Former Deputy Prime Minister tours Liverpool Waters

Businessman and former Deputy PM Lord Michael Heseltine took a tour of Liverpool Waters alongside a number of the city’s senior figures during his trip this week to the International Festival for Business 2016 (IFB2016).

Having spoken at the International Waterfront Forum, Lord Heseltine was joined by Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson, Liverpool Waters’ assistant project director Ian Pollitt, port operator Peel’s development director Lindsey Ashworth and IFB2016 chairman Max Steinberg as he viewed Peel’s £5.5bn development and the neighbouring £4.5bn Wirral Waters scheme.

Together the two developments form part of the Mersey Waters Enterprise Zone, a 30-year vision to turn the city into an economic powerhouse.

Liverpool Waters is also part of the Atlantic Gateway, a wider plan incorporating more than 50 contributory projects.

Ian Pollitt said: “Lord Heseltine has long been a champion of Liverpool and has great interest in its present and future plans and potential.

“He was fascinated to hear of our plans for further regeneration of Liverpool’s waterfront and its historic docks, which of course he kick started in 1981 at Albert Dock.”

He added: “It was an enjoyable trip, with many others who are working to secure the city’s future, and it was a pleasure to show how the continued environmental and economic improvements on the river are assisting the renaissance of Liverpool.”

Once complete, Liverpool Waters will regenerate the city’s northern docks by transforming a 148-acre site into a new mixed-use waterfront quarter in central Liverpool, connecting closely with the city’s existing waterfront and bringing new jobs, training and skills opportunities to the area.

Lord Heseltine said: “Liverpool’s renaissance is extraordinary and under so much momentum.

“I know that the projections for this city are now unstoppable. It’s always a great privilege to be here and to learn something new every time.”

He continued: “The extraordinary pace of change and the billions invested is a vote of confidence in the work of the public and private sectors in Liverpool and I hope that this investment continues in the future.”