Liverpool’s busiest gateway is set for a major transformation as Liverpool City Council has appointed a leading specialist design team to shape a new long-term vision for the Central Station area.

Led by Hawkins\Brown, the team will develop a Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) to guide ambitious plans for investment, placemaking and renewal around the station, “helping to unlock its full potential as a welcoming and well-connected city centre arrival point”.

The council says a proposed redevelopment of rail services at Liverpool Central station by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority provides the opportunity for a “radical transformation of the area’s profile in the city centre, and will act as a catalyst for redevelopment”.

The framework will be led by the local authority, working with Platform4, Network Rail’s property development company and Network Rail as a joint client, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and in collaboration with key partners, landowners and stakeholders.

The Central Station SRF will present proposals that maximise the significant potential for investment and regeneration.

The plan is set to outline how land is used, how public spaces are shaped, how people and vehicles move through the area, and will also set out principles for future development and regeneration opportunities.

Liverpool Central welcomes over 14.8 million passengers a year and plays a critical role in connecting the city centre, retail core and Knowledge Quarter. The SRF aims to ensure that future development around the station is “comprehensive, deliverable and aligned with the city’s wider regeneration and growth ambitions”.

Liverpool Central has been chosen as a pilot project for the Government’s reformed ‘Green Book’ appraisal process, aimed at unlocking a £5 billion transformation of the station and surrounding area.

This 86-acre project aims to create a “world-class transport hub to transform connectivity, drive regeneration, and unlock economic growth in Liverpool City Region and the North West of England”.

The fundamental design principle for the proposed new station is to seamlessly integrate with Liverpool Lime Street and connect Merseyrail services with national rail services, in a similar way that King’s Cross and St Pancras operate together as a transport hub.

By doing so, it will boost links to the Knowledge Quarter, Queen Square, and the city’s waterfront, while enabling new green public realm and creating residential, office and leisure spaces.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram secured £95m from the Government in March to support his plans to develop the business case for major regeneration projects, including Liverpool Central.

The Combined Authority is liaising with the Department of Transport on the projects and is working with Liverpool City Council and partners to submit a full Place Based Business Case to government in the summer.

A programme of site analysis, engagement and technical work will now begin to inform the emerging vision.

The SRF will:

• Set out an ambitious long term vision for the Central Station area
• Establish planning and design principles to guide future high-quality development
• Identify opportunities to enhance public realm, connectivity and accessibility including for active travel
• Support and drive inclusive growth and investment in the city centre to create a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use neighbourhood with significant new homes

The work will consider how a welcoming gateway into Liverpool can be delivered, supporting economic activity while creating safer, greener and more legible streets and spaces.

The Strategic Regeneration Framework will be developed over the coming months, with opportunities for engagement as the work progresses. Once completed, it will form an important material consideration in guiding future regeneration and development within the Central Station area.

Councillor Nick Small, cabinet member for growth and economy at Liverpool City Council, says: “Liverpool Central is one of the most important gateways into our city, used by millions of people every year. This Strategic Regeneration Framework provides an exciting opportunity to provide a strong and transformational vision for how the wider area around the station can evolve over time – supporting growth, improving the quality of place and ensuring future investment comprehensive and brought forward in collaboration with partners.

“The SRF is about shaping the places around the station – the streets, spaces and development opportunities – and ensuring they work together. It will provide clarity for communities, partners and investors as we plan for the long-term future of this part of the city centre.”

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram adds: “Liverpool Central is one of the busiest and most important transport gateways in the country – and the area around it should match the ambition of the city it serves.

“This is a chance for us to think bigger about the future of one of the key front doors to Liverpool – creating a greener, safer and better connected gateway that works for residents, businesses and the millions of people who pass through it every year.

“Working with Liverpool City Council and partners, we can make sure this becomes more than a transport upgrade – but a catalyst for wider regeneration, investment and opportunity in the heart of the city.”

Andrew Ferguson, acting CEO of Platform4, adds: “A transformed Central Station area won’t just improve the experience of the millions of passengers who pass through it each year – it will help define Liverpool’s identity as a connected and ambitious city. By bringing together world-class design, long-term planning and genuine partnership, we can create a gateway that drives real economic growth and makes Liverpool an even more attractive place to live, work and invest.”

Katie Tonkinson, partner and head of Studio North at Hawkins\Brown, adds: “We are delighted to have been appointed, alongside a word-class team of collaborators, to prepare the Liverpool Central Station Strategic Regeneration Framework.

“It is a fantastic opportunity to work with Liverpool City Council and partners to develop a creative, long-term vision for the city. We are truly excited to be embarking on this journey of discovery with stakeholders and local communities.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to seek transformational change at this original locus; to connect with people and initiatives across the city region, taking inspiration from around the world and raising world profile, whilst driving local aspiration and rooting our thinking in Liverpool.”

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