There will be two public consultation events this week to seek the views of residents on the future of a one-acre plot of land next to Liverpool FC’s Anfield stadium. Tony McDonough reports
Two public consultation events will be held this week over a proposal to develop a one-acre plot of land next to Liverpool FC’s Anfield stadium.
In January LBN reported Liverpool City Council had appointed a team of consultants to oversee the disposal of the site. It is seen as a key element of the ongoing £260m regeneration of what is one of the city’s most deprived areas.
So far that regeneration drive has seen the building of 600 new homes, the refurbishment of a further 600 homes as well as a new school, retail units and public space. At the centre of this has been the expansion of the stadium itself.
Called Anfield Square, this latest brownfield site, equivalent in size to two-and-a-half football pitches, has been vacant since the demolition of more than 150 derelict houses.
Following a procurement exercise, the city council has appointed place management consultants, Jones Lang Lasalle, along with their subconsultant team, LDA and PLACED.
They will act as agent and assist with the marketing and disposal of the site and look to attract the “broadest and highest calibre” of potential developers.
Now the council has started a public consultation process and there will be two events being held this week at The Liverpool Lighthouse at 133, Oakfield Road in Anfield.
On Wednesday, March 8, members of the public are invited to drop in any time between 11am and 7pm. On Thursday, March 9, people can call in from 11am to 6pm.
Basing its decision on the Mayoral Triple Lock social value policy, the authority is placing an emphasis on a new development that is rooted and focused on community inclusion.
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Cllr Sarah Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet member for Development and Economy, said: “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.
“Liverpool FC’s stadium is world-renowned and attracts visitors from all over the planet, and the club is continuing to invest in it. So there will be an extremely high benchmark for the quality of what happens to Anfield Square.”