Liverpool City Council is set to seek a development partner to transform the former International Festival Gardens into the city’s newest residential community. A report to Cabinet next Tuesday recommends the council undertake a competitive procurement exercise to appoint a high-calibre development partner to lead on creating a new neighbourhood at this prime waterfront location.
The ambition is to significantly boost the city’s housing supply with a diverse range and mix of housing types, including affordable properties, together with local amenities. This scheme aims to create a thriving new community in south Liverpool, which is well connected and within ten minutes of the city centre. The project, a flagship outlined in the city’s draft housing strategy, will enhance its natural surroundings and biodiversity, providing high-standard, multi-generational living for all.
Significant remediation and enabling works were completed in January 2024 to prepare for development. Since then, a team of experts has been curating an ambitious development brief to market the site effectively. Clear objectives state the council’s intentions to make the 28-acre site a sustainable, healthy, and inclusive neighbourhood with a strong identity and high design quality. If approved, the procurement process will begin in October, aiming to secure a partner by mid-next year. The development brief will seek expressions of interest from developers with a successful track record in delivering transformative schemes built on strong community engagement. Montagu Evans will manage the procurement process on behalf of the council.
The contract with the selected development partner is expected to be finalised in autumn 2025 after thorough due diligence. Remediating the Festival Gardens site has been a three-year project that began in 2021. This extensive excavation programme moved almost 450,000 cubic metres of soil and waste, with more than 95% recycled. Additional works included laying drainage and constructing a substation to provide a power supply for future development. The site includes an eight-acre landscaped amenity space, with the remaining 20 acres primed for development. The remediation was led by the council’s principal contractor.
Liverpool City Council Leader Cllr Liam Robinson remarked, “This is a major milestone moment in the evolution of the Festival Gardens site. The appointment of a development partner will see the completion of the International Garden Festival initiative and marks the final chapter in a 40-year story of a site which originally covered 250 acres. It will also ensure that the UK’s only remaining Festival Gardens are preserved and enhanced for future generations to enjoy.” He added, “We know how well loved this area is and want to make sure that we are doing as much as we can to ensure this prime waterfront land has the potential to be a flagship development that sets the standard for sustainable housing in the UK. The extensive remediation work is another piece in the puzzle, and we’re now in a position to go out to the market and invite developers to share with us their vision which will be transformative for the area and the city as a whole. It’s an incredibly exciting time and is the next step in making this in-demand, thriving community a reality.”
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram commented, “This is another milestone on the journey to transforming Festival Gardens into a vibrant, inclusive community that will be cherished by generations to come. This isn’t just about building units; it’s about building desirable homes where families can put down roots, where nature and urban living coexist in harmony, and where the community spirit that defines our region can thrive.” He continued, “Working with the city council, we have done much of the hard graft on remediating the contaminated land, and we’re now ready to work with a partner who shares our vision to turn this prime waterfront site into a beacon of sustainable living. Together, we’ll make sure that this development is something we can all be proud of.”
The search for a development partner for Liverpool’s Festival Gardens marks a significant step towards creating a sustainable and inclusive residential community. With the groundwork laid and a clear vision set, the council is poised to transform this prime location into a thriving neighbourhood that will benefit future generations.