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Homes England to invest £55m in stalled 2,350-home Liverpool dockland scheme
Homes England will grant £55m to Liverpool City Council to accelerate a stalled 2,350-home scheme on the Central Docks site.
The housing agency’s grant, from the Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land Fund, will be used to fund remediation and infrastructure on the large Central Docks site north of Liverpool centre.
A report to city leaders on 16 July recommended that the council should enter into an agreement with Homes England to accept the grant funding.
Central Docks, which is located on Liverpool’s largest brownfield site, is set to be developed by Peel Waters, its owners. Planning permission for site preparation work was secured in March 2023.
With 2,350 new homes, it will be the largest neighbourhood within the 30-year, £5bn Liverpool Waters project.
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According to Liverpool City Council, the regeneration is projected to unlock £500m in private investment.
The Central Docks plans also include a 2.1-hectare public park ,as well as a ‘cultural hub’ and retail and leisure facilities.
In the past two years, 237 new homes have been completed on the site.
Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “This new funding from Homes England will help transform one of the country’s major brownfield sites and act as a huge economic catalyst for north Liverpool.”
He continued: “The Central Docks scheme has the potential to be a true flagship scheme of what can be achieved by partnership between central and local government and the private sector.”
Homes England’s funding, which is subject to final approval from the Treasury, came a week after Rachel Reeves referenced the development in her first speech as chancellor amid a pledge to unlock stalled housing schemes.
Speaking earlier this month, Ms Reeves said she would create a new task force to “accelerate stalled housing sites in our country, beginning with Liverpool Central Docks, Worcester Parkway, Northstowe and Langley Sutton Coldfield, representing more than 14,000 homes”.
Steve Rotheram, mayor of Liverpool City Region, said the £55m investment was “an enormous statement of intent” from the new government.
He said: “Britain is under new management and, in just a few days, we are already starting to see the difference. Working hand in hand with government at a national, regional and local level we can make an enormous difference and drive growth locally.”
Liverpool City Council’s draft housing strategy aims to deliver 2,000 new homes a year to 2030 and to double the number of affordable homes across the city.
Peter Denton, chief executive of Homes England, said: “The provision of funding and expertise, as part of a long-term partnership with the council, the mayor and the wider sector, is exactly what Homes England is here to do – supporting local places aiming to unlock the potential for change, growth and the creation of sustainable, vibrant communities.”
Chris Capes, director of development at Peel Waters, said: “Central Docks will deliver thousands of new homes, alongside commercial, retail, leisure and community infrastructure and public spaces over the next 10 years.
“However, the practicalities of developing brownfield sites are always a challenge for investors and developers, and so innovation and partnerships are essential to drive forward the regeneration we all want to see.
“Investment in this critical infrastructure will help lever in at least 10 times the amount in private sector funding.”
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