Liverpool has been stripped of its status as a World Heritage site following a crunch vote.
UNESCO's World Heritage Committee members staged held a secret ballot earlier today and voted in favour of passing a draft recommendation that will see the city deleted from the World Heritage list after 17 years.
The decision was taken at the annual summit in China this morning after delegates were initially split on whether to delete Liverpool's status or delay a decision for another year.
READ MORE: 'A city not defined by labels' - Leaders react as Liverpool stripped of status
Delegates voted by 13 votes to five in favour of passing the recommendation to delete Liverpool from the World Heritage register.
The move comes after UNESCO's World Heritage Body made an official recommendation in June for Liverpool to be stripped of its historic status.
The city was granted the highly sought-after World Heritage Status from UNESCO in 2004.
The accolade recognises the city's history as a major trading centre during the British Empire and its architectural landmarks and places Liverpool alongside world famous attractions like the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal.
At the end of June Liverpool Council's chief executive said the authority was to ask for an extra year to convince UNESCO it should keep its famous World Heritage Status title.
Liverpool has been on the UNESCO danger list since 2012, with the heritage body increasingly concerned about the development of the city's north docks.
The main concerns revolve around Peel's £5bn Liverpool Waters development - but the now approved plans for Everton's new £500m stadium at Bramley Moore Dock have also been raised by the committee.
The city's World Heritage Site stretches along Liverpool’s waterfront from the Albert Dock, through The Pier Head and up to Stanley Dock, through the historic commercial districts and Ropewalks area to St George’s Quarter which is home to the magnificent St George’s Hall.
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, reports the Liverpool Echo.
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.
Reacting to the news, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said: "The Liverpool City Region is a place with a rich and storied past.
"We are proud of our history and do not shy away from it. But our heritage is also a vital part of our regeneration.
"Today's decision by UNESCO is a retrograde step that does not reflect the reality of what is happening on the ground.
"Indeed, this was a decision taken on the other side of the world by people who do not appear to understand the renaissance that has taken place in recent years.
"But many of the sites cited by UNESCO are in communities sorely in need or investment.
"Places like Liverpool should not be faced with the binary choice between maintaining heritage status or regenerating left behind communities - and the wealth of jobs and opportunities that come with it.
"We did not want to lose our World Heritage status, but nor could we allow it to preserve our region in aspic, while the world evolves around us.
"This is a really disappointing decision, but I am confident that our city will remain a vibrant and attractive cultural destination and - as we rebuild from the pandemic - will continue to welcome millions of people to our city and wider city region."
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce chief executive Paul Cherpeau added: "It would, of course, be better for Liverpool to retain World Heritage Status, but not at the expense of developing our city for the benefit of future generations.
"Liverpool has wonderful heritage assets and huge potential for growth; those two opportunities can co-exist in harmony and we must not try to play one off against the other. It's a shame, therefore, that Unesco has taken this decision without further investigation.
"In this wider context, the loss of World Heritage Status is a glancing blow, yet Liverpool remains steady in its pursuit of economic prosperity for the people who live and work here through the creation of jobs and opportunities to broaden our economic base."
A UK Government spokeswoman said: "We are extremely disappointed in this decision and believe Liverpool still deserves its World Heritage Status given the significant role the historic docks and the wider city have played throughout history."
