Strong backing for Liverpool North Docks development plan 2026

Key Points

• Over 85% of consultation respondents favoured the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) for Liverpool North Docks.
• The six-week public consultation collected 537 responses from residents, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders, including Liverpool City Council and the Riverside MP Kim Johnson.
• Support included 79.3% for the MDC as the Local Planning Authority, 72.7% for the proposed boundary and 69.5% for the proposed name.
• The outcomes of the consultation will be considered by the Combined Authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9 September, with the formal proposal presented at a Combined Authority meeting on 25 September.
• Subject to approval, the Mayor Steve Rotheram will send a letter to the Secretary of State asking that the Liverpool North Docks Mayoral Development Corporation is established formally.
• The MDC that is proposed will cover an area of 174 hectares and may enable the delivery of up to 17,000 homes and 5 million square feet of commercial development over time.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) September 08, 2026 – Plans to accelerate the regeneration of Liverpool’s North Docks have received overwhelming public support, with more than 85% of respondents backing the creation of a dedicated Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) to drive the long-term transformation of the area.

As reported by staff of The Guide Liverpool, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said the consultation result represented “a really strong vote of confidence” in the proposals, which aim to bring large stretches of brownfield land back into use with new homes, jobs, green spaces and commercial development.

The consultation, held over six weeks during the summer, received 537 responses and sought views on three key elements of the proposed corporation: its name, the geographical area it would cover, and the powers it would need to support regeneration of the North Docks.

Among those who responded, 85.2% supported the establishment of the MDC, 79.3% agreed it should act as the Local Planning Authority for major development proposals within the area, 72.7% supported the proposed boundary and 69.5% supported the proposed name.

The consultation included responses from residents, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders, including Liverpool City Council and Riverside MP Kim Johnson, whose constituency the proposed MDC sits within.

It was promoted through local media and social media, alongside direct engagement with key stakeholders, with residents living within the proposed boundary contacted through a targeted letter drop and public notices displayed throughout the consultation area.

The consultation results will be considered by the Combined Authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, 9 September, before a formal proposal is considered at a meeting of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority on Friday, 25 September.

Subject to approval, Mayor Rotheram intends to write to the Secretary of State requesting the formal establishment of the Liverpool North Docks Mayoral Development Corporation, which would become the first MDC in the Liverpool City Region if approved by government.

What is the proposed North Docks Mayoral Development Corporation?

The proposed MDC is intended to provide a dedicated organisation to help drive the long-term regeneration of Liverpool’s North Docks, an area that has seen significant change in recent decades but still contains large undeveloped sites.

Despite major investment already taking place, the scale and complexity of regenerating the area – including fragmented land ownership, infrastructure requirements and the investment needed to make developments viable – mean some sites can be difficult to bring forward, according to the Combined Authority’s report.

The proposed MDC is intended to help break down those barriers by bringing greater coordination and long-term focus to the area, with the aim of accelerating the delivery of new homes, jobs, commercial development and public spaces.

It would build on the momentum generated by Everton FC’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium and help extend regeneration northwards along the waterfront.

Plans for the area could eventually see largely undeveloped brownfield land transformed into new neighbourhoods containing up to 17,000 homes, alongside 5 million sq ft of commercial space, new businesses, green spaces and cultural amenities.

Covering around 174 hectares, the proposed development area would stretch from the Hill Dickinson Stadium towards the city centre and take in some of Liverpool’s biggest regeneration opportunities.

Which sites are included in the North Docks regeneration area?

The proposed MDC boundary would take in several major regeneration sites along Liverpool’s northern waterfront.

These include Central Docks at Liverpool Waters, where plans include a new urban park supported by a £55m government grant and £26m investment from Peel Waters, with site preparation due for completion in 2028.

The area also covers the £1bn Kings development by Beetham Davos, which includes plans for what would become the city’s tallest building.

Other sites within the proposed boundary include Pall Mall, where plans for a major Grade A office development are intended to strengthen Liverpool’s Commercial District, and Stanley Dock, including the continuing regeneration of its historic warehouse complex for residential and visitor accommodation.

The Liverpool Cruise Terminal is also included, where Global Ports Holding is progressing plans to expand the facility.

Subject to the necessary approvals, further work would take place to develop the MDC’s detailed business case, governance structure and financial arrangements before it becomes fully operational.

The Combined Authority will continue to engage with residents, businesses and other stakeholders as those plans are developed.

What did Mayor Steve Rotheram say about the consultation results?

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said he wanted to thank everyone who took the time to have their say in the consultation.

“To see more than 85% of people backing our plans is a really strong vote of confidence in what we’re trying to achieve for Liverpool’s North Docks,”

he said, as reported by The Guide Liverpool.

“For generations, the docks were the engine room of Liverpool’s economy and helped make our city famous around the world. Now we have a chance to write the next chapter in their story,”

Rotheram said.

“The North Docks represents one of the biggest opportunities Liverpool has had in generations – bringing huge stretches of brownfield land back to life with new green spaces, homes, good jobs, thriving businesses and fantastic places for people to enjoy,”

he added.

Rotheram highlighted the role of Everton’s new stadium in starting the transformation of the North Docks, saying it had brought new investment, new energy and a renewed sense of what was possible.

“We have an opportunity to build on that momentum by creating new neighbourhoods, opening up more of our waterfront and making the North Docks a place where people want to live, work and spend their time,”

he said.

“I want to make sure the communities who call this area home are part of that journey and share in its success,” the mayor added.

Background to the North Docks development proposals

Liverpool’s waterfront has undergone huge change over recent decades, with major regeneration projects transforming large parts of the city’s docklands since the decline of traditional port industries.

However, significant areas of the North Docks remain undeveloped or underused, with complex land ownership patterns and high infrastructure costs creating barriers to development.

The proposal for a Mayoral Development Corporation follows the passage of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026, which granted new planning powers to mayors of strategic authorities.

MDCs are statutory bodies that can be established to drive regeneration in specific areas, with powers over planning, land assembly and infrastructure delivery.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has been developing proposals for a North Docks MDC as part of wider efforts to accelerate growth and investment in the city region.

The consultation formed part of the statutory process for establishing an MDC, with the results now feeding into the formal proposal that will be considered by the Combined Authority later this month.

What impact could the North Docks MDC have on Liverpool residents and businesses?

If established, the Liverpool North Docks Mayoral Development Corporation would have significant implications for residents, businesses and investors in the area.

For local residents, the MDC could mean faster delivery of new homes, improved public spaces and better infrastructure, though it would also mean the corporation acting as the Local Planning Authority for major development proposals within the boundary.

Businesses and investors could benefit from greater coordination and a clearer long-term vision for the area, potentially reducing uncertainty and making it easier to bring forward viable development schemes.

The proposed delivery of up to 17,000 homes and 5 million sq ft of commercial space would represent a substantial expansion of the local economy, creating construction jobs in the short term and permanent employment opportunities once developments are complete.

However, the scale of proposed development also raises questions about infrastructure capacity, transport connections and the need to ensure existing communities benefit from regeneration rather than being displaced by it.

The Combined Authority has indicated it will continue to engage with residents, businesses and other stakeholders as detailed plans for the MDC are developed, suggesting the governance structure and financial arrangements will be subject to further scrutiny before the corporation becomes fully operational.