Liverpool unveils landmark 2040 plan to shape a better future

A comprehensive new strategy outlining Liverpool’s ambitions for the next 15 years has been published, setting a clear vision to create greater opportunities for the city’s half a million residents.

The Liverpool 2040 Plan, now available online, provides a detailed framework designed to strengthen collaboration between more than 20 leading organisations. Its central aim is to establish Liverpool as the UK’s foremost city of opportunity – ensuring that all residents, regardless of background, can thrive.

Produced by the Liverpool Strategic Partnership (LSP), the 37-page document lays out a long-term commitment to address key challenges across education, employment, housing, health, and sustainability. Collectively, the LSP’s member organisations represent a workforce of over 60,000 and an annual combined spend of £10 billion.

Described as “a framework for a better future,” the Liverpool 2040 Plan emphasises the need for greater alignment and shared intelligence to drive public service reform and to deliver measurable improvements in the quality of life across the city.

Progress is already underway. Liverpool has recently been awarded Marmot City status for its work in addressing health inequalities and has been designated the world’s first UN Accelerator City for its leadership in reducing the entertainment industry’s carbon footprint.

Nevertheless, the city faces significant challenges. Liverpool’s population is projected to increase by 10% over the next decade; yet, a third of its current residents are classed as economically inactive, and one in five lives with a disability. Health disparities remain stark, with life expectancy varying by up to 14 years between communities located just four miles apart.

In response, city leaders have committed to a renewed partnership approach, informed by data and shared insight, to maximise the impact of future government policies and funding opportunities. The Plan also aligns with major existing programmes, such as the State of Health in the City: Liverpool 2040 report and the city’s target to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2040.

The Liverpool 2040 Plan is structured around eight key priorities:

• The Next Generation – Liverpool to become a UNICEF Child Friendly City.
• Healthy Lives – Improved life expectancy and reduced health inequalities.
• A Fair Transition to Net Zero – Achieving a zero-waste city.
• Safe, Cohesive and Clean Communities – Enhancing safety at the neighbourhood level.
• Quality Homes – Working towards the elimination of homelessness and rough sleeping.
• Inclusive Economic Growth – Developing a city-wide innovation and skills strategy.
• An Exciting and Distinctive City – Building on Liverpool’s status as a top 5 UK visitor destination.
• Vibrant Public Services – Delivering public service innovation through a data-led approach.

The refreshed LSP, chaired by the Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council, is also intended to enable Liverpool to speak with one voice to national government, strengthening the city’s ability to attract investment and influence policy.

A particular focus of the Plan is public service reform, with an emphasis on locally driven solutions that meet the needs of Liverpool’s communities. Key initiatives supporting this work include the Council’s Neighbourhood Model, the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), the Complex Lives project, and the development of an Office of Public Service Innovation.

The Liverpool 2040 Plan formally replaces the previous City Plan (2020), responding to the significant changes and challenges of recent years – including the Covid-19 pandemic, Council improvement interventions, civil unrest, the global energy crisis, and the rapid advancement of technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Current members of the Liverpool Strategic Partnership include:

• Liverpool City Council
• University of Liverpool
• Liverpool John Moores University
• Liverpool Hope University
• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
• City of Liverpool College
• Liverpool Chamber of Commerce
• Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services
• Torus
• The Riverside Group
• Onward Homes
• Merseyside Police
• Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
• HMPS – Liverpool Prison
• Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
• NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership
• Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Trust
• Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital
• Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
• Department for Work and Pensions, North West

Through collective leadership, a data-driven approach, and a renewed commitment to partnership working, the Liverpool 2040 Plan sets out a bold vision for a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable future for the city and its residents.

Andrew Lewis, Chair of the Liverpool Strategic Partnership and Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council said:

“Public services across the country, and particularly here in Liverpool, are facing unprecedented challenges, including rising demand for services, limited public funding and increasing complexity of needs. 

“These challenges cannot be met by any one organisation acting alone. So it’s vital to have a strong strategic partnership across Liverpool.  Together we represent the full range of public services for our city, committing to work together on a shared strategy for Liverpool 2040, prioritising our investments, sharing data and evidence, and transforming services together.”

Find out more on the Liverpool City Council website.

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