Page 40 Agenda Item 4d

ANFIELD/COUNTY/EVERTON AND KIRKDALE WARDS

STATUS – Public R&T/1

Cabinet Member: Director:

Councillor Malcolm Kennedy Nick Kavanagh – Director Regeneration
and Employment.

Date of submission: Subject:

3 June 2011 North Liverpool
Strategic Regeneration Framework

Report No./Background papers: Contact Officer:

EDR/22/11 Mark Kitts, 0151 233 4202
North Liverpool
Strategic Regeneration Framework

Purpose of the report

This report seeks to inform Cabinet Members of the completion of the North Liverpool
Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) and seek their endorsement of the SRF as
the basis for future regeneration across North Liverpool.

Background

The objective of the SRF is to provide a comprehensive vision and strategy for the
revitalisation of North Liverpool (comprising the four wards of Anfield, County,
Everton and Kirkdale and the two wards of Derby and Linacre in South Sefton) over
the next 20 years.

The SRF has been prepared on behalf of a multi agency steering group lead by
Liverpool Vision and comprising Liverpool City Council, Sefton MBC, North West
Development Agency, Government Office and Homes and Communities Agency.

The North Liverpool Scrutiny Panel (2009) provided a report to the Regeneration
Select Committee on 15 November 2009 concluding the work of the Panel and
making a number of recommendations regarding the regeneration of the North
Liverpool area. The Scrutiny Panel report welcomed the proposal to prepare the SRF
for North Liverpool.

The SRF has been produced in consultation with a wide variety of stakeholders. The
document seeks to ensure coordination between the agencies that are active in the
area through providing a common vision. This clear focus will help to ensure
activities are complementary and make best use of resources at a time when
resources are under pressure. It is anticipated that the SRF will be recognised and
supported by partners within their respective strategies and policies.

The SRF will be an important tool for articulating the shared vision for North Liverpool
to potential developers, investors and to Government and other public sector
agencies. By providing a coherent strategy and a collective voice, the ability to
attract resources is strengthened.
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Vision and Objectives

The vision of the SRF is:

“…to create a renewed sense of purpose and identity, to create a thriving place, with
a sustainable economic purpose, ready for investment and development of new
business, residential environments and riverside uses. It will be a community of
green suburbs nestled between gardens and parks, overlooking the river, linked to
the city in the south and the countryside to the north.”

The SRF is structured on the three themes:

Economy and Employment

People and Communities

Neighbourhood and Places

Under each theme there is a series of objectives and actions that will contribute to
the achievement of the overall vision.

Baseline and Strategic Context

The SRF makes a strong and compelling case for the positive regeneration of North
Liverpool. The need for action is clearly and convincingly made with reference to the
fit with the policy agenda and the key strategies that drive change, to the areas socio-
economic performance and to the physical form and assets of the area. The analysis
demonstrates that North Liverpool clearly exhibits a need for intervention, but it also
highlights that the area has a number of major assets and opportunities that are
unique and offer huge potential for regeneration:

The working port at Seaforth, the northwest’s Europe's Atlantic Gateway, the
UK's northern port-centric distribution hub, and a potential onshore base for
offshore wind industries in the Irish Sea

Prime development opportunities on a massive scale next to the World
Heritage waterfront and the city centre at Liverpool Waters

A series of high profile development projects immediately adjacent to some of
the most disadvantaged communities in the country.

The SRF recognises that it is not starting from a blank page – there is a great deal of
activity planned and ongoing across North Liverpool. To achieve the Vision for North
Liverpool set out in the SRF there is a need to not only integrate and co-ordinate
existing investment but also to prioritise, develop and deliver key projects. The SRF
is unique in that it seeks to coordinate this activity across a wider area and across a
longer timeframe to ensure it delivers the scale of change required to address
decades of decline and create a step change in the quality of life and economic
prospects of North Liverpool.

The SRF is founded upon the principle of coordinating and steering public sector
resources to attract private sector investment and ensure developments connect with
other opportunities to deliver real and lasting benefits to the local population.

Transformational Projects

The SRF sets out a number of priority transformational projects – these are the major
projects which have the potential to really transform the socio-economic and physical
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fortunes of North Liverpool and catalyse further regeneration. They are as follows:

1. Liverpool Waters: the largest development scheme in the city involving the
regeneration of 60ha of disused dockland stretching from the city centre into
North Liverpool. The scheme proposes a mix of complementary uses including
housing, commercial office space, leisure, culture and community facilities,
centred around restored docks and high quality public realm. The vision is for
Liverpool Waters to be a new vibrant destination for people to live, work and visit.
The scheme aims to link the docks to the City and re-connect them to the
communities of North Liverpool, providing new opportunities for employment,
leisure and new housing. Liverpool Waters, therefore, has a major role to play in
supporting the ongoing regeneration of the City and in particular of North
Liverpool.

2. Port Expansion: the port is a major driver of the City Region’s economy. It’s
planned expansion through the construction of the post-panamax facility and in
terms of transport and logistics infrastructure has enormous potential to boost
jobs in the freight and logistics sector, attract additional inward investment and to
develop a low carbon economy and new energy opportunities.

3. The Football Stadia: the plans and aspirations of both Liverpool and Everton
football clubs are for expansion and growth. Both Football Clubs are extremely
important to the City as a major driver for market visibility, tourism and leisure.
The combined impact of both clubs decisions must be maximised for the benefit
of a much wider area.

4. Low Carbon Business Transformation: this is a programme of activities across

the area than a specific project. Embracing the low carbon economy provides an
opportunity to develop a more local response to global climate and energy
challenges and also to develop skills in a specialised sector. This can only
succeed through effective partnership working with key stakeholders such as
RSLs, the private sector and the voluntary sector. However, the two local
authorities are well placed to lead this and create the conditions under which a
low carbon economy can develop – for example through site assembly,
marketing, incentives, target setting and by embedding low carbon ideals in their
own procurement processes and developments.

5. Business Land and Premises: the vast majority of employment land and
premises in the North Liverpool is concentrated along North Shore. The overall
quality of premises and the environment here is poor, however North Shore is
very important to North Liverpool in terms of the employment it generates. The
SRF seeks to increase the value that North Shore contributes to the economy
through a range of measures including; encouraging business growth (both
nurturing existing firms and attracting new firms in growth sectors), providing
better quality premises in a more attractive environment and raising the skills of
local residents to ensure they benefit from economic growth.

6. Developing 21st Century Skills: North Liverpool currently has a low skills base.
Ensuring the workforce have the requisite skills to meet the needs of the modern
economy is essential to enable economic growth. This project includes a range
of activities such as engaging with residents; fostering closer links with the
universities; closer working with employers to ensure skills needs are identified
and met – there are particular opportunities in relation to the large development
schemes in Liverpool and in developing skills in the construction industry.
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7. A Total Place Approach to Family Support and Education and Skills: the SRF will
connect with the Total Place agenda and promote a locally integrated approach
to family support, education and skills. This agenda is complex and requires long
term commitment. Further work is needed to fully develop actions under this
theme and to ensure that the positive interactions between social, economic and
physical conditions are reflected in all activity.

8. Project Jennifer: St Modwen Developments Ltd is working in partnership with

Liverpool City Council on this major 45 acre mixed use regeneration project to
revitalise the Great Homer Street district centre. The scheme, which has
planning permission, will comprise a supermarket, leisure, business space and a
health centre. The new district centre will provide new amenities for the local
community, dramatically improving the quality of the environment and form a new
focal point for local people.

9. Housing Market Restructuring: reshaping the housing offer through careful

deletion of obsolescent housing and the introduction of private housing and a
range of social rented and affordable housing in desirable modern communities –
a continuation of the work begun by New Heartlands. This activity is essential to
ensure that North Liverpool provides the type and quality of homes that will retain
existing residents and attract new residents.

10. Green Infrastructure: North Liverpool has no shortage of open space or green
infrastructure. However, the quantity and the quality of open space is highly
variable across the area and there are tracts of derelict vacant land which cause
an eyesore. The SRF seeks to establish a coherent, accessible and consistently
well managed landscape that both benefits the lives of local people and attracts
investors and visitors. This will include measures such as temporary treatments
of vacant sites and enhancement of street trees.

11. Neighbourhood Management: effective neighbourhood management is critical to

address issues such as including poor housing, high levels of crime,
environmental blight and negative image. New approaches to neighbourhood
management are being piloted across the SRF area including the North Liverpool
Action Team (‘Beautiful North’). The SRF provides a framework to integrate such
approaches to neighbourhood management with wider programmes of activity
and economic regeneration.

12. Everton Park: is a 40 hectare green space in the heart of North Liverpool with
unbeatable views over the city and river. It was created in the 1980s following
housing clearance programmes. There is an opportunity to rethink Everton Park
with a view to realising its potential both as a major visitor attraction in its own
right and as a local facility that brings together local communities rather than
acting as a barrier between them.

Spatial Framework and Neighbourhood Plans

The SRF provides a spatial framework which emphasises the need to improve
physical connections across the area (particularly east-west links) and improve the
quality of built and natural environment to improve the perceptions of potential
investors and to make best use of existing assets.

The SRF area has been divided into 8 district/neighbourhood areas. It is proposed
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that these areas would form the basis of detailed neighbourhood planning in the
future. The SRF provides the context for taking action forward at the local level by
preparing for each:

A brief description of the area

The key regeneration principles; and

Key proposals for action (including any transformational projects)

It is intended that the relative timing, priority and process for district/neighbourhood
planning would be considered in a forthcoming Delivery Plan.

Consultation

Two consultation events have been held during the period of developing the SRF,
one in March 2010 and one in November 2010. Both were well attended by a mix of
stakeholders from the public, private and community sectors. The November event
endorsed the draft SRF and provided an opportunity for any comments.

Delivery Plan

The SRF recognises that due to the scale of challenge and opportunity in North
Liverpool a radical approach to action is needed. A sustained and coordinated effort
is required by all agencies at all levels – local, regional and national.

The SRF is based on a 20 year timescale. Indicative timescales are set out for key
actions and further detail will be provided in a 3 year Delivery Plan (which is currently
being prepared).

The need for partnership action is clearly articulated in the SRF. The success of the
strategy depends upon securing commitment of the public, private, voluntary sector
and crucially the local communities. The 3 year Delivery Plan will set out further
detail on delivery arrangements, consultation and engagement.

Going Forward

Following the approval of the SRF by Cabinet the next steps are:

To progress a 3 year Delivery Plan in consultation with partners

To complete a summary SRF suitable for wider circulation and use in
marketing, promotion and lobbying

To hold an SRF launch event in May 2011 to re-engage with key stakeholders
and take the strategy forward into implementation

To continue the delivery of existing projects and programmes and to prepare
the way for new or emerging ideas and interventions.

Endorsement

The North Liverpool SRF was endorsed by the Liverpool Vision Board on 3rd
December 2010 and was approved by the Cabinet Member for Regeneration at
Sefton M.B.C. on 19th January 2011.
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A summary document of the SRF has been produced to communicate the key
messages in the SRF in a succinct and easily accessible format. The summary is to
be suitable for wider circulation and to be used to raise awareness of the SRF and for
lobbying and promotion.

An event was held on 11th May 2011 to launch the final SRF and consult on a draft
delivery plan. This demonstrated to partners the progress made since the successful
event in November and provide a solid platform for continual engagement and co-
ordination of activity associated with the SRF.

Cabinet Member/Director recommendation:

Cllr Malcolm Kennedy and Nick Kavanagh recommend that:

1. The North Liverpool SRF is approved by Cabinet as the basis upon which the
City Council will bring forward regeneration across North Liverpool with it’s
partners and stakeholders.

2. A 3 year delivery plan is to be produced to provide more detailed information on

the delivery arrangements for the SRF. The delivery plan be produced in
consultation with partners and will specify actions, timescales, outcomes/outputs,
resources and lead partners.

3. Progress reports on the North Liverpool SRF be presented to Cabinet and

Regeneration and Transport Select Committee on a six monthly basis.

Corporate Aim(s):

The SRF will contribute to all three Corporate aims:

Aim 1: Grow the city's economy
Aim 2: Develop our communities
Aim 3: Empower our residents

Key Decision: Yes

Forward Plan: Yes

Implementation effective from: 10 June 2011.

Timescale for action: Immediate upon approval

Reason(s) for recommendation: To endorse the final version of the North Liverpool
Strategic Regeneration Framework and to agree to the production of a summary
strategy, a 3 year delivery plan and to an event to launch the delivery arrangements
by the end of May 2011.
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Alternative options considered:

To do nothing is unacceptable as North Liverpool suffers from acute levels of

deprivation and is a priority area for the city.

Doing nothing would allow continued decline of North Liverpool resulting in:

growing cost to the public purse of welfare payments to a large workless
population

risks to family life, and to the integration of young people into work and society

expenses associated with obsolescent infrastructure

housing market failure on an ever wider scale

physical dereliction and decay, deterring inward investment and new construction

the flight of capital, and economic abandonment.

The reason for a 20 year strategy is to allow partners to consider radical alternatives
that are of sufficient scale to check and then reverse this pattern of decline.

An alternative to the coordinated activity promoted in the SRF would be to pursue

regeneration activity across the area on an ad-hoc basis. However, this is likely to
lead to duplication of activity and inefficient use of resources. Consultation
undertaken in producing the SRF has created a good level of support for this
coordinated and focused approach.

Consultation including consultation with Ward Councillors and outcome:

A significant amount of consultation has been undertaken in producing the SRF.

There have been consultations with various groups during the initial baseline stages
and two large stakeholder events. The first stakeholder event was held on 1st March
2010 to verify initial findings. The second stakeholder event was held on 3rd
November to seek endorsement of the (consultation draft) SRF. A third event to
launch the SRF was held on 11th may 2011. All events were attended by
representatives from public, private and voluntary sector agencies active across the
area.

Financial implications (Efficiency Savings): It is anticipated that as a

consequence of the sharing of information, projects and programmes there will be a
more efficient use of resources. At the SRF level this is impossible to calculate
however as delivery arrangements emerge the financial implications of particular
projects will be reported on.

Legal implications: There are no legal implications as a consequence of endorsing

the SRF.

Risk Management: There are no risks directly associated with the endorsement of
the SRF. The j-cad risk management system has been used to monitor and mitigate
risk during the development of the SRF and will continue to be used as appropriate
for projects and programmes being led by the City Council. More detailed risk
assessment will be produced as part of the delivery strategy for the SRF.
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Equality implications/Equality Impact Assessment: An Equalities Impact

Assessment has been submitted for the SRF. There are no Equality Implications
arising from this report.

Climate Change Strategic Framework and Climate Change Adaptation

Framework:

The SRF has been informed by existing strategies and policies that relate to climate
change. The imperative to adapt to and mitigate the potential impacts of climate
change is fully recognised in the SRF. The development a low carbon economy is
identified as a key target sector in the SRF’s Economy and Employment Framework
and also as a transformational project due to the positive impact activities related to
this sector could have on the economy, people and environment of North Liverpool.

Budget and Policy Framework:

The Local Development Framework Core Strategy is in the process of

completion. The principles and approach endorsed in the SRF generally
reflect the LDF and draft Core Strategy in its present form.

Report attached:

A copy of the North Liverpool Strategic Regeneration Framework document is

available on request.