Liverpool invites the public to help shape the future of its iconic waterfront

Liverpool’s waterfront is one of the most recognisable in the world – and now the city is asking residents to have their say on how it should look and feel for future generations.

Liverpool City Council has launched a major eight-week consultation as it looks to shape a new long-term vision for the waterfront, stretching from Festival Gardens right through to Bramley-Moore Dock and beyond. The public consultation is open until Friday 8 August, giving locals the chance to share their views on what the city’s riverfront should become.

The council has brought in international urban design firm West 8, working alongside BDP, to help deliver an ambitious plan that will set the tone for waterfront regeneration across Europe – and they want Liverpool people to help steer it.

At the heart of the plan is a draft Vision and Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which lays out how the waterfront could evolve over the next 20–30 years. The goal is to make it more inclusive, better connected, greener and even more of a place to live, work and visit.

The vision is built around three core principles:

• Connected: re-linking communities to the Mersey and making sure everyone can access and enjoy the waterfront
• Free and green: protecting open public space and investing in green infrastructure
• Growth: driving high-quality, sustainable development that respects heritage and supports jobs, homes and culture

Improving how people move through the space – both north to south along the river and east to west across the city – is a key priority. There’s also a focus on creating more public realm, boosting climate resilience, and hitting the council’s net-zero target by 2030.

The SPD will turn these ideas into practical guidance for how new developments are designed and delivered, including transport, green space, local character and community input. Once approved, it’ll be used to shape planning decisions and guide investment along the waterfront.

The plan has already had input from organisations including Liverpool BID Company, Tate Liverpool, Peel L&P, National Museums Liverpool and the Canal and River Trust. Now the wider public is being encouraged to help shape the final version.

How to get involved

An engagement event will take place at Liverpool Town Hall on Monday 7 July, and consultation documents are available to view at the Cunard Building and Liverpool Central Library. You can also find them online here.

Feedback can be sent by email to: planning.engagement@liverpool.gov.uk
Or by post to:
Liverpool City Council – Planning Policy Team
Cunard Building, Water Street
Liverpool, L3 1AH

Once the consultation closes, feedback will be used to shape the final SPD, which is expected to go to cabinet for approval in autumn 2025.

Councillor Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool City Council, said:
“Liverpool is lucky to have one of the most iconic waterfronts in the world – and our job now is to make sure its future matches that legacy. This vision honours our maritime past while looking ahead to new opportunities. It’s a chance to grow communities, create jobs, and make the waterfront even more special for everyone who lives here and visits.”

Councillor Nick Small, cabinet member for development and growth, added:
“Our waterfront is not just beautiful – it’s a major part of our identity and economy. The transformation we’ve seen in recent decades shows what’s possible. This plan could have a huge impact on communities all along the Mersey, and we want as many people as possible to get involved in shaping what comes next.”

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