Plans for a New Town straddling Liverpool and Sefton and comprising 10,000 new homes, as well as another project in Wirral, were deemed too small for Government backing, the official verdict reveals. Tony McDonough reports
Government did not back plans for a 10,000-home New Town in north Liverpool and Sefton as the project was considered too small in scale.
This week the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government has revealed the reasons why New Town plans for Liverpool / Sefton and Birkenhead did not make the final list which was announced in October 2025.
Ministers set up the New Towns Taskforce to choose from multiple submissions from across the country. Members of the taskforce had to whittle down 127 applications down to a shortlist of 12 and a final list of seven.
Proposals for both Liverpool North and Birkenhead had to “either have scope for delivery of more homes and other facilities over time, or be significantly more than 10,000 homes in scale’.
For Liverpool North the task force said: “This proposal can only deliver the minimum of 10,000 new homes, and scope for further expansion over time is restricted by built-up areas.”
And for Birkenhead it said: “This proposal can only deliver the minimum of 10,000 new homes, and scope for further expansion over time is restricted by the River Mersey and Birkenhead Park.”
Liverpool North had the backing of both Liverpool and Sefton councils as well as city region Mayor Steve Rotheram and there was considerable disappointment when the decision was announced.
However, all parties pledged to continue with the project, regardless of Government backing, with Liverpool Council leader Liam Robinson being particularly keen to continue.
Liverpool City Region Housing Associations (LCRHA), an alliance of 23 housing associations, also said its members were committed to the New Town plan.
LCRHA chair Claire Griffiths told LBN: “Liverpool North New Town represents a once-in-generation opportunity to transform the north Liverpool to Bootle corridor which is already seeing an unprecedented volume of new development.”
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In December it was announced Liverpool City Council had secured backing from Aviva to build 105 build-to-rent homes in the New Town zone with housing association Torus, a LCRHA member, adding a further 25.
Mayor Rotheram is also pushing on with plans for a new Mayoral Development Zone. This aims to transform 174 acres of land on or close to the waterfront with the potential to build 17,000 new homes.
Liam Robinson told LBN this week: “While we note the New Towns Taskforce’s assessment, Liverpool City Council together with Sefton Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority remains confident in the transformative potential of the Liverpool North plan.
“This scale of change is only achievable because of the strong partnership already in place across local authorities, housing providers, major landowners and community organisations as well as the two Premier League football clubs.
“The area has the capacity, ambition and strategic importance to support substantial growth, particularly when aligned with wider regeneration in North Liverpool and South Sefton.
“We will continue to work closely with Sefton Council, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and our partners to unlock the full potential of Liverpool North.
“This includes exploring all available delivery routes to bring forward new homes, new jobs and improved public spaces for our communities.”