Developer contributions are delivering tens of millions of pounds of improvements to parks and open spaces across Liverpool.
An update to the Finance and Resources Scrutiny Committee on Thursday 24 September reveals that £20.2 million has been spent, with a further £7.8 million allocated for forthcoming projects and an additional £7.7 million of funding under development.
The money is from Section 106 agreements, which are used to secure contributions or obligations from developers to mitigate the impact of schemes given planning permission.
A total of 27 parks and greenspaces projects have been completed or delivered, including:
- Paths, benches and bins at Belle Vale Park
- Tree planting and play feature installation along Great Homer Street
- A new multi-use games court at the Bronte Centre
- A new play area at Rice Lane Recreation Ground
- Walled Garden Heritage Wall build at Reynolds Park
- Everton Park Nature Garden Access & Infrastructure Improvement
- Installation of a new Woodland Trail at All Saints in Speke
Play improvements have been delivered at:
- Calderstones Park
- Lower Breck Recreational Ground
- Walton Hall Park
- Wavertree Botanic Park
- Banks Road
- Doric Park
- Berkley Park (Upper Hill Street)
- Great George Square
- Everton Park including Everton Terrace; China Street Playground and Roscommon multi-use games court.
Heritage projects include:
- The final stage of the Mandela 8 Memorial and bridge access in Princes Park with interpretation signage
- Improvements and interpretation signage at Sefton Park and the Palm House
- Improvements to Wavertree Botanic Park
- Pathway and roadway works at Sudley Fields
- St James Sunken Garden heritage and access improvements
- Newsham Park heritage and access improvements
Some of the trees that have been planted
There’s also a planting programme for more than 700 trees, including in Wavertree, Kirkdale, Newsham, Garston, Speke and Dingle which has been match-funded through a grant from Northern Forest.
In addition, a public realm and open space project is underway for the Fabric District/London Road area including tree planting, routes through and enhanced highway details in respect of bus stops and cycle lanes.
Councillor Nick Small, Cabinet Member for Growth and Economy, said: “We are committed to ensuring that local communities see the benefit from developments across the city and dozens of projects have been, and are being, funded.
“It is a mark of Liverpool’s continued growth and success that we have secured tens of millions of pounds to improve parks and playgrounds as well as open spaces and the public realm.”
Deputy Council leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Transformation, Cllr Ruth Bennett, said: “We’ve been working hard over the last few years to bring in outstanding amounts, make sure that companies abide by the terms of our agreements, as well as having a regular pipeline of worthwhile projects to spend the funding on.
“This is all part of our wider social value agenda, making sure that we use the levers we have to drive improvements that our residents tell us they want to see.”
Speke Nature Trail
To accelerate the delivery of future projects, two additional project managers have been hired a new operational team has been established to increase capacity in parks and greenspaces. A new approach of tendering six playground schemes at the same time is proving to be more efficient.
The council has been improving its work recovering outstanding Section 106 contributions and in October 2026 the Cabinet will be asked to agree a new process for considering proposals, including engagement with ward councillors and neighbourhood managers.
As part of the new Local Plan, a broader policy is being consulted on which would see contributions used for a wider range of purposes.
