Liverpool sets out plan to save World Heritage status

A report outlining how Liverpool intends to save its World Heritage Status is set to be endorsed by the City Council next week. The Council, together with Government and Historic England, has drafted a Desired State of Conservation Report (DSOCR) which describes the corrective measures Liverpool is proposing to protect the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the site which the City hopes will persuade UNESCO to remove the site from the "in danger" list.

The DSOCR will go to the Council's Cabinet, on Friday, 23 February 2018, for endorsement following its recent submission to Government, and once approved will be submitted to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for subsequent examination by the World Heritage Committee, at its 42nd session, in July 2018.

The report focuses on the main issue of how the City needs to balance its projected population and economic growth over the next 15 years, which will see the creation of 35,000 new homes and 30,000 jobs, whilst protecting its World Heritage Site (WHS).

The main threat to the City's WHS, as perceived by UNESCO, is the proposed developments in the ₤5bn Liverpool Waters scheme, specifically for its Central Docks area, which was given outline planning permission in June 2013. However, the report shows that Peel's initial outline proposal for Central Docks is now being reviewed and a neighbourhood 'Master Plan' will take in heritage concerns and planning guidelines on heights of buildings.

Other proposed corrective measures in the DSOCR, all of which are either completed or in progress, are:-

► The provision of a comprehensive Management Plan for the World Heritage Site (WHS) - approved by Cabinet in May 2017.

► To provide regulatory planning documents which provide clear, legal guidelines to protect the WHS Property. The City Local Plan, the Liverpool Waters Neighbourhood Master Plan's, the WHS management Plan and a proposed new Supplementary Planning Document.

► Develop a skyline policy for tall buildings as proposed in the City's Local Plan.

► Provide clear urban design guidelines as proposed in the City's Local Plan.

► Implement the complementary 10 Streets Spatial Regeneration Framework; approved by Cabinet, in February 2018.

► Future management of the WHS Property potentially through the creation of a new Trust.

► Develop and Implement a WHS Interpretation and Communication Strategy building on the creation of the 1st WHS 'Hub' at the RIBA North Centre including the use of the City's Digital Model.

► Review the WHS Property boundary with a view to the enhancement/extension of the site.

Another measure addresses the likely planning application by Everton FC to progress a new Football Stadium, at Bramley Moore Dock. The Council has stated the application will be dealt with in accordance with national and local planning policy and would need to demonstrate how it benefits the regeneration of the WHS and how its detailed design responds positively to the attributes of OUV of the site.

Mayor Joe Anderson said:- "Liverpool's World Heritage Status is of great importance to the City, not only in showcasing our unique maritime heritage, but in how we can use it to shape our future boosting both our tourism economy and our civic pride. This report shows in great detail the lengths Liverpool has already gone and will continue to go, to balance the needs of a growing City whilst protecting our World Heritage Status. This is a delicate task and involves all the major City stakeholders working together to understand very specific planning issues and creating solutions that works for the City and UNESCO. With the support and input of the DDCMS I am sure this collaborative approach means we can all ensure Liverpool's World Heritage Status is secured when the committee meets in July 2018."

Liverpool has already taken many steps to protect and improve the physical state of its WHS. A survey has shown that since 2012 the number of Buildings at Risk have been reduced to below 2.75% of building stock; far below the UK national average; with recent successes including the re-opening of St Luke's Church (also known as the Bombed Out Church) while work has begun to save and eventually transform the historic Wellington Rooms (the City's former Irish Centre).

In total more than ₤750m has been invested into historic assets within the WHS in the past decade including the upgrade of 37 listed buildings, 18 with Council financial assistance, such as the Aloft Hotel, the award winning Central Library and Stanley Dock.

Since 2015 each development proposal that has the potential to affect the OUV is accompanied by a Heritage Impact Assessment that details the significance of the asset/s that may be affected, the nature of that impact and, where appropriate, how any harmful impacts can be mitigated.

And since the 2017 World Heritage Committee Session Liverpool has also established an independent Task Force to re-establish a positive debate with Government and UNESCO with a view to the retention of WHS status.

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IT jobs drive growth in the North West

THE latest employment figures have revealed that over 1.65m jobs have been created across Britain in the:- 'IT and Business Services' sector since 2010, with it being the main driver for growth in 9 out of the 11 nations and regions over that period.

The North West has benefited from 169,000 new jobs being created in the sector, which is continuing to boom, thanks to unrelenting demand for the internet, wireless cloud technologies and mobile phones. They provide the basic foundation for almost all employers, making it easier for them to connect with their staff and customers at home and overseas.

Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey said:- "We had record breaking employment levels across Britain last year, and the unemployment rate in the North West is at a record low; below the national average. Since 2010 there have been 169,000 new jobs created in the IT sector in the region, and it's easy to see why those kind of skills are in such popular demand by employers. The world's gone digital, and we're all having to adapt to that. Within my own Department we're committed to providing a service that meets the needs of claimants in the 21st Century. That's why Universal Credit. not only ensures that work always pays, but with an online platform at its core, gives people the flexibility to look for a job and communicate with their work coach in a way that best suits them, be it from a desk or a smart phone."

KCOM is an IT and communications provider that employs 1,600 people across the UK. Its chief information officer, Mike Davies, explains the demand for workers in the IT and Business Services sector. He said:- "Businesses across all sectors are increasingly seeking to use technology to make their existing operations more efficient and introduce new ways of working to improve in areas such as customer experience and new product development. This drive for digital transformation is fuelling the growing demand for IT centric skills. It may seem counter intuitive, but the greater a business's desire to provide a digital experience for customers, the greater their need for creative, innovative people becomes."

Vacancies are advertised via the Government's online jobs portal Universal Jobmatch.