Albert Docks, Liverpool © Arthurv
Albert Docks, Liverpool © Arthurv

Liverpool secures heritage funding

Liverpool, UK, has become one of ten European cities to take part in a pan-European initiative to promote historic city centres.

Totalling €10m across the cities, the programme ‘ROCK’ – Renewable Heritage in Creative and Knowledge Economies – will be used to promote the city’s assets and develop community engagement around its mercantile World Heritage Site.

ROCK-funded activities will include schemes to increase participation such as a citizen/youth board, volunteer programmes and social and wellbeing projects. Other aspects include new digital interpretation panels and wayfinding signage to connect the city’s key heritage assets.

The funding, which is to be to be approved by Liverpool City Council’s cabinet in February, coincides with the conclusion of a review into the previous five years of the city’s World Heritage Site. The review established that £427m (~€502m) had been invested in heritage buildings, with a further £245m on-site and in the pipeline.

Joe Anderson, mayor of Liverpool, said: “Receiving this European funding is a huge coup for Liverpool and demonstrates how highly the city is internationally regarded in the way it protects its heritage.

“This funding will allow us to invest in radically improving our marketing and interpretation of our key heritage assets to residents and visitors, which will help further fuel our global appeal and booming tourism economy.”