Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has urged the government to green light the project ahead of this week's spending review
The new town would stretch across the north of Liverpool encompassing Kirkdale up towards Bootle
The new town would stretch across the north of Liverpool encompassing Kirkdale up towards Bootle
The creation of an entirely new town stretching across north Liverpool towards Bootle has “the potential to transform lives” on Merseyside according to the region’s Metro Mayor. The ECHOexclusively revealed last December how Liverpool Council put forward a submission for New Town status to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to expand the northern fringe of the city into Sefton.
The new development – to be known as Liverpool North – would span 5km from just north of Liverpool city centre, across Everton, Anfield and Kirkdale and into Bootle. The proposal would lead to the development of a number of brownfield sites and encompass key locations along the route including Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson Stadium and the £20m Bootle New Strand development project.
Ahead of the government’s spending review on Wednesday, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has urged ministers to greenlight the scheme, describing it as a “catalyst” to kickstart a wider transformation of the docklands area. New Town status is a designation given to certain areas in the UK that are undergoing significant redevelopment.
These areas are characterised by a mix of old and new housing, commercial spaces and infrastructure. The city council worked in collaboration with Sefton Council, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Homes England, and key landowners in the area to set out a 10-year vision for the area.
The goal of New Town status is to revitalise these areas. According to the city council, the 5km area earmarked for Liverpool North presents a key opportunity for urban expansion and regeneration with the potential for around 10,000 new homes.
The development would also tie into a series of other projects to be set out by the local authority including upgrades on County Road to link Goodison Park to Bramley-Moore Dock, as well as a legacy project around L4 known as the Toffee Trail to bring about a new walking and cycling route to unlock housing sites. Similar schemes are being designed alongside housing providers and Liverpool FC to bring forward housing and mixed-use development in the Anfield area, including a “Red Walk” connection.
Mr Rotheram said: “Liverpool North is one of the biggest regeneration opportunities in the country right now – bigger even than Old Trafford – and its potential to transform lives is enormous. We’re talking about 10,000 new homes, thousands of jobs, and a chance to turn round the fortunes of communities that have been held back for far too long.
“From Bootle to Kirkdale, Everton to Anfield, this is a proud part of our city region, rich in history, resilience and potential. We’ve brought local leaders, football clubs, colleges and housing providers together around a single shared vision – and we’re all raring to go.
The development tie into a series of other projects including upgrades on County Road to link Goodison Park to Bramley-Moore Dock
The development tie into a series of other projects including upgrades on County Road to link Goodison Park to Bramley-Moore Dock
“We have a real chance to work hand in hand with our government to deliver the kind of joined-up, long-term investment that changes lives. New Town status would be a real catalyst to kickstart that transformation.”
As part of the regeneration, there are also plans to invest in major improvements to public transport and active travel infrastructure. Enhancing bus, rail, and cycling connections will help better link communities across North Liverpool and South Sefton with jobs, education and leisure opportunities.
Cllr Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool Council said: “New Town status for Anfield, Bootle, Everton and Kirkdale will prove to be a real game changer and help to radically reverse decades of decline in this area. It will provide a much-needed economic boost to these communities, providing thousands of affordable homes and creating massive opportunities for employment and education.
“This is so much more than about bricks and mortar. It’s about building hope and ambition. The plans for Liverpool North will act as a major catalyst for economic revival that will be felt throughout the region.”
Cllr Marion Atkinson, leader of Sefton Council added: “This project will supercharge plans to transform Bootle and South Sefton, bringing huge improvements to the housing stock and improving links to the city centre and beyond. It’s about unlocking communities, growth and housing for the benefit of residents, businesses and the wider region.”
A formal submission for New Town status was sent to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in December. It is being considered by the New Towns taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel which will support the government in the delivery of the next generation of new towns.
The government says the taskforce has received 100 expressions of interest to build large new settlements from across every region in England.