Liverpool City Council, together with development partners Urban Splash and Igloo Regeneration, has unveiled plans to transform Festival Gardens into a vibrant, sustainable and inclusive riverside neighbourhood. The ambitious regeneration scheme will deliver a 21st-century community combining high-quality housing, exceptional green spaces, and a strong commitment to biodiversity, health and design excellence.

The vision for Festival Gardens will see more than 1,200 homes created in several phases. The first phase includes 440 homes, an 80-bed extra care facility and 110 affordable units. A diverse range of housing will be provided, including co-housing, social rent, mixed-tenure family homes, retirement living and self-build opportunities. More than 20 percent of all new homes will be affordable, ensuring a mix that is accessible to a wide range of residents.

Sustainability is at the heart of the project, with an emphasis on low-carbon construction and urban living that supports Liverpool’s Net Zero ambitions. The design approach is centred on quality and variety, making the most of the site’s unique relationship with the River Mersey, Festival Gardens parkland and surrounding woodland.

The neighbourhood will be designed to foster multi-generational living and social cohesion, with enhanced connections to existing parkland and the waterfront. Public spaces, open areas and recreational facilities will promote wellbeing and biodiversity, creating a healthy and connected environment for residents.

This development follows the successful remediation of the 27-acre site in 2023. Delivery will be led by a coalition of developers, architects and specialist partners. The scheme is expected to provide a major boost to Liverpool’s economy by delivering new homes, jobs and community amenities.

Festival Gardens will stand as a flagship project for Liverpool, setting a benchmark for sustainable city living and delivering lasting social, economic and environmental benefits for the city and its residents.