Liverpool City Mayor unlocks regeneration with MDC

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has announced plans to create a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) to fast-track major regeneration projects in the city, marking a significant shift in how local authorities will deliver housing and commercial development.

The new statutory body will focus on a 174-hectare regeneration zone stretching from the River Mersey through Pumpfields to the city’s commercial district, including large areas of underused brownfield land. The move is expected to unlock the development of 17,500 new homes and 5 million sq ft of commercial space over the next 15 years.

The MDC will consolidate and accelerate delivery across several major schemes already in progress or in planning, including:

• The £55 million publicly funded Central Docks regeneration, supported by a £26 million investment from Peel Waters;

• The emerging £1 billion King Edward Triangle development;

• Liverpool’s first major Grade A office scheme in a decade at Pall Mall.

The announcement reflects a broader devolution of powers from central government, following the recent £700 million housing settlement awarded to the Liverpool City Region. This funding gives local leaders direct control over affordable housing delivery and complements the infrastructure and planning levers the MDC will deploy.

Once established—expected within 12 months—the MDC will have powers to acquire land, fund infrastructure, and streamline development processes. It is expected to play a central role in delivering £11 billion in planned infrastructure investment across the wider region, encompassing transport, housing, and employment growth.

Mayor Rotheram described the initiative as a “once-in-a-generation chance” to reverse post-industrial decline in the North Docks and create “thousands of good homes, decent jobs and a proper community where families can thrive.” He pointed to the success of the Albert Dock regeneration as a model for what can be achieved when public and private partners align behind a long-term vision.

Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said the creation of the MDC would provide “the powers and focus to turn ambition into action,” enabling faster regeneration and meaningful local benefits.

From a property and construction perspective, the MDC is expected to accelerate project timelines, reduce development risk, and attract private investment by offering greater planning certainty. The North Docks zone includes a pipeline of mixed-use, residential, and employment-led projects, many of which have faced historic delivery challenges.

With major schemes such as Everton FC’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium acting as catalysts, the MDC could transform one of the largest brownfield areas in the UK into a hub for housing, workspace, and public realm, supporting long-term economic resilience and job creation in Liverpool.