Liverpool kicks off Anfield Square regeneration
Consultancies JLL, LDA Design, and SPACED have been selected to draw up a development brief for a long-vacant plot next to Liverpool FC’s stadium.
The 2.5-acre Anfield Square is identified in Liverpool City Council’s Anfield Spatial Regeneration Framework as “a significant development opportunity capable of accommodating a range of uses to improve the vibrancy and economic potential of the area”.
The site is located off Walton Breck Road and immediately west of Anfield Stadium.
It was previously occupied by around 150 terraced houses that were demolished in 2016 ahead of the Main Stand expansion.
JLL – whose appointment was carried out in line with Liverpool City Council’s triple lock approach to governance – will lead the team responsible for exploring options for the plot via a soft market testing exercise, as well as a series of public and stakeholder engagement sessions in February and March.
Read more about Liverpool City Council’s triple lock approach in Subplot.
The site will eventually be disposed of to a development partner.
The Anfield Square project is the next phase of an ongoing £260m project to revitalise Anfield and Everton being led by the city council, the football club, and Your Housing Group.
To date, the project has seen the delivery of 600 new homes, 600 refurbished homes, a new school, shops, and the expansion of Anfield.
Cllr Sarah Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for development and economy, said there would be “an extremely high benchmark for the quality of what happens to Anfield Square”.
“This square presents a unique opportunity to create something special for the Anfield community – and most importantly a development that is shaped by those that live there,”
“The benchmark for community inclusion will also be very high to ensure this development provides a long-lasting positive economic, social and environmental impact for our residents in the area.”
Henry Burton, development director at JLL, added: “This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future development of Anfield Square in a way that provides social, environmental and economic value for Liverpool.
“The prominent site, which is adjacent to the football ground of one of the world’s most famous football clubs, will appeal to a wide range of developers that are committed to delivering transformative regeneration projects.”
A great opportunity here but if it`s community lead by local people who know little about urban dynamics and design then we just end up with suburban housing with front and back gardens. In reality this part of Anfield has some wonderful Victorian terraced housing, and because of the present of Liverpool FC individual business providing leisure and accommodation have opened, some of them from Norwegian fans.
So let`s have a mix of an outstanding landscaped square surrounded by town-houses, one or two hotels, and cafes, and there is still much of Anfield to re-develop with residential thus helping make the local area achieve sustainability.
By Anonymous
This should be an open goal for success let’s hope LCC don’t miss this sitter and score an own goal again in their apparent lack of tactical skills and team work in creating a truly unique and winning fixture.
By Liverpolitis
For the area, this needs to be primarily about jobs, not residential. There are very few sites in the Anfield area that are better for jobs than this and the area needs work.
By JB
Nice to see the city council supporting their local professional sector and using a company that closed its Liverpool office.
By William Hesketh
Why were they demolished in the first place? Was it a construction compound?
By Swampy
Jokes aside/serious suggestion: LFC does have a strange Scandinavian fan contingent, a region that also happens to have world-leading urban design and housing standards. Would be great to see if this could be integrated into the scheme
By Scandiscape
Getting the sense of place right will be critical. In Liverpool’s Chinatown all the street signs are in Cantonese and there is some very good oriental street furniture and they really reinforce the area’s identity. We should look to replicate that here with Norwegian road signs, a life-size statue of an elk and perhaps a longship in the main square? Just a thought.
By Sceptical
I meant to say *strong* Scandi contingent (but maybe “strange” too!)
By Scandiscape
Why didn’t we divert Walton Breck Road onto a new road alignment to allow for future expansion of The Kop when the whole area got flattened years ago!?
What a wasted missed opportunity!
By Kayla Bibby
This site would be perfect for a much needed Walk In Medical Center, and also for a Pharmacy. It would also make a big difference to the very
overworked emergency department in Aintree Hospital. There is also room for parking. All in all a perfect addition for the community
By George Parry