Liverpool regeneration moves closer with proposed MDC
Plans to establish a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) for Liverpool’s North Docks have moved forward after the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority backed the next stage of the proposals.
The proposed corporation could help unlock up to 17,000 new homes, alongside commercial and employment space, public realm, green spaces and infrastructure across one of Liverpool’s largest brownfield regeneration areas.
Mayor Steve Rotheram will now progress the statutory process and formally ask the Secretary of State to establish the Liverpool North Docks MDC.
Proposed MDC to coordinate North Docks regeneration
The North Docks stretches from Liverpool city centre’s waterfront towards Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson Stadium and contains a number of major development and infrastructure projects.
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The proposed MDC would provide a dedicated body to coordinate land, infrastructure and investment across the area, with fragmented land ownership, infrastructure constraints and complex delivery arrangements identified as barriers to development.
Plans are intended to help bring forward stalled sites and coordinate infrastructure investment to support new homes, employment space and businesses.
Proposals follow a six-week statutory consultation, held between 2 July and 14 August 2026, which received 537 responses.
Of those responding to the relevant question, 85.2% supported the creation of an MDC.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Anyone who knows Liverpool knows just how much potential there is in the North Docks. You only have to stand there and look around to see the scale of the opportunity in front of us.
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“For years, people have talked about what this part of the city could become.
“The challenge now is turning that potential into something real – new homes, good jobs, better public spaces, more public services and a new neighbourhood that feels like it belongs to Liverpool and benefits the people who already call this city home.
“The problem has never been a lack of ambition. It’s been the sheer complexity of getting so many different sites, landowners, bits of infrastructure and investment moving in the same direction. That’s exactly what an MDC can help us do.
“What really matters to me is that we get this right. People were overwhelmingly supportive of the plans, but they also told us very clearly what they expect from us – affordable homes, proper transport, respect for our heritage, transparency and a genuine voice for local communities. I agree with them.
“Today is another big step forward. Now we can finally start joining the dots and turning one of Liverpool’s greatest untapped opportunities into a place that creates jobs, homes and opportunity for generations to come.”
Major Liverpool development pipeline
The North Docks already has a significant pipeline of regeneration and investment.
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Projects include Central Docks at Liverpool Waters, including a new urban park backed by £55m of government funding and £26m from Peel Waters, alongside the proposed £1bn King’s Liverpool development.
Other schemes include a Grade A office development at Pall Mall, the continued regeneration of Stanley Dock, further investment in Liverpool Cruise Terminal and Everton FC’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Combined Authority and Homes England are also moving towards an enhanced delivery partnership intended to accelerate major regeneration, housing and infrastructure projects across the Liverpool City Region.
A Joint Delivery Unit is proposed as part of the partnership, bringing together staff from Homes England and the Combined Authority to work on major projects and support housing and economic development.
North Docks development plans move to statutory stage
The consultation also sought views on the proposed powers and boundary of the MDC.
Some 79.3% of respondents agreed that the corporation should act as the Local Planning Authority for major development proposals within the area, while 72.7% supported the proposed boundary.
Issues raised during the consultation included governance and accountability, transport capacity, heritage protection, affordable housing and continued community involvement.
Subject to completion of the statutory process and approval from the Secretary of State, the MDC would be established as a dedicated regeneration body.
Further work will now focus on the detailed business case, governance arrangements and powers of the proposed corporation before operational functions are transferred.
The proposals form part of wider plans to take a strategic approach to regeneration across the city region, linking housing, transport, infrastructure and investment.
