Merseyside Civic Society welcomes UNESCO/ICOMOS Monitoring Mission to review WHS progress and plans

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PRESS RELEASE For immediate release Issued 16 November 2011 Merseyside Civic Society welcomes UNESCO/ICOMOS Monitoring Mission to review WHS progress and plans Never mind the height - check the

1 PRESS RELEASE For immediate release Issued 16 November 2011 Merseyside Civic Society welcomes UNESCO/ICOMOS Monitoring Mission to review WHS progress and plans Never mind the height - check the quality and character is the simple message to UNESCO/ICOMOS from the Merseyside Civic Society (MCS). MCS says that judgement of new developments in the World Heritage Site (WHS) should not just be about tall buildings, but take into account the degree to which plans recapture the spirit and character of the city based on a clear understanding of the historic maritime-industrial context of the site. MCS Chair Dr. Peter Brown said: WHS status should be used to support the collective memory in restoring a distinctive sense of place a place of bustle and activity in which the presence of large structures can again make a contribution to the city-portscape. Liverpool has true scale. Historically, this was provided by dockland cranes, warehouses, industrial plant and big ships. Now it can be found in skyscrapers, cathedrals and cruise liners. MCS welcomed the opportunity that the monitoring mission s visit provided to secure firsthand reassurance about conservation of the World Heritage Site, the progress achieved in implementing recommendations from its earlier mission in 2006, and the likely impact of plans for major waterfront development on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the Liverpool Maritime Mercantile WHS. MCS was pleased to use the occasion to underline the fundamental principles that it believes should be adopted in judging the acceptability of the scale of development proposed in Peel s Liverpool Waters scheme. On Monday 14 November, Dr. Peter Brown, told the mission members that, historically, MCS had played a key role in securing the retention of the Albert Dock, when it was under threat of demolition and redevelopment, and in the retention of the classical Lyceum building at the bottom of Bold Street. MCS Press Release 1 16 November 2011

2 The Society has been active in seeking retention and refurbishment of key buildings and historic townscape of the city under threat from development proposals or dereliction as a consequence of neglect. In recent years, MCS has consistently argued in support of refurbishment of older housing areas, with the favoured policy of clearance treated very much as a last resort. MCS has fought for communities at public inquiries relating to the Edge Lane road widening scheme, before a House of Commons select committee on empty homes and continues to champion restoration of Liverpool s classic terraced neighbourhoods in places like Toxteth s Welsh Streets area. MCS planning expert Jonathan Brown said: MCS believes that our position reflects deep public support across the city for a balance between bold new development, alongside the retention and protection of key buildings, townscape and spaces. We have seen great popular resistance to the depressing pattern of demolitions that scar the very historic inner city districts that developed simultaneously with the World Heritage Site. UNECSO are right to reflect this concern, and also to seek the adoption of the highest standards standards that we believe should apply in the treatment of the fabric of the city within, near and remote from the World Heritage Site. MCS make clear their support for the principles set out in the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and WHS Management Plan for the treatment of development within its core area and in the buffer zone beyond. Dr. Brown said it was important to recognise that heritage structures can accommodate new uses that can support their continued existence and maintenance, so that they can have a genuinely sustainable future. It is evident that this principle has been applied in the transformation of the core parts of the WHS already subject to major regeneration initiatives classically in the case of Albert Dock but also in other historic commercial buildings within the city centre. The panel s programme included a visit to the Pier Head and an opportunity to judge for themselves the impact of schemes located on Mann Island (the Broadway Malyan scheme by Matt Brook and the neighbouring Museum of Liverpool building) over which much anxiety had been expressed in MCS Press Release 2 16 November 2011

3 Dr. Brown acknowledged that some cherished views of the Pier Head grouping have been compromised from the landward side, but advanced the view that the strikingly angular new structures provide a contrasting context in which to better appreciate the classical lines of their neighbours from the riverside, as visualised so clearly in Ben Johnson s painting. Together with features of the canal link, these developments illustrate the successful application of urban design principles to create an attractive public realm network on the waterfront and greatly improved connectivity around the south docks both on foot and by boat. MCS expressed strong views on criteria that should influence the judgment of proposals for the development of the North Docks area where the quality and character of new elements and the spaces between them deserve greater weight. MCS architect Trevor Skempton underlined the importance of the preservation of all historic buildings and artefacts and the need to be creative in the recycling of structures, such as Stanley Dock. He argued that, a clear understanding of the historic maritimeindustrial context of the WHS is fundamental. He said priority should be given to seeking to recapture the spirit and character of Liverpool, after 60 years or so of sleepwalking as it declined from its former role as the country s pre-eminent port city. Conscious steps should now be taken to support the collective memory and restore a distinctive sense of place. A number of features can be identified that historically contributed to this distinctiveness. The waterfront was always characterised by intensive activity and the presence of giant structures structures such as cranes, warehouses, chimneys, spires, etc that were located on both sides of the river. Arguably the largest of these, contributing to the early setting of the Liver Building and other waterfront structures, was the New Brighton Tower (570 ft or 180 metres) taller than Blackpool Tower that was demolished in the 1920s. Other massive structures included the cranes of Cammell Laird shipyard, the 3 sisters chimneys of the Clarence Dock power station, together with the Brunswick Dock warehouse (the dockers cathedral ) (all demolished in the 1980s) plus major industrial complexes, such as the Tate and Lyle plant. All of these large scale features of the portcityscape were visible from the unrivalled vantage point of the overhead railway, itself a massive presence, all the way from the Dingle to Bootle. MCS Press Release 3 16 November 2011

4 Perhaps even more pervasive and transient was the presence of ships some small but many very large, sometimes moving past, into and through the complex of docks, then stationary for periods of loading and/or unloading, alongside the quays and warehouses. Awareness of the historical presence of these large structures supports the contention that building height should not be as big an issue as some have made out indeed, tall structures should be welcome in principle. A much more important issue is character and quality and the need to take steps to ensure that these attributes are given adequate weight at all stages of the proposed development process. Height clearly matters, but it is likely to be of lesser concern when further away from the key structures at the heart of the World Heritage Site. It should be noted that there are circumstances in which taller buildings can have a lesser impact on areas that accommodate historic structures, at or below ground level, by occupying a smaller and more selective footprint. Environmental conditions on the site favour the re-introduction of structures that afford a degree of protection from the elements, punctuated at intervals by gaps that provide an opportunity to glimpse the river. Much publicity has been given to statements concerning a potential threat to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the Liverpool Maritime Mercantile WHS that may be posed by major new waterfront developments. MCS welcomes the once-in-a generation prospect for economic regeneration, and especially the closer re-integration of North Liverpool by permeating investment along the waterfront and canal corridors. Any such development must be judged on the key criteria of quality and character, as well as demonstrating sensitivity to the unique heritage features of the site. An ultimate test will be the degree to which such development contributes to the emergence of a new, sustainable port-cityscape that recaptures the spirit and character of Liverpool, and supports the collective memory in restoring a distinctive sense of place a place of bustle and activity that was comfortably accommodated in the presence of large structures. ENDS [1396 words] MCS Press Release 4 16 November 2011

5 NOTES FOR EDITORS [1] MCS has been in existence since 1938 to engage the people of the city region, to help to preserve and maintain key elements of the area s past, such as the Albert Dock and the Lyceum, as well as encouraging and supporting excellence in design. As a charitable organisation, the Society depends upon subscriptions and membership renewals. Those who share the concerns of the Society are encouraged to attend MCS events and to maintain awareness of, and participate in, its activities. Further information is available at including how to join ( 10 for individuals), with payment now possible online via PayPal. [2] Dr Peter Brown is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Civic Design at the University of Liverpool. He is a Chartered Town Planner. He is also Chair of Merseyside Civic Society and cochairman of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Transport Committee. [3] Trevor Skempton is an architect who was formerly City Architect of Newcastle and Head of Architecture in Birmingham. He was the consultant urban design adviser to the City Council in relation to the Liverpool One project undertaken by Grosvenor. He is a member of the MCS Council and immediate past President of the Liverpool Architectural Society. FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT Dr Peter Brown, Chair, Merseyside Civic Society pjbbrown@liv.ac.uk MCS Press Release 5 16 November 2011

6.0 Development of Amenities,

6.0 Development of Amenities, conservation of architectural heritage and other features This chapter outlines the Area's significant potential to provide for amenities of city wide and local importance