Festival Gardens development partner set for spring shortlisting

The search for a new development partner for Liverpool’s Festival Gardens scheme is set to move up a gear, with the city council and Montagu Evans announcing that a shortlist of candidates will be confirmed in Spring this year.

Following the launch of the development opportunity in October 2024, dialogue is ongoing with a number of high-calibre parties who are expected to shortly return Outline Solutions.

The aim is to transform the iconic former Liverpool Festival Gardens site into a landmark housing scheme on the  27-acre Development Zone. 

The site was originally opened by Queen Elizabeth II in May 1984 as the International Garden Festival.

An invitation to shortlisted parties will be issued in March, and the selection of a preferred bidder remains on track for September.

So far, £53m has been invested into the prime waterfront site and surrounding area to de-risk and accelerate delivery on this remediated brownfield land.

Remediation and infrastructure installation has been completed by VINCI, which also led to the creation of Liverpool’s first public park of the century.

Previous development partner, Liverpool-based ION Property Development’s exclusivity has also now expired and a mutually agreeable settlement with the council has been agreed.

The council said the decision to undertake a new procurement was in no way a reflection on ION’s competency or ability to deliver, but was driven by the constraints of the land sale method that both parties, in good faith, pursued together.

Part of a wider 36ha site, Festival Gardens’ Development Zone, extends to 11ha (27 acres), 5km from Liverpool city centre.

Its landmark waterfront location benefits from outstanding green and blue infrastructure with the Festival Gardens parkland, including formal Chinese and Japanese gardens, and the River Mersey immediately adjacent.

The Development Zone will become a thriving, sustainable, healthy and inclusive neighbourhood with a strong identity and sense of community, developed using innovative design and building techniques to meet local housing needs.

Development will be centred on phased, residential-led plans and multigenerational living with a range of housing types and tenures, maximising delivery and including more than 20% affordable housing.

Montagu Evans is leading on the procurement for the council as part of a multi-disciplinary team comprised of global programme and project delivery consultant and construction expert, Mace, architecture and urban design group, Metropolitan Workshop, and architectural practice, Shedkm. The project has the backing of Homes England and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Cllr Nick Small, Liverpool Council’s Cabinet member for Economy and Growth, said: “The Festival Gardens development zone is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and we’re keen to ensure a scheme that befits its amazing location.

“We’ve had some very positive conversations with a number of high quality developers and we now look forward to seeing their visions in detail as they seek to transform the housing offer in this area.”

He added: “We’re entering an incredibly exciting time and the shortlisting of candidates this spring is a huge step in making this in-demand, thriving community a reality.

“The council would also like to thank ION for all their work on this scheme and we wish them well in their future endeavours.”

Montagu Evans partner, Oliver Maury, said: “The development partner procurement process is in a good place.

“We have received positive responses from a number of high quality partners who are ambitious for the opportunity and would bring expertise, enthusiasm and solid financial credentials.

“We are now focused on continuing the selection process as planned to make sure the preferred bidder is right for this iconic site and the task ahead.”