The Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been successful in being awarded delivery partner for the Interreg Atlantic Area project associated with developing the Maritime, Military and Industrial Heritage of the Atlantic Coast (MMIAH). The initiative is financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is designed to address the loss of identity of the coastal towns of the Atlantic Area. The project is specifically concerned with those parts of the area that are rich in their maritime, military and industrial heritage but have been neglected and in some instances, have fallen into disuse. Through a series of work programmes, the project will help all partners map these assets and establish a series of master plans aimed at assessing their potential as visitor attractions. Why Liverpool? Seen as best practice example in terms of its significant heritage value and the catalytic effect the emergence of the Albert Dock has had on the wider regeneration of Liverpool’s waterfront. It is a high profile Atlantic cultural city and has been transformed since it was designated European Capital of Culture in 2008 The city’s waterfront is iconic in that its forms part of the areas UNESCO World Heritage site and has a rich maritime past as a trading seaport. The structures and partnerships that have been created to manage the waterfront are seen by many as best practice. The City is well connected with the other districts of the city region and there are considerable opportunities to strengthen these relationships for the wider benefit of the water front and conserving its maritime and industrial heritage, whilst increasing visitor numbers. Project aims Knowledge sharing and best practice. Positioning Liverpool as an exemplar on a pan – European stage. New partnerships – domestic and international. Consolidating the LCR LEP as a knowledge leader, ambassador and facilitator of growth in VE development. Supporting tangible economic development and revitalisation of cultural assets Work programmes The project will involve the LCR LEP leading one of the 7 proposed work programmes to evidence best practice in tourism regeneration. This will be delivered through a white paper based on a review of all of the partners assets that in turn will be used as a best practice guide for future regeneration of these assets. The project will also fund three City Region projects at Tate Liverpool, Port Sunlight (Port Sunlight Village Trust) and in Southport (Sefton Council). The 7 work programmes making up the project comprise:- Work programme 0-2 – Project management & comms Work programme 3 – White paper Work programme 4 – Evolutionary Study Work programme 5 – Strategic plan Work programme 6 – Three LCR pilot initiatives Work programme 7 – Strategy for tourism promotion of the participating cities The LEP has established a LCR Interreg Stakeholder Group (ISG). Their role will determine local strategy, reviewing evidence gathered and offering advice for the MMIAH project. The ISG meets approximately four times each year and initial tasks for the ISG include mapping and identifying the industrial and maritime heritage assets of the local project areas before undertaking a full evaluation. Interreg MMIAH – project update March 2021 Commenced in July 2017, the Military, Maritime and Industrial Atlantic Heritage Project (MMIAH) is funded through the Interreg Atlantic Area ERDF programme. The project has nine city partners from the UK, Northern Ireland, France, Republic of Ireland, Spain and Portugal. The project will come to an end in June 2021. The specific objectives of the project have been focused on the recovery and rehabilitation of abandoned military or industrial heritage sites relating to the sea for tourism and the benefit of local communities, comprising 7 work programmes. WP1 and WP2 – programme management and communications Project management for the project includes administration, budget monitoring, claim management and communications. W3 update – development of a white paper The Interreg MMIAH White Paper (WP3) was completed in January 2021, prepared by Chris Blandford Associates on behalf of the partner cities. The work was commissioned by the Growth Company as part of Liverpool’s responsibility for the delivery of the White Paper (WP3). This White Paper provides a review of the project and presents a best practice guide to inform heritage regeneration within the European region and beyond for development, interpretation, and presentation of military, maritime and industrial heritage. Download White Paper. WP4 update – development of an evolutionary study The development of the Liverpool Docks evolutionary study was completed in January 2019, prepared by Chris Blandford Associates. The purpose of the evolutionary study was to provide an inventory of MMI assets that have potential heritage value and assess how they have contributed to the evolution and development of Liverpool over a specified period of time. Download Evolutionary Study. WP5 update – development of a management plan As the lead for WP5, Growth Platform were asked to provide common guidelines for the development of a director/strategic plan for the conservation and reconversion of MMI for all partners to work from. The Management plan was completed in June 2020, prepared by Chris Blandford Associates. Download Management Plan. WP6 update Under WP6, two projects were developed with Port Sunlight Village Trust and Tate Liverpool to either exploit the under developed industrial heritage offer at these locations, and support cultural interventions to recreate the heritage of that location. The two initiatives funded through the project were Tate Liverpool Exhibition, Liverpool and Port Sunlight Village, Wirral – improving local interpretation and enhancing the digital visitor experience. WP7 update The purpose of WP7 was to develop a joint strategy for tourism promotion of the participating cities. Due to COVID-19 restrictions WP7 is now focussed around the delivery of a virtual press trip. In conjunction with Plymouth, Liverpool hosted a virtual press event on 22 March 2021. For a full project update click here. For more information, please contact Peter Sandman on Peter.Sandman@liverpoollep.org A project website has been created incorporating all project partner destinations – atlanticadventurescollection.org/
