THE University of Liverpool is set to lose up to £1m a year in funding to maintain some of the city’s most iconic buildings, the Daily Post can reveal.

The annual government money is used to ensure 48 of the university’s listed sites, including the Victoria Building and the former Royal Liverpool Infirmary, are safe and their condition does not deteriorate.

But now under new plans from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) the yearly handout is set to be withdrawn.

The move follows a government directive that the higher education sector makes savings of £180m in the 2010-11 academic year.

Last night the University of Liverpool confirmed it was in consultation over the planned cuts but said it was too early to say what impact the loss of funding would have.

The allocation dates back to 1997 and was introduced in recognition of high running and maintenance costs of historic buildings.

In the University of Liverpool’s case it includes maintaining buildings including the Victoria Building on Brownlow Hill.

Constructed between 1889 and 1892, the listed premises house the Victoria Gallery and Museum as well as university staff in charge of widening participation programmes.

Others benefiting from the annual funding include the nearby former Royal Liverpool Infirmary building which dates back to the late 1880s and is now the home of the Foresight Centre – a conference facility open to the public.

Houses that surround Abercromby Square dating back to the 1830s and 1850s which are the lecture base for the faculty of arts and humanities are also maintained with help of the funding.

The University of Liverpool has been asked to highlight the buildings it maintains and any impact the funding cut may have ahead of a Hefce board meeting at the end of November when it is due to decide whether to go through with the plans.