Delivering Liverpool's development potential

LIVERPOOL City Council is to launch a plan to maximise the opportunities from development, investment and regeneration over the next 20 years.

The Council is procuring a partner to work on a Development and Investment strategy, which will showcase its current and future opportunities to developers, investors, key stakeholders and funding partners, and communicate an ambitious vision of how the City will develop and grow.

Whilst Liverpool is well known for its visitor economy and cultural strengths, the strategy will also focus on core economic sectors and drivers of growth such as life sciences, digital and creative, and advanced car manufacturing, and articulate priorities including good-quality developments and neighbourhoods, active travel and achieving net zero carbon.

The Council will use the strategy to identify and deliver this growth through its development pipeline. It will also identify the key areas where development activity should be focused, and how the Council can maximise its own building and land assets, as well as those of the wider public and private sector estates.

Liverpool is home to the Knowledge Quarter, a 450 acre urban innovation district that hosts some of the world's most influential players in science, health, technology, education, music and the creative performing arts, including 'The Spine.' This will form part of England's second Investment Zone, which is expected to deliver a £310 million boost across Liverpool City Region.

Other examples of the City's growth opportunities include the Liverpool Waters northern docks development, the Liverpool City Region Freeport, the Baltic Triangle creative quarter and a refreshed focus on the waterfront and central business district.

The strategy will also outline how Liverpool wants to achieve inclusive growth that benefits the City and its residents through tangible benefits such as job creation, high quality housing, improved facilities and services, and better transport connectivity.

The Council will be working in partnership with Homes England, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and key City stakeholders on the work, which is expected to be completed by March 2024.

Cabinet Member for Growth and Economy, Cllr Nick Small, said:- "The scale and breadth of the opportunities in Liverpool are truly enormous. We already have a number of exciting developments under way which will deliver huge benefits for our City, ranging from the work in the north docks through to the film studios at the Littlewoods Building and the success of the Knowledge Quarter. In addition, working with our partners at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, we want to make the most of Government initiatives such as the Investment Zone and Freeport. The Development and Investment Strategy will maximise the potential of the opportunities in Liverpool over the coming years. This is just 1 element of the work that is going to on across the organisation at the moment to make sure we transform how we work and maximise the opportunities for our residents and businesses."

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Cornwall crowned England's greenest staycation spot

CORNWALL has been revealed as the greenest place to visit in England, with more eco-friendly accommodation, restaurants and activities per person than any other area.  Responsible tourism in the UK is at an all time high, with searches for:- 'sustainable tourism' rising 42% so far in 2023. With the summer holidays now in full swing, and even more possibilities for road trips in electric family cars, Kia analysed England's greenest areas and created an interactive sustainable staycation planner for people to plan their next eco-friendly adventure.  

The top 5 greenest destinations in England are:-

1. Cornwall... Cornwall came out top in England, with an abundance of sustainable places to stay, eat and visit. A highlight is exploring inspiring outdoor spaces at Trebah Garden, which has won a Gold Green Tourism Award, or the Eden Project, which boasts solar panels, rainwater usage and renewable energy.  

2. Isle of Wight... Family friendly highlights in the Isle of Wight include:- exploring The Garlic Farm, where you can find an electric car charging point, or visiting:- Goodleaf Tree Climbing for outdoor adventures.  

3. Herefordshire... Families visiting Herefordshire can take a trip to King Arthur's Cave, a nature reserve that provides a natural habitat for Horseshoe Bats. For conservation and education, Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo supports sustainable Butterfly Farming worldwide and is heated only by renewable energy.

4. Rutland... Rutland in the East Midlands has plenty of eco-friendly options for families paying a visit. Check out Root and Branch Out, who run regular wild workshops and crafting afternoons, or visit Barnsdale Gardens for acres of stunning, individually designed gardens.

5. Bristol... You'll be spoiled for choice of green places to stay in Bristol. Hilton Garden Inn, Mollie's Motel and Diner, and The Bristol all offer electric car charging points. Zero Green is a highlight for places to visit; it's the area's 1st zero-waste shop, with all natural, plastic free products.

Looking across Britain as a whole, Scotland ranked highly for eco-friendly destinations, with Argyll and Bute, Orkney and the Western Isles making up the top 3 locations. In Wales, Powys came out as the greenest travel destination. Kia's new interactive sustainable staycation planner details the best eco-friendly spots for a green staycation. This includes:- electric charging points, for those with electric or plug in hybrid vehicles, and other sustainable benefits such as solar panels and clean energy. Those planning an eco-friendly road trip can discover some of the top hotels, restaurants and activities in their chosen area by inputting their postcode into the Sustainable Staycation Planner.

The analysis of Britain's most sustainable Regions for tourism has been carried out by Kia to coincide with the launch of the EV9 electric family car. After its official release, the EV9 will be the latest long-distance EV from Kia, alongside the Niro EV, EV6 and Soul EV. The EV9 will also be capable of up to more than 300 miles from a single charge.

A spokesperson at Kia commented:- "Responsible travel in the UK can be easy, especially for those with hybrid or electric vehicles. With our research, we set out to highlight some of the best places to travel in England for an eco-friendly holiday. Cornwall is an excellent choice, with a high number of sustainable places to stay and visit as well as a high percentage of EV chargers. For those looking to plan their own green staycation, our interactive map makes it simple to discover destinations with eco-friendly amenities, such as accommodation, restaurants, activities and charging points."

To test out the tool, please visit:- Kia.Com.