A new vision for north Liverpool
A consortium which is being led by Liverpool City Council with support from Your Housing Group and Liverpool Football Club has unveiled a vision to transform the Anfield area of the city close to the Reds' stadium.
Local residents and businesses are now being asked to play their part in shaping a £260m regeneration plan which will breathe new life into north Liverpool.
The consortium wants members of the public, especially those living and working in the affected areas, to help shape the ideas and to provide valuable feedback.
The ideas and concepts unveiled today include new housing, shopping facilities, public space, office buildings, a hotel and the creation of a major new pedestrian-friendly avenue and public square.
There is also a proposal to complete the restoration of Stanley Park and to build a food hub at its centre which would offer food retail units, production and training facilities.
As part of the scheme, Liverpool Football Club has stated its preference is to expand its stadium subject to detailed feasibility studies and the community and home owners' support.
Altogether, the proposals could amount to some £260m investment and create 700 long-term jobs in one of the most deprived areas of the city.
LFC managing director Ian Ayre said: "The unveiling of this vision for the wider regeneration of the Anfield area is another important step towards transforming the area for the better. The club has a track record of working successfully with LCC and others to drive forward improvements to the area, having made a major investment towards the transformation of Stanley Park.
"We are looking forward to working with the partnership and playing a part in the development of the regeneration vision and we strongly encourage local residents, businesses and community groups to get involved in the process and have their say.
"This is also an important milestone as we seek to investigate the feasibility of expanding our stadium. We will continue this work, which is just one part of the wider Anfield vision, and there is a great deal of work still to be done to bring those plans to fruition.
"We have always said that any stadium expansion will be subject to detailed economic and social feasibility studies and the community and home owners' support, which includes our ability to purchase the land for the proposed expansion. Any expansion is also subject to the club being able to navigate the planning landscape and we are pleased to say that very positive progress is being made."
Residents and others are invited to provide feedback on the plans over the next six weeks. After taking into account people's views, the vision and ideas would then be drawn together into a detailed proposal for the area which would be officially endorsed by the city council. All stakeholders will be given the chance to have their say on the proposals before any such endorsement. A further period of formal public consultation would follow before the submission of detailed planning applications in relation to the various projects next year.
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said: "It is essential that people understand that what we are unveiling today is a range of Anfield-wide regeneration ideas and concepts which we are confident can be delivered but which we genuinely need to hear people's views on.
"We believe the plans are exciting and will deliver a step-change in quality of life for many thousands of people and be of major benefit to the city, not just Anfield. But residents, business people and others may have other opinions and their own brilliant ideas.
"Please tell us what you think and what you want. Anfield does not belong to Liverpool City Council and it does not belong to Liverpool Football Club or Your Housing Group. Anfield belongs to everyone."
More information is on: www.anfieldproject.co.uk.
AT A GLANCE:
The Anfield regeneration vision involves the following ideas:
Refurbishment of more than 550 homes in the Anfield/Rockfield areas;
Creation of a major, pedestrian-friendly new avenue to link Walton Breck Road High Street with Priory Road, running through Stanley Park along the existing Mill Lane;
The creation of a 10,000 sq ft food hub in Stanley Park;
Improvements to Walton Breck Road and Oakfield Road;
Creation of a public 'village' square at the junction of the proposed new avenue and Walton Breck Road;
The clearance of around 300 derelict and sub-standard properties;
Continued development of new energy-efficient homes by Keepmoat west of Walton Breck Road - about 250 new homes in phases four and five of The Parks development, set in an attractive, greener safer environment;
The completion of the restoration of Stanley Park, including its car park, with a range of possible new features and uses;
Improvements in design to integrate the park with neighbouring residential areas and make it easier to access;
The building of a 100-bed hotel, possibly in the village square, which would train young people in hospitality;
The creation of new office buildings - a 'business hub' - and new and improved retail premises in the village square and on Walton Breck Road/Oakfield Road.