North Liverpool A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010 Sefton and Liverpool Working Together 1.11.2010 [Consultation Draft]
DPP Shape Ltd The Exchange, 3 New York Street, Manchester, M1 4HN T: 0845 2641100 www.dppshape.com DPP Ltd The Exchange, 3 New York Street, Manchester, M1 4HN T: 0845 2641100 www.dppshape.com Shared Intelligence 1 Fitzroy House, London, W1T 5HE T: 020 7756 7600 www.shared intelligence.net arc4 Beehive Mill, Jersey Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6JG T: 0161 228 1689 www.arc4.com Eldonian Group Ltd Trinity House, Eldon Place, Liverpool, L3 6HE T: 0151 207 5181 www.eldoniangroup.com Keppie Massie Bulloch House,10 Rumford Place, Liverpool, L3 9BY T: 0151 236 9660 www.keppiemassie.com
Contents Foreword and Vision
05
1.0 Introduction
06
2.0 Baseline & Strategic Context
12
Fig 02 North Liverpool Regional Context 08
2.1 Policy Context
12
Fig 03 North Liverpool Strategic Context 10
2.2 Socio-Economic Context
14
Fig 04 Urban Fabric
22
2.3 Spatial Context
21
Fig 05 Green Infrastructure
24
2.4 Development Opportunities
31
Fig 06 Connections
26
Fig 07 Neighbourhoods & Districts
28
3.0 Strategic Objectives & Frameworks
32
3.1 Economy and Employment
34
3.2 People and Communities
44
3.3 Neighbourhoods & Places
52
4.0 Priorities & Transformational Projects 5.0 The Spatial Framework 6.0 District & Neighbourhood Plans – Principles and Proposals
List of Plans Fig 01 Study Area Boundary
04
Fig 08 Spatial Concept
106
Fig 09 Connections Strategy
108
Fig 10 Green Strategy
110
Fig 16 The Spatial Framework
112
Fig 11 District & Neighbourhood Boundaries
114
Fig 12 Area 01
116
Fig 13 Area 02
118
113
Fig 14 Area 03
120
64 105
Area 1. The Port
116
Fig 15 Area 04
122
Area 2. Liverpool Waters and Hinterland
118
Fig 16 Area 05
124
Area 3. Port Hinterland
120
Fig 17 Area 06
126
Area 4. Seaforth
122
Fig 18 Area 07
128
Area 5. Bootle
124
Fig 19 Area 08
130
Area 6. City Family Suburbs (Anfield and Breckfield)
126
Area 7. City Family Suburbs (Kirkdale, Vauxhall, Everton and Eldonian Village)
128
Area 8. City Fringe
130
7.0 North Liverpool: A Framework for Delivery 134
7.1 Timetable for Implementation
134
7.2 The Principles and Functions of Partnership
134
7.3 A Strategic Approach to Funding & Investment
136
7.4 Engagement and Consultation
136
Appendix A
Policy Baseline Summary Tables
140 140
4
Figure 1: Study area boundary
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
Foreword and Vision North Liverpool / South Sefton - A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010; Sefton and Liverpool Working Together. This Framework sets out a new approach to strategic regeneration, planning and place making for the area of North Liverpool and South Sefton. It makes the case for a unifying vision, an urgent focus for delivering economic growth and creating a local public-private partnership between Liverpool City Council, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, the people of North Liverpool and South Sefton, agencies and investors who can bring about positive change.
As one of Britain’s greatest cities, with hundreds of years of history, wealth creation, culture and dynamism, the question about the future role and capacity of this area has for a long time been a tough economic, social and physical conundrum. This area is unique. It has a remarkable combination of history, and genuine opportunity, driven by a defiant confidence about the future. It can demonstrate the greatest need and deprivation across all socio economic indicators and has been associated with high levels of dependency on public sector assistance over many decades. It is not however a single place it is a series of suburban, residential neighbourhoods, straddling the Liverpool and Sefton municipal boundary fronted by a mainly outdated strip of employment land running parallel to the Mersey. However, there is now a strong drive for focus on this priority area within a new age of collaboration; a desire to co-ordinate approaches to local economic development and potential investments. This Framework is also characterised by a drive to ‘localism’; Liverpool, Sefton and all stakeholders are ready to focus on this, using all the resources and tools at their disposal. Partners now need to seize an opportunity. The pattern of public - private partnerships, regeneration and renewal and central and local government relationships are in a state of flux.
5
This is both a difficult and opportune time to present to Framework. There are tremendous opportunities that must not be missed. The Framework provides the vision and starting point for local and national partners to bring forward new investment mechanisms and flexibilities to deliver our ambition. Our starting point for this Framework is a vision for a sustainable city that acknowledges the need to not just address the very real deprivation in this segment of the city region but to embrace the latent contribution its location, assets, it’s river, its people and the very land it sits on should be making to the future of the Liverpool city region and UK. To achieve our vision there is much that needs to be done to stimulate economic, social and creative investment and partnership working, but what is clear is the need for a new spatial structure reflecting new approaches to sustainable family and a metropolitan city character. What is good for North Liverpool and South Sefton is good for the city and the city region beyond. Local Partners have demonstrated a track record of delivery. Through this experience we are clear about the size of the challenge and this will require a response which is delivered over decades, but provides sufficient change to build momentum in the short term, reaches new levels of national and local co-operation, exhibits an unlimited determination to succeed, and is backed by the resources and imagination required to make it happen.
Councillor Joe Anderson
Councillor Tony Roberston
Leader of Liverpool City Council
Leader of Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
1.0 Introduction 6
North Liverpool should and could be a series of special residential neighbourhoods and business districts; 21st century sustainable residential suburbs, contained between the city core and Crosby, offering a mix of housing, new and old, large and small with neighborhood services and facilities within walking distance. This Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) document is the conclusion of a consultancy commission led by Liverpool Vision with a partnership steering group drawn from Liverpool City Council, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, North West Regional Development Agency, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Government Office North West (GONW).
and neighbourhood frameworks have been developed within changing public policy and economic conditions by DPP Shape.
In June 2009, the Liverpool City Council Scrutiny Panel concluded its focus on North Liverpool with a series of recommendations, including the need to prepare a Strategic Regeneration Framework. The Panel recognised the need for the SRF to provide a focus for North Liverpool in developing and implementing actions under themes addressing leadership and strategy, identity – sense of place, partnership working and delivery and positive interventions and best practice.
The Eldonian Group Limited have assisted the consultancy team on local issues, local partnerships and relationships and led on the stakeholder engagement day.
The brief for the consultancy commission was informed by this work and in October 2009 a consortium led by DPP Shape Ltd was appointed to take forward the preparation of the SRF, defined by the four wards of North Liverpool, (County, Kirkdale, Everton and Anfield) and the two in South Sefton (Derby and Linacre). This draft consultation report follows a baseline strategic review, presented in February 2010 and a stakeholder event undertaken on March 1st 2010. The report is the product of a dialogue with stakeholders and partners from October 2009 to June 2010 across a multi agency client and consultancy team. DPP Shape has led the consultancy team and set in place the parameters of the SRF, the overarching strategy and developed the vision, approach and focus on regeneration. The spatial, development
Shared Intelligence has led the preparation of the underlying economic analysis. Arc4 have explored the integration of the area’s housing strategy within the SRF approach.
Keppie Massie has provided strategic advice on land and property issues. The purpose of the SRF Whilst there have been numerous studies and initiatives aimed at renewal and improvement, undertaken across North Liverpool and South Sefton over the last decade, this is the first time that a wholly strategic approach to all aspects of regeneration has been tackled on such a wide geographic basis. The area covered by this SRF is over 2,500 hectares. The fundamental purpose of this SRF is to create sustainable communities and to maximise North Liverpool’s contribution to the City’s competitiveness over the next 20 years and beyond. In simple terms, the SRF is concerned with: • The establishment of a unifying aspiration, vision and partnership • What happens next in North Liverpool a forward planning tool for 2010 to 2030 • The nature and scale of development • The nature and scale of public intervention in the area’s socioeconomic activity.
• The timing and pace of change and the prioritisation of activity. • Setting a framework for more specific delivery plans and action plans at the local level The SRF is grounded in and reflects the aims and objectives of existing strategy and policy documents and combines these to provide a comprehensive framework which encompasses social, physical and economic factors together with core principles for ensuring regeneration and long term sustainability. In addition, the SRF responds to and is mindful of the SIF for the Knowledge Quarter and the SRF for International Gateway. The SRF is not a statutory document; however it will form a background document to inform the emerging Local Development Frameworks in Liverpool and Sefton and will be an important consideration in the determination of planning applications across the area. The time frame for the SRF is necessarily expansive, looking to 2030. The transformation envisaged in the physical form and socio-economic fortunes of North Liverpool cannot be achieved overnight. Experience and success elsewhere in the city and region demonstrates that. Substantial lead in times are required to establish the conditions for change and develop positive momentum. However, a significant amount can and will happen in the short term. The Framework is not starting from scratch and there is much activity already progressing. The SRF also provides the basis for short term actions leading to ‘quick wins’ essential to engender confidence early in the process.
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
7
The SRF is considered to be an ‘umbrella document’ which will provide the strategic context for more detailed delivery plans which will follow to guide change in the short term and at the local level. The SRF is intended to establish the basis on which the enthusiasm and commitment of local people, of the major funding partners, of other major public and voluntary sector agencies and crucially, of the private sector can be captured and harnessed to unlock the major investment and improvement which North Liverpool needs. As such, it must command and maintain widespread support from within and outside the city. For this reason, it will be important to build support and consensus for the North Liverpool SRF through a continuing process of engagement across neighbourhoods and communities and with a range of interested organisations. This Framework has been formulated in a time of unprecedented economic uncertainty on a global scale. The resultant changes in the national political environment and financial markets are being felt across the country and North Liverpool is no exception. This sets a very challenging context to prepare an ambitious long term regeneration strategy. The challenge for the North Liverpool SRF is to retain it’s focus on an ambitious vision for the future whilst recognising the constraints presented by the current financial uncertainties. Indeed this period of economic and political flux provides a valuable opportunity to review, re-evaluate and form strategies, plans and partnerships in preparation for future growth.
Burnley
Blackpool Preston Accrington
Blackburn
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Wrexham
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
Figure 2 : North Liverpool Regional Context
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Where is North Liverpool? Whilst this seems a very basic question, it is an important one to address. The term ‘North Liverpool’ in this SRF refers to the four wards of North Liverpool (Anfield, County, Everton and Kirkdale) and two in South Sefton (Derby and Linacre). This is a large area of almost 2,500 hectares and 84,000 people, bringing together two local authorities and a diverse range of communities and neighbourhoods. The SRF area sits directly north of Liverpool’s City Centre and contains a considerable variety of different employment conditions, residential neighbourhoods, parks and a historic infrastructure of roads, railways and canals as well as seven kilometres of waterfront. Critically, North Liverpool represents a regeneration challenge of national significance.
The answers to the future of this area do not lie entirely within its boundary but it is important to fix the boundary in a rational way and to allow the SRF approach to progress on this basis. This is not to say that in future years the area could not be expanded or revised. Indeed, over time many sub-boundaries have been created within North Liverpool - often driven by regeneration initiatives, public funding patterns or indeed political wards. The boundary for the SRF is designed to encompass these specific / local initiatives and yet be manageable enough in size to have a meaningful application at the neighbourhood level.
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North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
Figure 3 : North Liverpool Strategic Context Strategic context KEY
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Building on regeneration programmes
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A variety of social, economic and physical regeneration programmes have targeted North Liverpool, driven by a diverse range of funding priorities, goals and objectives over many years. The SRF baseline report interpreted and distilled the work done to date and provided a critical review. The many millions of pounds already committed to these programmes represent a large investment into North Liverpool. These projects have made some positive regenerative impact, but the fundamental social, economic and physical challenges remain. Population across the area has not stabilised, there are fragile neighbourhoods and continuing uncertainty regarding the economy of North Liverpool. The scale of disadvantage across the area remains amongst the most severe in England. The intervention has been characterised by a lack of integration between funding regimes, a lack of clarity about priorities and the absence of a shared vision and context within which to bring proposals forward. A key challenge for the SRF is to ensure coordination and synergy across all types of regeneration activity in order to maximise the benefit for the communities of North Liverpool.
11 The vision established by the SRF is vital as it sets a common goal for all agencies and individual to work towards. Achieving the vision depends upon action on all factors that affect the quality of life in North Liverpool – the SRF is therefore structured under three broad but inter-related Frameworks: • Economy and Employment • People and Communities • Neighbourhoods and Places Under each of these Frameworks the SRF establishes objectives, identifies actions and highlights practical considerations for delivery (section 3). It then goes on to detail a number of priority projects that are key to achieving the vision (section 4) and outlines the physical parameters that will provide the spatial framework for interventions (section 5). The SRF then distils this overarching strategy into neighbourhood and district proposals and principles that will guide more detailed work at the local level (section 6). The final section of the SRF sets out commendations for the approach to delivery.
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North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
2.0 Baseline and Strategic Context 12
The baseline stage of the SRF process involved the review of over 100 separate reports and policy statements, numerous one to one meetings and information sessions over a three month period. The stage 1 report outlined an overall baseline position and provided a strategic review and policy context overview. This section is a summary of main issues under the headings of: • Policy Context • Socio-economic Context • Spatial Context • Development Opportunities
2.1 Policy Context There are a vast array of policy and strategy documents at national, regional and local level that have informed the preparation of the SRF. The table in appendix A summarises some of the key strategy documents and highlights their key impact and influence on the SRF. Investing in the regeneration of North Liverpool is important not only for local people and businesses but also at a regional, national and international scale. The regeneration of North Liverpool accords with the principles of sustainable development that underpin planning, development and economic policy at a regional, national and indeed international level. These principles seek to focus development towards major urban areas where most opportunities exist to capitalise upon existing infrastructure and to make the most effective use of resources. The SRF also includes features of specific international significance and renown in the Mersey estuary and World Heritage Site waterfront, the Port of Liverpool, and Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs. This emphasises the need for the SRF to be outward looking in tackling the challenges and embracing opportunities for regeneration.
growth. The Atlantic Gateway Framework acknowledges the role of these cities and the opportunities to capitalise upon their asset bases along the Mersey corridor. The SRF study area is a key employment priority for the region - it contains one of the main employment areas of city, however there is a need to address the quality and characteristics of land and premises to ensure this meets the needs of the modern economy. It provides one of the key areas for housing growth in the region with significant improvements to stock proposed through housing market renewal activity and opportunities for house building on a large scale at Liverpool Waters. Addressing the opportunities and challenges across the SRF area is essential to address the commitments expressed in the Liverpool City Region Multi Area Agreement (MAA). The MAA focuses on four core platforms for change all of which are integral to the SRF:
• To create safe, sustainable, inclusive communities where people want to live
Economy: The MAA prioritises; culture and the visitor economy, Liverpool SuperPort, low carbon economy and the knowledge economy. There are opportunities to make significant contributions to each of these priority sector/projects through the regeneration of North Liverpool. For example: utilising green infrastructure, association with football and heritage assets to enhance the culture and visitor economy; strengthening links with the City Centre and the Knowledge Quarter to grow the knowledge economy; facilitating the expansion of the Port and associated development as a crucial component of the SuperPort concept.
• To create high quality environments and safeguard natural resources through making the transition to a low carbon economy based on more sustainable modes of consumption
Employment and Skills: The SRF will contribute to the core objectives of the MAA by seeking to increase the skills of the workforce, raise levels of employment and tackle deprivation.
At the regional level, Liverpool and Manchester are the recognised growth poles of the North West, provide the core of their respective city regions and are critical to the UK’s long term economic
Housing: The MAA aims to improve the quality of the housing stock, improve the private rented sector, deliver new and affordable homes, help residents to access education, training, employment,
The strategy put forward in this Framework embodies the key objectives that drive policy at a national level: • To grow the knowledge economy, increase the business base and improve skills to create a higher value more competitive economy
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
13
shopping and leisure opportunities and link local employment and training opportunities. The focus is on the delivery of aspirational housing through the Growth Point of the Liverpool Waters site and in supporting the HMR programme which is a major element of activity in North Liverpool. All of these elements are reflected in the SRF. Transport: The MAA emphasises the importance of an efficient transport network to achieving sustainable economic growth. The document highlights a number of key constraints that must be addressed. Three key areas for action are put forward: to improve access to employment areas; improve the capacity and connectivity of the network; and reduce carbon emissions and address climate change. These all have implications for North Liverpool, of particular importance are plans to address congestion associated with the port and progress the SuperPort concept; improve the capacity of Merseyrail network and condition of rolling stock; and improve transport links between deprived residential areas and employment areas. Local Development Framework Both local authorities are in the process of preparing a Local Development
Framework (LDF) to replace their former Unitary Development Plans. The LDFs will establish the statutory framework through which the physical elements of the SRF will be delivered by setting an overall vision in the Core Strategy and specific land use allocations in a supporting Development Plan Document. Although the SRF is being completed in advance of the LDF, it has been prepared in the context of the emerging policies and indeed it will provide valuable contextual information that can feed into the preparation of the LDF and in particular the supporting Development Plan Documents. Periodic review of the SRF will provide the opportunity to reflect progress on the development of Liverpool and Sefton’s respective LDFs. Changing Policy Context The policy direction of the new coalition government is already having an impact on the planning policy framework, housing targets and investment programmes. The impact of these changes is being assessed by partners on a daily basis but the key underlying message is that the socio-economic challenges of North Liverpool and South Sefton have not changed - the business case for investment in the area remains.
Liverpool has been chosen as a pilot for ‘Big Society’ which is billed as “…the first territory on which real and ultra local power is a reality”. This SRF will help to translate this policy shift in to a local reality. Whilst national policy and funding regimes are in a state of flux in response to global financial conditions, the SRF for North Liverpool must remain clear about its vision and actions and flexible with regard to how its aims and objectives are delivered.
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
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2.2 Socio-Economic Context This chapter is presented in three main sections: North Liverpool Today – this section provides an overview of the factors that have influenced how North Liverpool has evolved to current position Housing and Neighbourhoods – the first part of this section highlights some headline housing statistics and outlines key housing issues including housing market renewal. The latter part of this section addresses issues surrounding neighbourhoods including indices of multiple deprivation statistics and information regarding education and skills [need to ensure stats on depopulation appear] Economy – this provides an overview of key economic indicators such as economic output, employment, economic activity and unemployment.
People
846k 439k 1931
2001
Population change in Liverpool
Health
? 2071
MANCHESTER BRISTOL LEEDS NOTTINGHAM SHEFFIELD LONDON NEWCASTLE BIRMINGHAM LIVERPOOL
80% of the city-wide fall in population is
67.5
EVERTON
accounted for by North Liverpool
UK core cities population growth 2004-2007
78.8
LIVERPOOL
88.9
The following figures illustrate some of the headline statistics.
KENSINGTON
By 2016, there will be less than
97,000
people under the age of 19 in the City of Liverpool
Woman’s average life expectancy at birth
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
i. North Liverpool Today The story of the rise, fall and emerging renaissance of the City’s economy is well known; Liverpool was one of the wealthiest cities in the world but, similarly to other UK port cities such as Hull and Glasgow, it lost its original economic purpose and is only now beginning to re-establish its raison d’être. The scale of the economic and demographic restructuring makes Liverpool’s story unique; the City’s population has almost halved since the 1930s. The flight from the City has been on a scale comparable to that of its periods of population growth during the 19th century as its trade links flourished. Professor Michael Parkinson notes that; “From the early 1970s to the early 1990s Liverpool had gone through a series of economic, financial and political traumas. The city was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The decline of the traditional industries especially the port, led to huge job losses, heavy unemployment, and industrial militancy. The city lost half its population in forty years. It depended heavily upon public sector employment, expenditure and grants. It had an under skilled workforce...relations between the public and private sector were strained (and) ... the legacy of the riots in 1981 hung over community relations.” Make No Small Plans - the regeneration of Liverpool City Centre 1998-2008 Like a number of UK cities, Liverpool has commenced a process of economic and cultural reinvention. Professor Parkinson also asserts that:
“During the past twenty years, Liverpool has come from the depths of economic, political and fiscal crisis to be the European Capital of Culture. But it is also on a bigger journey to economic recovery. That journey has just begun. And it is not just a local story.”
Population in the North Liverpool wards continues to decline at a faster rate than that of the City as a whole. In 2001 the SRF area had a population of almost 87,000 and an estimated population of 84,000 in 2007. With the exception of Kirkdale, the North Liverpool wards saw a sharp decline in population between 2001 and 2007 (-3.4%) and almost 80% of the City-wide fall in population is accounted for by the area.
North Liverpool’s economic fortunes have been inexorably linked with those of the City as a whole. As the port grew during the early-to-mid 19th Century, the areas closer to the City Centre (Kirkdale, and parts of Everton) housed many of the low paid port workers whilst many of the wealthy merchants lived in Anfield and North Everton, which were more suburban in character.
On average, the North Liverpool wards have a slightly higher proportion of older residents than the city average (65+ years) 14.9% compared to 14.7% although this is skewed by the very high proportion of older residents in the Everton ward (16.8%). The North Liverpool wards have a higher proportion of residents aged 0-14 years (17.3%) than the City as a whole (16.3%).
Whilst North Liverpool suffers many of the same structural problems that can be observed at a citywide level, it ranks worse than the city average on many of the core indicators of deprivation and pulls down the city’s overall performance. Despite its proximity to the City Centre and areas of comparative growth and affluence, North Liverpool remains fundamentally disconnected from the growing City Centre economy. As a series of fragmented neighbourhoods, it no longer plays a key role in attracting and retaining young, economically active people and families for the City; its residents are more likely to live in poor quality housing; be unemployed or on other working age benefits and suffer from poor health. These factors make North Liverpool the most disadvantaged area of England. Of all the English Core Cities, Liverpool has faced the steepest decline in population since the 1980s – the number of residents has fallen by 15% since 1981 – and, unlike its comparators, the City’s population was still declining in 2007, albeit at a much reduced rate. The depopulation of North Liverpool is closely associated with the decline of traditional port activities and related employment since the 1970s.
15
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
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ii. Housing and Neighbourhoods
Housing
97%
NORTH LIVERPOOL
44% NATIONAL
Homes in council tax bands A or B
80% FLATS
Housing Completions 2008/2009 (North Liverpool)
39%
RSL
38%
OWNED PRIVATE RENT
23%
North Liverpool Tenure
COMPLETIONS DEMOLITIONS
232
North Liverpool NET housing losses 2002-2008
HOUSES
At the heart of the strategy for North Liverpool is the need to attract working households and families and create high quality neighbourhoods. This is about creating safe and secure environments, access to quality community services such as schools, GP’s, dentists and retailing, distinctive place making, and a green environment that residents can enjoy. In this context, new family housing is critical. The SRF area is dominated by terraced property; there is a very small proportion of semi-detached and detached property across the area which results in a very limited choice of house types. In some wards the percentage of terraced property is as high as 80% (County). On average the SRF area has higher proportion of RSL accommodation (38.7%) than the citywide average (27.3%). Furthermore, between the individual wards the proportion of RSL accommodation is more polarised; Everton for example exhibits the highest proportion of RSL housing (60.9%) with County exhibiting the lowest (21.2%). 97% of the housing in the study area is in Council tax band A or B, compared to a city-wide average of 78% and the national average of 44.5%. Kirkdale has the lowest proportion of band A/B houses in North Liverpool (90%). Long-term void property rates (i.e. properties which have been vacant for over six months) in the SRF area tend to be higher than the averages for the local authorities. The void rate for North Liverpool wards averages at 5.8% compared to 4.0% across the city. The void rate for the Sefton wards is 4.1%, significantly above the Sefton average of 2.5%. Data for the North Liverpool wards provides a split by tenure which shows that private sector voids are concentrated in Anfield and Kirkdale wards, whilst the proportion of RSL voids in Everton is four times the city-wide average. The median house prices across the SRF area have been consistently below the local authority, regional and national averages. In 2009 the median house price
in the North Liverpool wards stood at £69,500, compared to £110,000 across the city. The median price in the Sefton wards was slightly higher at £75,000, but still well below the Liverpool local authority and Sefton local authority (£140,000) average. Between 2003 and 2007 the average prices across the SRF area increased relative to the regional average, which may be linked to activity through the HMR programme. Since the wider economy has slowed down since 2007 prices have lost ground suggesting the particular vulnerability of the SRF to fluctuations in the economy. Housing Market Renewal Since 2002, the biggest initiative to focus and impact on housing and neighbourhoods across North Liverpool has been the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder ‘New Heartlands’. This major initiative covers most of the SRF area in North Liverpool and South Sefton and has led to major regeneration projects focussed on “zones of opportunity in Liverpool (Stanley Park and City Centre North) and on the Queens/Bedford and Klondyke intervention areas in Sefton. Housing strategies under the HMR programme have successfully dealt with some of the worst housing conditions and poor quality properties in North Liverpool and South Sefton. There have been some notable developments of well designed, energy efficient homes and refurbishment programmes. However, overall the range, quality and value of housing continue to be poor and further intervention and investment is required to fundamentally address the areas housing choice. The overall picture for the SRF area is that over the period 2002-9, there was a net loss of 232 dwellings (1% reduction), although this net figure conceals a growth in the City Centre and Princes Dock areas whilst there were larger losses in the main residential areas of North Liverpool and South Sefton. This matches the decline in population, when coupled with reduced household sizes. This decline must be halted and stabilised - population growth aspirations must underpin the regeneration strategy. Attitude and perception surveys have continued to
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
show a very negative image of the inner city areas with concerns about crime poor environment featuring highly. However, there are positive indications that change can be achieved, as residents within key HMR housing intervention areas have recorded more positive attitudes to the changes now underway. Changes arising from HMR and other initiatives inevitably take a long time to influence long-held perceptions and to shift deep-rooted housing market conditions. North Liverpool continues to have some of the weakest housing markets in England. Furthermore, the risk of localised market failure, especially in localities with dwellings in poor condition that have not yet had investment or engagement with a clear plan of action, remains. The strategic relationship between the economic role of the SRF area and its housing markets is at the heart of this strategy. It is the combination of increasing educational attainment, improving the prospects of young people and attracting people to new family neighbourhoods that will allow North Liverpool to begin and maintain a genuine regeneration process. Although there has been positive progress, the current position remains that North Liverpool is still in the process of developing an overall housing and neighbourhood offer that provides a sufficient diversity of housing types and quality – one that will support a range of people and families at various stages of life and income levels. The work on the SRF recognises the complex geography; the area contains strong and stable neighbourhoods such as older housing areas in parts of Sefton and Walton, more modern private developments (e.g. at Everton Brow), and the Eldonian Village with its unique history of evolution and development. There are also areas with very promising prospects as a result of current interventions and investment. The challenge is to change overall perceptions, support vulnerable neighbourhoods (and people) and at the same time attract new residents. Creating new housing markets linked to long term changes in economic role and function is fundamental.
Multiple Deprivation The English Index of Multiple Deprivation 2007 contains seven domains which relate to income deprivation, employment deprivation, health deprivation and disability, education skills and training deprivation, barriers to housing and services, living environment deprivation, and crime. Multiple deprivation is conceptualised as a weighted area level aggregation of these specific dimensions of deprivation.
combination of economic growth and inclusion lies at the heart of a ‘whole area’ approach. North Liverpool represents a strategically important opportunity of national significance to demonstrate new approaches to regeneration and service delivery in line with the ‘Total Place’ agenda. Education and skills
Whilst there have been significant improvements in educational attainment in Liverpool, in 2009 there remained a gap between its attainment and that achieved On this Index, 41% of North Liverpool local in Sefton and the rest of England. 44.3% super output areas (LSOAs) are within the of Liverpool pupils achieved five GCSE’s most deprived 1% nationally. This compares at grades A-C including English and Maths, with 19.2% for Liverpool as a whole. compared to the England average for all schools of 49.8%. In contrast, attainment Whilst North Liverpool no longer has the rates exceed the England average in most deprived LSOA in England it has Sefton (53.2%). three of the top ten. Although the number of North Liverpool LSOAs in the most The North Liverpool wards have a deprived 1% has declined marginally, it can considerably lower academic achievement be argued that the area has witnessed no at GCSE level (58.5% gaining five or more real improvement in levels of deprivation A*- C grades) when compared with the city since the previous Indices of Deprivation as a whole (65%). However, over the period were issued in 2004. 2006 to 2008 the percentage of students gaining five or more A* to C grade GCSEs North Liverpool communities are amongst the most deprived in the country and plans has increased dramatically across North Liverpool (14.2%) as a whole, outpacing to bring forward investment and change the economic fortunes of the place will take the high growth that has been seen at a citywide (9.5%) and national level (6.0%). many years. Whilst physical investment is critical, the Economy and Employment and Low levels of attainment at Key Stage 4 are often translated into low levels of Neighbourhood and Places Frameworks skills within the working age population. must be integrated with a People and Liverpool has a significant skills deficit with Communities Framework that directly addresses a complex array of social needs. 2008 figures showing that just 36.5% of the working age population is educated to NVQ The environmental degradation across level 3 or higher compared to 44.2% and North Liverpool is a highly visible symptom 47% of the regional and national populations of population loss. The retention, growth respectively. Liverpool also has a higher and mixing of populations and communities proportion of individuals with skills equivalent is the only foundation upon which genuine to NVQ level 1 or below compared to the regeneration can be built. In order to region and the country as a whole. achieve this, existing communities and the The divergence in performance of Liverpool communities of the future need a mix of and Sefton is particularly stark; the number of high quality neighbourhood services that people with either no qualifications or Level 1 address their day-to-day needs. attainment in Liverpool clearly impacts on the Access to shops, health facilities, flow of learners progressing to Level 2 recreation, cultural centres, open spaces and beyond. Poor skills levels across the and education must be improved and it is economy of the City Region clearly impact this that will provide a base for retaining the on its economic output and the level of area’s population, underpinning progress participation in the labour market. against overtly social objectives. The
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North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
18
Jobs and Work
1,700 BUSINESSES
North Liverpool
66,000 JOBS
Liverpool City Region
60% EMPLOYED
Working age population in employment in Liverpool
iii. Economy Economic output and employment profile The Liverpool City Region supported just over 666,000 jobs and generated economic output (GVA) of some £19 billion in 2008. However the City Region’s GVA per capita has lagged the North West and UK as a whole for some years, largely as a result of low levels of participation in the labour market and low skills levels within the workforce. Between 1996 and 2006, city region GVA grew by just over 58% compared with 68% for the UK as a whole and the gap in economic output grew wider. Although employment in Sefton increased significantly between 1995 and 2002, the area lost 14,000 jobs between 2002 and 2008 – a decline of over 13%. In contrast, Liverpool has demonstrated a faster rate of employment growth over this period, with the City economy growing from 190,000 jobs in 1995 to 227,300 in 2007. The decline of traditional port activities and related manufacturing activity from the 1970s has had a major impact on the City’s economy; much of the City’s manufacturing base was eroded well before the recession of the early 1990s which proved to be a watershed elsewhere. Although over 10,000 manufacturing jobs were lost between 1995 and 2008, by 1995 only 11.5% of jobs in Liverpool were in this sector, compared with over 20% for the North West as a whole. In 2008 both Liverpool (5.2%) and Sefton (6.0%) had a much lower proportion of manufacturing employment than GB as a whole (10.2%). North Liverpool has a distinctive economic profile in comparison to the rest of the City. Public administration, education and health employment forms a significantly larger part of North Liverpool’s employment compared with the city as a whole, which in turn has a significantly larger level of public sector employment than is observed nationally.
North Liverpool’s share of employment in manufacturing and construction is higher than Liverpool as a whole. This would suggest that the area will be disproportionately affected by longer employment declines in these sectors. Recent assessments of the manufacturing sector found that 84% were reporting a decline in sales and orders (compared with 73% in the service sector operating below capacity) and 43% of manufacturing companies reporting a decline in staff numbers compared to 24% in the service sector. Economic activity and unemployment In June 2009 just 60.8% of Liverpool’s working age population were in employment, in contrast with 79.3% for Sefton. There are almost 91,000 economically inactive residents in Liverpool - 32.5% of the working age population compared to a regional average of just 23.2%, with 20,100 looking for work. In contrast, the proportion of economically inactive residents in Sefton is lower at 20.7% or 33,000 economically inactive residents, with 12,700 looking for work. In August 2009 there were 78,790 benefits claimants of working age in Liverpool - of which 47% were in receipt of Employment Support Allowance or incapacity benefits (the largest group) – and 32,740 in Sefton (where 46% were in receipt of ESA/IB). The number of claimants in Liverpool had fallen from just over 89,000 at the start of the decade to just 73,000 in May 2008 but has increased again primarily as a result of the major increase in unemployment as a result of the recession. Looking more closely at Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) claimants provides a snapshot of the dynamism of the local labour market and the changes brought about by the recession. Unemployment increased dramatically in both Liverpool and Sefton between June 2008 and June 2009, before falling slightly in the first quarter of 2010. Nonetheless, in March 2010 the JSA claimant count was still 7.4% for Liverpool and 5.3% for Sefton, both above the North West average of 4.7%.
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
Unfilled vacancies held by Jobcentre Plus are indicative of broader labour market trends and present a mixed picture. In March 2010 there were 3,084 vacancies in Liverpool and 880 in Sefton; the number of vacancies in Liverpool almost doubled in the year from March 2009 but increased by just 12% in Sefton. There are 9.7 JSA claimants per vacancy in Sefton but just 6.8 in Liverpool. Efforts to connect North Liverpool to the growing economy of the City Centre have met with some success; the City Council’s ‘Shop for Jobs’ brokerage initiative recruited almost 430 Liverpool residents to jobs in Liverpool ONE and wider City Centre retail, tourism and office jobs between 2006 and 2008, but only 15% of those were from North Liverpool. This is an important but relatively small number in absolute terms and insufficient to address the deepseated worklessness in the area. Despite its proximity, North Liverpool remains comparatively disconnected from the City Centre economy. Business base In 2008 there were 11,965 businesses in Liverpool and 7,775 in Sefton (including both VAT registered and non-registered businesses, using the ONS ‘business demography’ data). However, business densities (measured here using VAT registered firms) in both Liverpool and Sefton remain low - just 70% of the regional average and 62% of the national average. To reflect the average business density Liverpool and Sefton would require an additional 9,300 new VAT registered firms to be created. Between 2006 and 2007 Liverpool’s rate of new business start ups increased at a faster rate than that of the region as a whole but on a per capita basis, new VAT registrations (at 29.4 per 10,000 working age population) still lag the regional (37.2) and national (41.6) average. Step Clever (Liverpool and Sefton’s joint Local Enterprise Growth Initiative) operates across the same six wards as the SRF. The aim of the Step Clever
programme is to increase the number of new businesses and support the growth and sustainability of local businesses. City Region Forecasts Liverpool’s City Region latest Economic Assessment in Dec 2009 confirms the downward employment and Gross Value Added (economic output) predictions for manufacturing and construction towards a more service-sector dominated economic profile. The potential for further, significant contraction of public sector employment in the light of the increasingly challenging public sector funding environment is also an important influence on the latest forecasts. Despite the recession, economic forecasts still identify significant growthopportunities for the Liverpool City Region both in terms of GVA and employment growth. GVA growth is expected to return to prerecession levels by 2012 although employment levels are unlikely to return to pre-recession levels for the next 10 years. The major employment opportunities for Liverpool City Region reflect wider growth trends, especially if the Super Port, Liverpool Waters and other major physical developments proceed. Growth in care (albeit tempered by cuts in public sector expenditure), hospitality, tourism and leisure all offer growth employment opportunities.
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North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
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North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
21
2.3 Spatial Context Understanding the Key Spatial Features The physical condition and spatial patterns of North Liverpool reflect its history of growth and decline. North Liverpool has great physical assets including historic buildings, canal and waterfront but many of these have been blighted by neglect and under investment symptomatic of employment and population loss. The residential neighbourhoods are a mix of estates, suburban layouts, Radburn design streets and older, dense terraced housing. Each community and neighbourhood has a different pattern of development and history but all suffer from a lack of a clear centre of activity. In many cases, the neighbourhoods are not large enough to have clear district centres. The symptoms and effects of population loss are a very visible sign of decline. Ensuring access to good quality social infrastructure such as shops, health facilities, recreation, and high quality educational and care establishments is essential to provide the basis for retaining and expanding the population. Breck Road, County Road and other district centres are not currently realising their potential to add to the quality of life in the area. Economic strategies and more focused neighbourhood planning (to create sustainable housing) must make the most of key physical assets such as topography, green infrastructure, canal and riverside locations and proximity to the world class City Centre. Large tracts of industrial land and commercial floor space of mixed quality and in fragmented ownerships characterise the entire port hinterland and North Shore area. Economic development has been significantly constrained by the quality of the overall environment, poor image, lack of good quality premises and out dated infrastructure. Issues relating to waste management, pollution and ground
contamination are additional factors that must be addressed to realise physical change and investment across the area. Putting administrative boundaries aside, we can acknowledge that the area is made up of discrete neighbourhoods and communities which are no different to any other large city. However the physical structure of the SRF area was created for a different age and a different set of economic conditions – it does not serve the needs of a 21st century Liverpool. The physical challenge here is to find a way for North Liverpool to adapt and reconfigure itself in ways that allow it to not only take full advantage of investment opportunities (however limited they may be in early years of the SRF), but to also create the spatial conditions for neighbourhoods to sustain their communities, for businesses to thrive and for new investment and new people to be welcomed. The SRF sets out under the three frameworks how the conditions for investment can be further created. Physical Characteristics The following plans highlight the strategic physical characteristics of North Liverpool; these should be read in conjunction with the following commentary on: • Urban Fabric • Green Structure • Connections • Neighbourhoods and Districts.
Litherland
Seaforth
Orrell Park
Norris
Bootle Town Centre
Walton Bootle Clubmoor
Kirkdale
Anfield Vauxhall
Eldonian Village Everton West Everton Kensington
Liverpool City Centre
Edge Hill & Wavertree
Figure 4 : Urban Fabric road network
key triggers
urban fabric
Majo r
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existing connections
green space
Social Infrastructure
Urban Fabric & SSSI) elt
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At theRailnorthern edge of the city (around wa Leeds Street and New Islington) the pattern of development changes abruptly. This edge is significantly frayed and deconstructed as the pattern reduces in scale, characterised by low density residential plots metres north of St George’s Hall (where the areas coloured red and blue meet). tation ys
high dens ar
ads ro
Loca lr
East/West Routes ThePrimary fabric of the city core (illustrated in orange) appears relatively compact and structured. There is a sense of edge and Tertia r centre characterised by a recognisable Railway concentric shape cut by its proximity and focus to the waters edge. reen Spc yG
Mino r
(Green B ce
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ThePrimary urban fabric of North Liverpool North/South Routes reflects hundreds of years of development and then deconstruction. The key features of the existing urban fabric areSset out here. eco n reen Sp a yG
A roa d
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own Cen dT
velopment de
Moto r
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s Green
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
University Campus
Further out are examples of late garden suburb planning and post war homes which spread north beyond Stanley Park Community Council and is shaped by boulevard-type streets such as Queens Drive (illustrated in pink). The mix of urban fabric and the impact of its effective ‘deconstruction’ present Primary Schools a challenge for regeneration - careful consideration is needed to determine how the urban structure of North Liverpool should evolve to create effective urban Secondary Schools structure which makes the best of existing assets whilst accommodating new development. Child r ’s Centres en
The city core is mostly surrounded by post war low density urban fabric comprising semi-detached plots either in early Radburn format or the later suburban, cul-de-sacs characterised by the Eldonian Village (illustrated in blue).
23 Much of the original Significant Buildings pre-war fabric which developed in tandem with the growth of the docks can be found further out in Kensington, Anfield, Everton, Kirkdale and Seaforth to the north (illustrated in District/Local Centres green). This original denser pattern of development reveals the earlier patterns of development linked to the industrial growth of the Port and the City.
Children’s Centres
G.Ps G.Ps
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One Stop Shops
Rimrose Valley Park
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
Crosby Coastal Park
Seaforth Nature Reserve
North Park
Derby Park
Walton Hall Park South Park
Anfield Cemetery
Stanley Park
Edinburgh Park
Atlantic Park
Everton Park
Newsham Park
Wavertree Botanic Park &Gardens
Toxteth Cemetery
Social Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure
& SSSI) elt
Prima r
Significant Buildings
Seco n ry Green da
District/Local Centres
ace Sp
reen Spc yG
Tertia r
University Campus
ae
West Routes
green space
reen Sp a yG
/South Routes
Figure 5 : Green Infrastructure
(Green B ce
ctions
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
Community Council
Primary Schools
Secondary Schools
’s Centres en
Child r
Children’s Centres
G.Ps G.Ps
es
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Libraries
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Leisure Centres
One Stop Shops
With heritage parks, urban parks, canalside, river frontage and extensive tracts of under used land, the study area has no shortage of open space or green infrastructure. The distribution of both the quantity and the quality of open space is highly variable across the area. What is lacking, is a coherent, accessible and consistently well managed landscape that both benefits the lives of local people and attracts investors and visitors. Poor quality and fragmented open spaces and environments exist across the area: along major road corridors, throughout business locations, around railway stations, at the interface with the City Centre, along the waterfront, in local and district centres areas and amongst residential neighbourhoods. There are few street trees across the area. Perceptions of environmental quality are low due to poor maintenance and existing of spaces which are devoid of environmental and recreational quality.
25 Clearance programmes and land assembly processes have combined to create large areas of poor quality brown field land. Management strategies and innovative approaches to temporary treatments will continue to be required. The pre development phase of any investment |brings with it challenges in neighbourhood management and this is evident across North Liverpool. There is an opportunity to implement an innovative green infrastructure programme that is both in line with the emerging Liverpool city-wide Green Infrastructure Plan and also develop a more detailed neighbourhood strategy and programme of action. For example, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal offers a unique environment along its historic route and its role for recreation, leisure and pedestrian and cycle paths could be exploited further through targeted projects at specific locations.
Lither lan d
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The Strand shopping centre
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Everton football club
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Bank Hall Station
ld fie An
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Scotla Liverpool football club
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Brec kfi el
Great Homer St
Vauxhall
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Isl The Walker Gallery St George’s Hall
Derby Square
Pier Head
Liverpool One
Lime Street Station
Metropolitan Cathedral
Albert Dock
The Arena
Anglican Cathedral
entre ty C Ci
Leeds
W
t Everton es
s an ni
Stanley Dock
d
erton Ev
oad
Boundary S
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
Figure 6 : Connections existing connections
urban fabric
green space
& SSSI) elt
own Cen dT
Primary North/South Routes
reen Sp a yG
Prima r
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(Green B ce
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low dens ar
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ry Green da
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Connections
27
There are a number of primary routes that connect North Liverpool to the City Centre and out eastwards to the regional motorway network. They run in close proximity eastDistrict/Local of theCentres docks; north to south. Routes linking west to east are limited despite the fact that the original north Liverpool community historically grew to serve University the docks and waterfront. Campus The urban pattern reveals the original but eroded network of east-west routes now hidden under cul-de-sacs, service Council suburban roads, vacantCommunity land and residential layouts. Significant Buildings
ity
Gard e n urb Sub
’s Centres en
Currently there is an unbalanced network of connections with an emphasis on Schools moving to andPrimary from the city core through north Liverpool as quickly as possible. Regent Road, Derby Road, Stanley Road and Scotland Roads are all cut through Secondary Schools North Liverpool on a north-south axis with their main purpose being to disperse traffic efficiently rather than to provide Chil r attractive dlocal routes. Vauxhall Road and Children’s Centres Great Homer Street serve as secondary, more localised connections. Rail routes also dissect the area running along a G.Ps north-south axis. G.Ps
es
There is a lack of east-west links across the area, this makes it difficult to navigate the areaLiband exacerbates perceptions of rar i Libraries parochial behaviour. Movement east-west is hindered by the need to cross busy routes running along the north-south axis (including Leisu the railway line and canal) and r e
tre Cen s
Leisure Centres
One Stop Shops
by the change in topography. The most prominent east-west links are Leeds Street/New Islington, which operates as parts of the City Centre ring road, and the A5036 at the north of the SRF area which has the key function of linking between the port and the motorway network. Between these, the first east-west cross link which is fully accessible is Boundary Street, other key east-west links are Bankfield Street, and Balliol Street in Bootle. The quality and efficiency of the transport infrastructure will have a massive impact upon the ability to achieve the vision established by the SRF. The scale of funding required to address some of the key constraints (such as the capacity of the rail network, quality of rolling stock, and condition of road) is considerable - but tackling these issues is fundamental to the overall strategy. Ensuring good accessibility to key services, in particular between employment opportunities and deprived communities is crucial to achieving sustainable economic growth. Tackling congestion is vital to ensure businesses can thrive and grow. Providing attractive alternatives to the car is essential to reduce congestion and carbon emissions. There are opportunities to improve transport infrastructure, and in particular east west links, through major schemes such as Liverpool Waters.
Savio Salesian College Parenting 2000 - Litherland Waterloo Community Centre
English Martyrs Catholic Primary Tweenie Tots 2 Playgroup St Philip’s CE Primary Litherland
Early Days Day Nursery Clifton House Day Nursery
St Wilfrid’s Catholic High
Beach Road Primary School Early Days
St Robert Bellarmine School St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Primary
Rimrose Hope CE Primary
William Gladstone Primary Springwell Park Primary
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Sand Dunes Nursery
St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary
St George of England High
London Road School Pennington Road Community Centre
Seaforth Children’s Centre
Walton Vale District Centre Orrell Library
Greenacre Nursery
Linacre Primary School May Logan Centre Chestnut Grove Parents Support Group
St Monica’s Catholic Primary
Thomas Gray Primary
All Saints Catholic Primary
Rice Lane Local Centre
Christ Church Primary
The Strand shopping centre 1st Steps
Northcote Primary Bees Knees Day Nursery
Hillside High School
Early Learners Day Nursery Pembroke Nursery
Bedford Primary
Lifestyle Alsop
The Alsop High
Leamington
Lifestyle Walton & Soccer Centre
Cambridge Nursery Walton St Mary’s C of E Primary
Wellesbourn Country Road District Centre
Queens Road Neighbourhood Centre St Francis De Sales Catholic Infant & Junior
Arnot Community Primary
Glaciere Sailing & Diving
Florence Melly Primary
Everton football club
St Matth
Kirkdale, St Lawrence C of E Primary
St John’s Catholic Primary
Kirkdale Neighbourhood Council
Pinehurst Primary
Notre Dame Catholic College Hope Valley Primary
Liverpool football club
Breckfield Community Primary
Anfield Breckside Community Council Anfield Primary
All Saints Catholic Primary
Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary
Breckfield & North Everton Neighbourhood Council
The Beacon C of E Primary Lifestyle Everton Park
Anfild Sports & Community Centre St Margret’s (Anfield) C of E Primary
Breck Road District Centre
Great Homer Street Local Centre
Tuebrook Local Centre
Vauxhall Neighbourhood Council
Stanley Dock Whitefield Community Campion Catholic High St Michael’s Catholic Primary Faith Primary West Everton Community Council
New Park Primary
Hope University Campus
C
Holy Cross Catholic Primary
St George’s Hall Derby Square
Pier Head
Liverpool One
Lime Street Station
e ntr Ce ity
The Walker Gallery
Metropolitan Cathedral
Albert Dock
The Arena
Anglican Cathedral
Phoen
St Sebastian’s Catholic Prim
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
Figure 7 : Neighbouhoods and Districts
ns
green space
Social Infrastructure
& SSSI) elt
reen Sp a yG
Prima r
h Routes
Significant Buildings
(Green B ce
Ranworth Square Primary
Seco n ry Green da
Routes
District/Local Centres
ace Sp
Community Primary
ne Primary
reen Spc yG
St Teresa’s of Lisieux Catholic Infant & Junior Tertia r
University Campus
ae
Community Council
Broad Square Primary
hew’s Catholic Primary
Primary Schools
Roscoe Infant & Junior
Secondary Schools
Lister Infant & Junior
Child r
’s Centres en
Lifestyle Peter Lloyd
Children’s Centres
St Cecilia’s Catholic Infant & Junior
St Anne’s (Stanley) C of E Primary
Libra ri
Libraries
St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary
Leisu r
e tre Cen s
mary
G.Ps
es
nix Street
G.Ps
Leisure Centres
One Stop Shops
Neighbourhoods and Districts
29
The neighbourhoods and districts in the SRF area are served by a number of retail/ service centres and by a wide range of supporting social infrastructure which is scattered across the area. The SRF area includes Bootle town centre, three district centres (Breck Road, County Road, Walton Vale), four local centres (Great Homer Street, Tuebrook, Rice Lane and Seaforth) and is located immediately north of Liverpool City Centre.
Liverpool City Council and Sefton MBC have both recently completed studies on the health of their district and local centres. The reports make recommendations about the future of the centres in terms of investment, consolidation, tackling empty premises, improving environment quality, enhancing links to adjacent uses and maximising synergies with development opportunities (such as new housing, football stadia, parks).
Liverpool City Centre has a large catchment area and dominates the provision of comparison goods and higher order services. Bootle Town Centre towards the north of the SRF area provides a range of lower order comparison retailing, services and convenience retail, but the town centre is also a very important hub for commercial offices and public transport. The Strand shopping centre is the focal point for retailing in Bootle. The various district and local centres perform a more local role, catering for everyday retail and service needs. In addition to these ‘designated centres’ there are other locations which have a concentration of similar uses (i.e. Stanley Road in Kirkdale) and many stand-alone shops/services.
A key challenge for the SRF is to ensure that the district and local centres provide a heart and focus for the surrounding communities. At present the elongated form of the centres and the dispersed pattern of social infrastructure mean that this critical mass is not achieved. This problem is exacerbated by the poor quality of the premises and public realm in many of the centres. There are proposals to address the challenges presented by these centres – the most significant being Project Jennifer which will transform Great Homer Street local centre into a new district centre with greatly enhanced facilities and services designed to catalyse the regeneration of the wider area.
A quality retail offer is an important part of a vibrant, successful and diverse neighbourhood, where people choose to live and visit. Population decline and low levels of local income have led to low quality district and local centres in the SRF area. The centres tend to be long linear centres along main roads, the retail and service uses are interspersed with vacant property and other uses which reduce their focus. The centres are generally poorly maintained and contribute to a very poor environmental quality across North Liverpool.
How the local and district centres are addressed is a crucial issue for the SRF as it will impact on the social, economic and physical form of the communities. For example by influencing transport patterns, connections across the area for pedestrians and cyclist, the quality of the environment, the places where residents, businesses and visitors interact, the urban structure and opportunities for economic development).
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
30
Urban Design Principles The following urban design principles have been established to guide future development across North Liverpool. Urban design principles and best practice in spatial planning tells us that the physical links between communities, links outwards to employment, culture and social interaction, whilst retaining local distinctiveness, are all essential characteristics for a successful and sustainable place. Whilst many plans are already well advanced for parts of the area it is nonetheless vital to articulate a strategic set of guidelines specific to North Liverpool which bridge the gap between policy and link together proposed projects. The ultimate urban form resulting from new development and renewal will be a product of detailed masterplans, investment decisions and input from consultations with existing communities and other interests. However, the SRF must help to ensure that the highest possible standards of design are met and common principles are adhered to from the outset to ensure that the new urban form will stand the test of time and ensure North Liverpool becomes a desirable place to live, work and visit.
The key urban design principles for North Liverpool are to: • Reinforce an urban structure that takes advantage of the area’s unique physical context and location • Create sustainable communities • Enhance and improve connections • Improve pedestrian, cycle and vehicular movement and key arterial routes • Appreciate and showcase heritage • Create a balanced network of high quality parks and open spaces • Reinforce the importance of the street and improve public realm • Demand high quality design; promote innovation especially with regard to achieving low carbon developments. • Foster sustainability with a walkable city.
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
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2.4 Development Opportunities This baseline section has identified the key challenges and opportunities that face North Liverpool in terms of social deprivation, housing, economy and physical fabric of the area. As discussed earlier in the document, the SRF is not starting from scratch – it must learn from successes and shortcomings of past activity, develop synergies in existing activities and capitalise on proposals that are already in the pipeline, as well as proposing new interventions where appropriate. There are a number of key development opportunities within the SRF area that have the potential to address some of the socio-economic and physical challenges that have been highlighted and catalyse further regeneration activity through instilling confidence in local communities and investors alike. These include: • Port of Liverpool • North Shore • Liverpool Waters • Project Jennifer • Football Stadia
A significant amount of work has already been undertaken to progress these proposals. The SRF has an important role to play in promoting these projects and influencing them to ensure they contribute as effectively as possible to achieving the SRF vision. Further details of these projects are set out in section three under the appropriate ‘Framework’ and in section four where priority transformation projects are identified (this section includes not only the projects listed above, but other physical and non-physical projects). There are also opportunities outside the boundary of the SRF that North Liverpool must connect with. As well as the City Centre Commerical District, there is the Knowledge Quarter, with its universities and hospitals and to the south of the City the International Gateway which is home to major private sector employers such as Jaguar and Unilever as well as the Port of Garston, another Superport facility. Closer to the SRF area are the smaller businesses located or operating within business parks and investment areas such as Approach A580 and Stonebridge Cross. Together these represent huge employment
potential that North Liverpool must link with to help deliver sustainable economic growth. In parallel to the production of this SRF, a Strategic Regeneration Framework is being prepared for International Gateway and a Strategic Investment Framework is being prepared for the Knowledge Quarter. Each of these strategies is structured differently to respond to the particular needs and focus of the subject area. However, all are bought together by a common fundamental aim to make Liverpool the best possible place to live, work, visit and do business. As the delivery of the strategies progresses it will be essential to ensure coordination is achieved between these strategies and across the Liverpool City Region more widely.
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
3.0 Strategic Objectives and Frameworks 32
The vision for the SRF is … to create a renewed sense of purpose and identity, to create a thriving place, with a sustainable economic purpose, ready for investment and development of new business, residential environments and riverside uses. It will be a community of green suburbs nestled between gardens and parks, overlooking the river, linked to the city in the south and the countryside to the north. The over arching core strategic objectives of this strategy are to: 1. Enable further investment and employment growth to accommodate economic growth sectors of the future – this will be through the provision of sites and premises, through the growth of the Port and the expansion of the low carbon economy 2. Increase the ability of local residents to access better quality employment opportunities through tailored support programmes and continued and concerted multi agency working. 3. Establish an ambitious and strategic vision for sustainable neighborhoods in which they become attractive places to live, that are supported by well functioning schools and good quality services. 4. Link business districts and housing neighborhoods through a multi – modal transport system and coherent green infrastructure network
The vision and strategic objectives will be achieved through a variety of wide ranging actions organised under three Frameworks:
its purpose. Strategies that address just single strands of regeneration cannot achieve the scale of change required here.
• Economy and Employment
The range of physical projects identified comprises, for the most part, well established proposals which are already underway but at different stages of the planning and funding process and, in some instances, stalled due to economic or other delivery constraints. How these can be implemented to meet the local economic and social objectives of this SRF is critical.
• People and Communities • Neighbourhoods and Places Each Framework has a number of more detailed objectives and a series of actions (some of which are in progress and some of which need to be developed). These are not separate Frameworks; there are direct links between all three. In particular, the Economic and Employment Framework identifies key growth areas. Without an integrated education and skills strategy as defined within the People and Communities Framework, North Liverpool will not be able to translate economic development into genuine benefits in the lives of young people. Likewise, investment in neighbourhoods and places must be linked to the economic capacity of the area and the needs of communities – both existing and those of the future. A major challenge to achieving this is to ensure effective inter-relationships between economic, social and environmental factors in North Liverpool and the wider area. It is the interaction between these aspects that will enable North Liverpool to recover its assets and
There are other programmes of intervention highlighted, which spring from more recent policy drivers, such as the low carbon agenda and the “Total Place” approach to service delivery debates. These are all equally important drivers of change for North Liverpool and this SRF sets out the case strongly for the roll out of a strategy that attends to all of these frameworks and the transformational projects within them. This is the only way wider benefits and genuine long term sustainable regeneration can be achieved. The following chapter sets out the content of the three frameworks that make up the strategy. Each framework begins with a set of objectives and moves on to identify key areas for action. These are colour coded in line with the circular diagram.
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North Liverpool : Core Strategic Frameworks addressing all aspects of regeneration
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3.1 Economy and Employment Framework The SRF has four specific objectives to further the economic regeneration of North Liverpool: Objective A Linking growth sectors to North Liverpool Objective B Raising incomes, opportunities and employment levels. Objective C Improving the competitiveness of local business. Objective D Supporting aspiration and enterprise. Each of these specific objectives is addressed in turn as follows:
Objective A: Linking growth sectors to North Liverpool A series of national Government reports and research presented towards the end of 2009 suggest that the future drivers of the UK economy will include low carbon industries, advanced manufacturing and engineering, life sciences, digital economy & creative industries and business & professional services. These are all sectors which are identified as important opportunities in the Liverpool City Region Multi Area Agreement and Economic Review. In addition to these high value growth sectors, further significant employment opportunities are identified as being driven by broader demographic change in particular through care expansion, or in hospitality, tourism and the leisure sectors. The common themes in all of these strategies include the need to: • improve generic skills to boost enterprise and innovation; • improve skills at all levels to provide individuals with skills to enter the labour market and to sustain and progress in employment; and • develop the skills which drive the growth of the knowledge economy. In the long-term the aim is to establish a base of higher value-added businesses and employment, although in the short/ medium-term efforts must focus on generating the right mix of entry level job opportunities which can be more readily accessed by residents, many of whom currently lack the skills to compete effectively in the labour market. Opportunities include: inward investment associated with the Port and Liverpool Waters, Knowledge Economy and low carbon; growth-oriented SMEs; new starts; major construction and development projects; corporate investors located in/ near the study area; and establishing better connection with the turnover of opportunities in the public sector and wider city economy.
Considering the sectors targeted at the national and regional levels, and the economic assets and potential of the study area, four particular target growth sectors are identified within the economic framework: i. visitor economy, ii. port and logistics iii. low carbon economy and iv. knowledge economy and business services The following summarises how these provide an opportunity for business growth. i. Visitor Economy Liverpool’s visitor economy has shown sustained growth in recent years, stimulated by the 2008 Capital of Culture programme. The most recent economic forecasts suggest there is potential to increase City Region visitor expenditure to £2.1 billion by 2020, creating over 14,000 new jobs. Further growth of the City’s visitor infrastructure is anticipated, with the number of hotel rooms forecast to expand by over 60% and continued growth in passenger numbers through Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The study area has a number of important assets to the visitor economy. The two football clubs are significant tourist attractions. Delivery of the re-development plans for both Liverpool and Everton football clubs will boost the visitor draw and provide supply chain opportunities. The SRF creates the opportunity to establish the infrastructure to ensure that the local economy can capture these opportunities, and to tie the redevelopment of both stadia into the wider visitor offer. Parks in the area are under utilised assets. Most obviously, Everton Park currently serves a local community function but its aspect and location, a relatively short walk from Liverpool Lime Street station, has the potential to become one of the City’s top
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tourist attractions, offering breath-taking panoramic views of the skyline across the City Centre, Waterfront and the World Heritage Site. Following the example of Gaudi’s Parc Guell in Barcelona, the installation of landmark artwork and investment in the landscaping of this space could improve the area’s appeal to visitors, provide the link between the regeneration of the City Centre and North Liverpool and contribute to the environmental and economic sustainability of its surrounding neighbourhoods. The historic buildings in North Liverpool could also be better used to contribute to the visitor economy. For example, heritage buildings could be celebrated and promoted as part of a heritage trail which provides interpretation and points of interest - the Stanley Dock complex would be an ideal landmark feature which could be linked to surrounding areas via improved pedestrian links and/or the Leeds and Liverpool canal. The study area has the potential to be part of an emerging cluster of creative industries. There are opportunities around the local interest and energy generated by
the Liverpool Biennial programme and the creative products that could help boost visitors to a number of locations. The emerging Liverpool Waters development contains a significant leisure component. It includes some 90,000 sq.m of hotel floor space (with the first phase to be developed as part of the ‘Shanghai Tower’, a further 15,000 sq.m of culture/ leisure and new cruise liner facilities. The growing cruise ship market is also highlighted as a key opportunity for the City through the SuperPort research. Together, these proposals could create up to 3,500 new jobs, a significant proportion of which are likely to come on stream in the medium term between 2015-2020 in the early phases of the Liverpool Waters development. Many of these jobs will provide entry level employment opportunities. Partners should aim to ensure these opportunities are promoted to the wider community and that early links are made with schools, training bodies and local communities promoting these sectors and occupations to increase access for local people.
ii. Port and Logistics The opportunities afforded by major development associated with Liverpool SuperPort and the Atlantic Gateway are beyond the geographical scope of North Liverpool – they will generate benefits on a regional, national and even international scale. The Atlantic Gateway Framework1 is intended to assist collaboration across the Liverpool and Manchester region to create a “low carbon, sustainable, economic growth zone” focussed along the Mersey corridor. The SuperPort physically comprises the core assets of Mersey ports (£913m GVA contribution per annum alone), Liverpool John Lennon Airport, logistics and transportation infrastructure and is a key element of the Atlantic Gateway concept. By combining and building on these assets the Liverpool SuperPort concept aims to create the most cost effective and cost efficient environment for freight cargo logistics and passenger transit in the UK.
1 (Accelerating Growth across the Manchester and Liverpool City Regions Framework for a Global Growth Opportunity)
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The development of the Port and associated road and rail freight infrastructure to facilitate its long term growth is a key feature of the SuperPort concept and a critical driver of the Atlantic Gateway Framework. Supporting the expansion of the port and encouraging investment from the renewable energy sector are core short to medium term priorities for the Strategic Regeneration Framework. The ambition for SuperPort is to create a high quality port, airport and intermodal freight facilities with the ability to create an additional 28,000 jobs across the local and regional economy, along with an additional GVA of up to £0.9bn per annum. This would build on the 34,000 jobs and £1.1bn of GVA that the existing infrastructure already supports. The Super Port proposals aim to create business and employment opportunities in the following markets: the freight market – for logistics
companies, shipping lines, freight forwarders and shippers/receivers of freight located in or serving the Liverpool City Region, with cargo origins and destinations around the world; and the passenger market – aviation, cruise and ferry services for overseas visitors to the City Region and its businesses and residents. Since the 1970s there has been a significant consolidation of port activities and a shift to the northern half of the study area with the area of redundant docks now forming part of the Liverpool Waters regeneration area. Nonetheless, the Port of Liverpool is a critical economic driver for the region and the Northwest generating some 32.3m tonnes of freight in 2007 and handling over 173,000 ferry passengers. It is the 7th largest freight facility in the UK but the fourth largest container port behind Felixstowe, Southampton and the Port of London,
handling nearly 700,000 TEU ‘s (20 foot container units) per annum. Whilst 70% of freight using the port has an origin or destination in Northern Britain, the Midlands and South East are also important markets. Recent research suggests that the Port of Liverpool is the best placed UK port to serve the Europe-North America route. Major developments including the opening up of ports on the US Eastern Seaboard and the widening of the Panama Canal (to be complete by 2014) will facilitate the use of post-panamax vessels (large container ships with a capacity of more than 10,000 TEUs on round the world services. Peel is proposing the development of a £100 million Post-Panamax facility at the Port of Liverpool with the potential to create 3,000 jobs, if land adjoining the port can be released for associated development. The new facility, capable of
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handling 500,000 TEUs a year, will almost double Liverpool’s container capacity to nearly 1,500,000 TEUs and would enable two post-panamax vessels to be handled simultaneously. Road and rail access to the Port, and the availability of land to facilitate the expansion and attract additional logistics/distribution facilities, remain significant barriers to the implementation of the proposals and are considered in subsequent sections of the SRF. Studies have estimated the scale and nature of new employment opportunities created by the proposed projects. The existing facilities provide a range of employment opportunities. It is suggested that if there is no change to the current skills base, many people would be qualified to fill the new opportunities, but there remains the likelihood of in-commuting to fill more senior level posts. The Super Port report recommends the preparation of a sector-specific skills and training strategy to ensure that current and future employment opportunities can be taken up by residents across the City Region. The Port of Liverpool is also home to the UK’s largest and most successful free zone (383 hectares), Liverpool Freeport, accommodated in more than 4 million square feet of warehousing with another 400,000 sq ft planned. However, a lack of good quality land and a lack of grade A warehousing have been identified as constraints to growth. It must be a priority for partners to ensure that North Liverpool is able to capture the benefits of port expansion and associated logistics development through supporting the availability of suitable sites and premises. The adequacy of transport infrastructure s also a potential constraint the proposed expansion of the port and the ability to attract associated logistics. The capacity of the A565, road links to the national motorway network and rail freight and passenger networks must all be addressed. It is important to balance investment to facilitate economic growth with the need to protect the amenity of
adjacent (residential) areas. As transport patterns change with the move to a low carbon economy, the role of the port will be increasingly critical both as a transport hub, energy generator and continuing source of direct and indirect employment and the pressure on transport infrastructure will change. The Port’s cruise trade has also been developed, with an increase from three sailings in 1992 to 40 in the 2009 season. It received a major boost with the official opening in late 2007, of a new cruise terminal enabling the largest ships to berth alongside Liverpool’s iconic Pier Head. It is important that the partners work together to ensure the SuperPort concept is progressed in co-ordinated fashion. The SRF will help to ensure that the socio-economic and physical impacts of the SuperPort are captured for the benefit of the immediate area. iii. Low Carbon Economy The Government has set a legally binding framework to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 80% by 2050. The Low Carbon Transition Plan sets out the Government’s approach to realising this challenging target including producing 30% of our electricity from renewable energy by 2020; extending domestic energy efficiency measures – recent research by the Audit Commission notes that around one-third of emissions are linked to the energy used to heat and power homes; investing in offshore wind and marine energy and developing the UK as a global centre for low carbon vehicles. The focus on the low carbon economy and its opportunities are set out in ‘New Industry, New Jobs’ Opportunities. North Liverpool will be influenced by: 1. The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan: national strategy for climate and energy, Department of Energy and Climate Change, July 2009 2. Lofty ambitions, the role of Councils in reducing domestic C02 emissions, October 2009.
3. Mini Stern Report: The Economic Impact of EU & UK Climate Change Legislation on Liverpool City Region (2009) The Liverpool City region ‘mini Stern report’ estimated that the cost to the area of failing to achieve CO² reduction targets could amount to approximately £200m in regulatory fines or around 1% of GVA. In turn, this could have a significant impact on up to 90,000 jobs across the aviation, shipping and maritime, land transport, manufacturing, automotive and construction industries. At the same time, the report highlights significant opportunities for the City Region across the low carbon economy, building on the potential for green energy through wind-power, biomass and waste. The ‘mini-Stern’ report forecast that there could be a further 6,000 – 15,000 environmental technology sector jobs across the City Region by 2015, with opportunities centred on: • Tidal Energy (particularly in relation to the work that Peel are undertaking on the development of a tidal barrier by 2020) • Offshore Wind and the manufacturing, maintenance and service sector opportunities for the North West arising from the Round 3 Licensing programme by the Crown Estate, also with significant opportunities for local firms and the Port of Liverpool • Other sources of renewable energy generation e.g. Energy from Waste (EfW) and biomass, with opportunities for retrofitting the existing residential stock as well as to service new residential, industrial and community facilities in future • Waste Management and Recycling and Energy Management • Development of the ‘Knowledge sector’, with the presence of significant R&D expertise through the National Oceanography Centre/Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory and the City’s two Universities.
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There are significant opportunities to ensure that the low carbon economy is fully integrated into the long-term regeneration plans for the area. Indeed, the area offers a real opportunity to address the low carbon challenge ‘at scale’. Low carbon activities, although driven by the economic imperative, also cut across all three frameworks (Economy and Employment, People and Communities and Neighbourhoods and Places) as they impact on all aspects of life Low carbon transformation is identified in section 4 as a priority project and a range of potential projects are highlighted, including:
50%. The Knowledge Quarter helps create a concentration of knowledge intensive activity that adds £1bn to the Liverpool economy and supports 14,000 jobs.
• 8% through increased take-up of micro generation
• Develop skills in the local labour market
• % through the development of new zero-carbon homes
• Attract businesses engaged in the low carbon agenda
• % through changing the behaviour of energy consumers
• Development of a Low Carbon Business Hub
Businesses, schools and community organisations in the area should also be supported to develop existing links with the universities. Where links exist, real benefits have been achieved in terms of raised aspirations and access to academic expertise.
The Commission has outlined the core activities which can be undertaken to improve energy efficiency and generate renewable energy at both the household and neighbourhood level. There are clear and well established benefits to carrying out some basic energy efficiency improvements which are relatively low-tech. The Sustainable Community Strategy states that Liverpool should respond to the national climate change objectives by achieving a minimum 35% reduction in its own emissions by tacking fuel poverty, creating more energy efficient homes and adapting to climate change.
• The creation of public/private partnerships to directly generate and supply sustainable electricity and heat.
The housing stock is a critical target in terms of reducing the city’s carbon footprint through the retro-fitting of energy efficiency measures. The Northwest Development Agency’s “Climate Change Action Plan for the Northwest” stresses the need to reduce carbon emissions and address fuel poverty in the existing housing stock. The Audit Commission review of the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan identifies that domestic emission reduction targets will be achieved by: • 7% through improvements to home insulation (to 2020) • % though use of more energy-efficient appliances
In addition feed in tariffs provides an opportunity and incentive for communities to work collectively to benefit from localized renewable energy generation. There exists a strong opportunity for the public sector and third sector community organisations to take advantage of the changing energy environment as a means of creating low carbon communities, generating income through new renewable energy micro generation sources, benefiting from job opportunities in the renewable and energy efficiency sectors and future proofing the local economy.
• Linking to the knowledge economy
• Generating demand in the public sector for low carbon products and services (through public regulation and procurement). Ensuring the strong leadership and direction is critical to promote a coherent programme. The two local authorities are well placed to lead this and create the conditions under which a low carbon economy can develop. However, this agenda can only succeed through effective partnership working with key stakeholders such as RSLs, private sector and the voluntary sector. iv) Knowledge Economy and Business Services Sectors The Liverpool City region has a major asset in the higher education sector and the associate spin out activities that inform the overall Knowledge Economy. The three universities in Liverpool currently educate 53,000 students and have increased the level of graduate retention in the Liverpool City Region from 40% to
The close proximity of the overall ‘knowledge sector’, particularly the universities to the south of the study area and the Knowledge Quarter offer potential in the short term to increase levels of local employment, better HE and community links and routes for exploring the ‘widening participation’ agenda. Longer term ambitions should focus on the increasing links between local education performance and the creation of pathways through to higher education.
In addition, there is a key opportunity to improve linkages to employment opportunities in the City Centre. The City’s Commercial Business District is in proximity to the area and will be extended northwards through the proposed development of Liverpool Waters. Almost 300,000 sq. m. of office floor space is proposed as part of the Liverpool Waters development; whilst this is likely to be developed over a 20-30 year timeframe, the scheme has the potential to create around 25,000 jobs in the long term. The scheme would transform the business base of the area and generate significant opportunities for local residents and businesses through direct employment, supply chains and construction employment. There are also opportunities to improve connections with the City’s hospitals. The healthcare sector is a major employer in Liverpool and jobs opportunities are created at levels of the skills spectrum. Fostering closer links with the Royal and Aintree Hospital’s in particular should help provide local residents new pathways into employment and offer structured career progression.
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Objective B: Raising incomes, opportunities and employment levels Connecting local residents to opportunity is critical to tackling the social deprivation that blights North Liverpool, enabling residents to transform their lives. The task is twofold, raising aspirations and desire to improve skills and enter/re-enter the workforce, whilst providing suitable opportunities for residents to gain the necessary skills and training. People who are both recently disengaged from the labour market and the long-term workless are key target groups. The ultimate task is to support residents to find a job and provide support in career progression. Both Local Authorities and Partners have significant experience in delivery of initiatives which aim to engage with local residents and provide support to take advantage of training and employment opportunities. For example; • Liverpool Jobs, Education and Training (JET) Service provides a range of free services to both residents and businesses in the City, engaging with hard to reach groups, assisting residents to identify appropriate training and employment opportunities and employers to find the right staff with the right skills. Local JET offices are located within some of the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods of Liverpool with particularly high levels of unemployment. • “Sefton@Work’s” Employer Liaison Team integrated with the customer advisor service provides free information, advice and guidance to local residents on the range of employment and training opportunities including the Routeway Programme which provides training support to enhance access to and retention in the labour market. • The ‘Shop for Jobs’ initiative was developed in light of the increasing volume of opportunities being afforded by the regeneration of Liverpool to assist City Centre employers recruit staff from the local population, particularly those at a disadvantage, by training and
building up the capacity of workless residents in the City. ‘Shop for Jobs’ brought Liverpool City Council and its public sector partners, including Jobcentre Plus and Connexions, together under one umbrella, accessing the full range of products, services and funding on offer to employers and residents. The ‘Shop for Jobs’ team was located in a shop front in the City Centre, an ideal location for the ‘passing trade’ of residents out shopping. • Sefton has its own ‘shop for jobs’ approach with recent successes such as the Asda and Tesco targeted recruitments with 500+ jobs filled and 50% local residents into employment. Set in the wider context of the proposed devolution of strategic and funding powers and responsibilities for employment and skills to the City Region, there is potential to strengthen the local labour and procurement clauses to be built into major development projects through more effective use of section 106 agreements and other contractual commitments. There are examples of good practice and successful approaches which can inform future proposals for activity. The two local authorities and their partners could do more together on this issue. They should pool resources and expertise to market vacancies arising from the regeneration and development of North Liverpool and South Sefton based on the effective Shop for Jobs model previously used in Liverpool City Centre. Significant effort should be devoted to the early engagement of developers, employers and individuals. There is an opportunity for long term investment and development proposals, such as Liverpool Waters, to be linked into the educational system of North Liverpool to raise awareness and develop skills among young people so they are able to take advantage of future training and employment opportunities in the area. Without these measures the opportunities to embed the benefits of investment are likely to be wasted.
A key initiative currently under development is the ‘Construction Liverpool’ scheme. This will be an important tool for engaging with the private sector as it will formalise the requirement for businesses to train and recruit locally through contractual arrangements via s.106 planning obligations. This will be particularly important to frame requirements in large scale developments such as Liverpool Waters. Linked to this is the potential to provide opportunities for apprenticeships and ensure such opportunities are better marketed to local people – clearly expressing the potential for increased earnings over their lifetime. These types of arrangements will be particularly important for large scheme such as Liverpool Waters to ensure local residents benefit from job creation during construction and beyond. Involvement of Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) is already a strong feature of the skills agenda through initiatives such as ‘Streets Ahead’ and ‘Ways to Work’, but there is opportunity to develop this further. Key RSLs in Liverpool have recently signed up to a Housing and Worklessness Compact which will use the RSL role as employers, their procurement power, and provision of local services, to create more jobs and training opportunities. Accessibility of jobs and training is an important issue, particularly as many local people don’t have access to a car and can suffer some of the limitations of public transport or walking/ cycling to get to the job/training centre. Some schemes have been implemented in the past to address this, for example subsidising travel to interviews. However, there is an opportunity to address this at the core through careful spatial planning and transport in the SRF. Objective C: Improving the competitiveness of local businesses The third objective is to build the capacity and competitiveness of those firms within the study area with the potential for employment growth. StepClever estimate that there are around 1,700 businesses in North Liverpool and South Sefton - around 11% of the total business stock - with
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a more diverse mix of employment in manufacturing and wholesale/distribution than the City as a whole. The recent interim evaluation of the StepClever programme highlighted the need to adopt a more sectoral approach, focused on unlocking the growth potential of indigenous firms and balanced with efforts to create and sustain new enterprises. The StepClever evaluation notes that “manufacturing and producer services are most likely to generate additional wealth and jobs in the StepClever area and future programme activity should target those businesses that “export” beyond Liverpool and Sefton to lift competitiveness, productivity and GVA”, and proposes a series of new LEGI-funded initiatives to provide more tailored/targeted support for fast growing firms, including support for export development and promoting technology transfer activities with local Universities. Whilst national funding for LEGI ceases at the end of 2010/11, the StepClever programme is to be extended to March 2012 by re-profiling the available funding over a two year period. Notwithstanding this there is a significant risk that the focus on business and enterprise in the study area will be lost once unless a comprehensive, long-term succession plan for the programme is put in place. This will require replacing Business Link/ NWDA investment in business support to focus on both existing and future growth sectors for the City Region strengthening the capacity of local organisations (including EGL, South Sefton Development Trust, Everton Development Trust) to engage and support businesses with growth potential, complementing mainstream business support provision reviewing the approach to procurement adopted by the City Council, NHS and other key public sector organisations to develop opportunities for local firms and support collaboration around larger scale contracts aligning existing firms with the new economic opportunities being generated in the area over the next 5-10 years including business and financial services and the port/logistics.
Ensuring long-term funding for business support and start up activity remains a significant challenge, with reduced resources over the period to 2012 and the risk that the former Area Based Grant allocations to both local authorities will be under pressure after 2011. There is a strong imperative for Liverpool and Sefton Councils to engage in succession planning, consider the alignment and pooling of Council resources and explore how other private and possibly public funding (including the Regional Growth Fund and ERDF), can be better aligned to secure an effective ongoing Enterprise and Business Support programme. Objective D: Supporting aspiration and enterprise Initiatives to create and maintain aspiration especially amongst young people have been longstanding priorities across North Liverpool. Low aspirations of young people is often cited as the most fundamental challenge to regeneration in North Liverpool. It is also essential that opportunities exist locally for residents who gain skills – all too often residents that gain qualifications and higher paid jobs move away from the area. Investment in major physical developments such as Liverpool Waters have long lead-in times and it is these schemes that will be providing the training and employment opportunities for young people. It is important that whilst many major opportunities (notably Liverpool Waters) have long lead in times, this should not deflect from the immediate need to progress the alignment of education /skills provision to growth opportunities and support for access to the employment opportunities which exist in the City today. Both local authorities are committed to improving the educational attainment of its children in the study area. Through Wave 2 of its Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme Liverpool City Council will invest £17.5m in New Alsop High School in North Liverpool. This will deliver the refurbishment of the 82 year old school’s existing buildings and the replacement of
mobile classrooms with a new state-ofthe-art, three-storey building. The school will be provided with 21st Century facilities including a dance studio and specialist business studies classrooms. The objective of the BSF programme in North Liverpool was not exclusively about new and attractive buildings, but promoting flexible and adaptable skills within the school education system and a better relationship between schools and the business sector to improve the local economy. These aspects of the work and the partnerships already put in place remain valid and important and need to be progressed even without the capital investment programme that prompted them. The North Liverpool Academy provides a model for the role schools can play in relating academic study to the world of work. The Academy, which specialises in business and enterprise, gives its students the opportunities to develop as enterprising young citizens. Staff work with local and national businesses to provide work-related opportunities for the pupils. The Academy acts as an entrepreneurial hub for young people across North Liverpool. The approach must ensure that 14-19 learning is increasingly focused on meeting the emerging opportunities in the labour market. There are significant opportunities to: • engage local employers in the design and development of sector-specific vocational diplomas • establish close links between local employers, schools and colleges to ensure that young people have access to better information on local employment opportunities and are able to make more effective career choices • develop work placements and other links. Indeed, some of this is already happening. New Alsop High School for example, plans to teach 14-19 diplomas in IT and Business Administration from its specialist business studies classrooms.
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Economy and Employment Framework Summary Table The table below summarises the actions required to achieve the four specific objectives identified within the Economy and Employment Framework to support and encourage economic growth within the regeneration area. Objective A : Linking Growth Sectors to North Liverpool i. Visitor Economy
Action Support the re-development plans for both football clubs. Deliver a masterplan to transform the major underused asset of Everton Park. Further promote the World Heritage Site and local heritage assets. Enhance the role of the Leeds/Liverpool Canal corridor for commercial and residential activity. Support the Liverpool Waters proposals to fully exploit the visitor economy elements.
Further Detail and Practical Considerations Football will continue to provide the primary visitor draw but realisation of the football clubs proposals, and the linkage with the areas green infrastructure and heritage assets would create a much more compelling and valuable visitor offer. Create a destination which trades on Liverpool’s creative edge, links to the green infrastructure network and provides a bridge between the City Centre and North Liverpool. Open up access to waterfront and heritage assets access as first phase of Liverpool Waters. Exploit new canal link to Pier Head. Improvements to canal network, use of brownfield sites for development, marketing and promotion of adjacent pubs, cafes and bus/bike/train access.
A : Linking Growth Sectors to North Liverpool
Promote the SuperPort concept to attract inward investment and innovation in the maritime sector.
ii. Port and Logistics
Land assembly strategy to support investment and development. Enhance road and rail freight infrastructure. Preserve rail alignments.
A : Linking Growth Sectors to North Liverpool iii. Low Carbon Economy
Raise awareness and utilisation of low carbon solutions. Develop skills in the local labour market. Link to the knowledge economy. Attract businesses engaged in the low carbon agenda. Develop a Low Carbon Business Hub. Investigate the creation of public/private partnerships to directly generate and supply sustainable electricity and heat. Generate demand in the public sector for low carbon products and services.
Need to safeguard land for Port expansion in competition with other uses. Fragmented private sector ownership constrains development. Atlantic Gateway strategy stresses need for freight transport improvements. Consideration to preserving rail alignments required but may limit land available for development. Major development projects such as Liverpool Waters, LFC, housing market programme and Project Jennifer offer significant opportunities. Linking to the Knowledge Economy through the academy, the Universities, the health sector and the FE colleges is key to remaining at the forefront of the development of technology and thinking and developing momentum.
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Objective A : Linking Growth Sectors to North Liverpool iv. Knowledge Economy and Business Services Sectors
B : Raising Incomes, Opportunities and Employment Levels
Action Improve linkages between existing businesses with the Knowledge Quarter, City Centre, Liverpool Waters and the hospitals to maximise business and growth opportunities. Develop a Land Assembly Strategy along Northshore to promote investment and development and ensure a steady supply of suitable premises. Continuation to support local people via dedicated access into employment programmes. Maximise linkages with potential investment and development proposals to ensure appropriate skill development.
Further Detail and Practical Considerations Creating better linkages across North Liverpool and the wider area is essential to attracting investment into North Liverpool. The land assembly strategy should focus on key opportunities that will catalyse wider regeneration such as the port, Liverpool Waters, Stanley Dock and Limekilns/ Pumpfields. Measures must be taken to ensure that jobs and training opportunities are easily accessible to residents via public transport and pedestrian/cyclist links.
Maximise the long term opportunities presented by the Liverpool Waters proposal in terms of training, skill development and job opportunities for local residents. Deliver the concept of a large scale greening, gateways and environmental improvement task force and programme. Linked to training and welfare to work provision. C : Improving the Competitiveness of Local Businesses
Target business support activities on fast growing firms operating within the growth sectors, that serve a customer base beyond North Liverpool. Develop a succession plan for the StepClever programme. Link local businesses through supply chain development.
D : Supporting Aspiration and Enterprise
Engage local employers in assisting in the development of tailored vocational learning opportunities and skill development, and employment models. Widen participation in HE enterprise development in new industries spinning out from innovation activities. Promote world-class innovation for adapting/ transforming the existing commercial and industrial base. Consider step change in promotion of community / social enterprise, linked to local markets/needs.
Early consideration is required by both local authorities and partners to determine the most effective way to align/pool limited resources to ensure continuation of local business growth and enterprise support.
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3.2 People and Communities Framework The following five specific objectives collectively address the range of social issues manifested in North Liverpool. Whilst funding programmes and investment strategies for these sorts of social programmes are under major review as part of the comprehensive spending review the key issues for North Liverpool remain the same. Objective A Enhance education and skills Objective B Support children, families and vulnerable people Objective C Promote health and well being Objective D Create cohesive, safe and sustainable mixed communities Objective E Promote arts, culture, sports and heritage Each of these specific objectives is addressed in turn as follows:
Objective A: Enhance education and skills
Objective B: Support children, families and vulnerable people
Education, skills and training are referred to within the Economic Framework in some detail. Access to jobs in the future will depend on linking people to appropriate training to gain skills. Education is the key to improving outcomes for all age groups but a strategy that is concerned with creating a new place and supporting an economy for the future must focus on young people.
The reality of persistently high levels of multiple deprivation across North Liverpool and a very high proportion of families on low incomes means that support services will remain important as part of the SRF.
The key issues are associated with the challenge to raise standards, co-ordinate investments and translate strategies into practical impacts in North Liverpool. This SRF does not spell out the detailed elements of how a North Liverpool education strategy would be put together and implemented. What is required is an area focus, bringing key partners together across all sectors and devise specific approaches to:
Many families in North Liverpool have multiple and complex needs and whatever universal services are developed within public and voluntary sector providers, there will always be the need for targeted support for those in most need. Families at risk, work with young people and new ways of working between agencies will need to be developed in the context of North Liverpool needs. Key priorities are: • Support vulnerable people - older people, young people. • Address complex needs, integrating health and poverty issues. Improve learning and teaching.
• Develop tactics to improve parental involvement and inclusion in all aspects of learning
Recent years have seen the establishment of pre and after school facilities, extensive youth and play provision associated with Sure Start initiatives and leisure facilities. There are still gaps across North Liverpool and it is the families with complex needs that require multi agency approaches to develop further.
Investment to refurbish and remodel secondary schools in North Liverpool such as Alsop High School will focus on strengthening community links, with the facilities and activities, such as sports centres, IT suites and drama studios, being available and accessible to residents in the surrounding neighbourhoods.
The Children and Families agenda has changed considerably over recent years and further changes to delivery arrangements are inevitable. What is required in North Liverpool however is a clear district and neighbourhood needs analysis and the development of multi agency working in ways that are fundable in the new national context
New approaches to education and skills development across North Liverpool must continue as a high priority even without the capital investment in buildings. Within the regeneration framework it is essential that this theme is addressed through even greater partnership working between Liverpool, Sefton, colleges, schools and the private sector.
The plans to reform the benefits system to ‘make work pay’ comes at a time of unprecedented pressure to cut the benefits bill, reduce public spending and an expected rise in unemployment. The June 2011 Budget announced £11 billion of welfare reform savings. The key elements of the Governments Welfare Reform proposals that will impact upon non
• Improve learning and teaching • Raise standards • Co-ordinate initiatives and investments for the 14-19 age group
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45 Men in the least deprived areas in Liverpool can expect to live nearly nine years longer than men in the most deprived areas, and for women this difference is nearly eight years. This stark fact is emphasised by the standard mortality rate for North Liverpool (149) which is significantly higher than for Liverpool (128) which is in turn higher than the England base line of 100.
working and working low income families, particularly in our most vulnerable areas of the city such as North Liverpool, are; • Significant changes to Local Housing Allowance (LHA) / Housing Benefit (HB). • Child Benefit will be frozen for 3 years. • From April 2011 the Government will restrict eligibility to the Sure Start Maternity Grant to the first child only and abolish the Health in Pregnancy Grant from January 2011. • Between October 2010 and Spring 2014 nationally most Incapacity Benefit recipients will undergo a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) which will determine their benefit entitlement. • DWP have announced the introduction of the Universal Credit which is designed to simplify and streamline the benefits and tax credits systems onto a single system at one unified rate. The detail due in the Welfare Reform Bill next year will aim to improve work incentives through improved earning disregards, reduce in work poverty whilst making it easier to understand for claimants.
Linked to these proposals is the implication that there will be appropriate work available for those seeking it and that they are appropriately skilled. Clearly the journey from welfare to work the Government has planned for those dependant on benefit’s will be very challenging for our most vulnerable residents and families and equally on the public services that will be stretched to support the increasing demand a total place approach programme will need to be able respond to this. Objective C : Promote health and well being The health and well being of North Liverpool residents is inextricably linked to their ability to access employment opportunities and subsequent contribution towards the economic output of the area. Traditionally, poor health has been attributed to difficult working conditions in heavy industry, poor quality housing and low incomes. The headline statistics evidence the severity of health and well being problems in North Liverpool.
“Worklessness has a very strong correlation with deprivation, and therefore ill health. In areas of high deprivation, worklessness should be viewed both as a priority action within LAAs and for the PCT in terms of creating the care pathways needed to assist people into employment and prevent those suffering from ill health from losing their jobs.” Heath problems in North Liverpool have been exacerbated by high levels of worklessness. This quote from the Tackling Health Related Worklessness, Northwest Public Health Observatory November 2009, underlines the core issue for North Liverpool - unemployment has a significant impact on health and well being. As such, a ‘benefit dependency’ culture is a contributing factor to incidences of poor health in the area. However, the report also draws attention to research that has argued “the negative health impacts of worklessness could now be less significant in communities or families where not having formal employment is considered ‘the norm’ and part of an individual’s personal identity.” North Liverpool and South Sefton do not bear out this argument as the prevalence of a range of health conditions mapped at Middle Super Output area highlight that parts of North Liverpool and South Sefton
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are in the highest quartile for a range of illnesses which include alcohol specific conditions, asthma, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, epilepsy, congestive heart failure, lung cancer and mental health conditions. (It should be noted that there is significant variation in these patterns across the six wards of the SRF area). Strategies to focus on the causes, not just the symptoms, of ill health need to be made North Liverpool specific. Preventative and primary care interventions need to be the focus within the context of the SRF, although health care providers, hospital and specific clinical provision also require renewed collaborative working between agencies. In order to tackle poor lifestyle choices, other projects, such as provision of, and access to, open space, must be aligned to allow joined up delivery of services. Objective D : Create cohesive, safe and sustainable mixed communities Despite significant public sector investment over the last 25 years, many neighbourhoods in North Liverpool are still blighted by deprivation. Public sector investment alone cannot bring about the overarching investment required to unlock the area’s economic potential. Some of these communities face a complex mix of challenges including low employment opportunities and rates, poor educational performance and provision, poor health and sickness, and poor housing conditions. A central feature of the proposals set out in the North Liverpool SRF is to ensure that struggling neighbourhoods in North Liverpool are assisted to become more sustainable. Suggestions to achieve this include a more intensive Neighbourhood Management approach and harnessing the efforts of community groups already experienced in delivering services in these communities tailored to their individual circumstances. In spite of significant population loss, North Liverpool retains a series of strong and long established communities. Whilst there are strong bonds of families within neighbourhoods and streets, there are still
very real issues of crime and anti social behaviour. This not only impacts on the lives of residents and those good neighbours who form the majority of the community, but also has a massive impact on the reputation and perceptions of North Liverpool as a whole. The City safe Strategic Intelligence Assessment September 2008 to August 2009 is a strategic document which analyses crime trends to provide data to inform Citysafe, Liverpool’s Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP). The Vulnerable Localities Index, based on crime and social exclusion data identifies North Liverpool as a vulnerable area, albeit one that has seen an improvement over 2008/09. The Strategic Intelligence Assessment report identifies the hotspot areas for a range of crimes and areas of North Liverpool appear under most categories with burglary, theft from vehicles, theft of a vehicle, fire, youth offending, drug offences, cannabis farms, anti-social behaviour, abandoned vehicles of particular note. The Liverpool Anti-Social Behaviour Unit Report 2008 reports ward level data for requests for service between 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2008 the four wards of North Liverpool generated 212 out of the 960 requests for service, 22% of the total. In response to these issues, the city runs RESPECT weeks to focus on neighbourhoods which are highlighted in the Vulnerable Localities Index. The four wards of North Liverpool were a key focus area in 2008/9 and again in 2009/10. The Citysafe Fact Sheet published in June 2009 details some of the ways in which the issues are currently being addressed. Tackling burglary is done in collaboration with registered social landlords and the HMRI team use funding to ensure privately owned and rented properties are secure and there is evidence that these measures are paying off Liverpool has also had a strong focus on community justice ensuring the local community has a role in how offending problems in the local area are resolved. Through partnership working with the police, courts, probation and drug and alcohol services a concerted approach to crime and anti social behavior is adopted.
The North Liverpool Community Justice Centre provides a one-stop shop for tackling crime and has been in operation since September 2005, combining the work of the a court with a range of community services and facilities targeted at Anfield, Everton, County and Kirkdale wards. The Evaluation of the North Liverpool Community Justice Centre in October 2007 indicates an improvement in the speed and efficiency of how cases are dealt with by the courts, addressing issues of community perception and residents and victims of crime feel they have a voice and in many cases get closure. “Evidence from staff indicates that the judicial leadership demonstrated by Judge Fletcher is a key factor in this success, as is the co-location of agencies, collaborative working practices and specific mechanisms such as the pre-court meetings and flexibility in the court listings.” At this stage, the Framework simply needs to put in place the delivery mechanisms for focussing and targeting community safety across North Liverpool in a way that allows accountability and work to develop safer neighbourhoods. At the strategic level of this document, the themes that will need continuing work in future years are associated with: • Continuing the involvement, empowerment and engagement of communities in their neighbourhood community safety issues. • Targeting young people and their families. • Supporting parents. • Designing safer neighbourhoods through best practice approaches. • Focusing on those neighbourhoods with the greatest degree of change and vulnerability.
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Objective E: Promote arts, culture, sports and heritage
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The notion of arts culture, sport and heritage in the City of Liverpool is so important that it could feature within all 3 frameworks in this document. In terms of its links to a visitor economy, a new profile for the place and the physical legacy of historic buildings, sporting icons and parklands scattered across Liverpool, the core message here, is that the SRF must capture investment under this theme directly for the North of the City. The history and heritage of the Port, the historic aspects of the River itself, the communities across the area, Stanley Park, the football clubs (wherever their Stadia may be in the future) and the 50+ listed buildings and Parklands present an opportunity for North Liverpool. This is a part of the vision and profile of the area. The value of arts and culture within a regeneration strategy has been well rehearsed, implemented, funded and continues to deliver across the City as part of the 2008 Liverpool European Year of Culture. In summary, this programme: • attracted 9.7 million additional visits to Liverpool. • generated £753.8 million (direct visitor spend). • consolidated 1,673 creative industry enterprises, employing 11,000 people across the city. • resulted in 68% of UK businesses having a more positive view of Liverpool and generated an additional 1.12 million visitor nights in Liverpool hotels.*. We have positioned consideration of this part of the strategy within the “People and Communities” framework because the arts and cultural offer of North Liverpool needs to be of direct benefit to residents themselves. Arts and cultural activity which celebrates the history of North Liverpool and captures the energy and diversity of the present, can play a crucial role in anchoring new and existing communities to the area. It has an important part to play in the raising of aspirations and
involvement within education and learning environments. At best, participation in arts, culture and sports can be inspiring, life changing and have direct impacts on the quality of life for residents of all ages. From this, springs an authentic reputation which is more deeply rooted in the place than a “brand”. The creative and cultural content of North Liverpool lies in its people, its buildings, parks and places of historic interest.
Linking this to investment opportunities such as the Bi-ennial project, establishments in the City such as the Philharmonic and other musical and performing arts, Sporting giants like Liverpool Football Club, with their “Kickz” project and health programmes are all part of increasing access and participation. These relatively small projects can play a disproportionately large role in re- defining the reputation and overall character of the place.
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What needs to happen in North Liverpool is a focus on activities relevant to communities which can show case the area in a local, national and indeed international context. There are examples of where this sort of work has started. For example, both football clubs have extensive programmes of community health and arts involvement with local people. Within the context of this SRF, further actions should focus on: • Community festivals; the use of parks and opening up of historic buildings for special events. • Encouraging sustainable re- use of key historic buildings with heritage value. • A focus on access to the River, the canal and parks for recreational use of spaces with events to promote this. • Building on existing LFC and EFC community programmes. • A focus on sports development, using all available venues and open spaces to foster participation and excellence. • A focus on the City’s major educational and cultural institutions with regard to their contribution to a North Liverpool specific cultural programme. (The Universities, schools and LARC*). • A “contract for culture” with every investor required to support North Liverpool specific interventions. Joining up local delivery It is imperative that, given the broad range of services and initiatives being delivered across North Liverpool, every effort is made to foster and strengthen the links between the various delivery agencies and bodies, to avoid fragmentation and complexity. Whilst partnership working is clearly in evidence, this is often superficial or heavily dependent on the individuals concerned rather than on the broader strategic or operational intent of the organisations which employ them. Liverpool City Council has already made significant efforts to move from a ‘one size fits all’ service delivery philosophy to an approach which takes local circumstances into account. This change was in
recognition that delivery of some key services in the past had been patchy and uneven across the City. In 2004, the City Council set up its Neighbourhood Management Division with dedicated teams across the City familiar with the geography, social issues and service providers of respective communities. There are five Neighbourhood Management Areas across the City, each with a Neighbourhood Manager responsible for developing and delivering the local neighbourhood regeneration agenda. The area of North Liverpool defined in this SRF cuts across three of the five Neighbourhood Management areas: Alt (County); City & North (Kirkdale and Everton); and, Liverpool East (Anfield). Sefton MBC, like Liverpool City Council, is also committed to adopting a Neighbourhood Management Approach to service delivery however; its plans are currently at an embryonic stage. It is anticipated that a vision for Neighbourhood Management in Sefton will be agreed before the end of 2010.
Establishing links with potential employers, for example, is a pursuit that would be best done collectively. To aid this process StepClever is planning to fund a Community Partnership Development Officer to act as a conduit between the community organisations and public sector agencies, procure resources, and help deliver the ambitious business plans of the individual organisations. Moving forward, both local authorities need to develop a new approach to building the capacity and sustainability of the North Liverpool voluntary and community sector. Efforts need to focus on increasing the output of those community organisations which have the most capacity for linking into the new economic opportunities to be created in North Liverpool over the next 5 to 15 years, and rationalising and merging those whose funding and time- limited roles have served their purpose. Such new economic opportunities could be to deliver services to support new businesses and residents locating in the area.
Working in tandem with the public sector, within the study area, are a diverse mix of voluntary and community sector organisations. These organisations are important assets for the area and can collectively play a critical role in engaging with hard to reach communities and individuals, and supporting local employment and enterprise initiatives. However, as we move forward, given the anticipated reductions in public sector funding, it is vital that these community organisations become more selfsustaining. To this end Liverpool City Council, having helped the groups to build their asset base, is now concentrating its efforts on improving their effectiveness to ensure the “sum of the parts is greater”. A Community Partnerships Network has been developed to help make sure the community groups add value to the area and that their services are not duplicated. The next step will be to explore how the groups and their facilities can most effectively link with community health, education and employment issues.
1 Impacts 2008; Liverpool’s experience as European Capital of Culture. March 2010. University of Liverpool. 2 The Bluecoat, FACT, Liverpool Biennial, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, National Museums Liverpool, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Tate Liverpool and Unity Theatre.
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People and Communities Framework Summary Table The table below summarises the actions required to respond to the five specific objectives identified within the People and Communities Framework, to collectively address the wide range of social issues experienced within North Liverpool. Objective A: Enhance education and skills
Action Improve learning & teaching to raise standards. Focus on 14-19 age group, and personalised pupil support. Develop parental involvement. A North Liverpool Curriculum & focus.
Further Detail and Practical Considerations BSF programme is changing the physical environment for teaching and in tandem with this change the opportunities for further linkages between schools, communities and higher and further education could be explored. The Low Carbon transition economy should be a point of focus and opportunity that some schools and colleges will be well placed to deliver on and benefit from. There is a successful entrepreneurial schools programme using local expertise and linkage with the universities in Liverpool which could be expanded upon.
B : Support children, families and vulnerable people
C: Promote health and well being
Focus on gaps in provision including support for vulnerable people. Integrate new ways of working into a North Liverpool Strategy.
Develop a North Liverpool specific health plan. Focus on prevention & early intervention. Integrate and further develop an intensive neighbourhood management approach.
Renewed focus on delivering a Total Place approach to service delivery, with consideration to co-location of service providers. Continued provision of the Sure Start programme. Health issues are a critical problem for North Liverpool, particularly in Everton and Kirkdale wards. Integrated service delivery.
Continued engagement and empowerment of communities in their community safety issues. Co-ordination of all community safety activities across North Liverpool. D: Create cohesive, safe and sustainable mixed communities
Develop a North Liverpool specific health plan. Focus on prevention & early intervention. Integrate and further develop an intensive neighbourhood management approach. Continued engagement and empowerment of communities in their community safety issues. Co-ordination of all community safety activities across North Liverpool.
The Community Justice Centre is seen as an innovative resource in North Liverpool.
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Objective E: Promote arts, culture, sports and heritage
Action Develop further North Liverpool Arts, Cultural & Sporting activities. Create and support a North Liverpool “Creative Movement” with ‘grassroots’ leadership. Focus on cultural industries, Initiatives with music, drama, arts, events, parks & key partners such as LFC, EFC and Peel.
Further Detail and Practical Considerations Build upon the range of programmes and organisations already providing arts and cultural activities in North Liverpool. The catalyst opportunity at Everton Park should be progressed across all frameworks. The area could be home to new visitor attractions using art as a focal point for underused public space which celebrates its heritage.
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3.3 Neighbourhood and Places Framework The Neighbourhood and Places Framework is concerned with enhancing the physical qualities of North Liverpool. Improvements to the physical fabric (such as houses, local centres and public realm green spaces roads and footpaths) will help make North Liverpool a more attractive place to live, work and visit. The specific objectives below help frame a strategic spatial framework across the whole of North Liverpool and ensure that individual developments are co-ordinated. More targetted objectives will emerge through future neighbourhood and district plans to guide action at the local level. The 4 specific objectives are: Objective A Diversify the housing offer and improve neighbourhood quality Objective B Create a network of vibrant district and local centres Objective C Create a comprehensive green infrastructure network which enhances quality of life and promotes a low carbon economy Objective D Enhance the transport network to provide good accessibility across the area and make connections between residents and community facilities and employment opportunities
Objective A: Diversify the housing offer and improve neighbourhood quality The strategic approach to improving neighbourhoods and the quality of place has to be set in the context of the economic base, socio-economic profile and the history regeneration across the area. Communities face a complex mix of challenges including low employment opportunities and rates, poor educational outcomes and poor health and sickness. Physical housing conditions have improved markedly, but many problems remain. Current housing challenges, include a net loss of dwellings across both local authority areas, a large development pipeline but one that is much reliant on an apartment market which has now largely disappeared, low rental values, predominance of older terrace houses in lower council tax bands, a tenure shift but one that has seen a move to private rented rather than an increase in owner occupation and continuing affordability issues for first time buyers. Whilst the economic base and employment prospects are the fundamental issue, the baseline research has highlighted that North Liverpool has not benefited from recent economic growth to the same extent as other parts of the region and it now seems to have been badly hit by the recession. This lack of progress is compounded to a significant extent by the continuing poor perceptions of the area as a place to live. This is partly about the restricted housing offer – limited choices for owneroccupation with a predominance of older terraced-type housing stock – but also about the extent (perceived and actual) of crime, anti-social behaviour, poor environmental quality and doubts about future prospects. So if neighbourhoods in North Liverpool are to benefit from improvements in the economic base and the skills of residents, there have to be improvements in perceptions of the quality
of life. Too many existing residents and the higher-achieving young people continue to leave when the opportunity arises. New residents are not currently being attracted and will continue to favour other parts of the readily accessible Liverpool and Merseyside housing market. This is why the SRF will be taken forward in a way that joins up economic, social and environmental strategies and actions in a way that can impact on specific neighbourhoods and housing areas. This is broadly the analysis and approach that has underpinned the Housing Market Renewal (HMR) programme of the last eight years and has been reflected in the Liverpool and Sefton Housing Strategies. It has aimed for radical uplift in the quality of priority inner area neighbourhoods. This SRF is making the case for the integration of the housing strategy at all levels and across all funding regimes with both an economic and communities framework. The baseline report reflected on and reviewed the HMR initiative. In summary: • The inevitably tight restraint on public sector investment over the next few years; will make it difficult to launch major new regeneration projects such as the HMR interventions that require substantial public funding. • There is a shift in the housing market as a result of the “credit crunch” that has resulted in the near- disappearance of the market for new-build apartments and increased difficulties for first-time buyers. • The need to now take a long-term view that goes well beyond the time horizon of the housing market renewal programme and its current focus and its spatial boundaries. The aim of the housing and neighbourhoods objective is to improve neighbourhood quality and the housing offer to retain existing residents who are in employment and gaining higher incomes and, in time, to attract similar new residents. This will diversify the socio-
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53 on-going levels of satisfaction of residents, the let ability of their housing stock and its value as an asset is all strongly shaped by residents’ views about crime and antisocial behaviour. Social Housing landlords should therefore be considered a key partner in all areas including those where there is much private renting as well as social housing – this is the position in most of the neighbourhood comprising older terraced housing. Whilst tackling crime should be the first priority, the role of social housing landlords in neighbourhood management will rightly be wider. economic structure, bring wealth into the area to support local services and facilities, and reinforce positive changes in the perceptions of the area as a place to live. However, a housing strategy alone cannot achieve regeneration and change the profile of North Liverpool or impact on its underlying economic role. One of the striking lessons reinforced by the HMR programme is that fundamental change at a neighbourhood level takes a long time – even a priority government – supported programme with dedicated resources. It is critical to sustain the momentum of change and the benefits this has been brought from the Housing Market Renewal and Neighbourhood Management agendas. Changes to the physical environment and improvements in perceptions must be capitalised and improved upon. The short term priorities must be to continue: • Neighbourhood working • Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour • Increasing involvement of social landlords • Sustaining the momentum of change
Neighbourhood working This requires the continuation and intensification of work at a neighbourhood level to tackle the greatest neighbourhood problems for residents, namely crime and anti-social behaviour. This is necessary across North Liverpool and especially important in those areas benefiting from major investment, other wise the impact of physical change may be negated. Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour A great deal of effort has been, and is being directed to this objective through joint working between the Councils, Police and other agencies. This needs to be continued and intensified within the framework of neighbourhood governance and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. There needs to be a strong focus on both reducing the incidence of crime, and on building confidence within communities that progress is being achieved. Increasing involvement of social housing landlords With their prominent role as part of Liverpool’s Strategic Housing Partnership and delivering the LIFE model , social housing landlords should continue as key stakeholders across North Liverpool. The
• To establish effective delivery arrangements, there should be engagement with all the main social landlords as part of the SRF stakeholder work • Agree the preferred working arrangements and scope of their role • Agree who will lead in each neighbourhood, using the LIFE (lead, influence, follow or exit) model developed to assist the rationalisation of such roles in Liverpool To sustain and encourage effective neighbourhood management with community and voluntary involvement will be vital to implementation of these shorter term priorities and a longer-term vision for change. These arrangements should link to, and prioritise local initiatives for creating employment and training opportunities Sustaining the momentum of change Sustaining the momentum of change that has been started by the highest priority HMRi interventions is vital to encourage the cautious optimism that areas are starting to change for the better. This includes seeing Klondyke, Queens/ Bedford, Anfield-Breckfield and the Easby area through to completion.
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The key specific priorities which will sustain the momentum of change in North Liverpool are: • Completing the Anfield regeneration in line with the master plan, including new housing for the private market to the right quality, and the renewal of the local centre along Walton Breck and Oakfield roads. • Completing the Queens/Bedford and Klondike redevelopments in Bootle, also ensuring a high quality for new housing and regeneration of the length of Stanley Rd adjacent to Queens/ Bedford. • This SRF requires the levels of investment already made in these key areas to be protected and progressed albeit in the broader context of the SRF. The timescales on these priorities have to be flexible, to respond to opportunities and economic conditions. Overall, the shorter-term priorities will be the main focus for available resources over the next five years, but it will also be possible to move forward on part of the longerterm agenda. There will be a continuing challenge to build confidence in a process of change when physical investment and the creation of new neighbourhoods and markets on a large scale are now severely constrained. Increasing housing choice through new development and improvements to existing stock Looking to the longer term the agenda is about changing the physical housing and neighbourhood offer by increasing housing choice through new development and improvements to existing stock; The priorities and proposals inevitably overlap with aspects across all three frameworks. This is central to the future of the area. It needs to have a range of housing that can attract households of different income levels and with varying aspirations – in terms of size, tenure and style of home.
New building will be important, and the emphasis should be on diversifying choice. This will not be easy because the current housing market conditions favour developments targeting the lower end of the market. There will also be pressure for social rented housing to meet the aspirations of many existing residents, but in view of the high proportion of such housing in the area, the emphasis should continue to be for development to promote owner-occupation. Planning policy and development briefs will need to be specific and firm about the mix required. As with the Economy and Employment Framework, Liverpool Waters has the opportunity to be a successful catalyst for North Liverpool the Liverpool Waters development should complement Liverpool City Centre and Bootle Town Centre to ensure that it does not compete with the existing key centres and complement any development of Wirral Waters. The scale of opportunity must provide a mixed housing environment that meets the needs of existing and new communities with quality design and place making which integrates it with the surrounding area There will also be opportunities to improve existing housing and to change its tenure. Continued improvement of the older stock will be required and it would be especially welcome to focus the anticipated retrofitting programmes (to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions) on this stock which performs poorly in this respect. We propose working with social landlords to develop opportunities for the sale of housing into owneroccupation in locations where this tenure will be sustainable. In addition local skills training to carry out retrofitting could benefit local residents. Following from this objective, there are certain specific opportunities for improved residential areas with potential to offer wider choice. These build especially on the opportunities created by investment over the past decades,
such as in the impressive Stanley Park, Everton Park, the Vauxhall Rd corridor and along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal area, and the Hawthorne Road corridor in Bootle. The priorities for further investment and development should ensure a focus on the areas of opportunity as well as the areas of greatest need. One of the criticism of HMRi has been that it has it focused the bulk of investment on a limited number of particularly difficult areas; this was probably a necessary consequence of aiming for transformational change. But once the immediate budgetary requirements for completing current HMRi interventions have been met, there is powerful case for focusing resources on the locations that have the greatest potential for providing the housing offer that will attract and retain the target higher income households. The areas listed above appear to offer this prospect. Securing maximum benefits from the major stadium investment anticipated by the Liverpool and Everton football clubs will have a major impact on the
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Objective B: Create a network of vibrant district and local centres North Liverpool Retail Issues The SRF area has Bootle town centre at its retail core with a number of district and local centres across the area. Liverpool City Centre is clearly the dominant retail environment for clothing and comparison good shopping but the communities of North Liverpool are drawn to Sefton for food shopping and rely on their local and district centres to provide core services and retail functions.
adjoining neighbourhoods. These could be very positive but there are also risks of adverse impacts. The plans are still uncertain and working with the clubs will be an important part of the delivery arrangements. As well as the immediate effect of neighbourhoods, there will, of course, be opportunities to promote economic activity based on the area as football-themed destination. Managing those areas of older terraced housing that may be at risk of further decline, whilst recognising that major redevelopment is unlikely to be financially feasible in the short to medium term future. The role of neighbourhood management, as discussed above, is especially important in sustaining these areas. It may well prove that as society moves towards models of living with less travel and more City Living that these areas of higher density housing will gain a new lease of life. The concern, of course, is that certain areas will prove not to be sustainable and in this case, the potential for further programmes of major redevelopment has to be retained as a medium-term option.
Tackling the major environmental problem of poor-quality and run-down shopping thoroughfares that characterise the apparent decline and neglect in the area. This has been highlighted in consultation as a key issue for neighbourhoods in North Liverpool. It is a difficult issue to tackle and a potentially expensive one as it is not sufficient to carry out merely cosmetic improvement to retail frontages. The underlying issues of viability and over-supply of commercial space, and the residential accommodation above, needs to be addressed. It is likely that a long-term programme of acquisitions and negotiation with existing owners will be required to work towards physically attractive and financially feasible plans for rationalisation and improvement of these streets and neighbourhood centres. This will be one of the major challenges for delivery across North Liverpool.
A quality retail offer is an important part of a vibrant, successful and diverse neighbourhood, where people choose to live and visit. Population decline and low levels of local income have led to low quality district centres. Scattered, vacant and poorly maintained establishments contribute directly to a very poor message about the residential areas across North Liverpool. “Population density in a number of wards has fallen below the 40 ppha threshold considered necessary to support a minimum level of neighbourhood services within a walking catchment. This includes ... Everton and Vauxhall wards ... Breckfield ... wards while retaining reasonable densities, have witnessed substantial declines from over 200 ppha to c. 50-80 ppha.” Liverpool City Council District and Local Centres Study Report
Previous studies have determined the key priorities for Liverpool’s district and local centres in terms of their long-term viability, what further measures could be taken to improve District Centres including those in existing development proposals and what actions could be taken to assist businesses to remain viable. The key recommendation in the Liverpool City Council District and Local Centres Study Report and one that has been a
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The report also expressed concern about the potential risks to Bootle given proposed developments in Kirby and Liverpool.
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focus for some time is for Great Homer St to be upgraded to a district centre. Through Project Jennifer, this is currently part of the proposals put forward by St Modwen and endorsed by LCC. The scheme is seen as vital to supporting the Housing Market Renewal programme and the New Growth Point status of Liverpool Waters and the SRF identifies this as a key transformational project. Breck Road is also identified in the Liverpool City Council District and Local Centres Study Report as a strategic investment priority. Although the vacancy rate has declined over the last few years there is a need for further consolidation and strengthening of the offer. The identified actions to support this are to extend and reorient the food store, change the length of the centre, improve the range of multiples, provide a better quality environment and public realm, create a better sense of place and support HMR priorities. The proximity of Anfield stadium, Liverpool Football club’s proposals, the potential for short term population loss that Housing Market clearance might have and the impact that a new district centre at Great Homer might have made the need for public sector focus and investment critical in this location to ensure its stability and long term viability. County Road is the busiest district centre in North Liverpool and the report recommends the consolidation of
the centre, creation of a landmark development to create a centre and better quality nodes. The upgrade should be private sector led. The report also recommends that any redevelopment at Goodison Park avoids retail floor space to ensure the viability of the County Road centre is not compromised. Both County Road and Breck Road require a strategy of consolidation. Within such high streets, some significant intervention will be necessary to rationalise redundant retail and other floor space and to manage the image of the remainder of the high streets. Opportunities to remove poor quality and underperforming retail uses need to be co-ordinated with programmes of tree planting, greening and local neighbourhood management. The multiple component s of tenant management, façade improvement and business support need to be developed into a local “Retail Management Strategy” District, local centres and shopping parades in Sefton The Sefton Retail Strategy Review Update (2009) focused on the role of Bootle and Southport town centres. The report noted signs of investment activity in Bootle but concerns over the high number of vacant units at 17%. These tend to be smaller and harder to let units which are being managed to create ‘strategic voids’ to provide large units in the longer term.
There are no District Centres within the SRF study boundary in Sefton, although Waterloo District Centre lies not far from the boundary and is considered to complement the role of Bootle Town centre. The main Local Centre is Seaforth which is well served by rail access and parking and the Bridge Rd area is home to a GP surgery, pharmacy, post office and library but the report highlights the fragmented nature of the area, high vacancy rates, mix of industrial and retail uses and limited convenience shopping. The report recommended that the area be considered as part of the wider HMR proposals and be the subject of further study which might ultimately result in the reconfiguration and rationalisation of the retail area. The report concluded that without council intervention the future of the retail was uncertain: “It is notable that a significant number of shopping parades that are showing clear evidence of decline are located around Bootle Town Centre ... the underlying strength of Bootle’s key facilities are having a major impact on the popularity of surrounding shopping parades.” The report recommended the managed the decline of these centres through change of use and through a wider strategy linked to the Housing Market Renewal Initiative. The Hawthorn Rd area in particular is affected by its proximity to Bootle Town Centre and is characterised by limited services, high vacancies, and poor quality units in a run down environment. The Stanley Road area is a linear centre on either side of the radial route which is again impacted by its proximity to Bootle town centre. However, it benefits from a GP surgery, post office and store.
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All shopping parades have been assessed in previous studies. The Liverpool report identified a number of potential interventions with regard to district and local centres, in response to the key issues set out below:
However, perhaps the most critical issues for both South Sefton and North Liverpool over the long term are points 6, 7, 8 and 9.
1. Recognising the dominance of Liverpool City Centre in trading patterns.
• Protect Bootle Town centre and consolidate the retail offer in parades which are suffering high vacancy and competition from the town centre.
2. Building on the confidence of the investment achieved in the City Centre to deliver enhanced convenience facilities in suitably located district and local centres. 3. The relative decline of retailing in smaller centres as a national trend but one which is particularly pronounced in Liverpool. 4. Dereliction decay and dysfunctional of a number of centres. 5. The ability of centres to serve the catchments within which they fall to deliver a sustainable pattern of retailing. 6. The need to plan for decline in centres with practical propositions for re-use and change. 7. A need for action to address safety and security to attract creative places to be. 8. How district and local centres relate to other Council and National investment programmes. 9. How to prioritise potentially limited resources to maximise added value and maximise beneficial impact on the network of centres. The issues identified are common to both local authority areas at different scales as are some of the options for intervention.
The priority actions should be to:
• Continue to promote the development of Great Homer Street as a district centre through Project Jennifer. • Strengthen the district centre status of Breck Rd through a planning strategy and an investment programme to promote the image and appearance of the area, the redevelopment of key neighbourhoods such as Anfield is critical to the success of this. • Provide a development framework to improve and rationalise the retail offer of County Rd and support the longer term objectives of the area. • Develop a “Retail Management Strategy” that identifies appropriate mixes of new uses and partnerships with private landlords and tenants to encourage co-ordinated maintenance. • Rationalise and acquire empty retail properties to ensure managed decline and reuse of buildings • Implement the recommendations of previous reports with targeted business support, grant support to assist changing uses, shop local campaigns.
The establishment of a new District Centre in North Liverpool at Great Homer Street
clearly has implications for Bootle town centre, Breck Road and County Road District Centres. Achieving a balance to provide retail choice, promote community cohesion and ensure competition will require compromise and careful management. Public realm and environmental improvements are necessary to upgrade the appearance of all the centres. Consolidation of the number of retail units and a move to wider choice and a better quality of shopping facilities are critical to support the existing communities and to create an environment that people want to move in to. Objective C : Create a comprehensive green infrastructure network which enhances quality of life and promotes a low carbon economy Green Infrastructure is defined as “the city’s life support system – the network of natural environmental components and green and blue spaces that lies within and around Liverpool which provides multiple social, economic and environmental benefits”. (Liverpool Green Infrastructure Strategy, Draft Discussion Document 2010). The Economy and Employment Framework discussed the role of the Low Carbon Economy in transforming the fortunes of North Liverpool and the green infrastructure components are some of the critical assets which will underpin the low carbon transition. The built environment assets of North Liverpool are an area where low carbon gains can be made. By implementing a “Green New Deal” to overhaul the energy efficiency of the
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housing stock and develop micro and macro renewable energy and income generation opportunities, the green infrastructure network of the physical landscape can be managed productively and its invaluable contribution to carbon reduction can be fully recognised. The ‘Adapting the Landscape from Liverpool to Manchester Baseline Report’ (North West Development Agency, September 2009), makes the case for connection, innovation and adaptation, of the landscape across the Lower Mersey Basin incorporating Liverpool and Manchester. It identifies seven strategic green infrastructure initiatives which offer a range of opportunities, scales and technologies that the region can embrace. In addition the report maps out a spatial framework for the region which identifies potential opportunities to develop or capitalise on existing assets. Proposed actions in that strategy include:
Green the cities - through tree planting and green roofs and other greening initiatives on derelict land and in community spaces Embrace the waterfronts - use the recreational value of waterfronts to promote leisure activities in tandem with their value as flood risk mitigation areas Create a diverse landscape - encourage allotments and market gardening, tree planting to act as a carbon sink and land art to improve the appearance and use of land Manage a productive landscape - utilise the renewable energy generation from biomass, wind and solar power through use of land resource and contribute to energy security and diversity and decentralisation Facilitate an accessible landscape - make more use of river, canal paths and old rail
networks for cycle and pedestrian routes Create a landscape for prosperity creating quality green space in new commercial and residential development which can manage the long term risks of flooding and climate change and use green roofs and insulation to lower carbon emissions Turn weakness to strength - flood mitigation and temperature moderation can be achieved through using the GI network more fully. * Source: “Adapting the Landscape”. The challenge for North Liverpool is to co-ordinate whatever funding is available to improve and exploit its green assets as part of a genuine new infrastructure. This is about the low carbon economy as well as helping create sustainable neighbourhoods but also about practical investment in sites, neighbourhoods and
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the greening of North Liverpool’s road corridors. This can be achieved through best practice in all new developments with housing and business environments creating green streets. Core drivers in influencing future socio economic investment are associated with mitigating the effects of climate change and moving to a low carbon economy. The landscape of North Liverpool provides significant opportunity to contribute to the low carbon economy through its existing green infrastructure network of parks, gardens, cemeteries, canals, derelict land and the many other forms of green infrastructure typology including the River itself. The river is the largest green infrastructure resource in North Liverpool albeit one that is not readily accessible to residents. Much of the existing Green Infrastructure resource within the City-regions is an undervalued asset and is delivering socio-economic and environmental benefits well below its potential. In many cases, it could be argued that components of Green Infrastructure are contributing to the spiral of deprivation and market failure. Green Infrastructure for the Liverpool and Manchester Cityregions, A Manifesto for Change Community Forests Northwest and The Countryside Agency. The critical issue for better use of the green infrastructure resource is better policy recognition for its role and this has been encapsulated in the LDF core strategy preferred options report. The work being carried out at the regional and sub regional levels are feeding in to the wider policy arena. The value of Liverpool’s green infrastructure resource has been captured by the recent draft Green Infrastructure Strategy for Liverpool. The evidence base in the document clearly shows the strength of green infrastructure resource in North Liverpool but it also highlights the fragmented nature of the network of canals, river, green space and brownfield land which could provide a more engaging resource for residents and visitors as the quote above illustrates. The urban design and green
space principles outlined in section two need to be implemented. The Atlantic Gateway Framework referenced in the Economy and Employment Framework cross references the opportunities highlighted in the Adapting the Landscape report and identifies the assets of the growth point status of North Liverpool and Liverpool Waters as an opportunity for innovation. The Adapting the Landscape report highlights that “In the short term projects will be about testing and piloting green infrastructure and technology investments partly due to the limited levels of public and private investment capital but also for the purpose of understanding what will work practically and financially.” Energy production and energy reduction are also key areas of potential linked to the idea of a “Green Vision”. There are a number of brownfield sites where renewable energy generation projects could be considered to support longer term development schemes. The ‘Adapting the Landscape’ report highlights the role of wind energy for areas of South Sefton and North Liverpool around the Port. Wind and tidal power generation opportunities are currently the subject of detailed investigation by the agency and Peel and a recent Mersey Tidal Power Feasibility Study: Stage 1 Options Report February 2010 has been published. Green roofs are another potential option which can achieve a 25% reduction in energy bills and initial assessment for areas of Liverpool was carried out by Natural Economy Northwest in 2007 (Roof greening in Liverpool, Commissioned from The Mersey Forest by Natural Economy Northwest). Managing a productive landscape through food growing and harvesting could be an opportunity on the brownfield sites. Within the housing market programme, there are a number of small scale community gardening and food growing schemes which have helped to promote healthier living and community cohesion. Using the by-products of food and green waste can also fuel biomass plants and the waste
streams in the area should be investigated to determine the feasibility, particularly given the food sector clustering around the Port of Liverpool. The “Adapting the Landscape Green Infrastructure” initiative turning weakness to strength is a critical opportunity for North Liverpool. Given the low density business base and the patchwork of empty sites awaiting development, rather than view these as negative assets a GI strategy could value the role of this resource in a different way. If North Liverpool is to thrive it needs to build a bigger economy and a bigger population, but if this growth does not materialise then the underused assets of the area remain a valuable asset which can be link more coherently to form a sense of place with a purpose, albeit one that is costed and valued in a different way to traditional bricks and mortar investment.
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Objective D: Enhance the transport network to provide good accessibility across the area and make connections between residents and community facilities and employment opportunities. The North Liverpool area would appear at first analysis to be well served by an adequate road, rail and bus network and a developing pedestrian and cycle network. However, issues of image, connectivity, permeability, congestion, air quality, safety and severance are prevalent in North Liverpool and access to core services including higher education, healthcare, food shopping and employment is restricted. Cost of travel by different modes indicates that public transport costs are high relative to car travel and use of taxis, although expensive, is much higher in more deprived neighbourhoods. These issues compound the economic and social problems of the area. The development opportunities in North Liverpool including the Port of Liverpool, Housing Market Renewal programme and key schemes including Liverpool Waters, Project Jennifer and the football stadiums all have particular transport needs. These have been the subject of a range of project specific studies and a transport model for the City Region and for Liverpool is currently in development but there is no overarching transport assessment which would help to tie together the sometimes overlapping needs of different schemes. In addition, the funding needs of these infrastructure schemes are not secured and little of the required infrastructure to support long term development has priority in the Regional Funding Allocation. The policy drivers for North Liverpool from the national to the local scale highlight housing growth, port expansion, access and improved road and rail freight logistics as critical for future growth and prosperity.
The core areas for action which emerge from current and previous work are: • East-West links for pedestrian and cycle movement (In particular the Leeds Street junction with Great Howard Street). • Provision of bus services along east west routes. • Improvements to key transport corridors including A565 and A59. • Junction improvements to facilitate access to key commercial, leisure and residential schemes. • Additional rail capacity on existing network. • Opening up of Bootle Branch Line • Preservation of old rail alignments and tunnels. • Freight transport improvements. • New transport opportunities through Mersey tram.
Infrastructure improvements need to address issues of disadvantage whilst maximizing opportunity and the growth of the Port is clearly a medium to long term priority for the City Region which needs to be supported through adequate infrastructure. Transport linkages are at their poorest on an east west axis with pinch points at junctions, and an absence of bus facilities. The Housing Growth Point of Liverpool Waters and the expansion of football stadia both rely on a robust public transport network to underpin their long term opportunities. Capacity and connectivity improvements are clearly required to create an integrated transport network, the elements of which exist given the previous scale of population this area served. In the medium to long term the area will be dependent on other potential network issues such as road tunnel capacity, rail capacity and the opportunity for more ferry borne passenger services.
Power and Utilities Liverpool Vision has already identified future power demand based on housing and commercial projects proposed to be built out to 2017. The demand equates to four new substations to satisfy potential future demand based on floor space of approximately 8,700m2 residential, 25,000m2 of retail floor space, 71,000 m2 of commercial space. Some of the projects that comprise these figures have long time horizons, including Liverpool Waters. If the residential floor space is extrapolated to Sefton and the significant power requirements of the Port a re-considered then there is a clear need for forward planning with utilities providers to ensure adequate service provision. This future provision can only be addressed through new sustainable approaches to infrastructure provision across the city.
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Neighbourhood and Places Framework: Summary Table The following tables provide a summary of actions required to respond to the four specific objectives identified within the Neighbourhoods and Places Framework.
Objective A : Diversify the housing offer
Action The further enhancement of neighbourhood working. Sustaining the momentum of change that HMRi has begun. Increase housing choice through new developments and improvements to existing stock. Maximise the opportunity of Liverpool Waters as a New Growth Point site. Focus future investment on the residential areas with opportunity to diversify housing choice Secure maximum benefits from the major stadium investment anticipated by the Football Clubs of Liverpool and Everton.
Further Detail and Practical Considerations Tackling crime and anti social behaviour. Increase involvement of social housing landlords. Local employment and training initiatives. Completing the HMRi priority interventions. Progress new high quality housing development promoting private sector family housing. Liverpool Waters offers the long term opportunity to provide a new live work environment that could be a significant catalyst for the fortunes of North Liverpool. Key corridors/areas with potential: • Anfield-Everton Park-City Centre • Around Stanley Park • Vauxhall Rd and the Leeds-Liverpool canal through the area linking to Docks heritage. • Stanley Road Corridor • Hawthorn Road
B : Create a network of vibrant district and local centres
Protect Bootle Town Centre. Deliver Great Homer Street as a district centre through Project Jennifer. Strengthen the status of Breck Road as a district centre. Improve and rationalise County Road retail offer. Upgrade the appearance of all of the retail centres through public realm and other environmental improvement works.
Consider the development of a Retail Management Strategy.
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Objective C : Create a comprehensive green infrastructure network
Action Develop good urban design principles. Develop green networks linking across the area via waterways, vacant industrial sites and abandoned railway lines. Maximise the waterfront and canal-side as a leisure attraction. Identify renewable energy generation opportunities.
D : Enhance the transport network
Further Detail and Practical Considerations A comprehensive green infrastructure plan will embrace parks, river frontage, dock and canal network to provide a complementary leisure attraction to the football stadia, World Heritage Site and waterfront. The network should seek to promote climate impact management initiatives such as green roofs, water management and alternative energy schemes.
Develop a community-based low carbon demonstrator project.
The development of a low carbon BREEAM excellent business hub would provide a focal point for North Liverpool and help to establish its green credentials.
Freight transport improvements
The Port is a driver for jobs and GVA growth so road and rail freight transport improvements are critical.
Improve perceived accessibility: • Branded quality bus corridors. • East/west links. • Environmental improvements to rail stations and environs. Improvements to key transport corridors and junction improvements. Additional rail capacity. New transport opportunities through Merseytram. Determine likelihood of future supply gaps in both power and other utility provision, and undertake appropriate forward planning provision.
Preservation of old rail alignments/tunnels may create conflict with development opportunity sites. Enhance pedestrian and cyclist movement, and improve east/west bus route provision. Consider development of a transport interchange for network stations, such as Bankhall. The section of A565 from the City Centre to Stanley Dock is not only critical for access to the major employment area of the City Centre but also to the successful long terms development of Liverpool Waters. The Scotland Road corridor is also critical. There is scope for increased rail capacity on the existing Northern Line but only if the issues around Central station capacity can be resolved which must be the short term priority for funding. As above with the port freight network consideration needs to be given to preserving rail alignments and tunnels and the opportunities for the opening up of Bootle Branch Line should consider the wider development schemes proposed such as Liverpool Waters. This is a long term ambition which should be supported to ensure a sustainable transport network.
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4.0 Priorities & Transformational Projects 64
Opportunities Within the boundaries of the SRF area, there are a number of plans for investment at varying stages of implementation and different stages of decision making.
There are a raft of economic and employment related initiatives supported by diverse funding regimes and of course many service delivery programmes provided by Liverpool and Sefton that impact on the North Liverpool area.
A. Economic & Employment Framework A1. Liverpool Waters A2. Port Expansion
The comprehensive spending review is imminent in October 2010 and new strategies for public sector intervention, revenue support to address the key objectives in North Liverpool and private sector investment are being developed.
A3. The Football Stadia
To achieve the Vision for North Liverpool set out in this SRF there is a need to not only integrate and co-ordinate existing investment but also to prioritise, develop and deliver key projects under all three frameworks which are the building blocks of the transformation. The following section identifies and defines the transformational projects.
A6. Developing 21st Century Skills
A4. Low Carbon Business Transformation A5. Business Land and Premises
B. People & Communities Framework B1. A Total Place Approach to Family Support and Education and Skills C. Neighbourhood & Places Framework C1. Project Jennifer C2. New Housing - new approaches C3. Green Infrastructure C4. North Liverpool Neighbourhood Management C5. Everton Park
This package of development opportunities, initiatives and proposals are all at different stages of the planning process and will have a combined regenerative mpact that is clearly needed to underpin any North Liverpool specific strategy and will be genuinely transformational. An essential next step to SRF is to develop targets for these projects along with a delivery plan for the first phase of implementation. An overview of the timeline is given in Section 7. The combined impact of these opportunities would bring confidence, investment and employment into North Liverpool and approaches to ensuring local residents benefit from this is key to the SRF objectives.
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Project Appraisal
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The transformational projects set out below cover all three Frameworks. They cover the key pieces of physical investment that need to be taken forward and also the economic, education and place specific actions. They are included here on the basis of their potential to deliver city scale impacts. • Their fit with the aims and objectives within each framework. • The level of support already confirmed from local communities. • Their ability to be delivered with private sector investment and partnerships. • Their contribution to the long term sustainability of North Liverpool and /or • Their ability to act as a catalyst to further investment and regeneration in North Liverpool Public sector funding streams over the last 10 – 15 years have developed their own project appraisal, approval and development systems and associated evaluation approaches. Option appraisal, value for money and community support are all documented through these systems and they have allowed financial and audit requirements to be addressed. Most of the projects set out below are large scale investment programmes with clearly defined physical components.
Some are wider thematic programmes, where more detailed project development is required in the context of available revenue funding within the public sector or through new forms of partnership. Greater levels of collaboration and innovative approaches to service delivery are required to define individual projects within these themes. Appraisal approaches are a vital decision making tool and the delivery arrangements for this SRF will develop new streamlined processes that will: • help the partnership achieve the key SRF objectives. • integrate and streamline socioeconomic assessments and social criteria with site specific investments. • be deliverable within changing funding contexts in both the public and private sectors. • involve local people and take full account of the needs of local communities be sustainable • enable the management of risk
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A. Economic And Employment Framework 67
A1. Liverpool Waters The Opportunity Liverpool’s waterfront is the City’s most important feature, its international significance in terms of both architecture and heritage is acknowledged through its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The historic economic driver of the port and its heavy industrial activities once dominated the waterfront, but the area is now largely unused and derelict. However, the Pier Head redevelopment, links to Liverpool One and the public events, activity and recreation now associated with the South Docks all demonstrate what can be achieved. The section of waterfront stretching from Princes Dock north to Bramley Moore Dock is owned by Peel Holdings and is the subject of a major, emerging development proposal termed ‘Liverpool Waters’. This 60ha waterfront site is a prime opportunity to create an extension to the City Centre and reconnect North Liverpool with the waterfront. Liverpool Waters is the largest proposed development scheme in the City and the recently submitted planning application is the biggest in the Country. The scheme proposes a mix of complementary uses including housing, commercial office space, leisure, culture and community facilities, centred around restored docks and high quality public realm. The vision is for Liverpool Waters to be a new vibrant destination for people to live, work and visit. The scheme aims to link the docks to the City and re-connect them to the communities of North Liverpool, providing new opportunities for employment, leisure and new housing. Liverpool Waters, therefore, has a major role to play in supporting the ongoing regeneration of the City and in particular of North Liverpool. The table below sets out the proposed break down of uses: Use Class
Approximate Floor space (m2)
Office B1
305,000
Residential C3
9,150 units
Financial & Professional Services A2
8,600
Hotels & Conference Facilities C1
69,700 –approximately 900 rooms
Convenience Retailing A1
7,800
Comparison Retailing A1
24,700
Cafes, Bars & Restaurants A3/A4
53,800
Education, Health & Assembly D1 + D2
43,000
Cruise Liner Terminal Sui Generis
17,600
Servicing
36,300
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Peel has indicated that Liverpool Waters will be developed in phases, over a 40 year timescale. This timescale is a realistic estimate in view of the scale of the project, current economic conditions, likely demand for the uses/floor space being proposed. There is also no doubt that during this period elements of the development will change to reflect developing market and other relevant conditions. Accordingly, there is no guarantee that what is currently being put forward now in terms of proposed uses and amounts of floor space will be the final version of Liverpool Waters and our instincts are that it will evolve into a less dense version of what is currently being proposed. What is clear though, is that a development of this scale will have a massive impact on the City and indeed the sub-region. A key challenge for the developer, the City Council and other partners is to ensure
that the development complements investment in the City Centre and anchors the regeneration of North Liverpool. This in turn will have a positive impact on the wider economy of the sub-region. Liverpool Waters presents an important opportunity to allow the city to expand and attract new investment which is critical for economic growth. The scale of opportunity is transformational particularly in view of the Peel’s proposals for Wirral Waters which was recently granted planning permission. However, any new development must be delivered in a manner which complements rather than competes with the existing City Centre. It is vital that the potential wealth and economic benefits that Liverpool Waters will create benefits the communities of North Liverpool and helps to catalyse wider regeneration. In order to do so the development must integrate effectively
Risks Risks can be summarised as a series of issues that must be addressed through the development process. • Potential impact on local heritage assets • Increased competition with City Centre commercial district • Potential creation of isolated development that turns its back on North Liverpool • Potential for delay in delivery or protracted timescale for delivery due to wider economic conditions
A1. Liverpool Waters : Summary Total private sector investment
£5.5 billion
Nos of jobs (created and retained)
20,000
Likely public sector requirements
Continued planning application discussions, policy development, development management
Key partners
LCC, GONW, CABE, English Heritage, Liverpool Vision, Peel
with the wider area, with careful consideration given to physical linkages (such as the enhancement east-west links; permeability through the site; opening up the canal and waterfront to the public) and to socio-economic linkages (such as the relationship of Liverpool Waters with other local centres in North Liverpool; ensuring local residents have the opportunity and capacity to access jobs and encouraging linkages through activities such as the animation of water spaces and hosting events). This will be secured through development management and the custodians of this SRF will have a role to play. The SRF has a life of upwards of 30 years and as is implemented and is rolled forward it has an opportunity to influence the form and content of the Liverpool Waters and its delivery, and Liverpool Waters will form the centre piece of one of the recommended district plans.
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A2. Port Expansion The Opportunity North Liverpool is home to key assets within the City Region which are needed to deliver major development projects such as the Liverpool SuperPort and the Atlantic Gateway. SuperPort is recognised in the MAA as a transformational project for the City Region and presents opportunities to implement actions that will transform the area. The SuperPort physically comprises of the core assets of Mersey ports (£913m GVA contribution per annum alone), Liverpool John Lennon Airport, and associated logistics and transportation infrastructure. By combining these assets and building on them the Liverpool SuperPort concept aims to create the most cost effective and cost efficient environment for freight cargo logistics and passenger transit in the UK. The opportunity is characterized by: • The low carbon economy and new energy opportunities. • Jobs in the freight and logistics sector. • Business growth (and increased turnover) in the maritime, freight and logistics sector. • Additional inward investment. • Increases in maritime professional and financial services. • Innovation in traditional industries • Skills increases in relevant market sector Peel is proposing the development of a £100 million Post-Panamax facility at the Port of Liverpool in North Liverpool with the potential to create 3,000 jobs if land adjoining the port can be released for associated development. The new facility, capable of handling 500,000 TEUs a year, will almost double Liverpool’s container capacity to nearly 1,500,000 TEUs and would enable two post-panamax vessels to be handled simultaneously. Road and rail access to the port, and the availability of land to facilitate the expansion and attract additional logistics/distribution facilities, remain significant barriers to the implementation of the proposals. The Port is already a critical economic driver for the region and the Northwest. As transport patterns change with the move to a Low Carbon Economy, the role of the port will be increasingly critical both as a transport hub, energy generator and continuing source of direct and indirect employment. The Port’s cruise trade has also been developed from initial 3 sailings in 1992 to 40 during the 2009 season. It received a major boost with the official opening in late 2007, of a new cruise terminal enabling the largest ships to berth alongside Liverpool’s iconic Pier Head. The Port of Liverpool is also home to the UK’s largest free zone, Liverpool Freeport, accommodated in more than 3 million square feet of warehousing with another 400,000 sq ft planned, bringing the port’s total logistics accommodation to more than 4 million sq ft. However, a lack of good quality land and a lack of grade A warehousing have been identified as constraints to growth. The Economic and Employment Framework within this document acknowledges the importance of the Port to the wider regional economy and as such this project is critical to the overall employment prospects of North Liverpool.
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Risks • At the heart of Liverpool SuperPort is the development of the core infrastructure which will require not only the actual physical development of the assets but also sustained investment from a wide group of stakeholders and in line with the low carbon agenda. • Availability of port centric land to facilitate the expansion and attract additional logistics/distribution facilities. • Land use conflicts with surrounding residential areas need to be resolved along with further mitigation of environmental impacts along the road and rail networks. • Resolution of the conflict between Port uses and habitat creation and the position of the Seaforth Nature reserve need to be resolved and opportunities for new, innovative habitat creation carefully integrated with the attraction of related recreational activities. • The overall global positioning of the Port and its connectivity to markets around the world
A2. Port Expansion : Summary Total private sector investment
£100million
Nos of jobs (created and retained)
3000 new. 26,000 retained.
Likely public sector requirements
Planning, transport and marketing facilitiation
Key partners
Port of Liverpool, Sefton MBC, LCC, GONW, Mersey Maritime, Mersey Partnership, Merseytravel, NWDA
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A3. The Football Stadia The Opportunity The plans and aspirations of both Liverpool and Everton football clubs are for expansion and growth, whether within the boundaries of North Liverpool or beyond. Liverpool and Everton stadia are extremely important to the City as a major driver for market visibility, tourism and leisure. Liverpool FC in particular is a major international brand. The Liverpool FC proposals have triggered significant investment by the public sector in the restoration of the grade 2 listed Stanley Park with support from residents for a large scale redevelopment which will be further enhanced by better linkages with other initiatives such as a continuation of the areas housing programme. Alternative plans for a new stadium for Everton Football Club are currently being investigated, following the collapse of the strategy to move to Kirkby during the early baseline stage of this SRF work. Whilst there have been informal, professional opinions suggesting the pursuit of a joint stadium, this SRF is concerned to reflect the current approved LFC plans and the current EFC site search. What is clear is that the retail and residential investment that can accompany new stadia can combine to be very visible signs of regeneration and economic confidence in a place. These stadia are in many ways the” front door” to North Liverpool as much as the City Centre itself. This has not yet happened for Liverpool and whilst funding remains problematic, these schemes will be transformational, bringing a scale of opportunity that must be exploited. The new Anfield Stadium, Liverpool Football Club’s stunning new designs for their stadium in Stanley Park, were granted planning permission in November 2007. The stadium has been designed to allow for future expansion which will see the capacity increase but will be dependent on improvements to the local transport infrastructure. The scheme comprises of a new 60,000-seater football stadium incorporating a club museum and shop, club offices, ancillary conference and banqueting facilities, Community Partnership Centre and Car parking. External to the Stadium structure there will be landscaping works and further sports facilities including, tennis courts and Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGA). Access to the proposed new Stadium site has already been upgraded. A critical design consideration was to ensure the stadium sat naturally within its park environment, complementing its surroundings and a huge amount of work has been done to ensure this happens. The stadium will represent a massive investment in North Liverpool of around £350 million by Liverpool Football Club and is a key driver in the regeneration of the whole area. It sits at the heart of the Anfield – Breckfield masterplan which has been the focus for HMRi funding and many years of co-ordinated community engagement work. Alternative sites for the relocation of Everton FC are currently being explored as is remining in-situ at Goodison Park. A move away would leave the question of the current Goodison Park site to be resolved within any proposal. Based on previous expectations, EFC would require substantial enabling development on the current site with a residential and mixed-use led scheme to support the funding of a new stadium. A comprehensive neighbourhood plan approach is required for this part of North Liverpool. The football stadia opportunities sit within large family suburbs, characterised by difficult housing markets, surrounded by substantial urban parks and dissected by major road corridors scattered with low value retailing. The football clubs bring a high
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profile opportunity for the wider area but they cannot be treated as individual investments. They also both require substantial investment and funding at a time when both clubs are not financially strong. The combined impact of both clubs decisions must be maximised to the benefit of a much wider area – hence the approach outlined in section 5 to a broader neighbourhood plan. Both clubs also fund and manage substantial social support and community programmes and these must also be reflected in the transformational agenda for the area.
Risks • The overall neighbourhood impact on housing and community regeneration plans are contingent on some elements of the LFC scheme. • Availability of public and development funding to implement the LFC scheme continues as an issue in the short term. • Timing of decisions and funding of enabling development with regard to EFC still to be resolved. • Overall risks of losing momentum for both clubs. • Risk of piecemeal approaches if housing, retailing, environment and development opportunities are not integrated with the club’s plans.
A3. The Football Stadia : Summary Total private sector investment
£500m
Nos of jobs (created and retained)
770 (LFC) (EFC not yet assessed)
Likely public sector requirements
Neighbourhood Plan
Key partners
LCC, LFC, EFC, Private sector funders
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A4. Low Carbon Transformation The Opportunity Low Carbon Transformation is more a programme of activities than a specific project. These activities need to be developed as a set of combined physical and socioeconomic measures that are focussed in specific locations throughout the area. The activities cut across the three framework areas of Economy and Employment, People and Communities and Neighbourhoods and Places as they impact on all aspects of life, for example; attracting businesses in the energy and environmental sectors to locate to North Liverpool; offering training in environmental construction techniques; promoting the use of green technologies in new and existing homes and realising development opportunities from the areas natural assets of wind and a coastal location. Currently over 14MW of energy from wind is generated onshore within the SRF area. The transition to a low carbon economy provides an opportunity to develop a more local response to global climate and energy challenges. Investment in technologies and projects at a range of spatial scales is vital for North Liverpool. The transition is policy driven across all government departments and funding is available through a variety of mechanisms. North Liverpool is at the core of the Atlantic Gateway Framework which aims to create a “low carbon, sustainable, economic growth zone”. To achieve this aim a number of parallel actions are needed - some activities are already taking place but many more require concerted effort. The most critical element is the leadership and direction necessary to promote a coherent programme. The two local authorities are well placed to lead this and create the conditions under which a low carbon economy can develop – for example through site assembly, marketing, incentives, target setting and by embedding low carbon ideals in their own procurement processes and developments (such as embarking upon a retro-fit of housing stock as detailed in the projects listed below). However, this agenda can only succeed through effective partnership working with key stakeholders such as RSLs, private sector and the voluntary sector. The lead partners/agencies would have to provide a high level of strategic co-ordination to ensure that all the strands of activity (housing, business and enterprise initiatives) are integrated to maximise all funding opportunities and to ensure that a local response to the business opportunities is developed. Potential projects and activities include: • Raising awareness and utilisation of low carbon solutions in the wider business community (i.e. provision of independent advice and guidance, promoting energy audits and carbon footprint analysis, enabling innovation and investment) • Develop skills in the local labour market through supporting business to develop the skills required for low carbon building (in particular to retrofit housing stock) and working with colleges, schools and HE and FE providers. Existing social enterprises could provide capacity for delivery. • Linkage to the knowledge economy through the academy, the Universities, the health sector and the FE colleges to ensure access to the latest technologies and best practice. • Attract businesses engaged in the low carbon agenda through a marketing and land assembly strategy – aim to attract a nucleus of renewable energy technology based businesses. • Development of a Low Carbon Business Hub to provide state-of-the-art accommodation for business which embodies the principles of the low carbon agenda and acts as an exemplar low carbon scheme. The Eldonian Group are currently progressing proposals for an Enterprise Hub which closely reflect this aspiration. It is envisaged that the hub would act as a focal point for businesses
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in the sector and attract new businesses offering low carbon technology goods and services. The project would also use existing expertise in the universities and community organisations to improve the skills of the workforce. Such a facility would benefit from a location in the Northshore area where there is good potential to link with existing small business and to develop synergies with Liverpool Waters. It is critical that any scheme is economically sustainable as well as environmentally sustainable if it is to act as a true exemplar to others in the wider area. • The creation of public/private partnerships to directly generate and supply sustainable electricity and heat. For example, there may be potential to develop a renewable energy hub through a combined heat and power network given the large scale development schemes which are being brought forward in the residential, retail and commercial markets. The scale of proposed housing and commercial development provides an opportunity to develop new combined heat and power networks and distribution infrastructure. Other forms of sustainable energy including solar power and wind have been identified as possible opportunities for this area of Liverpool and planning and design measures should promote the area as an exemplar. • Generating demand in the public sector for low carbon products and services (through public regulation and procurement). For example, working with RSL’s to develop a significant programme of retrofit and the local skills to carry out the work.. Installation of micro energy generation schemes in the housing stock or by local community initiatives could bring in Feed in Tariff returns which could help to fund installation work given the 8% return as against borrowing rates for local authorities of around 4.5%. Encouraging private developers to future proof both commercial and residential schemes through more innovative renewable energy use and design could also be a linked opportunity. These actions will require a high level of strategic co-ordination to ensure housing, business and enterprise initiatives are integrated to maximise all funding opportunities and to ensure that a local response to the business opportunities is developed. Risks • The Low Carbon Economy is likely to be embraced by all cities competing for valuable funds and jobs. Those that fail to make the transition are likely to become marginalised in a changing economy. • Translating this economic driver into a place and site specific set of proposals requires high level co-ordination of funding and land assembly strategies.
A4. Low Carbon Transformation : Summary Total private sector investment
TBD
Nos of jobs (created and retained)
The Mini Stern Report highlights 6,000 -15,000 jobs available to the City region by 2015.
Likely public sector requirements
Multi agency approach with strong leadership is critical to success
Key partners
Wide range of partners across public, private and voluntary sector including: LCC, SMBC, education institutions, RSLs
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A5. Business Land and Premises The Opportunity The vast majority of employment land and premises in the North Liverpool SRF area is concentrated in area known as ‘North Shore’ 2. This includes three of the SRF areas; Area 1 (The Port), Area 2 (Liverpool Waters and Hinterland) and Area 3 (Port Hinterland). This area extends from the northern edge of the City Centre up to the operational port, along Waterloo Road/Regent Road and Great Howard St/Derby Road, generally contained to the west of the Liverpool - Southport railway line. This area has a very industrial character, there is great variation in the type, size and quality of premises, but the overall quality of premises and the environment is poor. Premises tend to be old, poorly maintained and poorly suited to the demands of modern industry. There are also a number of vacant and underused sites which are unkempt and detract from the environmental quality of the area. However, North Shore is very important to North Liverpool in terms of the employment it generates. The challenge over the lifetime of the SRF is to increase the value that North Shore contributes to the economy - this will mean encouraging business growth (both nurturing existing firms and attracting new firms in growth sectors), providing better quality premises in a more attractive environment and raising the skills of local residents to ensure they benefit from economic growth. There are several key opportunities that will help catalyse regeneration along the North Shore: Port – As highlighted in the Port Expansion section, the development of the Superport is constrained by a lack of good quality land and a lack of grade A warehousing. North Shore area has a key role to play in addressing this shortage by providing premises that meets modern day needs in terms of bay height, yard space, circulation and access. This area also needs to incorporate a buffer (or transitional zone) between the port and industrial uses and residential areas to minimise the impact of port activity and associated traffic on nearby residential communities. Liverpool Waters – As Liverpool Waters is developed over the next 30 years, adjacent land and premises will become more attractive to the market. The challenge for the SRF is to establish a framework to guide how these sites are developed in the future. Stanley Dock – The Stanley Dock complex dominates the central part of North Shore and is a key feature of the World Heritage Site. The complex is in a poor state of repair and only partly in use (as a Heritage Market). Up to now plans to redevelop the complex have been fruitless due to the vast scale of the buildings, cost of renovation and poor prevailing market conditions. The complex is in the process of being sold and the prospective owners are keen to explore redevelopment led by apartment-hotels. The regeneration of this site will inject new activity into the heart of North Shore and will catalyse development on adjacent sites. Limekilns/Pumpfields – The Limekilns/Pumpfields area is a key area of opportunity as it is the transitional area between the city centre and North Liverpool. This area includes Liverpool Community College and contains a mix of light industrial, residential uses including a number of sites and buildings that are derelict or under-utilised. This area has been the subject of a number of studies and proposals for redevelopment. In addition to these projects there are a wide range of other activities promoted through the SRF will have a positive impact on this area, including: • East west links: enhancing links between North Shore to the wider area is important to encourage movement through the area. The Spatial Framework notes key routes as Oil Street, Porter Street, Cotton Street, Boundary Street and Bankfield Street. • Radial routes: improving the image of the main arterial routes (Waterloo Road/Regent Road and Great Howard St/Derby Road) through addressing grot spots and greening.
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• Low carbon economy: this agenda offers the opportunity to re-think the connection between business growth requirements the notion of a low carbon economy in North Liverpool. This concept is wide ranging and encompasses offering premises with state-of-the-art environmental features, targeting businesses in energy/environment sectors and promoting innovation and enterprise. Land Assembly Strategy for North Shore Through the SRF, partners must seek to influence development along the North Shore to ensure the impact of the projects listed above is maximised. The lack of a ready stock of quality commercial sites and premises has been identified as an inhibitor. Fragmented land ownership means that areas of land of sufficient size to provide a nucleus for new development are unlikely to come forward in the short-medium term. Intervention may be required to protect employment uses in some areas and to gain control via assembly of some land of significant size to enable to work with important landowners and development of an overall master plan to bring forward redevelopment. Limited financial resources will be a significant challenge to the strategy. The following areas within the North Shore area have potential to support the projects identified above and would benefit from a land assembly strategy: • Leeds St/ Pumpfields area • Walter St/Boundary St area • Bankhall area
Risks The key risks associated with pursuing a strategy for business land and premises in North Shore are: • Harming the viability of existing businesses which have low turnover and are vulnerable to any changes in operating costs • A programme of land acquisition may inflate land values • There will be a high initial outlay to acquire fragmented sites and secure or provide a temporary treatment with no value gained until the larger developable site is created • Business investment is not only driven by the availability of quality land and premises. The investment will be undermined if there is not a skilled workforce to attract potential investors.
A5. Business Land and Premises – Summary Total private sector investment
TBD
Nos of jobs (created and retained)
6,000 retained, Nos of jobs created TBD
Likely public sector requirements
Facilitation, Strategy Development, Funding
Key partners
LCC, Vision, TMP, HCA, Peel, Private Landowners, Businesses
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A6. Developing 21st Century Skills The Opportunity Ensuring the workforce have the requisite skills to meet the needs of the modern economy is essential to enable economic growth. The workforce must have the right skills to attract investment and to stimulate enterprise (particularly in the knowledge sector) and residents must be equipped with the necessary skills to access jobs and contribute to economic growth. North Liverpool currently has a low skills base. The local economy grew on the basis of low-skilled jobs associated with the port and traditional industries. The decline of traditional sectors and economic restructuring presents a new challenge to business and residents alike. North Liverpool must embrace the 21st century skills agenda and partners across the sectors must work together to raise aspirations of young and old, increase residents’ skills and employability, promote indigenous enterprise, nurture existing businesses and attract new investment. The following highlights some of the ways that the 21st century skills agenda may be progressed through the SRF: • Engaging with residents has been problematic within certain pockets of North Liverpool. Real and perceived barriers to engagement must be addressed. Skills and employment initiatives must be targeted to assist people with motivation, skills and advice. One key challenge will be to raise the aspirations of residents and in particular young people. The role of the ageing population must also be addressed and the skills, insight, knowledge and experience of the ‘silver economy’ harnessed. Working effectively between and across the existing community groups active in North Liverpool will be crucial in achieving effective engagement of residents. A number of approaches that have been successful in parts of the city could be rolled out across North Liverpool for example, Ways to Work (intensive outreach) and Streets Ahead (pilot with RSLs). Projects which make clearer links between the curriculum and business, work placements and schemes that focus on particular growth sectors relevant to the local economy (i.e. visitor economy, port and energy sector) should be explored. • Fostering closer links with the universities is a key way that North Liverpool can grow the knowledge economy. Effective links could provide competitive advantage for local business by providing access to academic research and sectoral expertise and would also help to inspire young people to gain further education. Some examples of good practice already exist (for example Hope University links with the Friary Faith School in music), similar approaches could be developed around other specialisms with other schools and/or community groups. • Closer working with employers to ensure that the skills of workforce match the current and future demands of businesses and enabling local people to benefit from local employment opportunities. Arrangements to encourage businesses to train and recruit local residents have worked well in the past, particularly where they have targeted a specific area (i.e. Shop4Jobs and Speke Garston JET), and this type of initiative is likely form a key part of the 21st century skills agenda. The Construction Liverpool scheme will be an important tool for engaging with the private sector as it will formalise the requirement for businesses to train and recruit locally through contractual arrangements via s.106 planning obligations. Training provision should also be explored in conjunction with employers to ensure that the most relevant skills are being developed (similar to demand-led “Routeway” training). Linked to this is the potential to provide opportunities for apprenticeships and ensure such opportunities are better marketed to local people – clearly expressing the potential for increased
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earnings over their lifetime. These types of arrangements will be particularly important for large scheme such as Liverpool Waters to ensure local residents benefit from job creation during construction and beyond. • Construction skills is an important area for skills development in North Liverpool. Construction Liverpool will provide the mechanism by which developers are required to train and recruit locally. The construction sector may be attractive to many young local residents with low-skills and can provide a platform for gaining further skills and progressing into other employment. There may be a particular opportunity for North Liverpool to offer specialist construction skills associated with heritage and/or low carbon technologies to link with existing assets and sectoral strengths. • Involvement of RSLs is already a strong feature of the skills agenda through initiatives such as Streets Ahead and Ways to Work, but there is opportunity to develop this further. Key RSLs in Liverpool have recently signed up to a Housing and Worklessness Compact which will use the RSL role as employers, their procurement power, and provision of local services, to create more jobs and training opportunities. This will include targeting a percentage of job vacancies at local unemployed residents, and advertising all vacancies through Jobcentre Plus and local employment mechanisms, such as JET. RSLs will also commit to setting targets for local jobs and apprenticeships in their procurement documentation. There are also potential opportunities for local labour and skills related to energy retrofit of the housing market (see Low Carbon Transformation). Risks • Plethora of uncoordinated initiatives leading to confusion amongst businesses and residents and duplicating effort.
A6. Developing 21st Century Skills : Summary Total private sector investment
TBD (Construction Liverpool will help determine this)
Nos of jobs (created and retained)
TBD
Likely public sector requirements
Lead/partner in project development and management, facilitation, engagement of residents and businesses.
Key partners
LCC, Sefton MBC, Liverpool Vision, Job Centre Plus, RSLs, private sector, universities, schools and community groups
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B. People And Communities Framework 90
B1. A Total Place Approach - Family Support, Education & Skills The Opportunity Enhance education and skills and support children, families and vulnerable people are two of the five objectives set in the People and Communities Framework. The evidence shows that both are highly interlinked and represent the largest budgets spent by both local authorities and public partners into the SRF area. Making these budgets work harder is essential to ensure that these objectives are met and therefore the development of a total place approach and programme is a priority. The agenda is a complex one and is also a challenge at a national scale in all UK cities. Both local authorities have begun to develop such an approach for certain service areas across their areas. However, to be transformational and tackle the scale of issues in the SRF area a programme of work and projects needs to be developed which builds on the emerging approach and develops local solutions for local issues. Critical to delivery will be the leadership and direction needed to drive and develop a coherent programme and the willingness of partner agencies to buy into a total place approach and new ways of working. Service clustering will be a key priority for the Total Place Approach to Family Support Education and Skills Programme. This is a developing area already, for example Liverpool City Council is currently going through a process of implementing and reviewing opportunities to improve service delivery by clustering services for children, families and vulnerable adults around key existing facilities. It is also looking to finding opportunities to link or better organise services which are provided to families who fall into multiple user group categories. Families and Under 5s The most established model for service clustering is the Children Centre model which brings together services for under 5s, their families. This includes health and employment services to provide better integration and cost efficiencies. Everton Children’s Centre is the biggest in the City and an exemplar. Support for and further development of this model is a priority for the programme. Children and Schools The Children’s Centre model has been followed by in the Team Around the School model for individual secondary schools and primary school consortia. Engagement by schools and services so far is good and the expectation is that all children and their families will benefit from: • Swift and easy access to services. • Flexible support and provision tailored to a child’s needs. • Equity of access and services for all children. • Resources/services matched to demographic patterns of need. Vulnerable Adults Liverpool City Council is drawing up radical plans to transform service provision for vulnerable adults into a series of centres providing either 24/7 or 12/7 hour services depending on needs. Based on the children’s centre model of providing multiple, linked services from a single facility, the aim is to provide more cost effective and improved quality support and in doing so, transforming the Service in order to respond to the
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needs of service users in the 21st century. Consultation is currently taking place on the proposals and the proposed changes would then take place over the next 2-3 years. The Programme will need to develop and build on these advances in service provision to address the complex issues in the SRF area. The impact of the Benefits White paper will need to be considered in the development of the programme, along with opportunities for the two local authorities to look for common ground and examine the suitability of the area to trial new and innovative projects such as the Social Impact Bond, Think Family Projects and Social Worker Practice Pilot. Risks • Capacity and resources available following the CSR • Reduction in ABG grants and services it supports • A focus on specific areas potentially diverts resources from other areas of need • Lack of engagement or resistance to change by partners
B1. A Total Place Approach - Family Support, Education & Skills : Summary Total private sector investment
n/a
Nos of jobs (created and retained)
n/a
Likely public sector requirements
Commitment, leadership, resources
Key partners
LCC, Sefton MBC, PCTs, schools and service providers, community groups
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C. Neighbourhood And Places Framework 92
C1. Project Jennifer The Opportunity A new district centre will provide a focal point in the area and address retail and community service provision gaps. Great Homer Street was once a thriving area of North Liverpool and still has a strong community, but has suffered general decline over the last 30 years and is now in urgent need of redevelopment in line with current needs and future aspirations. District centres ultimately depend on the stability of markets from their surrounding communities, hence the need to increase the number of households across North Liverpool along with their disposable income, in order to support any retail offer. St Modwen Developments Ltd is working in partnership with Liverpool City Council on a major 45-acre mixed use regeneration project - Project Jennifer - to revitalize the Great Homer Street district centre. Planning permission has been granted for the scheme, comprising: • Largest superstore in Merseyside (115,000 sq/ft gross). • 1000 customer car parking spaces. • 80,000 sq/ft of additional retail units from 2,000 sq/ ft to 20,000 sq/ft. • 20,000 sq ft leisure unit. • 480 apartments/townhouses. • 70,000 sq/ft of business accommodation. • New market hall. • 300 outdoor market stalls. • Extensive public realm works across the whole site. • Primary Care Trust and library. There is an existing detailed masterplan for this substantial site which sets out clear stated intentions and aims: • To provide a great new centre for Everton and new and improved facilities in an important location in North Liverpool. • To attract new shops and businesses to the area and provide much more choice for local people. • To provide new state of the art community facilities - to include a health centre and Sure Start Centre. • To integrate new development and provide relocation space for existing businesses. • To set new standards of design and dramatically improve the local environment. • To ensure all local people are provided with accessible, high quality services and amenities. • To strengthen the Market and extend the number of days it operates. • To give local businesses and residents a real say in how the area develops. • To create jobs in both the short term and the long term for local people. • To really change the image and perception of North Liverpool and provide a boost for the area so it can keep on improving.
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Risks • CPO and relocation issues leading to delays and increased costs • Funding issues affecting scale and impact of scheme • Unmanaged impact on other district centres
A New Vision for North Liverpool
C1. Project Jennifer : Summary
Project Jennifer - Great Homer Street Bigger and Better
Total private sector investment
£150 million
Nos of jobs (created and retained)
2,000
Likely public sector requirements
CPO powers £4.5 million to deliver managed workspace element
Key partners
LCC, St Modwen, StepClever
For the last two years Liverpool City Council – through the
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C2. Housing Market Restructuring The Opportunity The housing offer within North Liverpool must be of a quality which provides opportunities for those who are in work to be attracted to live in the area. Areas on the edge of the City Centre and the opportunities presented at Liverpool Waters are appropriate for high density developments when the market re-balances. In contrast there are four Housing Market Renewal areas within North Liverpool that aim to provide new and refurbished housing primarily for families. The main thrust of the HMRI programme is to ensure that the range of housing is suitable for all. There needs to be the housing offer to keep and attract economically active residents to the area, by providing quality homes with gardens and driveways to complement the current housing offers. The four core HMRI programmes that have been the focus for activity in recent years and within which significant investment has already been made are: • Stanley Park (Anfield/Breckfield Renewal Area) • City Centre North • Klondyke • Queens/Bedford The investments made in these areas will contribute to the regeneration of North Liverpool by: • underpinning a stable and cohesive community structure for North Liverpool • addressing negative perceptions • providing sustainable neighbourhoods with quality housing and access to services for all residents. Opportunities for continuing site assembly and the implementation of development agreements to build new affordable family housing in these areas are vital to the SRF process. The outcomes that can be delivered through the Housing Market Restructuring process will add value to the aims of the SRF and will ultimately provide the new and improved housing and increased levels of choice that will attract and retain residents to improved, attractive and popular neighbourhoods. Through the neighbourhood development plans it will be important to re–visit principles around housing density and distinct development character areas. This is referred to in the spatial framework presented later in this report. The development and promotion of individual and distinct neighbourhoods that are accessible, safe and attractive with local scale open spaces and niche local services, easy access to public transport and high amenity housing will attract new families. This will not happen on a site by site basis. All other factors within this SRF need to be simultaneously progressed and places and neighbourhoods created and re- created. Housing Market Renewal The HMR programme is making a significant contribution to restructuring North Liverpool’s housing market. With the clearance of poor quality properties, provision of new well-designed, energy efficient homes and refurbishment of existing homes, the changing market should continue to be monitored and the programme reviewed. Across Liverpool and Sefton HMR areas, the programme includes a large number of sites of differing characteristics and development potential. These sites should be developed
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as integrated parts of wider area plans, each providing the appropriate housing (and possible mixed-use) offer released to the market over a programmed timescale. Sites assembled, cleared and awaiting longer-term development should be considered as interim green infrastructure assets and possible temporary uses, (including community gardens, allotments, food production, tree planting and greening, renewalable energy generation schemes, neighbourhood leisure and recreation,) assessed through neighbourhood planning. Liverpool Waters New Growth Point Site The Liverpool Waters proposals are for a mixed use scheme including approximately 9,000 residential units. The precise details of the scheme may evolve as it unfolds over it’s 30 year timeframe, however at its heart, is an aspiration and an opportunity for growth which should be championed as a goal for North Liverpool. It has the long term opportunity to provide a new live-work environment and it can provide a vision for a scale of opportunity which, if only a small portion is realised, would still be a significant step forward for the fortunes of North Liverpool. The particular housing market this development is seeking to create would be entirely new to Liverpool, not just North Liverpool, and opportunities for new forms of housing should be fully explored. Stanley Park (Anfield/Breckfield Renewal Area) This is an area of approximately 4960 properties, the vast majority of which were constructed prior to 1919.The area has suffered from acute housing market failure in one of the country’s most deprived areas. The redevelopment of the area is focused on a mixed approach of refurbishment and clearance and new build. The clearance and new build programme is well underway with over half of the 1,700 properties scheduled for demolition bought in by the local authority and ready for or already demolished to create sites for development. The first development site is now also underway, providing 72 homes for sale and rent. The lead
developer for the area, Keepmoat Homes will remain on site now until the entire masterplan is delivered over the next 10 years. The refurbishment programme is also well established with over 750 properties having received external environmental improvements of up to £10,000, which has led to private investment in properties to an average of £7,000 per house. City Centre North This is an area that has suffered from massive depopulation over the past 50-60 years and ranks amongst the most deprived in the country. The legacy of clearance programmes during this period has created a large number of vacant sites. Most of the housing reprovision has been for social rent, contributing to an imbalanced housing market with a lack of housing choice. The Council’s housing strategy for the area adopts a mixed approach to renewal. Refurbishment is predominantly lead by Government energy-efficiency programmes in existing private homes and RSL’s achieving Decent Homes Standards in their housing. The Council’s HMR land assembly programme is progressing with its continued selective demolition of unsustainable social housing and property acquisition. This will create 29 priority development sites - approximately 42 hectares of land for the construction of up to 2,000 high-quality affordable homes, predominantly for sale. The delivery of this new housing by the HMR Lead developer, David Wilson Homes, and lead RSL, LHT is underway including Dorrington Gardens and Devonshire Place completed and Easby on site. The HMR progamme is complemented by other private housing proposals in the area include Project Jennifer and Poets Park. Klondyke This is a neighbourhood of 1,000 19th century back of pavement two up two down terraced houses surrounded by derelict and contaminated sites adjacent to the Leeds and Liverpool canal. Already subject in part to a confirmed CPO, the
proposals are part of a comprehensive scheme which involves extensive restructuring of land uses and the creation of a new urban village. The extra funding will accelerate the removal of the worst and lowest value housing matched by the development of new private housing on a rolling programme. Bedford/Queens The Bedford Queens neighbourhood is a n area of nearly 220 hectares to the south of the Sefton HMRI boundary covering the area south of Bootle town centre. It comprises predominantly of residential property, large portions of which are terraced stock developed at the turn of the century to house dockworkers and their families. Over the latter half of the 20th century the area suffered from progressive economic decline, fewer households had the income necessary to invest in their properties and the condition of private housing stock began to suffer. As with other HMRI areas, issues associated with a declining area began to manifest themselves in problems such as crime and anti-social behaviour.
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Risks • The Audit Commission has identified the NewHeartlands Pathfinder as having a strong need for continued investment. • The NewHeartlands programme has built up a momentum which is supported by residents and RSL and developer partners. The NewHeartlands programme has, through confirmed CPOs (i.e. with the Secretary of State’s agreement), entered into more legal liabilities than any other Pathfinder. It is imperative that funding continues to facilitate the land assembly programme and to provide support to existing residents throughout the redevelopment of these areas.
C2. Housing Market Restructuring : Summary Total private sector investment
TBD
Nos of jobs (created and retained)
TBD
Likely public sector requirements
TBD
Key partners
David Wilson Homes, Keepmoat Homes, Arena Housing, Liverpool Housing Trust, NewHeartlands, Sefton MBC
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C3. Green Infrastructure The Opportunity New family housing must be of a quality which provides opportunities for those who are With heritage parks, urban parks, canal-side, river frontage and extensive tracts of under used land, north Liverpool has no shortage of open space or green infrastructure. The distribution of both the quantity and the quality of open space is highly variable across the area. What is lacking, is a coherent, accessible and consistently well managed landscape that both benefits the lives of local people and attracts investors and visitors. More than most places, North Liverpool is characterised by the tracts of underused land and spaces which can remain undeveloped for between three years and 50 years. This temporary open space is a separate opportunity requiring a new and innovative approach to land use and management over many years. The physical transformation of North Liverpool will be about development, investment and the building of new homes and new business premises but also it will need to be about the creation of the cohesive and sustainable green infrastructure that will frame the fragmented urban setting and establish a longer term structure within which new developments can take place. The more successful Liverpool neighbourhoods are characterised by a cohesive urban pattern of wide boulevards on the main highways. There is an opportunity here to implement an innovative Green Infrastructure Programme that is both in line with the emerging Liverpool city-wide Green Infrastructure Plan and also develops a more detailed neighbourhood strategy and programme of action. The programme will focus on the following key objectives: 1. Within the city wide LDF process support the work with the Primary Care Trust to develop healthy urban planning policies for a City Green Infrastructure Plan, including a robust evidence base. 2. Development of a North Liverpool Green Infrastructure programme that incorporates: a. Overarching aspirations for the permanent open space infrastructure of North Liverpool. b. Overarching proposals for the North Liverpool approach to arboricultural management. c. Detailed Neighbourhood Open Space Profiles. d. Medium term proposals for the development of a sustainable approach to temporary open space. e. Immediate proposals to enhance the opportunities afforded from some of the more under-recognised open space assets such as Everton Park and the Canal. f. Immediate programmes of activity to improve the visual appearance of local neglected land and trees.
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Risks Primary risks to the development of a cohesive and comprehensive green infrastructure programme for North Liverpool are: • The built environment is highly fragmented which will make production of a coherent green infrastructure plan more challenging. • Limited resources and limited opportunities to draw in external resources for delivery. • Temporary sites will be a continuing issue as a result of the extensive amount of redevelopment required across the area.
C3. Green Infrastructure : Summary Total private sector investment
TBD from a mix of schemes including waterfront access provided by Liverpool Waters, developer contributions.
Nos of jobs (created and retained)
TBD
Likely public sector requirements
Funding £200k strategic work, £10m capital. Policy Framework, management
Key partners
LCC, SMBC, PCT, Merseyforest, community, Private Landowners
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North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
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C4. North Liverpool Neighbourhood Management The Opportunity The North Liverpool and South Sefton wards have experienced long-standing problems including poor housing, high levels of crime, environmental blight, and negative image. The longevity of challenge and change experienced by some residents has not only negatively impacted on their lives, but continues to present additional costs to Liverpool and Sefton authorities, partners and national Government. It is widely understood that the most intractable issues often require the highest degree of local know-how and an active contribution from a wide range of agencies to resolve. Increased partnership working is about developing intelligence-led, shared work programmes, collective allocation of resources and providing a seamless service to customers. This can be best done where services work to the same agendas, work cultures and programmes; in short, in an integrated way. It is therefore proposed to test out new ways of delivering services in neighbourhoods. This will start with a pilot in three North Liverpool wards, Anfield, County and Kirkdale. This will see the establishment of a North Liverpool Action Team (NLAT) which will be an integrated team that will concentrate activity and resources across the three wards to test out a partnership team approach within a single management framework. The team will focus on the five themes identified through the Neighbourhood Partnership Working Groups (Healthy Communities and Older People, Children and Young People, Economic Development and Enterprise, Safer Stronger Communities and Physical Regeneration) and will report directly on progress made or otherwise. In the first instance action plans will be drawn up for a 12 week period. The NLAT will give partners the ability to review their delivery of service, add to or remove elements of their service, working with others to achieve greater results and make a distinct measurable impact through working in partnership. The first phase of the NLAT Pilot runs to 6th December 2010. Sefton are pursuing a lighter Total Place programme based on a small set of “narrow but deep” pilots in selected settings. These are based on a core methodology which can be replicated across the SBP’s members following the pilot stage.
Risks • Operational risk in terms of delivery will form part of existing risk control measures as adopted by stakeholders, partners and city council services • Insufficient partner buy in • Reducing operation budgets
C4. North Liverpool Neighbourhood Management : Summary Total private sector investment
TBD
Nos of jobs (created and retained)
TBD
Likely public sector requirements
TBD
Key partners
Plus Dane, LCC, SMBC, PCT, Police, Fire and Rescue, Vicinity Group, Mersey Care Trust, Seddon, PSS, Liverpool Hope University, Riverside, Liverpool Vision, Biennial, Open Culture.
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C5. Everton Park The Opportunity Everton Park is a 40 hectare green space in the heart of North Liverpool with unbeatable views over the city and river. It was created in the 1980s following housing clearance programmes. Its beginnings and its challenging topography, including some very steep slopes, give it a character very different from the city’s Victorian civic parks. It currently serves a local community function but its aspect and location, just a short walk from Lime Street Station, gives it the potential to be one of the City’s top visitor attractions, offering the best views of the City Centre, the waterfront and the World Heritage Site. In this way it could follow the example of Gaudi’s Parc Guell in Barcelona. In addition, it could function more effectively as a focal point for the surrounding communities, being underused compared with other large city parks. The area is also at the hub of an emerging cluster of creative industries. There are opportunities around the local interest and energy focused on the Biennial to develop creative products that could help boost visitors to the area. Recently the park has been the venue for a successful community arts festival, Out of the Blue, and a Kite Festival. On its western side, the park links with Project Jennifer, the major mixed-use redevelopment of Great Homer Street district centre. At its northern end is the former Everton Library, a grade II listed local landmark, for which the Council is seeking new uses, possibly linked to creative industries. CABE Space has been contributing to a growing body of evidence that demonstrates how green spaces can offer lasting economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits. It links high-quality green spaces with increased house prices and demonstrates their role in tackling anti-social behaviour. Examples elsewhere in the Liverpool such as Sefton Park and Calderstones Park show how a park can become central to and a main attractor within a desirable urban neighbourhood. There is an opportunity to rethink Everton Park with a view to realising its potential both as a major visitor attraction in its own right and as a local facility that brings together local communities rather than acting as a barrier between them. Since this is a modern park with development unrestricted by listing, for example, the thinking can be radical if necessary.
C5. Everton Park : Summary
Risks
Total private sector investment
TBD
Nos of jobs (created and retained)
TBD
Likely public sector requirements
Funding, planning, project development
Key partners
LCC, Biennial, Liverpool Vision
• Bringing together the different community interests around the park • Likely significant public funding requirement • Success as a visitor attraction is dependent on convenient and attractive links from City Centre
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North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
5.0 The Spatial Framework This SRF tackles a myriad of issues and opportunities encompassing economic prospects, employment, service delivery, housing markets and communities and their needs. All of these elements have a spatial dimension and will exert some influence on the shape of North Liverpool. This section provides an overarching spatial framework to guide the future physical development of North Liverpool over the next 20 years. The purpose of this spatial framework is to ensure that the physical infrastructure meets the future needs of North Liverpool. In the future the spatial plan will be articulated in more detail at a local level through the proposed neighbourhood and districts plans. Initial outline versions of the neighbourhood and districts plans are set out in the following section as a basis for future elaboration. This section set out the overarching spatial framework that provides the context for local action. Routes to the East and West Reconnecting to the river There are a number of primary routes that connect North Liverpool to its city core. They run in close proximity east of the docks; north to south. Routes linking west to east are limited despite the fact that the original north Liverpool community historically grew to serve the docks and waterfront. The north Liverpool urban grid can still be seen but as a movement network it has eroded as new uses and development has changed the original character. The SRF looks to re-stitch the main northward routes together with east west routes. This means re-opening streets that have been closed off, or the remodelling of newer streets such as cul-de-sacs and dead ends to help link communities and opportunities together. The aim is to open up areas east of the dock wall providing a new grid of movement and access within which change can happen.
To the south on the city edge the SRF proposes a call to action at Leeds Street and Islington. Both these routes represent areas where significant change needs to happen to first join together the city core with the north but also as the very first proper east-west route connecting the city to its waterfront. The North Liverpool Vision for a sustainable future has to be implemented by local people and organizations. This document helps to provide a strategic context for taking forward a new approach to the north of the City. It is intended to allow everyone to move forward towards a common goal. This is a vision that will inform the hundreds of interests in the City Region with a stake in creating a North Liverpool that must now emerge from previous generation’s concerns with loss of viability and purpose and plan for the re-invention and interaction of social, economic and environmental sustainability. It’s clear that North Liverpool needs to work towards a new pattern of change A new set of structuring principles. The north of the city needs a new pattern to aspire to. The core idea is to re-imagine North Liverpool as a place of distinctive suburbs and neighbourhoods on the periphery of the city core and linked to the waterfront. Whilst this might seem a simple and obvious vision the forces of change North Liverpool has experienced has worked against this place- making urban model. This strategy promotes a third generation of urban fabric which seeks to re-connect the area back to the city core and the river but also looks to create a new sense of sustainable, change and identity.
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North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
Overall Spatial Concept Like other water side cities, Liverpool’s overall pattern is hemispherical. What it loses in not having a complete radial structure it gains in its magnificent Mersey setting. The growth of the waterfront, north and south, is key to the City’s growth. In the north, as projects like Liverpool Waters extend City Centre densities, uses and investment is in a narrow band along the waters edge. The problem with the City’s northern edge is that it drops away far too quickly. Areas beyond Leeds Street are low in density, far too open, restricted in movement and in many cases, poor in quality. The spatial framework – to be confirmed through detailed neighbourhood planning - seeks to address this by seeking to remodel densities, introducing new uses and improving access so that the City can grow its urban rim outwards. Different neighbourhoods will develop to reflect their different identities and mixes of use and densities will be more appropriate to 21st century living and working requirements. As the city rim pushes outwards so too does the suburban band. The idea here is to strengthen places like Kirkdale and Anfield into distinct suburban districts beyond the city rim. They have their own sense of self and locality nestling into their topography and history as thriving sustainable places clearly distinct from the city core and beyond the city rim. Their housing markets, reflecting the wider economic and demographic challenges, are what will characterise them in the future. This urban model also allows distinct towns to emerge beyond the city core. Bootle becomes a town on its own terms beyond the suburban band of Liverpool.
107 Along the river the port expands and business area grows in quality and strength. Investment is attracted the sector trade from good quality premises. New areas are identified which could support the growth of the port, promoting a more effective interface between port and community – for the first time in it’s history. To the south the concept looks to join the north back to its urban core while at the same time help the City grow in a more meaningful and legible way. New areas of mixed use straddle the area towards Leeds Street which, combined with powerful infrastructure projects, spread the vibrancy of the City northwards while reconnecting the north back to the City Centre. Liverpool Waters, Project Jennifer and Everton Park come together along the southern edge of the SRF area and catalyse the transformation from the edge of the City Centre towards the north. Elsewhere the concept looks to develop a new sense of place and identity. The existing neighbourhoods and districts are the areas strength. The concept looks to strengthen these, consolidate their cores and reconnect them back to each other. Where necessary the strategy looks for cleared sites to be used for new gardens, woodland and parks – creating a strong green infrastructure. These choices and decisions on a site by site basis need to be made at a local level through the neighbourhood development plans and masterplans where relevant.
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North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
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The SRF looks to re-stitch the main northward routes together with more east west through routes. This means reopening streets that have been closed off or the remodelling District/Local of newer streets such Centres cul de sacs and dead ends to help link communities and opportunities together. The aim is to open up areas east of the dock wall providing a new grid of movement and access within which University Campus change can happen.
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To the south on the city edge the SRF proposes a significant infrastructure Community Council project at Leeds Street and Islington to help repair the severance between North Liverpool and its city core. The intention is to extend Leeds Street across Gibraltar Row into Princess Dock from which better Primary Schools connection scan be made into Liverpool Waters and south into Old Hall Street. Islington is an improved access way into the city.
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North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
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The creation of an open space hierarchy will ensure that all areas in the SRF Key Existing East/West connec boundary fall within a suitable proximity to a range of open spaces. Existing green links will form the basis of the green New network wheres possible. New linear east-west strategic green routes willKey Proposed East/West conne enhance the existing network and provide improved city-wide legibility. These routes will allow for Rdirect access out of the City Key I e-in f to the surrounding Greenbelt and SSSI n areas via a series of recreational open spaces and routes. urban com ub
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The Leeds-Liverpool canal corridor will undergo a greening strategy and Waterside Development incorporate a series of pocket parks to provide an invaluable north south route through the area in addition to enhancing the landscape, heritage and wildlife value of the water course. These pocket parks where possible will be Brownfield sites reclaimed and given back to open space. The southern end of the canal will provide the much needed link to the City Centre improving the current limited access to green space. At the north of the site, the Seaforth Nature Reserve will be drawn south with the creation of new wildlife habitats off the coast. Elsewhere the City’s coastal zone will be protected and enhanced where existing habitats are located. Both existing and proposed open spaces should strive to provide the greatest variety of recreational activities as possible, and maintain flexibility to allow for future adaption if needs change. In certain open space the promotion of tree planting will work with the plans to expand the Mersey Forest and should be strategically located to enhance or create buffers between major residential communities.
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North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
The Spatial Framework
Figure 11 : Spatial Framework
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North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
6.0 District and Neighbourhood Plans The SRF is considered to be an ‘umbrella document’ which provides the strategic context for more detailed delivery plans which will follow to guide change in the short term and at the local level.
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This section provides an initial basis for progressing district and neighbourhood plans in the future. The following explains the district and neighbourhood planning process and then for each area sets out an initial framework including:
neighbourhood planning will convert the long-term strategic plan adopted for North Liverpool (the SRF), into a more detailed and operational proposal that ensures residents are fully involved in developing plans for change in their communities.
The following are the eight areas that form the basis of the district and neighbourhoods plans:
• A brief description of the area
In common with the SRF, the neighbourhood and district plans cover more than land use and development, they encompass three strands of economy and employment; people and communities; and neighbourhoods and communities.
Area 3 Port Hinterland
We acknowledge that as with the SRF overall, we are not starting from scratch and some neighbourhoods already have advanced plans and strategies. The neighbourhood and district plans are intended to be a means of coordinating this activity across the various areas and partners to ensure it effectively contributes to the vision for North Liverpool.
Area 7 City Family Suburbs (Kirkdale, Vauxhall, Everton & Eldonian Village.)
• Key regeneration principles distilled from the SRF’s three frameworks and the spatial framework; • Key proposals for action (including physical transformational projects); and • An illustrative plan. Districts and Neighbourhood Planning Process The SRF area has been divided into eight district and neighbourhood areas. It is proposed that these areas will form the basis for future more detailed district and neighbourhood plans. These areas deliberately do not conform to existing administrative boundaries or traditional perceptions of communities. The boundaries were drawn with reference the spatial characteristics of the area; main roads, the canal, type of use and the style of development (urban form). These areas are merely intended to act as building blocks for the SRF – manageable sections with common characteristics that allow the SRF to be taken forward in a phased and structured manner. The proposition is that a comprehensive approach to
The timing and priority given to the development of each neighbourhood plan should reflect the resources available to partners and the nature of the opportunities and challenges on the ground. Extensive consultation and engagement of residents and businesses will be crucial in taking forward the district and neighbourhood plans. The timescale and detailed process required to take forward the plans must be defined in future SRF Delivery Plans.
Area 1 The Port Area 2 Liverpool Waters & Hinterland
Area 4 Seaforth Area 5 Bootle Area 6 City Family Suburbs (Anfield and Breckfield)
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North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
Figure 12 : District and Neighbourhood Boundaries Area Boundaries Area 1 The Port Area 2 Liverpool Waters & Hinterland Area 3 Port Hinterland Area 4 Seaforth Area 5 Bootle a
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Area 6 City Family Suburbs (Anfield and Breckfield) Area 7 City Family Suburbs (Kirkdale, Vauxhall, Everton & Eldonian Village.) Area 8 City Fringe
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North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
Figure 13 : Neighbourhood and District Plan – Area 1 : The Port
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Proposals
This area is dominated by the operational Port and includes the industrial land to the west of the A565 (Derby Road). It abuts the Seaforth Nature Reserve to the north and residential areas of Seaforth to the east.
1. Develop a masterplan to resolve the conflict between the port and nonport related business uses and the residential areas of Seaforth. This should consider the expansion of the buffer zone east of Derby Road. (See also Area 4)
The Port, which incorporates the UK’s largest free zone, continues to be a vital economic driver, not just for North Liverpool but also within the regional context. With around 25,000 jobs linked to port related trade, manufacturing and logistics it is an important district in its own right with a distinct set of locational and spatial requirements and impacts. The Super Port and Post Panamax plans for an expanded river terminal will double Liverpool’s container capacity. The Port is critical to the wider economic functioning and competitiveness of the sub region. It’s physical presence and strategic operational requirements need to be addressed through detailed masterplanning. This needs to be undertaken in a way that addresses the relationship with surrounding residential neighbourhoods.
2. Support proposals for the post Panamax port expansion. This is an essential component of the Superport concept and important to the economic growth linked to the port and logistics sector. 3. Improve transport routes and connections out of the port, across the A5036 and A565. 4. Enhance the appearance of key routes through landscaping and orientated development to create interesting frontages along main road frontages. 5. Explore opportunities for renewable energy generation within the port and the River. 6. Enhance pedestrian links between the port district, through residential neighbourhoods into Bootle Town Centre 7. Enhance pedestrian links east- west, in particular reducing the barrier effect created by Derby Road. 8. Improve the role of canal tow paths as green corridors and local connections as part of the overarching green infrastructure strategy across the SRF. 9. Develop a strategy and focused plan to guide and manage the relationship between the port and the Seaforth nature reserve. Innovative options for the creation of new habitats should be explored. A key principle should be to enhance public access to these interesting landscapes, viewpoints and habitats to contribute to the area’s green profile.
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Figure 14 : Neighbourhood and District Plan – Area 2 : Liverpool Waters & Hinterland
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This area is centered around Liverpool Waters and includes the surrounding employment uses along the North Shore. It extends from the northern edge of the city centre up to Bramley Moore Dock (Boundary Street) and is bounded to the east by the railway line. It includes much of the North Shore employment area.
1. Influence the proposals for Liverpool Waters to ensure it makes effective links with the city centre and the rest of North Liverpool and maximises the regeneration benefit.
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Liverpool Waters is the largest proposed development scheme in the City and the recently submitted planning application is the biggest in the Country. Liverpool Waters will be a new vibrant destination for people to live, work and visit comprising a mix of housing, commercial office space, leisure, culture and community facilities, centred around restored docks and high quality public realm. A key challenge for all partners is to ensure that the development complements investment in the City Centre and anchors the regeneration of North Liverpool. This area is critical in ensuring this occurs by knitting Liverpool Waters into the surrounding fabric of the area. A further challenge for the SRF is the long (30 years) timescale envisaged for development. The regeneration of this swathe of land cannot be wholly dependant upon the timescales associated with Liverpool Waters, other key sites should be bought forward in a way which contributes the vision for the area and the potential to deliver quick wins and temporary uses should be explored. This area is a significant employment hub and should be supported to ensure new investment is attracted in the future. There are particular opportunities to exploit links with the port and explore green technologies and renewable energy.
2. Explore ways of stimulating and encouraging investment to raise the quality of the business and trading environments in North Shore. 3. Improve layout of the Leeds Street / King Edwards Street junction to enhance the interface between the city centre and Liverpool Waters. It is critical to effectively integrating Liverpool Waters with the city centre by creating an extension to Old Hall Street. The junction must be made more pedestrian friendly without unduly compromising the transport network. 4. Improve east-west connections from the waterfront, through Liverpool Waters across the main arterial routes to allow and encourage movement between the communities in North Liverpool. Particular attention should be paid to scope to enhance connections at Chisenhale Street, Stanley Dock/canal and Boundary Street. 5. Work with the owners of Stanley Warehouse to restore the complex and bring it back into productive use. This iconic historic building presents the opportunity to act as positive catalyst for regeneration of the surrounding parts of North Shore. It will be important to ensure the proposals for Stanley Dock and Liverpool Waters complement each other. 6. Create a continual pedestrian/cycle route along the waterfront to link with the Mersey Waterfront Regional Park. 7. Explore the potential for quick wins and temporary uses within Liverpool Waters site and the adjacent areas of North Shore. Schemes to improve appearance of derelict or underutilised land and schemes to capitalise upon heritage assets should be a particular target.
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Figure 15 : Neighbourhood and District Plan – Area 3 : Port Hinterland
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This area lies between Derby Road (A565) and the railway, between Boundary Street in the south and Balliol Road to the north. The north-south aligned routes of Derby Road, the canal and railway line inhibit east-west movement. The area is characterised by a mix of predominantly low grade light industrial and retail trade employment uses. Key features of the area include Wellington Business Park, Tate and Lyle and Millers Bridge Industrial Estate.
1. Support investment to increase the quality of employment uses across the area. A mixture of approaches will be required to respond the particular site opportunities, but is likely to include refurbishment, new development and environmental improvements. Priorities for investment should be guided by a wider employment/ acquisition strategy. 2. Improve the attractiveness of the canal as a pedestrian and cycle link across the area and a recreational resource as part of the wider SRF green infrastructure plan. 3. Promote mixed development opportunities close to Bank Hall and Sandhills railways stations to capitalise on their potential role a hubs of activity. 4. Promote improvements to the key corridors of Stanley Road and Regent Road.
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Figure 16 : Neighbourhood and District Plan – Area 4 : Seaforth
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Proposals
This area comprises the residential area of Seaforth. It is bounded by Rimrose Road / Crosby Road South (A565) to the west, Stanley Road to the east, Balliol Road to the south and Pricess Way (A5036) to the north.
1. Develop a masterplan resolve the conflict between the port and nonport related business uses and the residential areas of Seaforth (see also Area 1). This should consider the expansion of the buffer zone east of Derby Road and the reduction of residential uses directly to the east of the A565. In this area particular focus should be given to neighbourhood planning and engagement with residents as well as other public and private interests.
Seaforth is a residential neighbourhood bounded by the operational port and suffers from environmental and infrastructure issues associated with this. Princess Way (A5036), Seaforth Road, Knowsley Road and Marsh Lane all dissect the residential streets, with the railway line to the east forming a physical boundary. The balance between the practical transportation needs of the Port and the quality of life for immediate residents needs to be addressed. The housing market and the economic role and function of Seaforth need to underpin the development of a neighbourhood plan. The primarily residential community within Seaforth demands local engagement as opportunities around investment at the Port are taken forward.
2. The local role and contribution of the district shopping centre and the suitability of local services should be tested along as part of the neighbourhood planning exercise for Seaforth. 3. Explore the potential to use green infrastructure and green technologies to minimise the impact of pollution associated with port on local communities. Highway, drainage, waste and environment strategies should be developed in tandem in order to seek to innovative solutions. This should be developed in a way that integrates ecological, environmental, economic and community needs. 4. Enhance pedestrian and vehicular connections to Bootle Strand to allow easier physical access to services, shops and employment for the residents of Seaforth (see also Area 5).
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Figure 17 : Neighbourhood and District Plan – Area 5 : Bootle and environs
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Area 5 : Bootle and environs
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Bootle Town Centre is the largest economic, administrative and commercial centre in Sefton. It directly serves the communities of Seaforth, Waterloo, Orrell, Litherland and Thornton as well as communities across North Liverpool. Although it sits just six miles north of the Liverpool City Centre it is a town centre and a key economic driver in its own right, providing jobs, shopping and administration for nearly 100,000 people.
1. Develop a neighbourhood plan to a level of detail that confirms priorities for action and ensures coordination with the town centre masterplan
Bootle has extensive commercial office space - it is home to several major public sector agencies including the Inland Revenue, the Health and Safety Executive and Sefton Council. It also has a large amount of retail floorspace focussed along Stanley Road and in particular in Bootle Strand Shopping Centre. The town also benefits from two train station (Bootle Oriel Road and Bootle New Strand) and attractive public parks.
4. Explore opportunities to improve the Stanley Road corridor through consolidating retail/ business premises, bringing empty properties back into use and environmental improvements.
However, the town centre requires strategic investment to address some issues associated with quality of the retail offer and customer experience, vacant space, the quality of the public realm and connectivity with surrounding area. It has been the subject of a number of studies and the a town centre masterplan has encapsulated the key principles for revitalisation. The SRF should help ensure investment in the town centre is in the context of the vision for the wider area and is complemented by other strategic actions.
2. Investigate opportunities to re-model and refurbish Bootle Strand Centre Shopping Centre. 3. Enhance the quality of the townscape particularly along key routes and at arrival points.
5. Continue to support housing market renewal, placing priority on the Hawthorne Road and Bedford / Queens areas. 6. Enhance the canal as a pedestrian / cycle link through the area and as a recreational resource as part of the wider green network across the SRF area.
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Figure 18 : Neighbourhood and District Plan – Area 6 : City Family Suburbs (Anfield and Breckfield) Area 6 : City Family Suburbs (Anfield and Breckfield)
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This area is an extensive tract of North Liverpool, which encompasses many communities in the north east of the SRF area. The area includes: two large urban parks (the recently renovated Stanley Park lies at the centre of the area and Walton Hall Park lies at the north of the area); Everton FC and Liverpool FC’s stadia; and two district centres (Breck Road and County Road). This area has huge potential to be a vibrant family suburb, but despite a long history of investment in regeneration it is still burdened by severe socio-economic deprivation which has manifested in physical deterioration of buildings and the public realm. The SRF is well positioned to coordinate regeneration efforts and thus maximise their impact. This area has been a focus for housing market renewal activity and it is crucial that the momentum for change is sustained in order to strengthen the housing market. The SRF should provide the wider context for the proposals set out in the Anfield Breckfield masterplan and help improve amenity for residents and build confidence in the area. Delivering actions under the People and Communities framework will be particularly important in this area to help tackle the deep seated social deprivation that remains here. A significant amount of activity is already underway targeting issues such as poor health, low education attainment and poor skills and high unemployment. The SRF should help co-ordinate this activity and provide a stimulus for agencies to explore new ways of partnership working and coordination.
Proposals 1. Progress the existing Anfield Breckfield masterplan. 2. Delays to the Liverpool Football Club scheme have impeded overall progress against a number of regeneration targets. Unlocking the housing regeneration of this neighbourhood and the stadium investment are directly linked and completion of this plan is imperative to the overall future of the North Liverpool strategy. 3. Continue to develop the strategy for the future of Everton Football Stadium and its existing site 4. Prepare a strategy for the enhancement of County Road and Breck Road district centres. This should exploring the feasibility of contracting the centres, bringing empty properties back into use and determine the scope environmental improvements 5. Promote regeneration of the wider housing neighbourhoods currently not in a programme. 6. Implement an extensive green infrastructure plan that seeks to maximise access to and the use of Walton Hall Park, Stanley Park and creates links with other green infrastructure. 7. Maximise participation and community benefits associated with the development of sports, leisure and entertainment visitor destinations. 8. Develop local neighbourhood approaches to community services, policing and explore opportunities for the collocation of service delivery
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Figure 19 : Neighbourhood and District Plan – Area 7 : City Family Suburbs (Kirkdale, Vauxhall, Everton and Eldonian Village) Area 7 : City Family Suburbs (Kirkdale, Vauxhall, Everton and Eldonian Village)
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This area comprises a large and varied segment of North Liverpool, extending from the Eldonian Village in the south, to Kirkdale and across to Everton in the west. It includes some of the key routes into the city; Vauxhall Road/Commercial Road, Scotland Road/Stanley Road, County Road and Shaw Street. However, movement across the area is hindered by the lack of attractive east-west routes. The busy north-south arterial routes create physical barriers and this is compounded by the change in topography and the current form of Everton Park. There is a diverse range of housing in the area, from tightly packed terraced streets in Kirkdale, to semi-detached suburban housing the Eldonian Village and pockets of new housing at locations such as Dorrington Gardens. Parts of this area are benefiting from investment through the Housing Market Renewal programme, however there is still much to be done to improve the quality of the existing stock and create a residential offer that will attract and retain population. This area includes two of the key transformational projects identified in the SRF: Project Jennifer and Everton Park. Project Jennifer will transform the area around Great Homer Street into a vibrant new district centre, creating a new heart for the surrounding communities. Everton Park is currently an undervalued asset – it is a large green space which affords breath-taking views across the Liverpool skyline - but is poorly used and limits east-west movement across the area. Proposals are underway to explore how Everton Park can fulfill its potential as a real environmental and social gem in the heart of North Liverpool. The key challenge for the SRF in this area is to facilitate and encourage links across the various components of this area. Improving the physical form of the area by reducing the barriers to movement, creating attractive routes for pedestrian and cyclists will start to address this but this must be complemented by a approach to service delivery which help to integrate communities.
Proposals 1. Support the delivery of Project Jennifer as a critical transformational project that will improve the availability of key facilities to communities, enhance the appearance of the area and create links to the surrounding communities. 2. Explore options for Everton Park to ensure it fulfils it’s potential as an environmental asset and a recreational resource. This should include options to encourage east-west movement and connect communities either side of the park. This project will be a key feature of the wider green network of the SRF. 3. Develop neighbourhood plans for Kirkdale, Vauxhall, Everton and the Eldonian Village to create distinct residential communities with clear priorities for physical, economic and social change. These should include: i. A neighbourhood plan for the Flower Streets and Easby estate in Kirkdale. ii. A neighbourhood plan for Vauxhall that promotes the integration of key sites and initiatives in a way that creates cohesion between estates and employment areas and the Vauxhall Road corridors. iii. A neighbourhood plan for the Everton Park area that promotes education and cultural projects along Shaw Street, opportunities for the park and its proximity to the city centre and its universities and hospitals, to strengthen the identity of the place. iv. The Eldonian Village has a justifiable set of accolades already. Connecting the village to its surrounding context is now the challenge. There are westward and eastward facing challenges here. The time is now right for developing routes and opportunities that can spill across both Vauxhall Road to the east and Great Howard Street, back to the river and its assets.
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Figure 20 : Neighbourhood and District Plan – Area 8 : City Fringe
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The city fringe area is bounded to the south by the northern edge of the City Centre along New Islington, Hunter Street and Leeds Street, to the east it is bounded by Shaw Street and to the west by the railway line.
1. Enhance the appearance of key arterial routes by implementing a landscaping strategy.
This is the transitional area between the City Centre and North Liverpool. It is not a coherent single sub-area, it comprises a broad mix of uses including, light industry, housing and educational institutions (Liverpool Community College and Hope University) along side vacant and derelict land and buildings.
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This area is however, crucial to reconnecting North Liverpool with the City Centre and the economic opportunities that exist there. The SRF should focus upon capitalising on the proximity to the City Centre, utilising sites and buildings with valuable frontages on the arterial routes and creating distinct roles for the various segments of this area by building upon the assets that lie in each. The Limekilns/Pumpfields area is a particular priority for attention. This area has been the subject of various proposals, it contains significant areas of underutilised land and poor quality industrial premises, but has the opportunity to become a vibrant residential led mixed use area which helps makes linkages between the city centre and the residential communities of North Liverpool.
2. Improve east-west links across the area in particular from Shaw Street across Scotland Road and westwards to the Liverpool Waters developments. 3. Encourage physical links for pedestrians and cyclists through the residential areas that remain in this area. 4. Explore the potential of a loop road to create greater integration between the university and its surroundings. 5. Promote high profile development, higher quality business and employment uses on sites with valuable frontage on the key routes. 6. Support the creation of modern business environments close to the city.
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As we move into the second decade of the 21st century, it is imperative that we understand how the change of the scale needed in North Liverpool can be delivered not just for the long term but also with a renewed urgency. The scale of the challenge we face in North Liverpool is immense and demands radical action. An ageing population, massive health inequalities, lack of aspiration and an education system which fails to overcome social and economic disadvantage are combined and concentrated across North Liverpool. The strategy is about changing the future of North Liverpool and creating the conditions for long term investments, sustainability and a renewed quality of life. How such a strategy is driven forward raises issues and choices, particularly within the current domestic policy context and global economics. Institutional responses to the recession, public – private funding opportunities and government priorities and policies are all changing. Within this dynamic context, the emerging strategy for North Liverpool needs to be unifying, fundable and deliverable. Its delivery must also be transparent and accountable at all governmental levels. The regeneration and development programme outlined is complex and long term. Physical renewal and investment allied with a programme of social and economic development in North Liverpool needs dedicated and robust management and co-ordination arrangements. How a partnership of public and private interests is brought together around North Liverpool as a regional and indeed national priority is of critical importance. The scale and depth of problems and opportunities in North Liverpool are of national significance, addressing these will need a new level of local and national Government Co-ordination. The scale of the problem needs to be matched by the scale of effort – of all partners – over an extended period.
7.1 Timetable for Implementation The regeneration and development strategy for North Liverpool is complex and long term and includes both the physical regeneration of the area through the co-ordination of major investment schemes and a major programme of social and economic development. This dual approach is essential in the creation of economically sustainable communities, quality of life and perceptions of North Liverpool as a place to invest for the future. Short, medium and long term priorities will need to be developed in detail as investment can be confirmed. This is an indicative programme at this stage. The strategic programme for change is vital to communicate to stakeholders and for focussing all local decisions. Previous initiatives, even where relatively large amounts of public investment has been forthcoming have often been short term and lacking in vision. This level of urban change can only be long term. At the same time, it is paramount that the strategy is implemented and communicated with a sense of urgency and that it is clear to communities how their area will be impacted and the timescales involved. This is why spatial planning is a key component in this SRF. Across North Liverpool, there is a history of 70 years of economic re- structuring and the physical deterioration and population decline that this has created will take more than a collection of short term initiatives to tackle. It will be beyond 2020 before major physical restructuring can be visible on the sort of scale required. This is not an easy message for communities to accept which is why the approach to the “people and communities” framework is critical Nobody can deliver this scale of physical, economic, social and cultural change
overnight. Even during a booming market this was not possible. There is however, urgency required in response to the issues now facing North Liverpool and progress needs to be made. This approach also has to reflect the national economic and domestic policy. The need to re- invent public services in the context of severe public spending cuts is the context within which the early years of this SRF will be operating. Further work on costs, strategic funding sources and the integration of all investment opportunities will need to be undertaken as part of the detailed Delivery and Action Plan for the SRF. This will be undertaken in a context of major public sector funding cut backs and uncertainty in the private funding markets. The programme can only be indicative at this stage. The Delivery Plan for this strategy will confirm all key targets. These targets must encompass new homes, business development, district centres, environmental targets, educational attainment and private sector investment within each of the proposed frameworks. The time required to meet regional, national and locally set targets must be realistic and has to reflect the baseline position with regard to very high levels of multiple deprivation. This document sets out the key transformational projects under each defined framework. These have been prioritised on the basis of their likely scale of impact and their likelihood of delivery or progress towards delivery within the first five years of the SRF. The following sections will address how North Liverpool can release the potential and arrest decline in the short to medium term, repair and renew its fabric over the medium term and reconstruct and regenerate to its maximum potential over the longer term.
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Releasing Potential and Arresting Decline (2010 – 2015) Early activity in this first five years will focus on the definition and delivery of a number of key initiatives across all three frameworks. This period must begin to arrest decline and make tangible steps to unlock the key development opportunities that form the backbone of the regeneration strategy. This phase of the SRF will make substantial progress in the shaping of all three frameworks and the proposals within them as well as the financial plan that is needed to take the SRF forward.
residential areas, key district centres and all employment zones along the River. • Planning consent and first years of investment at Liverpool Waters. • Liverpool Football Club investment to be on site. • Everton Football Club options to be agreed and progressed. • Commence and progress further housing development and renewal activities as part of the Anfield – Breckfield Masterplan.
Creative and innovative approaches to securing funding from both the public and private sector will be required to implement this SRF. The traditional use of public sector funding to lever private investment and to increase values and help create more functioning local markets will be difficult. New financial models and joint ventures to work with public stakeholders and private investors will be needed and the delivery vehicle for the SRF must be tasked, with taking the leading role as a strategic investor in its own right. The delivery body will also be tasked with protecting investment already made in North Liverpool and ensuring broad social and economic objectives are met.
• Commence and progress phases of the Easby Estate scheme.
Activity must contribute to stabilising the local economic picture and protecting investments already substantially progressed. These are the building blocks of confidence and whilst this is a challenging financial context, it is imperative that North Liverpool’s strategic direction is re-positioned in these early years of the SRF.
• Prepare and implement strategies for vocational and bespoke training with partnerships of local employers and schools.
• Establish Delivery Arrangements, governance, management and accountability structures for the SRF. • Develop and complete the neighbourhood and district plans for the eight areas, incorporating plans for
• Hawthorne Road and Bedford Queens HMR priorities in Sefton to be completed. • Commence and complete the Post Panamax Port expansion. • Progress Project Jennifer. • Develop and design an area wide “green strategy” for North Liverpool establishing a coherent and usable network of open spaces, green routes and corridors, exploiting the canal side where possible and embarking on an ambitious tree planting initiative.
• Put in place area wide supply chain development strategies with local businesses. • Link knowledge economy opportunities emerging from City Centre work and Liverpool Waters. • Target inward investment from the renewable technology sector and focus across North Shore. • Focus LEGI type activity on culture and visitor sectors and other areas of growth
• Strengthen community partnerships and social enterprise development. • Put in place the North Liverpool “Total Place” approach. • Introduce and promote co-ordinated health improvement programmes through better multi agency working. • Intensify co-ordination and joint working between public and private housing providers and public sector services. • Develop green infrastructure strategy focused on parks, vacant sites, road and canal corridors and key pedestrian and cycle routes. • Intensify neighbourhood management activities across all neighbourhoods. Repair and Renewal (2010 – 2020) In the medium term, (2015 - 2020), it is expected that major physical projects and investment in key schemes such as Liverpool Waters, The Port, Project Jennifer, key neighbourhoods and others will begin to make an impact on the area’s profile, reputation and indeed, the conditions for further investment. This phase of the programme is when the area’s infrastructure – both physical and economic will need to be improving as national and international economic cycles are recovering from the current financial crisis. • Further phases of new family housing in key neighbourhoods will come on stream in Anfield, Sefton and new schemes with agreed masterplans will be rolled out for Kirkdale, Seaforth, The Eldonian Village, Vauxhall and Everton. This represents further residential interventions beyond current programmes. • Further phases of improvements to open spaces, transport corridors, gateways and parklands will be underway.
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• Completion of business and commercial hubs.
• People with skills and education will remain in the area.
• Leeds Street land assembly strategy.
• Modern, flexible business environments will come on stream in key areas along the river frontage.
• Strategic land assembly across North Liverpool. • Establish a base of higher value businesses and employment (serving Liverpool waters, Port of Liverpool and the City Centre). • Secure Port expansion land. • Support new businesses in green energy and environmental technologies. • Develop initiatives for green adaptation and innovation of the existing industrial and commercial base. • Investment in the housing stock and new models of house building will be underway. • Completion of the Anfield, Queens Bedford and Klondyke plans. • Anfield Stadium will be built in Stanley Park. • Distributed heat and power systems will be exploited. • Plans for Easby, Kirkdale, Everton and other neighbourhoods will be approved and started. Reconstruction and Regeneration (2010 – 2025) Beyond 2020, and looking even further ahead, the benefits of physical investment and economic and community initiatives will be visible. Sustainable markets for new housing types and commercial property associated with the city fringe, Bootle town centre, the roll out of Liverpool Waters and completion of the new Liverpool Football Stadium will create an entirely new form around all four sides of the North Liverpool area. North Liverpool as a sustainable city segment will begin to reveal itself for the first time, with mixed residential communities set in modern green environments and new business sectors supported along the length of the River.
• New neighbourhoods in mature green settings will be getting built out, attracting workers from across the city region. • The River environment and green infrastructure close to the City, attracts new residents. • The Liverpool Waters build programme extends northwards. • Visitors add North Liverpool to their itinerary. • Life expectancy, educational attainment and quality of life indices across North Liverpool are turned around.
7.2 The principles and functions of a North Liverpool Delivery Partnership The SRF sets out a range of strategic objectives, frameworks and transformational projects for North Liverpool that is both bold and focussed. They are a direct response to the current needs and opportunities within North Liverpool and an understanding of the economic and political imperatives that will continue to drive domestic policy for many years. The strategy itself will remain a wish list if delivery is not organised at the right strategic level. How to organise delivery is suggested here and relates to the objectives of the strategy itself rather than any assessment of current structures in Liverpool, or their capacity or current role. It is not within the remit of this commission to comment or evaluate in detail on local delivery vehicles as they are currently constituted. This is about co-ordination and capacity and the management of a single strategy in a single place! The very strongest partnership of national, regional and local tiers of government must be
integrated with the continuing involvement of local communities and the private sector. The core functions of such a partnership include the following: • Custodian and leader of the vision and SRF for the whole of North Liverpool. Whilst the themes, projects and funding packages to take forward elements of the SRF will all be different, the custodian’s role is to ensure that there is effective delivery across the area with progress made towards the broad strategy set out in the SRF itself. • To drive, lead and procure investment with a particular focus on housing investment, strategic environmental and public realm improvements and key employment related investments including the Port, Liverpool Waters, Project Jennifer, future plans for both football stadia and other key site specific opportunities across the area. • To drive and negotiate the best deal for North Liverpool with public sector investors. This will be set in the context of 25% public spending cuts from 2011-2015 (Emergency Budget headlines, June 2010). This demands joint working at the highest levels between Sefton and Liverpool and other partners. • To market North Liverpool, building the private sector investment base, the area’s profile, supporting and leading the focus of all partners. • Providing consistency of approach over many years, across funding
7.3 A strategic approach to funding and investment As well as being the custodian of the vision, the delivery agency for regeneration in North Liverpool must have a remit to knit together all funding streams across all of the regeneration themes and frameworks. From all public sector and service delivery budgets to all capital programmes and private sector investment, a single strategic approach to North Liverpool is the driver here.
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Whilst this has been a large part of the work of local strategic partnerships, there is a change of mind set required at all levels of government and the SRF must contain the local arrangements for responding to this. The history of urban policy in our cities is scattered with organisational experiments, pilots and initiatives that have had varying degrees of impact and managed different funding regimes in a range of different contexts. The specific record across North Liverpool is more complex and there is acknowledgment in most of our early consultations that piecemeal and short term interventions have held back the impact of significant amounts of public investment. This SRF must be about learning from these experiences and driving forward a new delivery partnership that makes the North Liverpool vision happen. In any case, a radically altered national context means that previous funding requirements and the structures associated with them must be scrutinised. Delivering better results for less money is the new mantra within the public sector and part of the way to achieve this is to tap even more into the creative potential of people, communities, enterprise and create a new “localism” for North Liverpool. The delivery partnership for this SRF must also be structured and resourced to lead the development of new approaches to private sector funding, engage with key landowners and the investment industry. Creative and innovative approaches to securing funding from both the public and private sector will be required to implement this SRF. The traditional use of public sector funding to lever private investment and to increase values and help create more functioning local markets will be difficult. New financial models and joint ventures to work with public stakeholders and private investors will be needed and the delivery vehicle for the SRF must be tasked, with taking the leading role as a strategic investor in its
own right. The delivery body will also be tasked with protecting investment already made in North Liverpool and ensuring broad social and economic objectives are met. Statutory Planning The delivery of an SRF must also be integrated with statutory planning processes. The core principles of sustainable development are reflected throughout the SRF and underpin the overall strategy to successfully regenerate North Liverpool in future years. Whilst large elements of this SRF are not focussed on physical or spatial actions, there are significant planning requirements that require integration between the SRF delivery vehicle and the local planning authorities of Sefton and Liverpool as well as Government Office. Many of the proposed and recommended initiatives forming the SRF are development, infrastructure and investment orientated, and spread over the life of the strategy. Whilst this is a comprehensive and integrated regeneration strategy, without physical change, development and investment, the impact of the SRF on re-shaping and re defining North Liverpool will be constrained. By definition, the SRF is strategic in nature and does not have any formal status in a legislative sense. Accordingly, a key role of the SRF is to guide and influence the form and content and production of more detailed and site specific guidance, plans and strategies, relating to specific areas of North Liverpool or specific development projects. Given the role of planning in this, it is critical that the SRF is taken account of, in the ‘plan making’ activities of Liverpool and Sefton.
Summary Delivery arrangements for this SRF need a remit to shape public sector funding and policy across Liverpool and Sefton, across all themes AND to build investor confidence to achieve new employment and new housing opportunities in neighbourhoods. With this remit, comes the need for high level skills, experience and above all else, leadership and loyalty to the North Liverpool cause. Delivery arrangements must, of course, also be publicly accountable and engaged with the people and communities of North Liverpool. This is a complex and public role and demands the most senior collaborative working of both local authorities, all agencies involved in regional and national economic development, housing and regeneration.
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7.4 Engagement and Consultation The time limited process and geographic extent of this commission means there has been limited dialogue with the myriad of businesses, interest groups and residents across North Liverpool. A stakeholder event was held on March 1st and this allowed a strategic overview to be discussed and information to begin flowing through the agendas of many existing groups. A diverse range of local groups, public agencies, local businesses and landowners attended the event and there is a separate written record of proceedings. Continuing processes of strategic engagement and consultation will be essential as this SRF is taken forward and key elements of it implemented. Engagement with communities across Liverpool and Sefton’s neighbourhoods and estates is already organised though specific local authority and other agency structures and there are a myriad of groups and committees long established with particular places and/or funding streams shaping their interests. Business leaders are essential within this process also. Processes that bring local business people, residents, user groups, faith groups and others together can be implemented through neighbourhood planning processes and also through specific projects.
There are issues around the communication of area based strategies. The sheer number of proposals and strategies that need to be communicated, combined with the geographical spread can become unwieldy. This is part of the rationale for taking forward neighbourhood plans at a scale that can allow meaningful engagement in a way that is place specific rather than driven by organisational or funding demands. The consultative process will require a communication strategy to bring together the existing wide range of local knowledge and information. The success of the SRF is reliant on the processes going forward remaining robust and flexible enough to enable continual development. It is vital that the strategic character of the SRF document and the processes to drive forward change are transparent. It is essential that the delivery vehicle for the SRF leads consultative processes across the area and as such, structures for embracing the many existing reporting routes and networks need to be put in place. This is not about creating new bureaucracies but is about putting in place a mechanism that maximises collaboration at the local level.
There are a number of proposals that could feed into a communication and engagement plan for this SRF which would need to be taken forward by the delivery vehicle. The retention of residents and keeping communities together across North Liverpool is a fundamental component of the regeneration strategy for the area and the “People and Communities” framework supports this. The drive for “localism” across recent and not so recent central government thinking underpins the notion of single place budgets. With a background context of public sector cuts to add to the recent stalling of private sector investment, engagement, consultation and involvement of local people across North Liverpool must be a key aspect for any SRF delivery model. Just as there are likely to be imminent changes between central and local government, the relationship between local government and local people must also adapt to new definitions of accountability. The SRF for North Liverpool cannot happen without public support, including local businesses. The delivery model for taking forward the strategy and its associated partnership must encompass a drive to address the institutional,
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cultural and historic barriers that persist in blocking a truly local engagement. There are examples of highly motivated and committed groups coming together in North Liverpool in a variety of contexts to develop ideas and plans for their neighbourhoods. From the Eldonian Village to the Anfield and Breckfield masterplan and residents engaged with HMRi in South Sefton, local people do come together around local needs and opportunities, whatever the national, institutional context. Many people are more engaged with specific areas of interest in the arts, education, sport or culture. Whatever their area of interest, engagement is the goal. Apathy and dis-engagement are the challenge. What is needed is a more strategic approach to issues of service delivery, accountability, local decision making and the drive for greater efficiency with reduced budgets. This agenda around “localism” needs to be integrated with the other aspects of the SRF and sit at the heart of any delivery model’s remit for North Liverpool. The delivery vehicle for the North Liverpool SRF must do all of this or risk taking forward only a partial and incomplete strategy. Options for delivery models are also complicated by the fact that the area straddles two local authorities.
One Vision for the next generation… A thousand projects, investments, collaborations and opportunities for us to act on now…
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Appendix A 140
Policy Baseline Position. JUNE 2010 The following summary tables provide an overview of the relevant policy drivers for each of the three frameworks which are set out in the following section of this document. Whilst many areas of policy and regional strategy are currently in a state of flux, this provides a snapshot of the policy context for this SRF.
Strategy
Themes/Actions relevant to North Liverpool
North West of England Plan
Regional Spatial Strategy identifies that the regional centres of Manchester and Liverpool are the priorities for growth and development. The second priority is given to the inner areas with a focus on areas in need of regeneration and particularly Housing Market Renewal. North Liverpool occupies a third of what is referred to as the Inner Core in terms of its population size and is the most deprived part of the Inner Core area.
Regional Spatial Strategy to 2021 Government Office Northwest. CLG September 2008
RS2010 Regional Strategy for England’s Northwest Part 1: The High Level Strategic Framework Consultation Document January 2010
New Industry, New Jobs April 2009
Liverpool City Region Development Plan Liverpool City Region Development Programme Report 2006, TMP
Four options proposed, based on four themes. The proposals for a Superport through an expanded Mersey Port and Liverpool John Lennon Airport are recognised as an internationally significant opportunity as is the proposed investment in Liverpool Waters by Peel Holdings and the role of the River Mersey and its potential for wind and tidal power coupled with a business base which can design, deliver and service this. The document recognises the economy and employment growth opportunities that the transition to a Low Carbon economy will have and the skills needs that will be required. North Liverpool could capitalise on this new industry and jobs growth, linking the knowledge economy with the asset base. The themes of Neighbourhood Renewal and Liveability, Housing Strategy, the Port of Liverpool and Mersey Waterfront Regional Park are catalyst projects in North Liverpool
The Action Plan for the Liverpool City Region - sub regional investment framework 2008-2011
Projects emanating from these economic priorities of direct significance to North Liverpool’s opportunities and assets are Peel Holding proposals for Liverpool Waters, the Mersey Waterfront Regional Park, the Superport proposals and the Environmental economy and opportunities which might emanate from tidal power generation.
Liverpool City Region Multi Area Agreement Economy June 2009
Projects emanating from these economic priorities of direct significance to North Liverpool’s opportunities and assets are Peel Holding proposals for Liverpool Waters, the Mersey Waterfront Regional Park, the Superport proposals and the Environmental economy and opportunities which might emanate from tidal power generation.
Zero Carbon Britain 2030 A New Energy Strategy The second report of the Zero Carbon Britain project
The report examines ways of cutting energy use and creating energy from renewable sources and identifies that retrofitting homes is one the major methods of cutting building emissions.
Centre for Alternative Technology
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Strategy
Themes/Actions relevant to North Liverpool
The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan: national strategy for climate and energy.
UK will cut in emissions by 34% on 1990 levels by 2020 by producing 30% of our electricity from renewable energy by 202 and extending domestic energy efficiency measures
Department of Energy and Climate Change, • Domestic emission reduction targets will be achieved by: July 2009 • 7 % through improvements to home insulation (to 2020); • 4 % though use of more energy-efficient appliances • 8 % through increased take-up of micro generation
• 3 % through the development of new zero-carbon homes • 3 % through changing the behaviour of energy consumers Meeting these targets in North Liverpool can help to create jobs and businesses locally to address home insulation and there is scope for micro generation of energy. Mini Stern Report: The Economic Impact of EU & UK Climate Change
Significant opportunities for the City Region across the low carbon economy, building on the potential for green energy through wind-power, biomass and waste.
Legislation on Liverpool City Region (2009)
With potential for further 6,000 – 15,000 environmental technology sector jobs across the City Region by 2015. North Liverpool is well placed to deliver on a significant part of this growing agenda
The Atlantic Gateway Framework
The aim of the framework is to promote collaboration across the Liverpool and Manchester region to create a “low carbon, sustainable, economic growth zone”. This will position the region as the leading European Low Carbon Growth zone outside London. The framework is based on themes of sectoral innovation, creating a Global Gateway, developing sustainable infrastructure and attracting and retaining talent.
(Accelerating Growth across the Manchester and Liverpool City Regions Framework for a Global Growth Opportunity)
A critical driver of the framework is the development of the Port and associated road and rail freight infrastructure and the encouragement of investment from the renewable energy sector. These are growth options which must be grasped for the long term future of North Liverpool across the commercial and domestic property markets through macro and micro renewable energy generation. A hub of innovation must be created through exemplar energy projects and the development of skill sets to service a globally growing industry. Economic Prospectus for the city “People Place and Prosperity” Liverpool Vision
All the pillars and strategic drivers are of relevance to North Liverpool but the Quality of Place agenda explicitly states that it will Realise the potential of North Shore and regenerate North Liverpool.
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Strategy
Themes/Actions relevant to North Liverpool
North Liverpool Employment Land Strategy
Liverpool is considered to have an oversupply of general industrial land given potential future requirements for office based businesses and back-office functions. Current land availability and delivery is constrained by contamination, fragmented land ownership and competing demands.
LCC GVA Grimley 2008 Joint Employment Land Study Work carried out for four local authorities including Sefton by BE Group in 2009
The work identified that office and industrial floor space was undersupplied in Sefton based on high occupancy levels of existing stock. Area offers largely budget industrial space with localised demand. There is limited land for new office development in Bootle but scope for building refurbishment.
The Mersey Partnership: Liverpool Port of Liverpool is an important asset for the City Region, 7th largest freight facility Super-port Economic Trends Study (2009) in the UK, most competitive UK location for road and rail distribution. MDS Transmodal Ltd & Roger Tym & Partners
Development of the Superport concept is a critical driver for GVA growth of North Liverpool and the city region.
NW Ports Economic Trends and land use study, 2009
High value added employment in Maritime sector, which makes strong contribution to GVA with further employment growth potential in supply chain. Development of port a critical driver for GVA growth of North Liverpool and the city region.
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
Strategy
Themes/Actions relevant to North Liverpool
Transforming places; changing lives A framework for regeneration
The focus of the framework is to improve economic performance and rates of work and enterprise in deprived areas by creating sustainable places where businesses want to invest and people want to live and work. This is to be achieved by better partnership working, joined up funding and local delivery and accountability.
CLG 2008
Total Place: a practitioner’s guide to doing The ‘whole area’ approach to public service delivery is an opportunity which things differently organisations in North Liverpool have been inadvertently working towards. The North Liverpool Stakeholders forum and North Liverpool Economic development plan have Leadership Centre for Local Government assisted joint working on local issues. The expansion and recognition of the whole area approach is valuable for North Liverpool’s long term growth and sustainability. Liverpool Core Strategy Preferred Options, January 2010
Provides a planning framework and spatial vision for the city. With three proposed options Option 1 – Intensive regeneration in the City Centre and inner areas (90% housing growth 2008-09 in the City Centre and inner areas, rest in outer areas). Option 2 – Focused regeneration in the City Centre and inner areas (70% City Centre and inner areas, rest in outer areas). Option 3 – Dispersed regeneration (55% City Centre and inner areas, rest in outer areas). Option 2 is currently the preferred option which would support the long term regeneration of North Liverpool.
Sefton Core Strategy
Sefton currently does not have a draft core strategy or core strategy preferred options. It has carried out a series of extensive consultation exercises. Both Liverpool and Sefton have similar strengths and weaknesses in terms of housing market geography and social deprivation.
The Indices Of Deprivation 2007 CLG The Sustainable Community Strategy Liverpool 2024
The indices of deprivation underline the need for continued investment in North Liverpool and South Sefton
Based on five key drivers or priorities: competitiveness, connectivity, distinctive sense of place, thriving neighbourhoods and health and wellbeing, beneath these sit 12 outcomes. Action against all these keys drivers is critical to North Liverpool’s future success. By 2024, Liverpool will be Thriving, with a dynamic third sector and neighbourhoods that are clean, safe and sustainable and that embrace the global challenge of climate change The strategy states that Liverpool should respond to the national climate change objectives by achieving a minimum 35% reduction in its own emissions by tacking fuel poverty, creating more energy efficient homes and adapting to climate change.
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Strategy
Themes/Actions relevant to North Liverpool
A Vision for Sefton, Sefton Borough Partnership
The vision covers four themes • Children and Young People • Economic Development and Sustainability • Safer and Stronger Communities • Healthier Communities and Older People Improving health, skills, social cohesion are seen as vital as is creating jobs and protecting the natural environment. The Port of Liverpool is recognised as a core opportunity and driver for Sefton and the sub region.
Engaging Communities in Criminal Justice
The Green Paper proposals focus on joint agency working and joint delivery of outcomes for communities based on three themes:
The Green Paper
• Strengthening the connections between communities and their prosecution and court services
Race, Confidence and Justice Unit November 2009
• Ensuring that justice outcomes are more responsive and more visible • Keeping communities informed, getting people involved, empowering communities. An evaluation of the North Liverpool CJS indicates that is achieving both quantitative and qualitative improvements in dealing with crime which is leading to improved confidence and perceptions in the community.
Liverpool’s Crime and Disorder Reduction City safe Partnership supports Liverpool First’s aims and priorities to reduced crime, Partnership fear of crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour, drugs and substance misuse. And promote A cleaner, greener environment, Community Cohesion and Equalities. The Annual Plan 2009 - 2010 work is based on an intelligence assessment to provide targeted action which is City safe Strategic Intelligence Assessment resulting in improvements in terms of numbers of offences and residents perceptions. Maintaining such a proactive response is critical for North Liverpool. September 2008 to August 2009 University-community engagement at Liverpool Hope University: building social capital in the inner city? Working Paper 4 “University learning with excluded communities” project Part of the ESRC Regional Economic Contributions of Higher Education Institutions programme Final report, January 2010 Centre for Knowledge, Innovation,
“This research working paper has been concerned with the processes by which universities create opportunities for collective learning within excluded communities which enables those communities to improve their situations within local political economies.” The HE and FE sector could be better linked locally to schools and communities to deliver a skills and employment agenda to serve local needs. Inroads have been made and there are models of working which can be developed in North Liverpool to support and develop sectoral growth.
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
Strategy
Themes/Actions relevant to North Liverpool
North West of England Plan Regional Spatial Strategy to 2021
Regional Spatial Strategy identifies that the regional centres of Manchester and Liverpool are the priorities for growth and development. The second priority is given to the inner areas with a focus on areas in need of regeneration and particularly Housing Market Renewal.
Government Office Northwest. CLG September 2008
North Liverpool occupies a third of what is referred to as the Inner Core in terms of its population size and is the most deprived part of the Inner Core area. Liverpool City Region Multi Area Agreement, Housing Platform June 2009
Delivery of housing growth and renewal, effective private rented sector and affordable warmth are key goals. Improving housing quality, supply and affordability is crucial for North Liverpool in tandem with the transition to a low carbon economy through the creation of local jobs and skills in the housing supply chain. Retrofitting of energy efficiency measure is an area where a strong local skills base can be developed.
Liverpool Housing Strategy Statement (2009-11)
The strategy aims to restructure the market, improve choice and supply and create growth. North Liverpool is situated within the Inner Core and the identified housing Zones of Opportunity are City Centre North and Stanley Park where a range of interventions are in progress to achieve these aims.
Sefton Housing Strategy Statement 2009-2013
“Overall the Borough lacks the housing quality, affordability and choice of housing to build on the potential economic benefits. The Newheartlands Housing Market Renewal Initiative and regeneration of neighbourhoods is critical in order to tackle deprivation and reverse the long trend of depopulation in order to create and maintain sustainable, balanced communities across the Borough”. The aim is • To provide affordable and sustainable homes in neighbourhoods where people want to live • To enable people to live at home independently and to improve their health • To deliver and sustain a balanced housing market • To ensure equal access to housing and related services Sefton’s areas of focus for housing include Bedford / Queens, Klondyke, Knowsley / Peel, Linacre and Seaforth / Waterloo
Liverpool City Council Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment Main Report - Draft, November 2009 Sefton Retail Strategy Review Update (2009)
Report indicates that achieving housing growth targets will require unlocking currently undevelopable areas to increase housing supply for the city and redevelopment in North Liverpool is a particular opportunity for housing and employment growth.
Report indicates that achieving housing growth targets will require unlocking currently undevelopable areas to increase housing supply for the city and redevelopment in North Liverpool is a particular opportunity for housing and employment growth.
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Strategy
Themes/Actions relevant to North Liverpool
District Centres, Local Centres and Shopping Parades Study. Final Report, WYG March 2004
Bootle Town centre dominates the area and as a consequence the report recommended the managed the decline of a number of centres through change of use and through a wider strategy linked to the Housing Market Renewal Initiative.
Liverpool City Council District and Local Centres Study Report
The report determined the key priorities for Liverpool’s district and local centres in terms of their long-term viability, what further measures could be taken to improve District Centres including those in existing development proposals and what actions could be taken to assist businesses to remain viable. Supporting Great Homer St as a District Centre and improving the role, function and layout of County Rd and Breck Rd are vital to underpin community stability in North Liverpool and support housing growth.
Adapting the Landscape from Liverpool to Manchester Baseline Report (North West Development Agency, September 2009). Adapting the Landscape from Liverpool to Manchester Final report December 2009 Prepared for the Northwest Regional Development Agency
This baseline report identified the opportunities for green infrastructure development against the backdrop of challenges of globalization of the economy, climate change, transition to a low carbon future, changing employment and competition for scarce resources. Three scenarios were developed for testing, the area as a bioregion, as a silicon valley for new technology and as Mersey parklands. The core objectives of the final report framework are to mitigate and adapt to climate change, improve quality of life, create resilience to facilitate sustainable economic growth based on themes of water and waterways, food production, carbon reduction, localism and healthier lifestyles, and growth of city region economies. The report maps out a spatial framework for the region which identifies potential opportunities to develop or capitalise on existing assets. North Liverpool can contribute by linking strategic green infrastructure which embraces the river frontage, dock and canal network and integrating it with the leisure opportunities of the parks and stadiums.
Rising to the Challenge A Climate Change The Action plan sets out a vision and outcomes to achieve by 2020 based on Action Plan for England’s Northwest identified actions for the region. North Liverpool can contribute to this agenda through 2010-2012 a programme to encourage: NWDA
• New and refurbished developments which go beyond minimum standards for energy and resource use, • Accelerating domestic energy efficiency through retrofitting, • Providing a one-stop-shop for energy efficiency and renewable technologies, • Encouraging the installation of micro generation and energy efficient technologies • Increase capacity of skills providers to ensure expertise in low carbon technology development and installation Whilst the framework for action is regional developing local solutions for delivery will provide jobs and skills and ensure that North Liverpool is an exemplar Low Carbon Community.
North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010
Strategy
Themes/Actions relevant to North Liverpool
Lofty ambitions, The role of councils in reducing domestic CO2 emissions, Local government October 2009
Provides a framework of potential actions and recommendations for local authorities. A 35% reduction in carbon emissions must be made from domestic sector and North Liverpool is an area where carbon gains could be made from a sustained and well planned retrofit programme and a commitment to raising the energy efficiency quality of new build commercial and residential property.
Sustainable refurbishment Towards an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions, water efficiency, waste reduction, and climate change adaptation
Document sets out the potential energy saving opportunities which can be considered as part of different housing refurbishment schemes. This gives scope for organisations across a range of sectors to implement measures at different stages of their capital programme where a whole house approach is not possible. RSLs and private homeowners and landlords in North Liverpool should be encouraged to adopt measures through a co-ordinated programme of activity.
The Energy Saving Trust Green Infrastructure for the Liverpool and Manchester City-regions Mersey Forest Community Forests Northwest and The Countryside Agency
Document provides a context for the recognition of GI and a better approach to planning, managing and integrating the GI network to ensure sustainable development. The links between deprivation and a fractured urban landscape are highlighted and case studies illustrate improvements which can be achieved through better linkage and design. The principles of urban design within the SRF promote better linkage and use of this resource.
Liverpool City Green Infrastructure Strategy Draft; Technical Document
Provides ward bay ward data on green infrastructure typologies and measures to inform recommendations for actions in a following plan.
Mersey Forest Commissioned by Liverpool City Council on behalf of Liverpool First for Health and Well Being
The GI of wards of North Liverpool is mapped and Everton is highlighted as an area of good GI potential but limited functionality due to access and design. Place making in North Liverpool has to factor in good use and connectivity with the many GI assets of the area.
Liverpool City Region Multi Area The transport MAA seeks to improving access to employment, improving capacity Agreement, Transport Platform June 2009 and connectivity - connectivity to the regional and national networks is critical upgrading of port access is considered to be of national/international status. And create a Low carbon transport city. Port access must be prioritised but these needs must be balanced with the low carbon agenda and minimization of air quality impacts along heavily trafficked routes. For North Liverpool improvements to employment access can be facilitated by improved east west bus services in some areas, and rail capacity improvements. The Local Transport Plan for Merseyside 2006 – 2011 (LTP)
Core projects relevant to North Liverpool have been delivered including the upgrading of Bootle Oriel Rd and Sandhills Station and the opening of the Olive Mount Chord to provide further freight access to the Port of Liverpool.
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North Liverpool – A Strategic Regeneration Framework 2010