Liverpool City Council agrees deal to acquire freehold titles on a 2.5-acre plot of land next to Liverpool FC’s Anfield stadium, freeing it up for a multi-million pound mixed-use development. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool City Council will push forward with plans to oversee a new mixed-use development on a 2.5-acre plot of land next to Liverpool FC’s Anfield stadium.
Although the council already owned most of the land a number of leasehold and freehold titles on the property were owned by Your Housing Group. The council has now agreed to acquire these for £381,000.
Now it will go out to the market to find a developer to bring forward a multi-million pound mixed-used scheme that would include leisure, entertainment and employment uses, rather than residential development.
Liverpool FC was keen to build a hotel on the site. But the council has rebuffed this approach, preferring to put the plot on the open market to “ensure best value for the council”. In 2023 and 2024 the authority carried out public consultation exercises.
In a report, it says: “The initial vision for Anfield Square’s long-term use envisages a thriving, best in class development comprising a mix of leisure, entertainment and employment uses, encouraging public interaction and providing essential public amenities.
“Development will be of exemplary quality in building design, place-making and sustainability, enhancing this global visitor destination, encouraging civic pride and providing community benefits.
“Successful redevelopment would bring people together in a safe, inviting, and inclusive environment, stitching together the wider regeneration area.”
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This forms part of a wider £260m regeneration of Anfield. So far that project has seen the building of 600 new homes, refurbishment of a further 600 homes as well as a new school, retail units and public space. Liverpool FC has also expanded the stadium.
The report added: “There are other site constraints to be addressed, including historic title restrictions on certain uses and unknown restrictive covenants.
“Following full site assembly, the plan is for the council to procure a delivery partner. The responsibility for addressing any remaining title matters would rest with that future development partner.”
