Liverpool Council has approved the legal agreements needed to bring forward the redevelopment of the Festival Gardens site, paving the way for around 800 homes on the south Liverpool waterfront. The decision allows construction to begin in phases, with up to 441 homes expected in the first phase.
Remediation and Partnership
The site had faced significant environmental and contamination challenges. Extensive remediation and enabling works were completed in January 2024 through funding from Homes England, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the city council, leaving the site ready for development.
A joint venture company, led by Urban Splash and igloo Regeneration, was appointed to lead the redevelopment in autumn 2024. In the past year, work has commenced on biodiversity audits and long-term strategy, working closely with Natural England, Mersey Forest and United Utilities.
Council and Developer Comments
Cllr Nick Small, cabinet member for economy and growth, said: "Festival Gardens is one of Liverpool's most iconic regeneration opportunities, and this decision represents another major step towards bringing the site back into use. The agreement allows us to move forward with plans that will deliver hundreds of much-needed new homes, attract investment and create a thriving new neighbourhood on our waterfront."
Jonathan Falkingham MBE, co-founder of Urban Splash, said: "This is huge progress for Festival Gardens and Liverpool as a whole. It's a major new development that will not only create a vibrant, inclusive neighbourhood but also provide local employment opportunities on this long-standing site."
Community and Next Steps
The new neighbourhood will seek to draw on the legacy of the 1984 International Garden Festival. It will offer a range of homes, from affordable and shared ownership options to homes for rent, sale, co-housing and later living. The scheme will also benefit existing residents with improved connections from the St Michaels area to the waterfront and additional local amenities.
Cllr Peter Norris, who represents the Festival Gardens ward, added: "This is a significant milestone for Festival Gardens and a welcome step forward for our community. Through the many conversations I've had with local residents over the years, one message has been consistent: people want to see this iconic waterfront site brought back into use in a way that benefits both existing and future communities."
The development partners will now begin the next stage of design work, consultation and business planning prior to the submission of a planning application before the phased delivery of homes gets underway.
