Groundwork to manage garden festival park

The Land Trust has appointed environmental charity Groundwork Merseyside as its managing agent for the garden festival site in Liverpool following a competitive tender.

The new park is being created on the site in Otterspool where the festival took place in 1984 but has been largely neglected since. The Land Trust owns the park and Groundwork will manage it day-to-day.

Developer Langtree put plans for residential development on the brownfield part of the site to the north of the park on hold until the market returns. The park work is funded by a grant from the North West Development Agency.

Alan Carter, head of portfolio at the Land Trust, said: "Groundwork came into this process as one of the most enthusiastic contenders. They have already come up with some wonderful ideas for future uses of the site and their local network makes them perfectly positioned to involve the community at every stage…we are really looking forward to now getting stuck in and making this a site that everyone can be proud of."

Pat Broster, executive director at Groundwork Merseyside, said: "The application process gave us the opportunity to explore some progressive ideas and we are now looking forward to working with partners and engaging with the community in order to bring them to fruition."

Stephen Barnes, Langtree's development director, added: "The partners were all very impressed with Groundwork's application. Their desire to make this site an international success once more echoed our main aim and we all look forward to working with them now and in the future."

Restoration of the Festival Gardens will be completed in spring of this year.