A prospectus has been launched for a regeneration zone on the edge of Liverpool city centre as local businesses look to transform the area while keeping its “quirky” and edgy” feel.
The Fabric District Community Interest Company (CIC) has launched its prospectus as a “statement of intent” for the district, which sits between Lime Street Station and the city’s university campuses.
The and the area is seeing an increase in development - including building work at the former TJ Hughes site in London Road. But the CIC says this comes after “years of neglect and a lack of priority in the city’s various regeneration initiatives”.
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Now the CIC is aiming to attract more investors and visitors to the area, and has put out the prospectus to show off what is happening. It follows a series of public consultation meetings last year aimed at forming a long-term and community-led plan for the district that preserves its heritage and also meets the social needs of its neighbours and residents.
The report highlights including the Monument Place retail and residential scheme, funded by Columbia Threadneedle, two student housing blocks under construction on Norton Street.
Suggestions for the future include:
- A focus on community-led regeneration
- The need to “Improve physical & safe connections to neighbouring districts and residential areas”
- Any plans must “recognise the Fabric District’s rich heritage in its culture, buildings and
- places and bring about restoration wherever possible”
- Creating safer streets, dealing with litter and street crime, and improving the public realm to prioritise the needs of pedestrians and cyclists over motorised vehicles.
- Bring vacant sites back to life, and ensure that new residential development includes affordable accommodation
The report also includes quotes from neighbours - including ones saying that the area “needs to stay edgy” and that “We would like “quirky and unique”, as well as another saying that the district needs to “integrate with (the neighbouring) West Everton community”.
Another respondent said it was vital “not to price local/existing users/occupiers out of the area”, while other suggestions included “pop-up events, creative market” and “narrow the roads and plant trees”.
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The report says: “The Fabric District CIC wishes to lead and explore with local and central government a new bespoke regeneration model for the Fabric District, allowing this local community-led initiative to progress at pace and secure investment to deliver the long-term sustainable regeneration of the area.”
The CIC is also working with the council and local businesses and residents to create a formal Spatial Regeneration Framework for the area. They will also work on the city’s Public Realm Strategy under which funding has earmarked for improvements to Monument Place and London Road.
The CIC’s board members include Jason Abbott, owner of mixed-used creative hub Tapestry, Richard Jennions, from historic Fabric District headwear manufacturer Try & Lilly, and Drake Music CEO Nanette Mellor.
CIC chair, Michael Birkett, who is also CEO of The Regenda Group, said: “Regeneration of the Fabric District is long overdue but we’re confident that much-needed focus and investment is now on its way, both from the public and private sectors. We’re working hard with the team at Liverpool City Council to see this through”
Liverpool’s cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Nick Small, said: “The Fabric District CIC, working closely with Liverpool City Council and all its occupiers and neighbours, is part of a joint team which will work up a delivery-focused regeneration programme in the coming months”.