Hunt begins for Liverpool’s Festival Gardens developer
Liverpool City Council has officially fired the starting gun in search of a development partner for the 28-acre site, one of the most high-profile in the city.
The selection is being undertaken using a competitive dialogue public procurement process.
The recently remediated site has the potential to host at least 1,500 homes.
Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “We are now at the critical stage of searching for and appointing a developer.
“We need a development partner who is on the same page to deliver the next chapter for this iconic location.”
Design principles laid out by the city council’s project brief – drawn up by Metropolitan Workshop, Shedkm, Mace and Montagu Evans – express a desire to “unlock the full potential of the site to deliver much-needed market and affordable homes”.
It sets out four key themes:
- Exemplar design
- Physical and visual connections to the river
- Varied and diverse landscape
- A focus on ease of movement
LCC has also set the expectation of the delivery of more than 20% affordable housing across the scheme.
Both DWF and Montagu Evans will be supporting Liverpool City Council throughout the procurement process
Those interested have until 4 November to submit an initial selection questionnaire to be evaluated.
A contract will be awarded by a cabinet decision in October 2025.
The procurement process will continue as follows:
- 4 November 2024: Return of Selection Questionnaires
- 18 November 2024 – January 2025: commencement of Stage One – Outline Solutions Stage (up to five bidders)
- March – June 2025: Stage Two – Detailed Solutions Stage (up to three bidders)
- June 2025: Return of final tender
- June – October 2025: Evolution and Selection Stage
This is the second time Liverpool City Council has gone out to market for a development partner.
Ion Developments had signed an exclusivity agreement to build 1,500 homes on a 22-acre chunk of the site but the city council decided in 2022 to launch a fresh hunt for a development partner after the agreement expired.
20% affordability will prove to be the big problem here, as if you want a high quality ,innovative, development then you shouldn’t be looking to level down.
I’m not saying things won’t be built but it’s not going to be as impressive as envisaged as one might’ve hoped given £60m has been spent on site preparation.
By Anonymous