LIVERPOOL last night launched its battle to retain World Heritage Site status as Unesco inspectors arrived in the city.

A three-day monitoring mission starts today to assess the impact of Peel Holdings’ £5.5bn Liverpool Waters skyscraper scheme to regenerate the city’s northern docklands.

Ron van Oers and Patricia Alberth from Unesco – the body which runs World Heritage Sites – and Giancarlo Barbato, an Italian Conservation Architect from ICOMOS, the International Committee on Monuments and Statues, were due to arrive last night.

They have already been handed a 163-page dossier aimed at helping the city prove it is working hard to protect the World Heritage Site (WHS).

GALLERY: Liverpool - World Heritage Site city

The inspectors will spend the next 72 hours meeting 50 leading figures including politicians, high ranking officials, developers, Peel Holdings managers, business leaders and a handful of heritage campaigners.

During their visit the inspectors will also be shown around the WHS which includes the Pier Head, Albert Dock, Stanley Dock, Castle Street, William Brown Street, parts of the Rope Walks, and the two Cathedrals. They will also be taken to the Wirral side of the Mersey to take in the vistas across the river.

Last night Liverpool council, English Heritage, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport released a joint statement insisting the protection of the WHS was essential.

“We take our responsibility to protect World Heritage Sites very seriously and welcome the mission to Liverpool.

“Everyone involved agrees that protecting, conserving and presenting the outstanding value of the World Heritage Site to the public is essential alongside much-needed regeneration and investment in new development.

"All partners will be working together to provide a welcoming, dispassionate and balanced briefing programme for the mission.”

Last night heritage campaigner Wayne Colquhoun, who was instrumental in persuading Unesco to send its inspectors, said he was concerned because all the meetings with inspectors were being held in private.