Liverpool puts forward ‘radical’ £230m Green City Deal bid

The Mayor of Liverpool has pitched the £230m bid to Boris Johnson’s new Government in a bid to boost the city’s economy through new powers and funding, including incentives for the private sector to build more energy-efficient homes.

The bid aims to make the city carbon neutral by 2030 and according to the city council could create up to 10,000 new jobs, support 35,000 people into work, and train 4,000 apprentices.

Powers proposed through the deal include:

• Establishment of a Liverpool Mutual Bank to support SMEs, particularly start-ups in the green sector, as well as supporting housing development
• Incentives for the private sector to build more energy-efficient homes, while supporting the delivery of these homes through the council’s housebuilding arm, Foundations
• Up to 3,000 homes built and 3,000 retrofitted with energy-saving features including triple glazing, smart meters, solar panels, and electric charging points
• A range of financial incentives for homeowners, such as “green” mortgages and potential council tax discounts for energy efficient homes

There are also proposals to make the £1bn Paddington Village development “an exemplar for carbon neutral commercial developments” with pilot schemes to include developing a business case for driverless vehicles to connect the site with the city centre.

The plans have been drawn up together with trade unions Unite, GMB, and TUC, as well as local employers, which have contributed towards a proposal for a clean growth vocational training hub. The bid also includes a pitch for Liverpool to be designated as a “National Centre of Creative Education”.

Talks are ongoing between the council and various Government departments and investors around the plans.

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson said: “We need to be bold, radical and ambitious if we are to meet our target of becoming a net zero carbon city by 2030.

“There are huge opportunities for us to improve the lives of all residents across the city, whatever their age or background, with better and more energy efficient housing, use of smart technology and making sure our young people have the right skills to take advantage of the jobs in these growth sectors.

“This proposed City Deal centres on positioning Liverpool as the go-to place for clean technology investment, training and job creation through an inclusive and sustainable growth strategy.

“This is the right moment for us to be working up a serious bid to Government, as the new Prime Minister will be looking closely at how best to support the country’s economy following Brexit, which he is clear will be at the end of October.

“We know the Treasury has set aside fiscal headroom to deal with the impact of leaving the EU, and we need to be ready to take advantage of this with a clear plan for our economy.

“Through targeted and long-term investments in the city’s infrastructure and skills development, we can become a global destination for inward investment focussed on the new clean growth industry.