Member Article

£260m Anfield plan advances

The long-awaited £260m redevelopment of a key area in the north of Liverpool has taken a step closer.

City leaders are to consider a formal framework to pave the way for planning applications for the scheme.

Residents and businesses are to be asked for their views on the document, called the Anfield Spatial Regeneration Framework (SRF), before it is finalised and formally adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document by Liverpool City Council.

The draft SRF sets out the planning framework for development in the Anfield area. It outlines a number of proposals to regenerate the area and potentially create some 700 long-term jobs.

It will be considered by Liverpool City Council’s cabinet on February 7. If approved in draft form, a four-week public consultation will take place before it is finalised and submitted to the cabinet again for official and final adoption in April.

The draft SRF follows the unveiling of a range of ideas last June by a consortium led by Liverpool City Council with support from Your Housing Group, Liverpool Football Club and other partners including house-builder Keepmoat Ltd.

About 1,700 residents were surveyed with more than 80% of those who responded welcoming those ideas and saying they wanted them to be developed further. The draft SRF has taken residents’ views into account.

The publication of today’s document could pave the way for planning applications for new housing, business and retail premises, a hotel, new public space, a proposed expansion of Liverpool FC’s stadium and a range of new community facilities in the area, including in Stanley Park.

Subject to the views of residents and formal ratification of the draft SRF by the council, some of those planning applications could be submitted this year. It is intended that all the proposed developments are delivered by 2018.

The publication of the draft SRF comes in the midst of major improvements which have already been made to the wider Anfield area.

These include over £72m of housing since 2005, the demolition of derelict properties, the restoration of Stanley Park including the Isla Gladstone conservatory, and the construction of the new Four Oaks Primary School and Mere Lane Health Centre and the expansion of the Football Match Parking Zone.

The draft SRF is designed to support proposals which will accelerate these improvements and create the right environment for economic development, employment growth and personal wellbeing.

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said: “The publication of the draft SRF sends a very clear message to the people of north Liverpool: a brighter Anfield is coming.

“This is one of the most important milestones in the recent history of north Liverpool and will lead to a huge improvement in quality of life for many thousands of people.

“These plans have evolved over the last year thanks to the people of Anfield themselves. They have told us what they want – new opportunities, new homes, an improved environment – and we have listened. We now want those residents and businesses to speak to us again and let us know if they want these plans to become reality.”

Your Housing Group Chief Executive Brian Cronin said: “Community leaders and residents have had a major part to play in helping us to shape the proposals contained in the draft SRF and we are extremely grateful for their contribution.

“Anyone visiting Anfield in the last year can see the improvements which have already been made. Much has also been done through the delivery of new-build homes and the imaginative refurbishment of traditional terraces. We can already see the brighter Anfield which is emerging.

“But there is still a huge amount to be done to realise our vision for the area and the publication of the framework is a crucial step towards achieving that vision.”

Liverpool Football Club Managing Director Ian Ayre said: “The publication of the draft SRF document is another important milestone in the regeneration project as we continue this exciting journey to transform the Anfield area.

“Any final decision regarding a future stadium expansion continues to be based on certainty – certainty that we can obtain the necessary land around the stadium to facilitate any expansion; certainty that there is demand for any future expansion; certainty that we have home owners’ support; and certainty that we will be able to navigate the complex planning landscape.

“We regard the progress to date as extremely positive and will continue to be fully supportive of the regeneration project with Liverpool City Council and Your Housing Group.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .