Mayoral rethink pushes back city plan
Publication of the development plan for Liverpool city centre for the next decade, being written by Drivers Jonas Deloitte, has been postponed six months.
The ten-year strategic investment framework, commissioned by Liverpool Vision in 2011, was due to be published in the spring of this year but is now expected out in October, pending approval by Vision and the council in September.
Part of the reason for the delay is the city deal with government that was agreed as part of the mayoral election. Following his election, Cllr Joe Anderson, leader of the ruling Labour party in Liverpool and the city's first elected mayor, set up a mayoral development corporation with a £130m pot to spend on development in specific target areas and assumed control of certain Homes & Communities Agency assets. The mayoral policy shake-up has had a ripple-effect through parts of the council including Liverpool Vision, the economic development agency for the city.
Max Steinberg, chief executive of Liverpool Vision, said: "We had a tremendous response during our city centre consultations and the wider community conversations on the future direction of Liverpool, and additional time has been allowed in the project programme to ensure we give the results of the consultation proper consideration and influence. This has included additional sessions with the steering group which is providing invaluable support and input to the process. Since the work began on the strategic investment framework, the city has also elected a mayor and we need to take account of his priorities."
Steinberg continued: "The strategic investment framework is an extremely important document which will map out the continuing development of the city centre and so it is imperative that it builds upon the great success of the previous 10-year plan and matches the continuing ambition we have for Liverpool as a key destination city for visitors and investors, as well as our residents, businesses and students."
Drivers Jonas Deloitte was commissioned to produce the report along with Planit IE and Stockley, assisted by Amion Consulting and Toronto-based Urban Strategies.
The previous ten-year plan, produced in 2000 by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, helped guide investment in such projects as the new offices in St Paul's Square and the arena and convention centre at Kings Dock during the boom years.
