£3.7m restoration of Liverpool’s Festival Gardens begins

THE £3.7m RESTORATION of Liverpool’s International Garden Festival site will begin today 26 years after the venue first opened to the public.

The work represents a major step in the regeneration of the site into a waterfront park before a residential community is created.

The restoration has been organised by property investment and development company Langtree – which owns the site – in conjunction with the North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA) which is providing the funding.

The scheme has been designed by landscape architects Planit who have also been involved in the restoration of Liverpool’s Stanley Park.

The work is expected to take 12 months and community groups will take part in the restoration.

A national not-for-profit organisation called The Land Restoration Trust which owns and manages large public parks will assume responsibility for the gardens on the completion of the work.

The restoration will begin with the clearance of undergrowth which has left many original pathways buried and unpassable. 

Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, said: “The start of work to restore the international garden festival site is a significant step forward in spearheading the regeneration of this area of Liverpool and creating the conditions for significant future private sector investment on the adjacent site.

“I am delighted that the Agency’s £3.7m investment will help to bring this site back to life, creating a visitor attraction of international significance that will further boost the city-region’s growing visitor economy, as well as providing a important leisure resource that will enhance quality of life for local residents.”

Langtree managing director John Downes said: “The creation of the park and the new residential community will finally deliver a long term sustainable scheme for this strategic site on a major gateway in to the city.

“All the Partners in the scheme, Liverpool City Council, the Land Restoration Trust, the North West Development Agency and the local community deserve enormous credit for their involvement in finally making this scheme a reality – but the real work starts here.”

Land Restoration Trust chief executive Euan Hall said: “Once completed, the new park will be a magnificent asset for the local community.

“However, the most important thing about the restoration is that this time we will be able to ensure that the park can be managed for the benefit of the local community not just now but for many future generations.”

Leader of Liverpool City Council Councillor Warren Bradley added: “This is a milestone in a key site for the city and many people have been looking forward to the restoration of these gardens.

“This is an area which should be a real asset to the city and one we should be proud of, so we are delighted this work is starting.”

The International Garden Festive took place between May and October in 1984 and attracted 3.8m visitors.

The festival was the centrepiece of the city’s early regeneration efforts following industrial decline in the preceding decade. 

Much of the original site was developed into residential housing once the festival had ended but a long-term use for a large section of the site was never identified despite a number of attempts.