Liverpool sets up Covid-19 taskforce

Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram have written a joint letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning that the Government’s easing of lockdown restrictions comes “too early” for the region, which is working hard to curb the spread of Covid-19.

As the region’s property community draws up plans for a phased move out of lockdown, the process of making a safe return to the office is being approached with caution, according to managing directors across Manchester and Liverpool.

The Greater Manchester and Liverpool mayors said town centre regeneration plans could take a different course in the wake of the pandemic, and pressed the Government to deliver adequate funding to help the region emerge from lockdown.

The council is proposing “corrective measures” such as introducing further planning policies to protect and extend heritage sites, in an attempt to cling on to its special heritage designation, which is under threat from governing body Unesco.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, has set up an independent commission aimed at creating a vision for 17 town centres to ensure their “prosperous and sustainable long-term future”.

This year will see fresh services launched including a development map to complement news stories and branded content production for partners.

Liverpool police seized £200,000 from a property belonging to developer Elliot Lawless, who was arrested on suspicion of fraud at the end of last year and subsequently released on bail.

Developer Elliot Lawless and Nick Kavanagh, Liverpool City Council’s head of regeneration, were arrested on Wednesday “as part of an ongoing fraud investigation” and were released on bail this morning.