THE status of Liverpool’s waterfront as a World Heritage site is to go under the microscope at a summit of Unesco leaders in Paris.

The agenda at the 35th World Heritage Committee, which meets for 10 days from Sunday, includes an item on “The State of conservation of the World Heritage property Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City”.

A spokesman for Unesco said the committee will make a decision on “how serious the recent developments have affected the site” and that items go on the agenda when “there are issues of concern that need to be discussed”.

Some local heritage campaigners have criticised recent developments on the waterfront, including at Mann Island, where Neptune’s three glazed black wedges have split opinion.

The spokesman added: “The state of conservation is discussed every year but only those that have serious issues will make it to the committee.”

If the 21 member states on the committee are concerned about development on the waterfront – including Peel’s Liverpool Waters plan – it could request a “monitoring mission” where inspectors visit the city to report back on whether the status should go on the “at risk” register.

Dresden in Germany lost its World Heritage status in 2009 after building a four-lane highway across the Elbe.

The state of the World Heritage site has been the subject of constant debate as the waterfront skyline has gone through a transformation.

Criticisms have been levelled by English Heritage and local pressure groups who feel the world-famous view is being undermined by developers. Liverpool council has been vociferous in its rejection of criticisms from English Heritage – which criticised the £5.5bn Liverpool Waters project.