The city of Liverpool has been stripped of its World Heritage status after 17 years.
UNESCO's World Heritage Committee members today voted for the city's heritage site, which stretches along Liverpool's waterfront, to be deleted from the list.
The vote means that Liverpool will lose the status it has held since 2004, which saw it placed alongside world wonders like the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China, the ECHO reports.
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The World Heritage site currently runs from the Albert Dock, through the Pier Head and up to Stanley Dock.
Liverpool has been on the UNESCO danger list since 2012, with the heritage body becoming increasingly concerned about the development of the city's north docks.
The main concerns are understand to be based on construction company Peel's £5bn Liverpool Waters development.
Approved plans for Everton's new £500m stadium at Bramley Moore Dock were also raised by the UNESCO committee.
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The votes took place at the annual summit in China this morning.
Delegates voted by 13 votes to five in favour of passing the recommendation to delete Liverpool from the World Heritage register.
Liverpool's original bid for the status focused on the city as a major maritime mercantile city and reflected the city’s significance as a commercial port at the time of Britain’s greatest global influence.
The accolade is also a reflection of Liverpool’s great architectural heritage, with the Albert Dock featuring more Grade 1 listed buildings than anywhere else in the country.
Before today's decision, the city was one of just 32 World Heritage sites in the UK.
Liverpool's leaders and cultural figures have spent the last few weeks intensely lobbying for a delay to the decision, arguing that it would be unfair to make such a major decision as the city is still battling the Covid-19 pandemic.
The city council has also published a report which outlined how £700m has been invested in protecting the city's heritage.
