New Towns of Edinburgh

  • Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including Saint Margaret’s Church

  • Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal

  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

  • Saltaire

  • Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites

  • Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey

  • The English Lake District

  • The Forth Bridge

  • Tower of London

Mixed 

  • St Kilda

Liverpool was stripped of its title on 21 July 2021. Credit: PA

Why has Liverpool Waterfront lost its status?

The area was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger when the committee decided the Liverpool Waters development, planned for the city’s northern docks, was a potential danger to the site.

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”.

Liverpool officially stripped of World Heritage status