New development plans unveiled for North Liverpool Docks

Big things are happening at the North Docks with Liverpool’s emerging Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) being unveiled this morning.

The announcement brings news of a full business case now in development to kickstart a transformation project of the City’s North Docks. 

Announcing the plans to potential investors at the 2026 MIPIM property conference, in Cannes, France, Steve Rotheram outlined how the MDC aims to inspire “one of the UK’s most dramatic renaissance stories of the 21st century”.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, along with Liverpool City Council, is set to launch a statutory public consultation on the proposed MDC by the summer.

Pending the final green light, the MDC is set to capitalise on the momentum already building around Everton’s stunning new Hill Dickinson Stadium. The plan is to transform 174 hectares of brownfield land into a dynamic extension of Liverpool city centre, with 5m sq ft of new commercial space and 17,700 new homes.

The North Docks zone aims to bring together several regeneration priorities in the area, including:

• The Central Docks, Liverpool Waters development, including a new urban park, supported by a £55m government grant and £26m investment from Peel Waters, site preparation due for completion in 2028.
• The £1bn Kings development by Beetham Davos, also within Liverpool Waters
• A major Grade A office scheme at Pall Mall, in the city’s Commercial District.
• Stanley Dock warehouse complex conversion for residential and visitor stay accommodation.
• Liverpool Cruise Liner expansion by Global Port Holdings by 2028.

The zone’s future will be guided by a strategic masterplan vision and delivery framework that is being co-produced with Homes England, in conjunction with key stakeholders in the area.

The future of the North Docks is being shaped by a high-level strategic masterplan and delivery framework, currently being co-produced with Homes England. By working in close collaboration with key local stakeholders, the city is ensuring that this transformation is built on a solid foundation.

This framework integrates housing-led regeneration from the Pumpfields SPD while supporting the 10 Streets business community. Crucially, it aligns with the Council’s Waterfront Plan to create seamless connectivity between the city centre and the North Docks.

Residents, businesses and stakeholders will have the chance at the upcoming statutory 6-week consultation to give their opinions on the scope of the MDC.

These results will inform the full business case, which will decide the financial, economic, commercial and governance reasons for its establishment and will then be sent to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, for consideration by the Government.

After yesterday announcing a landmark £2bn Investment Fund to fast-track development projects, The Combined Authority is now set to consider the formal creation of the MDC due to work on the business case in the autumn. 

Awaiting approval, this would allow the corporation to work towards full legal establishment once national consent is achieved. This would involve collaborating with the Combined Authority, Liverpool City Council, Homes England, national agencies and private sector partners such as Peel Waters. 

Following the exciting reveal of the Kings neighbourhood by Beetham Davos yesterday, which falls within the emerging MDC boundary, the Mayor has now set the pace for the MDC’s rollout. 

Mayor Rotheram has also laid out that Noth Docks will be the region’s place-based regeneration project, along with Liverpool Central Station, following the Government’s Green book review in 2025.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said:

“This Mayoral Development Corporation has the potential to inspire one of the UK’s most dramatic renaissance stories of the century, so I’m delighted to say our foot is firmly on the pedal to make this happen. For far too long, vast swathes of the city’s historic docklands have been left to rot, and the impact on North Liverpool and the communities surrounding it is clear to see. Now with the arrival of Everton’s new stadium and exciting plans from developers such as Peel Waters and Beetham Davos coming out the ground, the timing to create such a body has never been better, and the full business case should be ready for the Government to assess within the next 6 months.

“Working alongside Liverpool City Council, we have a clear roadmap ahead of us to turbocharge much-needed investment in a number of schemes which will transform this area from a brownfield wilderness to a dynamic extension of Liverpool city centre.”

Last year in December, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet endorsed the idea of creating an MDC for the North Docks. 

Liverpool City Council Leader Cllr Liam Robinson said:

“This is a hugely important moment for the future of Liverpool’s North Docks and our wider city. Working with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the proposed Mayoral Development Corporation gives us a powerful opportunity to accelerate regeneration on a scale that simply hasn’t been possible before.

“By building on the momentum created by major investments such as the new Everton stadium at Liverpool Waters, we can unlock long-term growth, deliver thousands of new homes, and create high-quality jobs in a part of the city with enormous potential.

“Just as importantly, we are committed to engaging residents, businesses and partners as plans develop, so that this transformation delivers real benefits for Liverpool and its communities.”

James Whittaker, Managing Director of Peel Waters, said:

“We welcome today’s announcement from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and fully support the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation.

“Peel Waters has been a long-term partner to the city region, and the inclusion of Liverpool Waters is an important step forward. Liverpool Waters is already proving what working in partnership can achieve – 1,308 new homes, 289 hotel beds, and Everton’s incredible 52,000‑capacity stadium delivered with our partners.

“Being part of the MDC will mean quicker decisions, greater flexibility, and closer collaboration; helping us accelerate our plans to build 7,000 homes and act as the catalyst Liverpool Waters needs to go further, faster.”

Find out more about the Mayoral Development Corporation here.

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