A vision for the former International Festival Gardens site in Liverpool has today been unveiled by Mayor Joe Anderson at IFB 2016.

Architects K2 have presented an outline for a new cultural garden suburb – Festival Park – incorporating:

• Improved formal gardens with new public realm and landscaped areas
• Major cultural venues and independent retailers and restaurants
• Fisheries and wildlife areas in the southern grasslands
• Creation of new inlets and docks
• A waterpark

It also raises the prospect of the introduction of a Mersey Ferry landing stage and improved connection with the nearby St Michaels Merseyrail station.

Furthermore, it outlines the possibility of a ‘green’ residential development of up to 3,000 properties which would be powered for the next 70 years using an energy cell which would remediate waste at the site.

Speaking on the Blue Skies stage at IFB 2016, Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said:

“We have a bold and ambitious vision for the Festival Park. It is a site which has languished without being properly developed for far too long, but we are determined for it to achieve its potential and become a major destination the entire city region can be proud of.

“We are at the start of a long term project to deliver a first class visitor and cultural destination with limited residential development on part of the site.

“Over the coming months we will be involving partners and local residents and getting their ideas and feedback. This is a site which very many people are very fond of, and it is vital that we take our time in getting this right.”

Kevin Horton, Architects Director for K2, said:

“When we were approached to create a vision for the former festival gardens, we asked ourselves, how can we create long term sustainable value on one of the city’s most challenging sites?

“By transforming its legacy of problems into worthwhile opportunities we have created an ambitious vision for the waterfront that captures Liverpool’s modern character.

“It is aspirational and confident which further cements the city’s position as a desirable European destination.”

Earlier this month, the Cabinet gave the go-ahead to remediation work on nine acres of land adjacent to the Britannia Inn, seven acres of which could then be sold for a residential development. It is estimated that the sale of the land for housing would generate a net profit to the city council, when allowing for the cost of treating the ground.

Contractors are also working on clearing overgrown vegetation on part of the site with a view to using it as events space during the summer months, ahead of remediation starting in the autumn.