Council set to approve South Liverpool blueprint

Liverpool City Council's cabinet is set to give the green light to a strategic regeneration framework for South Liverpool on Friday.

Covering 20 years, the plan will aim increase job opportunities, attract investment and drive regeneration as well as maximise impact of airport, port, and automotive and science industries.

The council's cabinet will be asked to officially endorse the South Liverpool International Gateway strategic regeneration framework on 26 August.

The plan will look at how the strengths of the area, including Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Port of Garston, Speke Automotive Freight Terminal and the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries can be built upon to help maximise the economic growth of the area.

The strategy aims to identify new development opportunities for the area in housing, leisure, office, nature, manufacturing, export and local enterprise.

The plan was put together by a consultancy consortium led by BDP and comprising Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Vision, North West Development Agency and the Homes & Communities Agency.

The strategy focuses on the Speke Boulevard area, extending from the Mersey Wave to Garston Docks and includes the communities of Speke, Garston, Garston under Bridge and Hunts Cross. The council said the plans will form the blueprint for regeneration in these areas.

Cllr Malcolm Kennedy, the city council's cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said: "South Liverpool has undergone significant growth over the past 15 years, with a number of major schemes transforming the area, largely as a result of successful public private partnerships. This should be celebrated, but it's vital we build on this to ensure the area continues to grow for the next 20 years.

"By bringing partners together with a shared vision, this strategy will significantly strengthen our ability to drive forward major projects, maximise the area's strengths and attract vital investment."

The South Liverpool strategic regeneration framework focuses on four key areas which have the potential to further propel the growth of the area, including:

• Visitor Economy – focusing on Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Mersey Gateway Bridge, Speke Hall and the areas green infrastructure
• Knowledge Economy – looking at the bio-pharmaceutical sector, Estuary Commerce Park, Liverpool International Business Park and Venture Point
• Liverpool SuperPort – focusing on Port of Garston and Freightliner, Liverpool John Lennon Airport and the Atlantic Gateway concept
• Low carbon economy – looking at the role Port of Garston, Freightliner, Triumph Trading Park and others can play in fostering low carbon and renewable energy sources and methods

Max Steinberg, chief executive of Liverpool Vision, added: "There has been considerable improvement in the quality of the business environment and levels of investment in South Liverpool, over the last two decades.

"The Framework provides a refreshed basis for partners to maintain the momentum of investment in the area, while complementing the Development Framework for the north of the city.

"The document also serves to communicate our aspirations for the area and will help investors, developers, service providers, stakeholders and the area's communities to maximise the opportunities the gateway offers."

The strategy was subject to extensive consultation with land owners, businesses and residents in the area to help inform how the gateway should develop over the next 20 years.

If the strategy is given the go ahead, a project board will be created, made up of a range of public and private sector partners. They will be tasked with pulling together a more detailed strategic regeneration framework delivery plan, working with the private sector and lobbying Government. The council said they will report annually to its cabinet on the progress of the plans.

The launch of the strategy for South Liverpool follows the launch in June of the 20-year North Liverpool and South Sefton strategic regeneration framework, which aims to breathe new life into North Liverpool and South Sefton.