In Liverpool, on a rainy, grey morning, the air is heavy with the scent of damp brick and salt from the Mersey River. Walking up north along the waterfront toward Stanley Dock, the signs of transformation are everywhere. Cranes rise near the almost-completed Everton Stadium, home to Liverpool’s second-biggest football club, while the colossal Tobacco Warehouse—once the largest brick building in the world—now boasts luxury apartments. This transformation reflects Liverpool’s struggle to balance its rich maritime heritage with the need for economic renewal.
Meanwhile, in a city on the other side of the canal in mainland Europe—Genoa, Italy—efforts to rejuvenate its waterfront are also ongoing, with a grand opening planned in 5–6 months. Building upon the transformation of the new docks, Genoa’s project features an urban park, residential areas, offices, student housing, and retail facilities. “Liverpool’s heritage is its greatest asset. Development and preservation can and should work hand in hand, enhancing the city’s identity,” says Liz Stewart, curator at the Museum of Liverpool.
Genoa’s redevelopment seeks to blend seamlessly with its historic aesthetic, maintaining its identity as a Mediterranean cultural icon. Liverpool, however, has been more willing to prioritize economic development, a decision that led to tensions with UNESCO and the loss of its World Heritage status in 2021. While both cities share a rich maritime history, their contrasting approaches reveal the challenges of preserving cultural identity while pursuing modernization.
Heritage Lost, Opportunities Gained
The city hasn’t lost any money yet because of the UNESCO listing being removed. In 2020, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Liverpool welcomed 55.6 million visitors, according to data from the Liverpool City Region. By 2023, this number had risen to over 60 million, aided in part by the city hosting the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, showcasing Liverpool’s ability to attract global attention.
Data from the Liverpool City Region also highlights that heritage tourists spend between 9 percent and 40 percent more than general leisure tourists. Liz Fuller of Save Britain’s Heritage commented: “Heritage brings in huge benefits to local communities, creating jobs and opportunities while showcasing the unique character of places like Liverpool.”
According to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Liverpool’s tourism industry grew by 21 percent since losing its UNESCO status, contributing approximately six billion British pounds to the local economy in 2023. Additionally, National Museums Liverpool reports that over the past two decades, investments of more than 740 million British pounds in the city’s heritage assets have reduced the number of historic buildings in serious disrepair from 13 percent in 2000 to just 2.5 percent today.
Albert Dock, a beacon of 19th-century innovation, continues to anchor Liverpool’s maritime heritage as a hub for culture and tourism.
The UNESCO Fallout
Liverpool, a city that rose to global prominence as a major port during the 18th and 19th centuries, finds itself at the crossroads of heritage and progress. In 2021, the city lost its UNESCO World Heritage status, a decision that underscored the tension between preserving cultural identity and fostering economic growth. UNESCO cited concerns over new developments that it argued threatened the “outstanding universal value” of the waterfront. Yet for many locals, these changes represent an opportunity to revitalize a city still grappling with the legacies of industrial decline.
“The heritage of Liverpool is still there,” says Liz Stewart, curator at the Museum of Liverpool. “The accolade may be gone, but the city’s character—its built environment and intangible heritage—remains deeply rooted in its history. The challenge now is balancing that with progress.”
The Museum of Liverpool: A modern structure that celebrates the city’s rich cultural and industrial legacy.
Liz Fuller, Buildings at Risk Officer for Save Britain’s Heritage, offers a more critical view: “We absolutely think [losing UNESCO status] is a decision that could have been avoided. There were policy gaps at the time, particularly around planning for tall buildings,” she explains. “World Heritage status isn’t just a title—it’s an international commitment to safeguard a site’s significance, and it can bring massive economic benefits through tourism and global attention.”
Fuller notes that UNESCO had issued warnings for years prior to the 2021 decision, emphasizing that high-intensity developments in the historic docklands could threaten Liverpool’s designation. “This wasn’t a sudden decision; it was the result of prolonged concerns,” she adds.
Dr. Aliki Myrto Perysinaki from John Moores University offers important insights: “Liverpool faces significant economic constraints that make it difficult to replicate successful heritage-led regeneration projects on a wider scale,” she says. Drawing comparisons to European port cities like Malmö and Rotterdam, Perysinaki notes, “They have managed transitions more effectively by integrating heritage into their urban planning strategies. Liverpool can learn from these examples.” She warns, however, against short-term solutions: “Some of the new buildings don’t fit into the docks’ historic character. They may generate revenue now, but they undermine the integrity of Liverpool’s heritage in the long term.”
“The docks were once built with their backs to the waterfront, reflecting a past where industry overshadowed aesthetics,” notes Dr. Aliki Perysinaki.
A Storied Waterfront
Liverpool’s waterfront is a canvas of contrasts. The Albert Dock, a symbol of 19th-century innovation, showcases the city’s rich maritime history. Once a groundbreaking integration of warehouses and docks, it now houses cultural landmarks like the Maritime Museum and the Tate Liverpool. Yet, nearby, neglected structures and underutilized spaces reveal the lingering scars of economic misfortune. Stanley Dock’s Tobacco Warehouse is a rare success story, transformed into modern apartments that retain the building’s industrial grandeur.
“Liverpool’s amazing history and historic buildings present a unique opportunity,” Fuller asserts. “We’re not anti-development, but we believe strongly in working with historic structures to bring out their character, not sideline or overwhelm them. Done well, this approach enhances both the heritage and the development itself.”
Perysinaki offers a broader perspective, emphasizing the docks’ historical purpose: “The docks were originally built with their backs to the waterfront, reflecting a time when industry overshadowed aesthetics. Reimagining this relationship with careful planning could restore the balance between heritage and modern use.”
Challenges and Opportunities
The city’s relationship with UNESCO encapsulates the tension between development and preservation. While the loss of World Heritage status was a blow to Liverpool’s global reputation, local officials defended their decisions, arguing that projects like the new Everton Stadium are essential for economic revitalization. Critics, however, caution that these projects risk compromising the very essence of what makes Liverpool unique.
“The new Everton Stadium rises on the Mersey’s edge, a symbol of Liverpool’s push for economic revitalization amid its historic docklands.”
Save Britain’s Heritage continues to monitor key buildings in Liverpool, including over 25 on their national “Buildings at Risk” register. Fuller highlights the importance of community involvement: “Local people in Liverpool are incredibly passionate about their history and often notify us about neglected sites. This engagement is vital for preserving the city’s character.”
Although the organization has no current major campaigns in Liverpool, its past successes, such as the regeneration of the Welsh Streets—a group of historic terraced homes—demonstrate what’s possible when heritage is prioritized. “Bringing buildings back into functional use in ways people want to live and work in makes a real difference,” Fuller explains.
Looking Ahead
Liverpool’s story is not an isolated one. Across Europe, historic cities face similar dilemmas. Venice battles overtourism, while Rotterdam balances modern innovation with its historical identity. Fuller points to UK examples like King’s Cross in London, where redevelopment has successfully integrated industrial heritage. “There are plenty of good practices out there that Liverpool can draw from,” she says.
When asked whether Liverpool can turn the loss of UNESCO status into an opportunity, Fuller is cautiously optimistic. “With the amazing history Liverpool has, there’s always a chance to refocus and improve. Development doesn’t need to come at the cost of history—if anything, embracing heritage can make new projects more meaningful for everyone.”
Perysinaki echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the need for long-term vision: “Liverpool’s innovation has always been part of its heritage. The challenge is to make sure that any future development continues that tradition while respecting the city’s unique identity.”
Back at Stanley Dock, the towering warehouses, the glistening Mersey, and the hum of construction form a vivid tableau of a city in flux. For Liverpool, the challenge lies in finding harmony between its storied past and its ambitious future—a task as monumental as the dockside architecture that has defined it for centuries.
