Plans to transform Liverpool’s Festival Gardens site into a new waterfront neighbourhood featuring around 800 homes have taken a major step forward after Liverpool City Council approved key legal agreements.

The landmark multi-million-pound Liverpool Festival Gardens regeneration scheme will see the historic south Liverpool waterfront site redeveloped in partnership with Urban Splash Development and igloo, paving the way for a major new residential community.

The approval follows a competitive procurement process which saw Urban Splash and igloo selected as the council’s preferred development partners for the long-awaited project.

The development is expected to be delivered in phases over the coming years, making it one of Liverpool’s most significant housing-led regeneration schemes.

Liverpool Festival Gardens plans include 800 new homes

Current proposals for Festival Gardens include approximately 800 homes, combining market housing with affordable properties to create a sustainable and inclusive new neighbourhood.

Up to 441 homes could be delivered during the first phase, providing an early boost to Liverpool’s housing supply and helping to transform a site that has remained undeveloped for many years.

The plans include a variety of housing options designed to appeal to people of different ages, backgrounds and circumstances.

These could include affordable housing, shared ownership properties, homes for rent and sale, co-housing and later living accommodation.

The new neighbourhood will also feature generous landscaping, green spaces and improved connections to the River Mersey.

Existing residents in the surrounding area are expected to benefit from improved links between St Michaels and the waterfront, alongside additional local amenities.

Historic Liverpool waterfront site set for transformation

The Festival Gardens site has a significant place in Liverpool’s history, having hosted the International Garden Festival in 1984.

Although the waterfront location has long been identified as an opportunity for regeneration, environmental and contamination challenges have previously delayed redevelopment.

Extensive remediation and enabling works were completed in January 2024, supported by funding from Homes England, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Liverpool City Council.

The completion of those works helped prepare the site for future development and created the opportunity to bring forward the latest proposals.

The planned neighbourhood will draw inspiration from the legacy of the International Garden Festival, combining nature, distinctive architecture and thoughtfully designed homes.

Sustainability at the heart of Festival Gardens regeneration

Urban Splash and igloo have committed to ambitious sustainability targets, including biodiversity net gain measures and low-carbon construction methods.

Over the past year, work has begun on biodiversity audits and a long-term environmental strategy, with input from Natural England, Mersey Forest and United Utilities.

The scheme will also use igloo’s award-winning Footprint® methodology, which takes a place-based approach to development.

This considers the needs of local communities, the ambitions of stakeholders and the importance of conserving natural resources.

Working alongside a team of design-led partners, the developers aim to create a neighbourhood that combines innovative construction, high-quality architecture and extensive landscaping.

The ambition is to establish a welcoming and distinctive community that celebrates the site’s waterfront location while supporting Liverpool’s wider environmental goals.

What happens next for Liverpool Festival Gardens?

With the legal agreements now approved, Urban Splash and igloo can progress to the next stage of the regeneration project.

This will involve further design development, consultation and business planning ahead of submitting a formal planning application.

Subject to the necessary approvals, construction would then begin in phases over the coming years.

The agreement also represents an important step towards fulfilling commitments made under previous grant funding arrangements and unlocking the delivery of new homes following years of public investment.

Once completed, the Liverpool Festival Gardens regeneration scheme has the potential to transform a prominent stretch of the city’s southern waterfront into a thriving new residential neighbourhood.

Councillor Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, said: 

“Festival Gardens is one of Liverpool’s most iconic regeneration opportunities, and this decision represents another major step towards bringing the site back into use.

“The agreement allows us to move forward with plans that will deliver hundreds of much-needed new homes, attract investment and create a thriving new neighbourhood on our waterfront.

“The site has undergone extensive remediation work over recent years, and we can now focus on turning our vision for Festival Gardens into reality.”

Duncan Inglis, Regional Director for the North West at Homes England, said:

“As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, we aim to support public and private sector partners to unlock strategic housing sites, where brownfield, infrastructure or land projects face delivery challenges. In South Liverpool, the Festival Gardens site is a prime example of this.

“This new regeneration has been part-funded by our Local Authority Accelerated Construction scheme, which showcases how we continue to work closely with mayoral authorities and local councils to meet the needs of their communities.”

Joe Broadley, Development Director at igloo, said:

“This latest milestone signifies an important moment for the new neighbourhood at Festival Gardens 

“The iconic waterfront site will be a major catalyst for the growth of the city region, unlocking opportunity for collaboration across the various programmes of delivery.

“We’re now looking forward to working closely with the community, Urban Splash and our partners to co-create something special over the coming months and years.”

Jonathan Falkingham MBE, Co-Founder of Urban Splash, said:

“This is huge progress for Festival Gardens and Liverpool as a whole. It’s a major new development that will not only create a vibrant, inclusive neighbourhood but also provide local employment opportunities on this long-standing site.

“With Urban Splash and igloo working in partnership, we’re combining decades of experience to turn this large-scale regeneration project into a community Liverpool can be proud of. We’re excited to bring this landmark project to life.”

Councillor Peter Norris, Festival Gardens Ward Councillor, said:

“This is a significant milestone for Festival Gardens and a welcome step forward for our community. Through the many conversations I’ve had with local residents over the years, one message has been consistent: people want to see this iconic waterfront site brought back into use in a way that benefits both existing and future communities.

“It’s encouraging to see progress towards delivering new homes, enhanced green spaces and local amenities. Just as importantly, this development must be matched by the infrastructure and connectivity improvements needed to support growth, strengthen links to the waterfront and make it easier for people to access the opportunities created.

“I look forward to continuing to work with residents as plans develop and ensuring local voices remain at the heart of shaping the future of Festival Gardens.”