In 2021 UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, acting on a report from its World Heritage Centre in Paris, decided to remove Liverpool from its list of World Heritage Sites. This was only the third time in history that a Site had been removed from the list. It is an incredibly sad loss, not just for Liverpool, but for the UK as whole as part of our national heritage, and was the subject of much immediate national and international press attention.

This online conference will be of immense value to cities and places around the world, whether they already have a World Heritage Site or are considering an application. It will bring out and explore the very real tensions between conservation and regeneration; the responsibilities and consequences of inscription; and the importance of effective communication between UNESCO, municipalities, state parties and other bodies.

This online conference, in association with the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place, University of Liverpool, will seek to:

• explain how and why the decision was taken
• explore the inescapable tensions between conservation and development in managing an urban landscape, especially in cities acutely needing regeneration
• consider what lessons might be learned for other cities and places, including those which already have a World Heritage inscription as well as those actively seeking one
• appreciate Liverpool’s immensely important role in world history and its continuing architectural and townscape inheritance
• look forward positively to assess how Liverpool’s astonishing inheritance might best be managed, understood and enhanced in the future

“Liverpool – One Year On” Webinar Programme   

Introduction, Welcome and Scene Setting

9.30 – 9.45am: Chair Prof Michael Parkinson CBE, Chair of the Liverpool Mayoral Task Force on World Heritage and world expert on cities and the regeneration of Liverpool

Part One: How Do We Explain the Decision?

9.45 – 10.15am: Alexandra Warr, Historic England, introduction setting out the basic facts/chronology

10.15 – 10.45am: Phil Foxwood, DCMS, on the State Party’s perspective

10.45 – 11.15am: Speaker from UNESCO World Heritage Centre explaining the decision from their perspective (tbc in April)

11.15 – 11.45pm: Susan Denyer, ICOMOS-UK on their perspective on World Heritage processes

11.45 – 12.15pm: Q&A – Chaired by Prof. Michael Parkinson

12.15 – 1.15pm: Lunch break

1.15pm: Welcome back by Prof. Michael Parkinson

Part Two: What Can We Learn from Other Cities?

1.20 – 1.50pm: Anne Laure Moniot, World Heritage Mission, Bordeaux City Council – “Managing the tensions between development and World Heritage and building relationships with UNESCO”

1.50 – 2.20pm: Dr Birgitta Ringbeck, German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, World Heritage Coordination Office – “The management of World Heritage assets since Dresden’s loss of status”

2.20 – 2.30pm: Q&A – Chaired by Prof. Michael Parkinson

2.30 – 2.45pm: Short comfort break

Part Three: How Should We Manage Liverpool’s International Heritage Assets in the Future?

2.45 – 3.05pm: Trevor Skempton, Architect and member of the council of the Merseyside Civic Society – “Liverpool’s architectural inheritance, its historic traditions of building big, and managing the world heritage in future”

3.05 – 3.25pm: Pat Power, Property Director, Harcourt Development – “Stanley Dock: a success story in progress”

3.25 – 3.45pm: Laura Pye, Director of Liverpool National Museums – “Liverpool Museums and The Liverpool and Manchester Railway bicentenary (as the next big heritage opportunity)”

3.45 – 4.05pm: Cllr Sarah Doyle, Liverpool City Council on what has been achieved since designation in 2004 and what the future holds

4.05 – 4.20pm: Q&A – Chaired by Prof. Michael Parkinson

Part Four: What is the Way Ahead?

4.20 – 4.50pm: Panel Discussion (WHUK President Chris Blandford plus members tbc)

4.50 – 5.00pm: Final wrap-up – Prof. Michael Parkinson

This webinar is supported by the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place, University of Liverpool.