New North Docks Development Zone
A city like Liverpool is constantly looking to grow, change and develop. Those responsible for the city’s strength on both a national and a global stage are keen to ensure that it never goes backwards, instead always looking forward at what is next.
In that sense, the redevelopment of the Liverpool docklands is key, with the creation of the Hill Dickinson Stadium on the banks of the River Mersey a key step towards changing the look of the entire region.
Now, the Regional Mayor, Steve Rotherham, has outlined plans to fast-track regeneration schemes for the North Docks area, creating a Mayoral Development Corporation.
Developing Over the Next 15 Years
For Steve Rotherham, the transformation of the Albert Dock shows precisely what can happen in Liverpool when a decision is taken to back what he calls a ‘bold, long-term vision’. The waterfront is seen by Rotherham as being ‘one of the greatest assets in the country’, but for a long time it was in a state of disrepair.
That is also what has been allowed to happen to the North Dock area of Liverpool, representing for many generations a reminder of the things that have been lost to the city, including both jobs and opportunities, thanks to the post-industrial decline that ravaged the area for far too long.
@steeledebateshow Liverpool Dockside TRANSFORMATION completed by 2040‼️ #liverpool #uknews #regeneration ♬ Hard News – DM Production
The future looks much brighter, however, in the wake of the Regional Mayor’s decision to establish what is known as a Mayoral Development Corporation. Rotherham intends to work with Liverpool City Council in order to deliver more than five million square feet of commercial space, as well as 17,500 new homes, across the next 15 years.
That will see the area around the Hill Dickinson Stadium change and improve, seeing it turn from being one of rundown warehouses and little else into one that will be thriving. It will also see hundreds, if not thousands, of new jobs created in the process, which will be welcomed by many.
Too Long a Wait
The reality of the situation is that the people of Liverpool have had to wait for far too long for the area to be given any kind of sign of life. Rotherham said, “With Everton’s new stadium rising on the Mersey and partners pulling in the same direction, the North Docks can follow that same journey; from derelict land to a place that local people are proud of and visitors want to be part of.”
It was a comment that was backed by Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who said, “I want to see mayors have more powers to create jobs, better connect communities and to get homes built.”
Here’s the comparison of the area north of the city before, and then after the Everton Stadium was built at Bramley Moore Dock. This represents a massive improvement and renovation to a run down “heritage” area within the Liverpool Docks, with much more to come in the future.
— Rob Swift (@swifty66.bsky.social) Mar 30, 2025 at 16:39
Whilst there is no question that Scousers have had to wait for an excessive amount of time for the area to be developed, doubtless thanks in no small part to more than a decade of Tory rule, it does at least seem like things are now heading in the right direction.
The North Docks Development Zone proposals see three major schemes brought together, with the first being the Central Docks development, the second seeing the emergence of the King Edward Triangle and the third witnessing the first Grade A office scheme in the city for a decade thanks to the creation of new places of work at Pall Mall, all happening in the next 15 years.
Development Corporation Will Make Things Easier
Although the desire from many has been there to see the North Docks of Liverpool be regenerated for some time, the fact that Steve Rotherham has decided to announce the creation of a new Mayoral Development Corporation will make a massive difference.
In essence, this statutory body has the ability to deliver the necessary infrastructure that will be needed in the building of both new homes and retail space, benefiting the local people and helping to drive sustainable growth for the city as a whole. It should allow for schemes to be fast-tracked, working in tandem with the Liverpool City Council within the development zone itself.
The 174 hectares that will undergo the redevelopment are mainly brownfield land at the moment, stretching from the River Mersey to the Pumpfields and commercial business districts. That will ensure that the above-mentioned three different development schemes in the city will be brought together, which should see all of them benefit from the advantages of the formation of an MDC.
It will still take around 12 months for the corporation to be established, but the likelihood is that it will see other development zones being instigated in a move that could see in excess of £11 billion being invested across the Liverpool City Region.
