Liverpool City Council axes regeneration body

Max Steinberg

Liverpool City Council has announced plans to close its regeneration organisation, Liverpool Vision, which was set up in 1999.

It proposes to transfer the functions of the economic development agency in-house.

The move will involve the transfer of 37 staff from Marketing Liverpool and Invest Liverpool to the council’s Cunard Building offices on the waterfront, from their current home in the Capital in Old Hall Street.

The move will also see Vision chief executive, Max Steinberg, step down after eight years at the helm.

He was key to ensuring Liverpool’s award-winning participation at the 2010 World Expo and securing the first hosting in Europe of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress.

He was also chair of the International Business Festivals in 2014, 2016 and 2018.

It is proposed that the transfer will take place on March 31, 2019, in a realignment with the regeneration and culture departments.

Marketing Liverpool will continue to promote Liverpool on a national and international basis as well as working closely with the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership to deliver destination marketing for the city region – notably via the Visit Liverpool platform.

Liverpool Vision was the UK’s first urban regeneration company and was tasked with leading the physical transformation of the city into the new millennium with schemes such as the new Arena at the Kings Dock and Liverpool One.

Max Steinberg said: “As a born and bred Liverpudlian it’s been a huge privilege to have been part of the success of Liverpool Vision creating jobs, generating investment and marketing the city to investors and visitors.

“There are significant opportunities and challenges ahead and I am confident that the new arrangements will enable us to combine and amalgamate to strengthen and enhance the delivery of some of the most important priorities in the Inclusive Growth Plan.

“On a personal note I’m honoured the Mayor has asked me to continue to play a role in delivering the inclusive growth agenda and look forward to continue to making a contribution.”

Liverpool Mayor, Joe Anderson, said: “Liverpool Vision has been a key player behind the city’s transformation and the city’s appeal to tourists and investors has boomed since its creation.

“I now want to build on these successes and the time has come to integrate the capabilities and expertise of the Vision staff with teams in the city council.

“I believe that this will create a really strong foundation, to ensure that we meet the challenges ahead, to maintain momentum, and ensure that growth is shared around all of our communities.”

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