Liverpool Central regeneration vision takes shape with design team appointment

Liverpool City Council has appointed an architectural and regeneration design team to help develop a long-term vision for the future transformation of Liverpool Central station and the surrounding city centre area.

The project, which is expected to play a major role in reshaping one of the city’s busiest transport hubs, will see architecture practice Hawkins\Brown lead the development of a Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for the station district.

The framework will guide future investment, public realm improvements and redevelopment opportunities around Liverpool Central, which currently handles more than 14.8 million passengers each year and serves as a key connection point between the city centre, retail core and Knowledge Quarter.

Liverpool City Council said the wider redevelopment ambitions linked to Liverpool Central could eventually unlock a £5 billion transformation programme across an 86-acre section of the city centre.

The council will work alongside Network Rail, Platform4 and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to develop the strategy, with the project intended to support wider regeneration ambitions across the city region.

Plans under consideration include improvements to station connectivity, upgraded public spaces, enhanced active travel routes and closer integration between Liverpool Central, Liverpool Lime Street and the wider Merseyrail and national rail networks.

The council has also outlined ambitions to create new homes, office space, leisure developments and greener public areas around the station, positioning the project as both a transport upgrade and a wider economic regeneration scheme.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said the redevelopment represented an opportunity to rethink one of the city’s most important transport gateways and create a safer, greener and better-connected destination for residents and visitors alike.

Councillor Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for growth and economy, described the framework as an opportunity to create a transformational long-term vision for the wider station area while providing greater certainty for investors, communities and development partners.

The regeneration project forms part of a wider programme supported by £95 million of government funding secured earlier this year to help develop business cases for major infrastructure and regeneration schemes across the Liverpool City Region.

Work on technical studies, engagement and site analysis is now expected to begin as the city prepares to submit a full place-based business case to government later this year.