A search is underway by Liverpool City Council for a development partner to help transform a prime waterfront location into a new residential community.
A report to Cabinet recommended that the council embarks on a competitive procurement exercise to appoint a development partner to lead on creating a new neighbourhood as part of the city’s Festival Gardens site, which was originally opened in May 1984.
The aim of the development is to significantly boost the city’s housing supply with a diverse range and mix of housing types, including affordable properties, together with local amenities, creating a thriving new community in south Liverpool, which will also be well and within 10 minutes of the city centre.
The scheme has been outlined as a flagship project in Liverpool’s draft housing strategy and plans to connect with and enhance the natural surroundings and biodiversity while providing a high standard of multi-generational living.
Remediation and enabling works were recently completed in January 2024 to enable development, and since that time a team of experts have been curating a development brief which will provide an essential framework to market the site.
If the report is given the green light, the initial phase of the procurement process will begin in October with a view to securing a partner towards the middle of next year.
The development brief will form the central part of a procurement process, seeking viable expressions of interest from developers with a proven, successful track record in delivering transformative schemes at pace, which are built on strong community engagement.
It is expected that the contract with the successful development partner will be finalised in autumn 2025 once due diligence has been undertaken.
Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Liam Robinson, said: “This is a major milestone moment in the evolution of the Festival Gardens site.”
“The appointment of a development partner will see the completion of the International Garden Festival initiative and marks the final chapter in a 40-year story of a site which originally covered 250 acres. It will also ensure that the UK’s only remaining Festival Gardens are preserved and enhanced for future generations to enjoy.”
“We know how well-loved this area is and want to make sure that we are doing as much as we can to ensure this prime waterfront land has the potential to be a flagship development that sets the standard for sustainable housing in the UK.”
The remediation process on the Festival Gardens site has been a three-year project, which began in 2021. Close to 450,000 cubic metres of soil and waste were excavated, of which over 95% was recycled including 100,000 cubic metres of earth being used to create the city’s new Southern Grasslands park which opened in August 2023.
Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, said: “This is another milestone on the journey to transforming Festival Gardens into a vibrant, inclusive community that will be cherished by generations to come. This isn’t just about building units; it’s about building desirable homes, where families can put down roots, where nature and urban living coexist in harmony, and where the community spirit that defines our region can thrive.”
“Working with the city council we have done much of the hard graft on remediating the contaminated land, and we’re now ready to work with a partner who shares our vision to turn this prime waterfront site into a beacon of sustainable living. Together, we’ll make sure that this development is something we can all be proud of.”
