Government agency Homes England agrees to invest £55m into Central Docks in Liverpool to kickstart development of a new park and 2,350 homes. Tony McDonough reports
Peel is looking to create new green space and housing at Liverpool Waters
Liverpool City Council has secured £55m investment from Government agency Homes England to help kickstart the development of Central Docks in Liverpool Waters.
On Monday last week new UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves talked about urgent action on planning reform to “rebuild Britain”. She made brief reference to Central Docks in Liverpool and how it was a key development site.
LBN revealed that news on progress on the site was “imminent” and now that has come to pass in the shape of a cash injection onto the site from Homes England.
A report to the Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday (July 16) is recommending the council enters into an agreement with Homes England to accept Brownfield Infrastructure Land (BIL) grant funding.
Property giant Peel, owner of Liverpool Waters, believes this could unlock £500m of new private sector investment. State funding for this site is subject to final approval from HM Treasury.
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.
Central Docks was also identified by the Liverpool Strategic Futures Panel, chaired by Mayor Steve Rotheram, and forms part of Liverpool’s 20-year plan for the whole of its waterfront.
Liverpool City Council has also made a similar brownfield site commitment in its draft housing strategy, currently subject to a public consultation, which supports the delivery of 2,000 new homes every year to 2030.
Peel Waters says key infrastructure within the 10.5 hectare scheme, which would comprise of utilities, thoroughfares, green spaces, and public amenities, would lay the groundwork for future investment.
This would include the development of housing and commercial ventures would also support new community, retail and leisure facilities.
With full planning approval for the site preparation work, the plans for Central Docks include the creation of an interconnected network of public spaces.
The proposed new landscape will be enriched with the planting of hundreds of trees, with the centrepiece being ‘Central Park,’ a sprawling 2.1-hectare oasis, set to become one of the city’s largest urban green spaces.
Chris Capes, director of development for Peel Waters, commented: “Central Docks will deliver thousands of new homes, alongside commercial, retail, leisure and community infrastructure and public spaces over the next 10 years.
“However, the practicalities of developing brownfield sites are always a challenge for investors and developers, and so innovation and partnerships are essential to drive forward the regeneration we all want to see.
“Investment in this critical infrastructure will help lever in at least 10 times the amount in private sector funding.”
Central Park in Liverpool Waters will cover 4.7 acres
Chris Capes, director of development at Liverpool Waters
Central Docks is close to Bramley-Moore Dock which is home to Everton FC’s new £750m stadium. Work is well advanced on that project with Everton looking to kick off the 2025/26 football season at its new home.
Leader of Liverpool City Council, Liam Robinson, added: “This new funding from Homes England will help transform one of the country’s major brownfield sites and act as a huge economic catalyst for north Liverpool.
“The Central Docks scheme has the potential to be a true flagship scheme of what can be achieved by a partnership between central and local Government and the private sector.”
And Homes England chief executive, Peter Denton, also said: “I am beyond pleased to see continued progress at Central Docks as part of the city’s clear vision to completely regenerate Liverpool Waters for the people it serves.”
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