Liverpool City Region’s corporate plan: what you need to know

The combined authority aims to fund 120,000 sq ft of office space; 260,000 sq ft of commercial space and 70,000 sq ft of research and development space by 2024.

The plan plots a path for bringing the election manifesto of Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram to life. It outlines five key priority areas which aim to help reduce homelessness, boost economic investment, provide better broadband connection and improve transport links.

“This plan is the roadmap for a greener, stronger and more equal future for our region, with better public transport, more opportunities for local people and real action to tackle climate change,” said Rotheram. “Working together we’ll build a region with no one left behind.”

Here are some of the plan’s goals for 2024, by the numbers:

  • One new station for Merseyrail, with the hope of having more
  • 2% share in UK FDI projects, an increase from the 1.5% the region has today.
  • 15 projects per year will be secured through the Growth Platform
  • 20 hydrogen buses deployed.
  • 53 new trains
  • 212 kilometres of full-fibre gigabit-capable network infrastructure to ensure the region’s broadband is fast and reliable
  • 228 people experiencing homelessness to be housed, thanks to a to-be-developed homelessness framework
  • 2,400 new homes made possible
  • 70,000 sq ft of R&D space funded
  • 120,000 sq ft of office space funded
  • 260,000 sq ft of commercial space funded
  • £20m invested in town centre regeneration
  • £36m allocated of brownfield land funding

Other ambitions:

  • Securing more funding for the LCR freeport
  • Establishing a city region community bank
  • Publishing a spatial development strategy
  • Upgrading to a smart-ticketing system for public transit that offers contactless tickets with a daily cap

Read the full report.

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I assume the 100k office must be Pall Mall. What the 260k commercial space is I have no idea.

Much, much more needs to be done than this. I know that much. The business district can barely be called the business district these days.

By Jeff

Transport-wise it’s very disappointing with just one new Merseyrail station proposed, not sure if it’s the one in Kirkby or the Baltic.
The Mayor says he wants a London style transport system but at this pace he won’t live to see it, as far more stations need to open before Merseyrail becomes a true metro.
In addition the downtown/city centre needs a good tram network but no mention of that , or any really big ideas.

By Anonymous

Not ambitious enough………

By Hiphiphooray

With regard to the R&D element, as someone very much involved in innovation and past experience of seeking funding locally without success not just for my group but others too who we are in contact with, I would wish for a more coherent system of funding and approval for innovations. We are in contact with “visa funding” and finding more interest from outside the UK than in in our own City region. These new spaces for R&D will be welcome, but what will they entail and where? Will they include fully equipped labs and test beds, have they consulted or researched what is missing here or are they just providing benches and Bunsen burners? Most funding seems to be 50/50, but most of the people I know don’t even have 5% never mind 50%. Regarding Commercial Space, what is it and where, is it to be spread throughout the region?

By Man on a bicycle

Very sad. No real ambition. Where are the initiatives that will demonstrate a better infrastructure to support the Freeport? A rail link to Liverpool john Lennon Airport to support its growth and facilitate business as well as tourism? Connectivity to HS2? Only one new station (unnamed) in the next 3 years? Much more than 120 K Grade A office space is desperately needed to attract inward investment. Otherwise Liverpool will become reliant on tourism and students with commerce centred on Manchester

By Forward Thinker

This isn’t good enough for a big city

By Anonymous

Thought I was reading about Derby’s corporate plan…

By Jess Arnott

What about plans, or even discussions, to reopen the disused Wapping and Waterloo tunnels to reconnect them to the Merseyrail network, or the Canada Branch Dock line as a loop line….nothing.

By Old Hall Street

Dripping with under-ambition. And the really sad thing? I can’t help but feel they won’t even deliver on all this.

By Sceptical

It must be one of the following issues with the LCR: lack of money, lack of ambition or total lack of ideas? I fear it is a combination of all three, The LCR failed again by its so-called leaders, just talk and no delivery. I bet these “plans” will be part of Mayor Rotheram’s next election manifesto in a few years time?

By What's the use anymore?

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