Mayor Steve Rotheram will be able to overrule any one of the six Liverpool city region local authorities on major planning decisions under sweeping new powers. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram gains new powers allowing him to overrule local authority planning decisions on developments deemed to be of “potential strategic importance”.
On Thursday Mr Rotheram launched a six-week public consultation on proposals to establish a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) for Liverpool’s North Docks.
Subject to approval, the MDC will build on the momentum generated by Everton FC’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium at Liverpool Waters, transforming 174 hectares of brownfield land into an extension of Liverpool city centre.
Plans include the delivery of 5m sq ft of new commercial space and up to 17,000 new homes as well as new urban green spaces and cultural amenities.
A map released alongside the consultation illustrates the scope of the proposed area, stretching from Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium into Liverpool’s commercial district and out to the Pumpfields neighbourhood.
Sweeping powers granted to Mr Rotheram and the Liverpool Region Combined Authority under the newly-passed English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 are likely to see a big change to how planning applications on major developments are decided.
Until now each of the six city region local authorities – Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens and Halton – have retained the power over all planning applications, no matter how big, via their local planning committees.
If an application was refused the only recourse an application would have is to appeal to a Government planning inspector. The Government also has the power to ‘call in’ major developments.
However, under the new legislation those ‘call in’ powers are now available to the city region mayor. This gives Mr Rotheram the power to take on the so-called NIMBY-ism that sees major strategic schemes frustrated by parochial interests.
And his powers under the MDC potentially go much further. The new Act allows him to take control of all planning decisions within the designated zone.
Mayor Rotheram says the North Docks development area will bring together a series of major regeneration priorities, including:
- Central Docks at Liverpool Waters, including a new urban park supported by a £55m Government grant and £26m investment from Peel Waters, with site preparation due for completion in 2028.
- The £1.2bn Kings development by Beetham Davos, including the city’s tallest skyscraper.
- A major grade A office development at Pall Mall.
- The conversion of Stanley Dock’s historic warehouse complex into residential and visitor accommodation
- Expansion of Liverpool Cruise Terminal by Global Port Holdings, targeted for completion by 2028.
Mr Rotheram said: “Liverpool’s North Docks represents one of the most exciting regeneration opportunities anywhere in the UK. It’s a chance to create new homes, attract investment, support new industries and deliver thousands of good-quality jobs for local people.
“But we know the best ideas rarely come from a desk in a town hall or an office block. They come from the people who know an area best – who live there, work there, run businesses there and care about its future.
“To make the most of this once in a generation opportunity, we want to hear from residents, businesses, landowners and community organisations across the area.”
The statutory six-week consultation, which will end at 11.59pm on Friday, August 14, will provide residents, businesses, landowners and stakeholders with the opportunity to comment on the proposed name, geography, powers and priorities of the MDC.
To take part click here. People can also ask questions and send comments by email – lc********@************************ov.uk – or by post by writing to: Liverpool North Docks MDC Consultation, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, 1 Mann Island, Liverpool L3 1BP.