The chief of Liverpool Council has hit out at UNESCO after the body stripped the city of its World Heritage Status, describing the decision as "horribly wrong".
Speaking this week, chief executive Tony Reeves said Everton's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock will become a "catalyst" for change in the north of the city.
In July, Liverpool was removed from the World Heritage register after the UN heritage body said new buildings had destroyed the "outstanding universal value" of the waterfront, as the Liverpool Echo reports.
Chief amongst UNESCO's concerns were the £5bn Liverpool Waters development as well as Everton's proceeding plans for a £500m stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
The decision divided opinion in the city and beyond, with some people upset at losing such a coveted title - while many others stated that the redevelopment of the currently derelict north docks was more important than any accolade.
Work is now underway at Bramley-Moore Dock, including the infilling of the dock at the site.
This week the city council's chief executive did not hold back in giving his views on the UNESCO decision, while wholeheartedly backing the stadium plan as a game-changing development for the city.
Mr Reeves was speaking at a major event about Liverpool's next chapter, following on from the problems the authority has faced this year.
Speaking about Bramley-Moore Dock said: "When it boils down to it, UNESCO took the view that it’s better to leave a giant swathe of the city derelict, that nobody can access, until it rots and falls into the sea, in one of the poorest parts of the city, that could be a catalyst for regeneration and create thousands upon thousands of jobs and bring that part of the city back to life with what I consider to be really good urban design - I think they got that horribly wrong.
"I think it is UNESCO's loss and not Liverpool's."
Defending the council's approach to preserving the city's heritage, he added: "From 2004 up to now, the heritage offer in the city has improved significantly, we have made huge investments in heritage buildings.
"There is still a lot to do, as there always is in a city like Liverpool. Old buildings need lots of love and attention.
"Heritage is at the heart of our thinking, you don't leave the past behind as you build for the future, particularly in a city as beautiful and historic as Liverpool."
