Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) have given the green light to possibly the largest and most impressive regeneration scheme in the UK.
Speaking at the LCRCA AGM recently, Mayor Steve Rotheram shared his excitement for the new Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) which would take on responsibility for developing 174 hectares of brownfield land north of the city centre, including 5 million sq.ft. of new commercial space, 17,700 new homes, an improved public realm and greater connectivity to Liverpool Waters.
The Mayor was supported by Liverpool Council leader Liam Robinson, who repeated the messages he delivered earlier this week at a Downtown in Business event in the House of Commons.
“The North Docks stretches from the Three Graces on Liverpool’s waterfront, past Everton’s new Hill Dickinson stadium and as far as the Port of Liverpool” he informed his fellow council members.
“The area includes the Commercial District, Vauxhall, and the Pumpfields and Limekiln developments” he explained, and added “Pall Mall, where the city’s first Grade A office accommodation in fifteen years is scheduled”.
Mayor Rotheram impressed upon the Combined Authority the importance of getting this right first time, as the North Docks MDC will be the basis for all subsequent Mayoral Development Corporations across the city region.
For that reason, the Combined Authority agreed to progress with consultation on the ‘purpose, geography and powers’ of the MDC.
The proposed powers include land assembly and compulsory purchase orders, a planning function within the MDC for the purpose of development management of major developments within the geography agreed and, perhaps most importantly, ‘The MDC will directly construct buildings and infrastructure and have the relevant financial instruments to ensure sustainability and future delivery’.
The decision to involve stakeholders including the city region’s private sector and business community was warmly welcomed by Downtown in Business Group Chair and CEO, Frank McKenna.
“Any development of this scale and ambition is fully supported by ourselves and our members. We look forward to the consultation process and sharing our ideas and insights so the Mayoral Development Corporation moves forward at speed.”
