New Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves hints at new development on Central Docks in Liverpool and LBN understands Peel Waters will reveal fresh plans this week. Tony McDonough reports
Thousands of new homes and parkland are planned for Central Docks
Property giant Peel is set to unveil the next stage of the development of Liverpool Waters this week.
On Monday new Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves delivered a speech in which she laid out her plan to “rebuild Britain”. She has met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Deputy PM Angela Rayner and agreed “urgent action” on planning reform.
In the speech she made a brief reference to Central Docks in Liverpool, part of Peel’s multi-billion pound Liverpool Waters project. And LBN understands this will be followed up this week by a new announcement from Peel Waters.
Although details of the announcement are being kept under wraps it is likely to feature a raft of new homes for the waterfront site which is close to Everton FC’s new £750m stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Peel Waters has previously revealed its ambition to build 2,350 news homes at Central Docks as well as a new public park. Heat and hot water for the homes would be supplied by Peel’s new low carbon heat network.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, is to embark on planning reform
Chris Capes, director of development at Liverpool Waters
Speaking after Ms Reeves’ speech, Liverpool Waters development director Chris Capes said: “It is great to hear that the new Chancellor of the Exchequer has Central Docks on her radar and is looking to accelerate the delivery of a highly sustainable housing community.
“The team at Peel Waters welcome any opportunity to work in partnership with the new Government to drive forward the waterfront regeneration of Liverpool’s northern docklands.”
With full planning approval for the site preparation work granted by Liverpool City Council in March 2023, the plans for Central Docks include the creation of an interconnected network of public spaces adorned with green streets and rain gardens.
New public realms and thoroughfares will cater for cars, pedestrians, and cyclists. The landscape will be enriched with the planting of hundreds of trees, with the centrepiece being Central Park, a “sprawling 2.1-hectare oasis”.
Central Park’s design will celebrate the site’s industrial heritage and coastal location, blending coastal and woodland plantations, wetlands, community gardens, and open parkland.
In her speech, Rachel Reeves added: “Today, alongside the Deputy Prime Minister, I am taking immediate action to deliver this Government’s mission to kickstart economic growth.
“And to take the urgent steps necessary to build the infrastructure that we need, including one and a half million homes over the next five years. The system needs a new signal. This is that signal.
“First, we will reform the National Planning Policy Framework, consulting on a new growth-focused approach to the planning system before the end of the month, including restoring mandatory housing targets.”
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