VOICE OF BUSINESS: CITY DEVELOPMENTS KEY TO ECONOMIC GROWTH

Members of our Property & Construction Network enjoyed an audience with Nuala Gallagher, Corporate Director, City Development at Liverpool City Council. Here are some highlights from the event.

Progress to date

The commissioners’ intervention will soon end. This follows hard work across the council and, while there is still much work to do, the city is advancing in its improvement journey. Powers over property and development decisions have now transferred to the council’s new Director of Property, which the council hopes will accelerate matters. The planned Statutory Improvement Board will continue to provide a direct, hopefully positive, relationship with the government.

Regeneration

The latest Strategic Futures Advisory Panel report made recommendations around public sector reform and regeneration. This process should provide useful links into government and investment support from divisions such as DLUHC or Homes England. The council is exploring the introduction of a locally-led urban development company, with nine key sites identified for accelerated development - all differ in their make-up, so the focus is on making long-term decisions. An investment delivery plan, created with Deloitte and Plan-It, aims to identify a pipeline of opportunities and create an overall strategy for the city centre and beyond. Development partners will typically be sought for individual projects

Procurement

Within the SFAP recommendations is a clear need for enhanced procurement practices in any future work, with social value critical. The council now has a dedicated capital projects team, which can deliver a greater overview of projects and improved contract management.

There are intelligent ways to use S.106 and other mechanisms to achieve greater social value and ESG principles, encourage investment in local skills, or develop better local facilities.

The private sector takes the lead on these matters, but the council must ask questions about how schemes will benefit the city. Chamber members can work with the council to shape its procurement processes.

Strategic working

A number of strategies are being developed across planning, transport, housing and the economy. The council intends to weave those separate threads together to create a single (slimmed-down) city growth strategic plan to focus on achieving ‘good growth’ for the long-term.

The council wants to work in partnership with landowners to unlock key sites. It intends to develop frameworks, rather than a formal masterplan, to get things moving, and there is also a keen focus on delivery. Collaborating with each of the neighbouring boroughs helps to amplify the quality of life available in the city region and encourage jobs and growth.

The council is supporting the Fabric District CIC to create Supplementary Planning Documents to enhance their own development ambitions and working alongside the University of Liverpool regarding the growth of their estate, with a focus on developing a diverse range of high quality student accommodation.

Stalled sites

It was suggested that ongoing lack of activity on stalled development sites undermines investor confidence, with appraisals reflecting a lack of value, even on smaller schemes.

The council acknowledges action is needed on stalled sites and this is progressing - it is complicated and some are subject to legal proceedings. A new role responsible for Small and Stalled Sites is being created to help smaller projects move forward by packaging them up and improving their viability.

Transport and infrastructure

The council is working with the Combined Authority on a range of issues, including how to create a modern development around Central Station. There are discussions around the physical improvement of Moorfields station and the longer-term impact of redeveloping the area. A similar conversation is taking place around the new Baltic station.

We have some excellent transport infrastructure, but a broader view is still needed to maximise opportunities, improve the approach to the city in some directions and support new developments, such as the north docks and Everton’s stadium. Improving transport infrastructure will help to catalyse more development and growth projects.

Taking the next step

A balance must be struck between an holistic, longer-term approach to change and immediate tactical moves to achieve ‘quick wins’.

There is a shared ambition for a stronger housing base across a mix of affordable, private for sale and PRS. In advance of the scheduled planning review, the council wants to hear from people with planned schemes.

The city is growing more than the national cities average, but boosting that further requires a model that gets people living and working properly. By highlighting our economic growth areas, we can also encourage people to stay, work and invest.

A number of strategies are being developed across planning, transport, housing and the economy. The council intends to weave those separate threads together to create a single (slimmed-down) city growth strategic plan to focus on achieving ‘good growth’ for the long-term.