Plans to transform Liverpool’s Festival Gardens into a new waterfront neighbourhood have taken a major step forward after the city council approved legal agreements to progress the long-awaited redevelopment.

The agreement paves the way for Urban Splash and igloo to bring forward proposals for approximately 800 homes on the 27-acre site, which has remained undeveloped for decades.

The two companies were selected as the council’s preferred development partners following a competitive procurement process and will now work towards delivering one of Liverpool’s largest housing-led regeneration projects.

The proposed development would feature a mix of private and affordable housing, with up to 441 homes planned for the first phase.

A range of housing options is envisaged, including properties for sale and rent, shared ownership, co-housing and accommodation for older residents.

Plans also include landscaped green spaces, community facilities and local amenities, alongside improved pedestrian connections between the St Michaels area and the River Mersey waterfront.

The developers have outlined ambitions to incorporate low-carbon construction methods and measures to improve biodiversity across the site.

Work on ecological assessments and a long-term biodiversity strategy has already begun, involving Natural England, Mersey Forest and United Utilities.

Festival Gardens occupies part of the former International Garden Festival site, which attracted millions of visitors following its opening in 1984.

The land was previously used for industrial activities and waste disposal, leaving significant contamination issues that have complicated successive redevelopment proposals.

Extensive remediation and enabling works were completed in January 2024, supported by funding from Homes England, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Liverpool City Council.

The work helped prepare the land for residential development and contributed to the creation of the neighbouring Southern Grasslands public park.

The proposed housing scheme will occupy the 27-acre development zone rather than the existing Festival Gardens parkland.

Councillor Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for economy and growth, says: “Festival Gardens is one of Liverpool’s most iconic regeneration opportunities, and this decision represents another major step towards bringing the site back into use.

“The agreement allows us to move forward with plans that will deliver hundreds of much-needed new homes, attract investment and create a thriving new neighbourhood on our waterfront.

“The site has undergone extensive remediation work over recent years, and we can now focus on turning our vision for Festival Gardens into reality.”

Duncan Inglis, regional director for the North West at Homes England, adds: “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, we aim to support public and private sector partners to unlock strategic housing sites, where brownfield, infrastructure or land projects face delivery challenges. In South Liverpool, the Festival Gardens site is a prime example of this.

“This new regeneration has been part-funded by our Local Authority Accelerated Construction scheme, which showcases how we continue to work closely with mayoral authorities and local councils to meet the needs of their communities.”

Joe Broadley, development director at igloo, adds: “This latest milestone signifies an important moment for the new neighbourhood at Festival Gardens

“The iconic waterfront site will be a major catalyst for the growth of the city region, unlocking opportunity for collaboration across the various programmes of delivery.

“We’re now looking forward to working closely with the community, Urban Splash and our partners to co-create something special over the coming months and years.”

Jonathan Falkingham MBE, co-founder of Urban Splash, adds: “This is huge progress for Festival Gardens and Liverpool as a whole. It’s a major new development that will not only create a vibrant, inclusive neighbourhood but also provide local employment opportunities on this long-standing site.

“With Urban Splash and igloo working in partnership, we’re combining decades of experience to turn this large-scale regeneration project into a community Liverpool can be proud of. We’re excited to bring this landmark project to life.”

Jonathan Falkingham MBE will discuss the Festival Gardens redevelopment and other projects from his career during a special on-stage Q&A at the YM Liverpool Property & Business Awards 2026, taking place at the Titanic Hotel Liverpool on Wednesday 25 November.

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