Liverpool City Council has appointed a joint venture between Urban Splash and igloo Regeneration to lead the transformation of the city’s iconic Festival Gardens site, marking a significant milestone for the project.
The decision follows a competitive procurement process launched last autumn. Together, the two award-winning developers will deliver an ambitious and sustainable housing scheme on the landmark riverside location.
Founded in Liverpool in 1993, Urban Splash has played a major role in shaping the city region’s built environment, from the Ropewalks revival in the 1990s to the Matchworks commercial estate in Speke, as well as major regeneration projects nationwide.
igloo is a nationally recognised sustainable developer, credited with launching the world’s first UN-recognised responsible real estate investment fund in 2002 and becoming the UK’s first real estate B Corp in 2016. Its portfolio includes acclaimed waterside developments in Newcastle’s Ouseburn Valley, Nottingham’s Trent Basin, and Glasgow’s Dundashill.
Liverpool City Council is being supported by a multidisciplinary team including property advisors Montagu Evans, project delivery and construction specialists Mace, architecture and urban design practice Metropolitan Workshop, and architects Shedkm.
Backed by Homes England and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the Festival Gardens regeneration is one of the largest brownfield development schemes in northern England. The 27-acre development zone forms part of a wider 90-acre site located just three miles south of the city centre.
Set on a prime waterfront location, the site is surrounded by exceptional green and blue spaces — including the Festival Gardens parkland, home to formal Chinese and Japanese gardens, and the River Mersey. Plans focus on phased, residential-led development, offering a mix of housing types and tenures, with more than 20% affordable housing.
The vision is to create a thriving, sustainable, and inclusive neighbourhood that promotes health, community, and identity, delivered through innovative design and building methods to meet local housing needs.
The regeneration builds on the success of the Southern Grasslands, a 37-acre public park opened in 2022 following award-winning remediation of the site.
A Liverpool City Council meeting in September will seek approval to enter into a contract with the Urban Splash/igloo joint venture. If given the go-ahead, the Council will work closely with the partners to finalise legal agreements and set a clear timeline to move the project swiftly into the next stages of planning and delivery.
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Nick Small, said:
“We are thrilled to announce Urban Splash and igloo Regeneration as our development partners for Festival Gardens — one of Liverpool’s most iconic regeneration sites. This visionary joint venture is a bold step towards delivering an amazing housing scheme befitting this stunning location.
“These developers have a fabulous track record in delivering outstanding innovative and sustainable projects of the highest order. I can’t wait for our residents to see the details over the coming months.”
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:
“Festival Gardens has the potential to be one of the most exciting and transformational brownfield developments in the country – and today’s announcement is a big step towards realising that vision.
“This is about more than just bricks and mortar, it’s about building the kind of place that people are proud to call home. We’re putting the foundations in place to create a thriving new neighbourhood that reflects the kind of future we want to build – inclusive, innovative, and with our residents in mind.”
Jonathan Falkingham, MBE, co-founder of Urban Splash, said:
“Festival Gardens is truly one of Liverpool’s best sites, and it’s a huge privilege to have been selected as Liverpool’s development partner on the creation of this new riverside neighbourhood.
“Partnering with igloo, a brand that shares our values, our goal is to develop an exemplary, green place, that is accessible and sustainable for everyone, creating a lasting, vibrant community.
“We are grateful to Liverpool City Council for this opportunity and look forward to working closely with local residents to shape a community that the city can be proud of. We can’t wait to get started.”
Peter Connolly, chief executive at igloo Regeneration, said:
“This appointment marks not only a huge milestone for us as an innovative joint venture partnership, but also for Liverpool City Region. Festival Gardens is one of the city’s most highly anticipated regeneration sites, and we aim to deliver a truly community-driven riverside neighbourhood that future residents and the wider community will be proud of.
“We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Urban Splash to create a unique approach for this project and believe our shared values that centre around people, place and planet will inspire inclusivity, wellbeing, and a vibrant way of life for the community.”
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