Garden Festival housing vision out for consultation
A four-week consultation exercise opened today into the housing development proposed for the International Festival Gardens site by Liverpool City Council.
The public are being invited to give their views on a draft masterplan that aims to create a ‘cultural garden suburb’ that would also transform the site into a major visitor and cultural destination.
Previous owner Langtree gained outline planning permission until 2022 for 1,380 residential units on the 90-acre site. But the local authority, advised by K2 Architects, is considering increasing this to 3,000 units.
Liverpool City Council bought the site from Langtree, since renamed Network Space, last year.
The council said the consultation will be used to shape a future outline planning application due to be submitted in 2017.
The development of the 90-acre site will be focused on the Northern and central parts with a re-modelled waterfront.
Part of the old gardens has been refurbished with public money and reopened in 2012.
Surveys in the remaining parts of the site are being undertaken to assess ground conditions with the intention to revitalise the gardens and southern grasslands as public amenity space with opportunities for sport and recreation.
The draft masterplan also sets out to enhance connections with the surrounding community, including a safer pedestrian route through Priory Wood to St Michaels train station.
Two public consultation events will be held on:
- Wednesday 30 November, 10am to 6pm, Sefton Park Library, Aigburth Rd, L17 4JS
- Wednesday 7 December, 10am to 6pm, at Liverpool Town Hall
- For more information visit www.liverpool.gov.uk/festivalgardens
I really like this plan and wish it every success, it’s a great area to live in and a welcome addition to Liverpool.
It has the feel of a small European town or port, great
By Man on bicycle
Truly visionary stuff. lol. I think we can all put this in the ‘never going to happen’ box (still). As an aside, was the image drawn by a 5 year old using an etch-a-sketch?
By Anonymous
Having chatted to the architect, I love the idea of having landing stages built out into the river, and an inland waterway within the development – also very pleased to see so much of the presently green Otterspool site left as park and grassland. And a better approach through Priory Wood to St Michael’s is great. Rather concerned though by the large increase in the number of properties, and the many high rise buildings here.
By Carol