diff --git a/include/mapnik/make_unique.hpp b/include/mapnik/make_unique.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 08324f84d..000000000
--- a/include/mapnik/make_unique.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,42 +0,0 @@
-/*****************************************************************************
- *
- * This file is part of Mapnik (c++ mapping toolkit)
- *
- * Copyright (C) 2021 Artem Pavlenko
- *
- * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
- * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
- * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
- * version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
- *
- * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
- * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
- * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
- * Lesser General Public License for more details.
- *
- * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
- * License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
- * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
- *
- *****************************************************************************/
-
-#ifndef MAPNIK_MAKE_UNIQUE_HPP
-#define MAPNIK_MAKE_UNIQUE_HPP
-
-// http://stackoverflow.com/questions/14131454/visual-studio-2012-cplusplus-and-c-11
-#if defined(_MSC_VER) && _MSC_VER < 1800 || !defined(_MSC_VER) && __cplusplus <= 201103L
-
-#include <memory>
-
-namespace std {
-
-// C++14 backfill from http://herbsutter.com/gotw/_102/
-template<typename T, typename ...Args>
-inline std::unique_ptr<T> make_unique(Args&& ...args) {
-    return std::unique_ptr<T>(new T(std::forward<Args>(args)...));
-}
-
-}
-#endif
-
-#endif // MAPNIK_MAKE_UNIQUE_HPP
diff --git a/include/mapnik/quad_tree.hpp b/include/mapnik/quad_tree.hpp
index e0cb2d58a..86a79b9ce 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/quad_tree.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/quad_tree.hpp
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 // mapnik
 #include <mapnik/geometry/box2d.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/noncopyable.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 
 // stl
 #include <memory>
diff --git a/include/mapnik/util/file_io.hpp b/include/mapnik/util/file_io.hpp
index 8bb39f1fb..8c7a34c36 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/util/file_io.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/util/file_io.hpp
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #define MAPNIK_FILE_IO_HPP
 
 // mapnik
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/noncopyable.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/utf_conv_win.hpp>
 
diff --git a/include/mapnik/util/geometry_to_wkb.hpp b/include/mapnik/util/geometry_to_wkb.hpp
index bd52f7bd9..cb3193807 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/util/geometry_to_wkb.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/util/geometry_to_wkb.hpp
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
 
 // mapnik
 #include <mapnik/config.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/wkb.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/geometry.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/geometry/geometry_type.hpp>
diff --git a/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp
index 9ae7d755a..fad75452a 100644
--- a/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/csv/csv_datasource.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@
 #include <mapnik/util/geometry_to_ds_type.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/value/types.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/fs.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/spatial_index.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/geom_util.hpp>
 #if defined(MAPNIK_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE)
diff --git a/plugins/input/geobuf/geobuf_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/geobuf/geobuf_datasource.cpp
index 7866d099d..3dbdc93fc 100644
--- a/plugins/input/geobuf/geobuf_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/geobuf/geobuf_datasource.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
 #include <mapnik/util/geometry_to_ds_type.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/variant.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/file_io.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/geometry/boost_adapters.hpp>
 
 using mapnik::datasource;
diff --git a/plugins/input/geojson/geojson_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/geojson/geojson_datasource.cpp
index ad83befd1..62952e9ce 100644
--- a/plugins/input/geojson/geojson_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/geojson/geojson_datasource.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ MAPNIK_DISABLE_WARNING_POP
 #include <mapnik/util/variant.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/file_io.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/geometry_to_ds_type.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/geometry/boost_adapters.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/fs.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/spatial_index.hpp>
diff --git a/plugins/input/shape/shape_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/shape/shape_datasource.cpp
index 1065710eb..21a8d5867 100644
--- a/plugins/input/shape/shape_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/shape/shape_datasource.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ MAPNIK_DISABLE_WARNING_POP
 
 // mapnik
 #include <mapnik/debug.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/fs.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/global.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/utf_conv_win.hpp>
diff --git a/plugins/input/shape/shape_io.cpp b/plugins/input/shape/shape_io.cpp
index 92dfee667..4934089f8 100644
--- a/plugins/input/shape/shape_io.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/shape/shape_io.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 
 // mapnik
 #include <mapnik/debug.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/datasource.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/is_clockwise.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/geometry/correct.hpp>
diff --git a/plugins/input/topojson/topojson_datasource.cpp b/plugins/input/topojson/topojson_datasource.cpp
index c67c47d92..fd0d55cf6 100644
--- a/plugins/input/topojson/topojson_datasource.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/topojson/topojson_datasource.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@
 #include <mapnik/json/topojson_utils.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/variant.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/file_io.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 
 using mapnik::datasource;
 using mapnik::parameters;
diff --git a/src/agg/agg_renderer.cpp b/src/agg/agg_renderer.cpp
index f9956616e..e03ddcaee 100644
--- a/src/agg/agg_renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/agg_renderer.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@
 #include <mapnik/image_compositing.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/image_filter.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/image_any.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 
 #include <mapnik/warning.hpp>
 MAPNIK_DISABLE_WARNING_PUSH
diff --git a/src/agg/process_building_symbolizer.cpp b/src/agg/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
index 345bbea45..88147163d 100644
--- a/src/agg/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
  *****************************************************************************/
 
 // mapnik
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/image_any.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/feature.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/agg_renderer.hpp>
diff --git a/src/cairo/process_building_symbolizer.cpp b/src/cairo/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
index 65fdef503..b583fca99 100644
--- a/src/cairo/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/cairo/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 #if defined(HAVE_CAIRO)
 
 // mapnik
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/feature.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/symbolizer.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/proj_transform.hpp>
diff --git a/src/cairo/process_line_pattern_symbolizer.cpp b/src/cairo/process_line_pattern_symbolizer.cpp
index 07dc3c1ce..0c6971335 100644
--- a/src/cairo/process_line_pattern_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/cairo/process_line_pattern_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 #if defined(HAVE_CAIRO)
 
 // mapnik
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/feature.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/proj_transform.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/cairo/cairo_renderer.hpp>
diff --git a/src/cairo/process_raster_symbolizer.cpp b/src/cairo/process_raster_symbolizer.cpp
index f8d37b1e6..251238de6 100644
--- a/src/cairo/process_raster_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/cairo/process_raster_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 #if defined(HAVE_CAIRO)
 
 // mapnik
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/feature.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/symbolizer_enumerations.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/proj_transform.hpp>
diff --git a/src/font_engine_freetype.cpp b/src/font_engine_freetype.cpp
index 0f23f36fb..6caadd04d 100644
--- a/src/font_engine_freetype.cpp
+++ b/src/font_engine_freetype.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 #include <mapnik/text/face.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/fs.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/file_io.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 
 #include <mapnik/warning.hpp>
 MAPNIK_DISABLE_WARNING_PUSH
diff --git a/src/grid/process_building_symbolizer.cpp b/src/grid/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
index 93e39eb7b..4bb05c335 100644
--- a/src/grid/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/grid/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 #if defined(GRID_RENDERER)
 
 // mapnik
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/feature.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/grid/grid_rasterizer.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/grid/grid_renderer.hpp>
diff --git a/src/renderer_common/render_thunk_extractor.cpp b/src/renderer_common/render_thunk_extractor.cpp
index 7b96ca777..6f0924901 100644
--- a/src/renderer_common/render_thunk_extractor.cpp
+++ b/src/renderer_common/render_thunk_extractor.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 
 // mapnik
 #include <mapnik/label_collision_detector.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/renderer_common/render_markers_symbolizer.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/renderer_common/render_thunk_extractor.hpp>
 
diff --git a/src/text/text_layout.cpp b/src/text/text_layout.cpp
index e1672b1d1..2c8a42be3 100644
--- a/src/text/text_layout.cpp
+++ b/src/text/text_layout.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 #include <mapnik/symbolizer.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/text/harfbuzz_shaper.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/math.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 
 #include <mapnik/warning.hpp>
 MAPNIK_DISABLE_WARNING_PUSH
diff --git a/src/text/text_properties.cpp b/src/text/text_properties.cpp
index df3d38f91..1c9a5e9d6 100644
--- a/src/text/text_properties.cpp
+++ b/src/text/text_properties.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@
 #include <mapnik/config_error.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/text/properties_util.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/boolean.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 
 #include <mapnik/warning.hpp>
 MAPNIK_DISABLE_WARNING_PUSH
diff --git a/src/vertex_cache.cpp b/src/vertex_cache.cpp
index 12c50bb94..160ed4ad1 100644
--- a/src/vertex_cache.cpp
+++ b/src/vertex_cache.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 #include <mapnik/util/math.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/vertex_cache.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/offset_converter.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
+#include <memory>
 
 namespace mapnik
 {
diff --git a/src/webp_reader.cpp b/src/webp_reader.cpp
index 095d3b004..d09d996ba 100644
--- a/src/webp_reader.cpp
+++ b/src/webp_reader.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
  *****************************************************************************/
 
 // mapnik
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/debug.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/image_reader.hpp>
 
diff --git a/src/wkb.cpp b/src/wkb.cpp
index 9da6f7afa..6899d88a8 100644
--- a/src/wkb.cpp
+++ b/src/wkb.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
  *****************************************************************************/
 
 // mapnik
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/debug.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/global.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/wkb.hpp>
diff --git a/src/xml_tree.cpp b/src/xml_tree.cpp
index dc723de97..823d3e649 100644
--- a/src/xml_tree.cpp
+++ b/src/xml_tree.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 
 //mapnik
 #include <mapnik/debug.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/xml_tree.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/xml_attribute_cast.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/conversions.hpp>