Future of Liverpool’s waterfront under the microscope 

The city council wants to appoint an expert team to draw up a plan to maximise the economic potential of the six-mile swathe of land fronting the Mersey, from Festival Gardens in the south to Bramley-Moore Dock in the north. 

The 10 to 15-year strategic planning document will underpin future development along the waterfront, much of which is owned by Peel L&P, and knit together existing and proposed schemes. 

Next week, the city council’s cabinet will be asked to sign off the start of a search for a team to map out the future of the waterfront, which lost its UNESCO status in 2021. 

“This is an amazing opportunity and I hope the appointed team approaches the challenge with the imagination and verve befitting a world-class city,” said Cllr Nick Small, Liverpool’s cabinet member for city development. 

“Such is its dynamic offer, Liverpool’s waterfront supports a huge chunk of our visitor, retail and commercial economies, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and we need to be just as mindful of how we shape its future as we are proud of its past.” 

The waterfront strategic planning document will feed into Liverpool’s local plan and act as a guide for developers and landlords active in the area. 

At present, there are various schemes coming forward on the waterfront. These include Peel L&P’s Liverpool Waters and Everton FC’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, as well as the 1,200-home redevelopment of Festival Gardens. 

Kings Dock also forms part of the waterfront zone and plans for the next stage of its regeneration are in the works. Albert Dock, recently acquired by General Projects, and the Three Graces are among the other prominent assets that will fall under the scope of the SPD. 

The city council wants the waterfront to be Liverpool’s economic engine. Credit: via Liverpool City Council

“The Liverpool waterfront is world-famous and is one of the UK’s most iconic destinations,” Small said. “As an asset, it has few equals for its history, cultural offer and infrastructure and for its breath-taking architecture.”   

While the waterfront is a key contributor to the city’s economy, Liverpool City Council said it recognises there are issues around “inequality and deprivation” in adjoining neighbourhoods. 

Part of the role the SPD would play is ensuring development along the waterfront seeks to address these problems. 

In addition, the document would look to enhance connectivity, deliver “excellence in quality of place and urban design”, and identify key infrastructure interventions required to support regeneration. 

Small added: “The waterfront has changed dramatically in recent times, and it will continue with new developments at Festival Gardens and Bramley Moore Dock. How we ensure change continues to benefit our economy, environment and health is vital to our future success as a city.” 

Liverpool City Council’s plans to refresh its vision for the waterfront forms part of a concerted effort by its newly installed leadership to raise the bar when it comes to regeneration and placemaking, instil investor confidence, and drive up the quality and cohesiveness of development across the city. 

The authority also recently launched a search for a multidisciplinary team to draw up a residential design guide for the city, while the proposed tall buildings SPD is still going through the approvals process. There are also SPDs in place for Baltic Triangle and the commercial district. 

Everton’s stadium forms a key part of the waterfront’s future. Credit: via planning documents