Liverpool’s World Heritage draft planning policy published

Property professionals in Liverpool today began digesting the controversial draft planning guidance for the city's World Heritage areas.

The lengthy Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City World Heritage Site Draft Supplementary Planning Document is required by Unesco to set out management plans for preserving the character of the six areas awarded World Heritage status in 2004. The areas are Pier Head, Castle Street/Dale Street, Lower Duke Street, William Brown Street, Albert Dock and Stanley Dock.

Critics of the conservation status, most notably dock estate owner Peel Holdings, say the council's planning policy threatens to limit the economic growth of the city by reducing the height and scale of new buildings. The council says new development is allowed but must not dominate the sites of special status.

The draft document was published today for public consultation. Comments must be submitted by 14 April.

The document can be downloaded, and comments posted, at the Liverpool City Council website.