Event Summary
Liverpool City Region Development Update 2025 | Summary + gallery
Political leaders and developers discussed how they are navigating the challenges standing between them and their goals at Place North West’s annual event spotlighting the city region.
Speeding up residential development in Liverpool city centre, Southport’s uphill battle to repair its reputation and deliver a potentially transformational project, and getting back to basics as far as regeneration in Wirral is concerned were among the main topics of discussion at the event.
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As ever, the importance of collaboration and public and private sectors pulling in the same direction were spoken about as being key to overcoming the challenge of viability, caused by macro- and micro-economic headwinds.
This event was sponsored by Freeths, Muse, and Curtins.
Regeneration Brainery is Place’s charity partner.
Expert speakers
Paul Buntin, head of development, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Cllr Paula Basnett, Leader, Wirral Council
Cllr Anthony Burns, Leader, St Helens Council
Phil Porter, chief executive, Sefton Council
Steven Knowles, director of development management, Muse
James Litherland, senior development manager, Cityheart
Jonathan Falkingham, founder & creative director, Urban Splash
Gavin Currie, chief operating officer, Legacie
Hugh Frost, founder, Beetham
Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader, Liverpool City Council
Rachel Harrison, principal town planner, Pegasus Group
The event took place at Hilton Liverpool City Centre. Credit: PNW
The city region
- Liverpool City Region’s integrated settlement, which will be handed down next year, could mark a step change in the combined authority’s role as a facilitator regeneration, according to head of development Paul Buntin.
- The focus for Wirral Council is to deliver on its ambitions to transform Birkenhead town centre and learn from the mistakes highlighted in the recent regeneration review. “There are findings within that report that are going to be challenging to us, but we’re going to own it,” said Leader Cllr Paula Basnett. “We’re going to produce an action plan and we’re going to deliver.”
- Southport has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons over the last 12 months, but the council is steadfast in its vision for the town, which includes a £73m conference and events complex. Sefton Council chief executive Phil Porter said: “We recognize the challenges for Southport have been significant…but I think we are at that tipping point now where you start to see something different.”
- The rise of Reform is a worry for areas like St Helens, who have all out elections next year. The council’s Leader Cllr Anthony Burns is concerned that victory for Reform in St Helens and other boroughs could derail long-term regeneration plans. “I think it is a worry, but it’s one that we should all be geared up to fight,” he said. “The head of Reform in St Helens said ‘why are they redeveloping [the town centre] it was only done 30 years ago. It’s a waste of money.’”
- Budget asks: Muse’s Steven Knowles urged the government to take measures to ensure that the £39bn promised through the affordable housing programme flows to the right places, while Cityheart’s Litherland expressed a desire to see more pension fund investment in the UK.
Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, Halton, and Wirral were all discussed. Credit: PNW
One-to-one with Liverpool City Council Leader Cllr Liam Robinson
- Robinson gave his authority a seven-out-of-10 when it comes to how effectively it deals with the private sector, adding that significant progress has been made in recent years. “We’ve got good quality developers that weren’t looking at Liverpool for a very long time that now are actually stepping back into the space,” he said.
- The Leader added that progress on projects such as Pall Mall and Festival Gardens show that the council is having a positive impact on the city and pushing development in the right direction.
- When asked what the city centre is missing, Robinson said that meeting the pent-up demand for grade A workspace could be key to unlocking growth.
Cllr Liam Robinson said the city council has improved a lot over recent years. Credit: PNW
Festival Gardens focus
- Jonathan Falkingham gave a presentation on the vision Urban Splash and Igloo Regeneration have developed for the long-stalled waterfront site.
- The vision includes a smorgasbord of housing types and tenures to be delivered by a panel of developers.
- This approach, Falkingham said, would ensure quicker delivery, allow for greater flexibility, and offer opportunities for SME developers who might otherwise struggle to break into large schemes.
- “I think we’ve lost this model,” he said. “A lot of our housing land just goes to very large housing delivery partners, and they’re good at what they do, but they don’t do everything that’s needed.”
Urban Splash’s Jonathan Falkingham went into detail on the vision for Festival Gardens. Credit: PNW
Unlocking development in the city centre
- Some 80% of applications approved under the current local plan are not yet on site and Liverpool’s emerging local plan update could worsen existing viability challenges in the city, according to Pegasus’ Rachel Harrison.
- As well as delivering the city’s tallest building, Beetham’s Hugh Frost is keen to bring something unique to his King Edward Triangle tall building cluster, having been to see the ABBA Voyage attraction in London. “If you had something like that in Liverpool around the Beatles, that would be a game changer,” he said.
- Legacie has been the city’s most active developer for several years. Gavin Currie, the firm’s COO, wants to see evidence the city council sees what he sees. “I think the city needs to have the confidence to realize the opportunity that it does have, and I think a lot of that is mindset.”
The final panel ran the rule over the city centre. Credit: PNW
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So absolutely nothing in terms of any tangible progress then…. Robinson giving the council a 7/10 in anything is a joke. It would be interesting to for him or anyone else at the council to actually point at some work they’ve done rather than just plans, conversations and useless presentations. Hard not to feel really down on Liverpool at the moment, been a disaster of a year.
By Anonymous
Too many people in Liverpool have a village mindset and don’t think big. City feels like a mixture of Blackpool and Chester. While Manchester thinks like New York or London. Somewhere like Hamburg is where Liverpool should look to.
By Liverpool needs ambition
No actually dates for when work will start just the usual talk. The local plan is a joke and sends potential developers back to Manchester. Now we have a Labour Government they have no more excuse. 7/10 for dealing with private sector more like 1/10.
By Peter Graham
Liverpool Planning department take years to approve basic developments. Manchester approved the De Niro 78 storey development in a few months. Liverpool Labour is the reason the city is going nowhere not Tories or anyone else.
By Frank
Councillor Nick Small who is in charge of economic growth opposed Pall Mall for years. Liverpool won’t progress with people who think it’s a parish village rather than a major city.
By DT
We are 20 years behind Manchester and not much urgency to change it. Last week saw another 30 year masterplan with regard to the waterfront. The council is -10/10 when it comes to the private sector. I’m surprised no one mentioned Thatcher like they usually do.
By Tomo
That seems to of been one of the most uninspiring events you have had for giving confidence in the city .
There is hardly a crane in the sky at the moment actively constructing .
Planning department failure again . No new exciting developments revealed at the event . I know we are hanging onto King Edward site to reprieve us with some hope . Stalled sites still stalled . Littlewoods building development looking more precarious as the days go by . 80% local applications approved are not on site yet . Upcoming updated local plan could deter investment even further as if that was possible .
Liam Robinson goes on about Pall Mall the cheek of it his cabinet own appointed member for growth put paid for that development going any further with the loss of thousands of possible future jobs .
Festival gardens how long has that been going on for .
Cross Leeds Street going north you feel you’ve entered an apocalypse zombie zone of 3rd world status .
The city is becoming more filthy .
The failures continue even after the new faces coming in
A decade or more of complete failure compared to the other top 9 regional cities .
Liam Thorp who seems to be the council go to spin doctor did one the worse articles he’s produced so far and that’s saying something basically giving the impression the city is a small town compared to it’s larger neighbour as he puts it , is this what he is getting fed buy the powers to be .
Regarding skyscrapers apparently we are too windy . How’s about telling the truth it’s the council failure in stimulating an economy that can support them .
Once again the city is being let down again but it’s ok in 30 years time it will be ok we have a plan .
Honestly you couldn’t make it up , it seems no lessons have been learnt by this lot
By Anonymous
The remarks from Rachel Harrison of Pegasus, and Gavin Currie of Legacie are telling. It’s one thing for Liam Robinson to say good quality developers are talking to the Council again but what about the ongoing issues with height restrictions, very slow planning processes, and affordability.
Liverpool Planning needs a shake up, they must be the most awkward in the UK to deal with.
By Anonymous
“progress on projects such as Pall Mall and Festival Gardens show that the council is having a positive impact” was that said with a straight face?
By Abots
2025 has been another terrible year for development in Liverpool. What vision do LCC have for the city it seems hen and stag parties and hosting eurovision every 20 years is it. We are more similar to Blackpool than Manchester its so depressing.
By Mr Lee
Is there a reason it takes a week for the write up considering it looks a whole lot of nothing?
By Anonymous
Thanks for the feedback. Our write-ups always come out one week after the event and provide a summary of what was said for those who did not attend. Best wishes, Dan
By Dan Whelan
“ progress on projects such as Pall Mall” – what progress? The only change I’ve seen is that one of the hoardings has blown down and not been repaired.
By John
I think the audience very much appreciated the firm line of questioning of Cllr Robinson. He’s a good bloke but I’m not sure his officers are giving him the full picture. Keep it up, Dan!
By Anonymous
Lots to digest here, good job I am on a diet.
By Liverpolitis
I note Liam Robertson ( who overall is doing a good job ) says pall mall is a good example of the city’s change of approach to development , I can see no evidence for this claim …. In fact the opposite is true ….the stalled development is a very high profile example of poor leadership by the council…… please can Liam explain and justify his claim . I hope he has some long delayed good news ?
By George
The council recently struck a deal to deliver phase one of Pall Mall. You can read more here – https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/liverpool-to-kickstart-stalled-pall-mall-with-15m-grant-and-rent-guarantee/
By Dan Whelan
DId Hugh Frost not have any further details to divulge or is he edging his bets because of the slow moving council and its officers?
By Liverpool4Progess
Liam Robinson knows all the problems but says very little, think he was interviewed by PNW a year or so ago and he said very little then. Does he not look at the planning forum and see there’s no big applications coming through, and he may wonder what his development officers and planning officers are doing all day, or for that matter the Council CEO.
We are waiting for some schemes to progress in the Fabric District, Duke St, Baltic, King’s Dock St, but they’re all bogged down in the planning process.
Meanwhile the council seem unable to develop neighbourhoods in the same comprehensive way Manchester does, you would think they could come up with some imaginative plans for Scotland Rd, Garston, West Derby Rd near the Grafton, but there’s nothing.
By Anonymous
This website is depressing if your from liverpool and want the best for it. Manchester on the other hand is smashing it atleast we have a bit of success in the North West.
By Depressed Scouser
So a deal done on pall mall….don’t see any activity on the site ?
By George
So the leftwing Labour are telling all developers that they MUST stop Reform from gaining any political power . Wow. That is dictatorship . As usual from Labour . No doubt my comments will be banned by Place . Can’t upset the hands that feed you , can you ?
By Anonymous
7 out of 10 for dealing with the private sector? Feels like a 1 or 2 at best for an SME and with over 90% of construction employers in the city region classed as Micro businesses, that tells it’s own story. Love the big names and shun the rest and barely any of the big names have a worthwhile presence in the city.
By Val Place
Just Labour councillors doing Labour things.All heat and very little light.
By Anonymous
Labour has been in Manchester has been in power for many decades and has transformed the city over the last 30 years. The lack of development and regeneration in Liverpool is not a party political issue It’s the individuals in charge at the moment who lack vision and are inherently risk averse.
By Anonymous
We should get rid of our councillors they take to long to make a decision Manchester approve applications withinonths and get on with it, similar on Stockport but in Liverpool it’s embarrassing so far behind we need to see spades in the ground
By Anonymous
Even things that you’d think were nailed on to happen get delayed, like Baltic Station it was approved a year ago and there’s still no sign of any start even on the roadworks. Now Hemisphere is in doubt judging by recent announcements, and all the usual plans for Williamson Square, King’s Dock, Lower London Rd, just evaporate into thin air.
By Anonymous