Heritage

The proposed Liverpool Canal Link travels through the remains of the port of Liverpool , its conservation areas and past its listed buildings. Accordingly, development proposals need to have regard to the waterfront's rich maritime heritage. The importance of preserving or enhancing this built heritage and creating high standards of design in an accessible and safe environment has been recognised by national and local planning policies.

The route of the proposed canal passes through three conservation areas and affects the setting of a number of listed buildings, including the three Graces. The proposed design respects the character of the individual areas and protects the key elements within them, including important views and vistas. Where change has been required this has been handled with the advice of experts from the City Council and The Maritime Museum together with British Waterways consultants.

The alignment of the canal across the Pier Head piazza has been designed to maintain the strong linear relationship between the three Graces and the River Mersey, and reflect the setting of the conservation areas and listed buildings.

The Liverpool Canal Link will ideally provide a new focus for navigation followed by a new purpose for the waterfront area in respect of conservation and further enhancement proposals. The canal has also been designed as part of an inclusive debate with a wish to achieve the retention of historic artefacts and features as well as to introduce appropriate materials and details in support of agreed high quality design concept and plans.

The nomination for Liverpool 's waterfront to became a World Heritage Site will put the City's heritage on the world stage. The development proposals have had due regard to this and for much of its length the canal has been designed to have minimum impact on the area's heritage and historic setting. Indeed the proposals embrace the World Heritage Site's objectives of sustainable development and heritage-led regeneration to forge an identity of Liverpool of international significance and make the City Centre a more attractive place to live, work, shop and visit.