Liverpool Council selling off 20 sites in city to boost development and city coffers
LIVERPOOL Council is to sell 20 major sites around the city in a bid to lure major investment from developers.
The properties, which are being touted through the city’s embassy in London, include schools, industrial depots, office buildings and residential tower blocks currently considered a burden on resources.The council aims to change developers’ perceptions of Liverpool from “a city of grant-funded need to a city of private sector investment opportunity”.
It hopes to see the sites turned into housing, business and leisure developments.
In order to stop potential investors “land banking” – buying up land and leaving it idle until it can be sold at a higher price – the council is imposing a condition that many of the sites must be developed within three years.
But at the same time, the council is banking some land itself, putting aside £4m a year in a strategic acquisition fund which will be used for land assembly, taking control of some sites with potential for development to stop speculators holding the city “to ransom”.
Council leader Joe Anderson said despite the straitened economic climate, there were “big opportunities in a city with big ambitions”.
He said the income generated would be used to support services and major projects.
But opposition figures questioned whether, given the current market conditions, the council would be selling itself short and not getting the best possible prices for the sites.
Cllr Anderson said: “The bottom line is the council, irrespective of the tough times we are in, has to get on with marketing and selling the city to encourage people to come and invest.
“We have big opportunities here in Liverpool and big ambitions for the city. Doing nothing is not an option.”
The 40-page brochure, Invest In Liverpool, outlines major development zones, including the huge 8.3-acre Long Lane depot, which the brochure suggests could be brought back to industrial use.
Also on offer is the 6.8-acre former police recreation grounds in Kensington, currently designated as green space, although the council is encouraging residential or hotel proposals.
The Grade II-listed Calderstones Mansion House, coach house and stables – currently used as council office accommodation – is also on offer, with a suggestion of transforming it into a hotel, restaurant or pub, as is the near-derelict Grade II-listed building opposite the Municipal Buildings in Dale Street.
There are also nine former school or college premises available.
Max Steinberg, chief executive of Liverpool Vision, added: “Given the withdrawal of central Government capital grants for supporting development, it is now more important than ever that the council adopts a pro-active approach to marketing development opportunities in the city.
“This is part of an overall approach to marketing our assets which changes developers’ perception of Liverpool from a city of grant-funded need to a city of private sector investment opportunity.”
Liverpool Council is to sell 20 major sites around the city in a bid to lure major investment from developers.
The properties, which are being touted through the city’s embassy in London, include schools, industrial depots, office buildings and residential tower blocks currently considered a burden on resources.
The council aims to change developers’ perceptions of Liverpool from “a city of grant-funded need to a city of private sector investment opportunity”.
It hopes to see the sites turned into housing, business and leisure developments.
In order to stop potential investors “land banking” – buying up land and leaving it idle until it can be sold at a higher price – the council is imposing a condition that many of the sites must be developed within three years.
But at the same time, the council is banking some land itself, putting aside £4m a year in a strategic acquisition fund which will be used for land assembly, taking control of some sites with potential for development to stop speculators holding the city “to ransom”.
Council leader Joe Anderson said despite the straitened economic climate, there were “big opportunities in a city with big ambitions”.
He said the income generated would be used to support services and major projects.
But opposition figures questioned whether, given the current market conditions, the council would be selling itself short and not getting the best possible prices for the sites.
Cllr Anderson said: “The bottom line is the council, irrespective of the tough times we are in, has to get on with marketing and selling the city to encourage people to come and invest.
“We have big opportunities here in Liverpool and big ambitions for the city. Doing nothing is not an option.”
The 40-page brochure, Invest In Liverpool, outlines major development zones, including the huge 8.3-acre Long Lane depot, which the brochure suggests could be brought back to industrial use.
Also on offer is the 6.8-acre former police recreation grounds in Kensington, currently designated as green space, although the council is encouraging residential or hotel proposals.
The Grade II-listed Calderstones Mansion House, coach house and stables – currently used as council office accommodation – is also on offer, with a suggestion of transforming it into a hotel, restaurant or pub, as is the near-derelict Grade II-listed building opposite the Municipal Buildings in Dale Street.
There are also nine former school or college premises available.
Max Steinberg, chief executive of Liverpool Vision, added: “Given the withdrawal of central Government capital grants for supporting development, it is now more important than ever that the council adopts a pro-active approach to marketing development opportunities in the city.
“This is part of an overall approach to marketing our assets which changes developers’ perception of Liverpool from a city of grant-funded need to a city of private sector investment opportunity.”
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Telephone: +44(0)151 600 2900
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