The city’s mayor, Joe Anderson, has responded to the criticism in the Guardian of dockside redevelopment plans.
The Guardian writes:
According to Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, the article on Liverpool’s world heritage status by Oliver Wainwright (Fall from grace, 1 July) was a poor portrayal of the real situation and of the city’s record.
The proposed Liverpool Waters development, by the Peel Group, is not a ‘stone’s throw’ from the Three Graces: it’s half a mile down river. The former Futurist Cinema, on Lime Street, with its ‘beautiful ceramic façade’ had been left derelict for 30 years, posed a danger to the public and needed £11m to save it with no guarantee of an end use.
Anderson said that Liverpool is extremely proud of its world heritage status and the site has never been in a better condition. Since 2012, more than £670m has been invested in historic assets on the site, with 37 listed buildings upgraded and the number of them at risk reduced by 75%. Liverpool has been praised by Historic England and the city has been chosen as a European heritage role model. We welcome UNESCO’s decision this week to investigate how the city can manage future developments on the site.
He also said that alongside this, his administration has also to address Liverpool’s employment rate, which is 10% below where it should be. We need to grow our economy to ensure future generations have quality jobs and homes to work and live in. We are working closely with all our regeneration and heritage partners to see how we can strike the right balance to achieve much needed growth. I’m confident the city’s track record, from the Albert Dock to Liverpool One and Kings Dock to Stanley Dock, proves we can achieve that.
