Liverpool launches final consultation on city’s 15-year local plan

Residents and businesses are invited to give feedback on Liverpool’s Local Plan, which sets out how the city will meet the challenges of a rising population.

Liverpool’s population is predicted to rise by 47,000 people over the next 15 years, with the plan hoping to create 35,000 homes and develop 370 acres of land for 38,000 new jobs to meet this rising demand.

The draft plan identifies policies to manage this growth, protect the city’s heritage and control developments in the city centre, alongside controlling the number of conversions of properties into homes in multiple occupations (HMO’s).

Cllr Sarah Doyle, cabinet member for development and housing, said: ‘Covid has given everyone time to think about what type of growth Liverpool needs, where and who it will benefit – and this Local Plan provides the framework to how this will happen. This Local Plan sets out to determine how we make Liverpool a healthier and more prosperous city that meet the needs of a changing population, and with our City Plan will help shape Liverpool’s post-pandemic recovery.

‘Its impact will be huge because it explores all the key issues and acknowledges the importance of measuring social value in what we do and who we work with. It reflects on what type of homes and jobs we need as a city to improve community wellbeing, what type of high street we shop in, to how do we enjoy our parks and green spaces and how do we travel between them.’

The new plan aims to focus future development on brownfield land, making sufficient provision for regeneration projects and job creation in the city’s key employment areas.

It will also promote the development of wheelchair-accessible homes and affordable homes and encourage more growth within specific city centre locations including the Baltic Triangle and Paddington Village.

The public consultation will run for six-weeks, after which the plan will replace the existing Unitary Development Plan 2002 in the city on all planning matters.

In related news, Birmingham City Council announces plans for Perry Barr regeneration.

Photo by Laurie Byrne