A £1million stimulus programme has been launched to help regenerate a key area of North Liverpool in a unique partnership involving Everton in the Community, Merseyside Police and the local authorities.
Liverpool City Council has set out a 10-year masterplan for the County District Centre, the historical retail heart of the Walton community, after it was awarded £1million from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Town Centre Fund.
Everton in the Community and other local organisations have joined forces with the local community to deliver an innovative programme based around seven kick starter projects.
The focus of the projects is to “remember, reimagine and revitalise” the district centre of County and Walton Road, in the County and Kirkdale wards, which is situated close to Goodison Park.
The regeneration of County and Walton Road will complement Everton’s plans for The People’s Project and a re-imagined Goodison Park when the playing side of the Club moves to a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. The Club is committed to continuing to play an active part in the area’s future.
Everton and Everton in the Community already have a track-record of community-led partnership regeneration in L4. The Club and its official charity, has worked in partnership to invest more than £10m in bringing to life the Everton Free School and Football College, The People’s Hub, where some of the charity’s award-winning programmes are delivered from and The Blue Base – home to programmes for the elderly and disabled.
Richard Kenyon, Chief Executive of Everton in the Community, said: “We look forward to working alongside Liverpool City Council, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and other partners on a project that will help revitalise County and Walton Road.
“Everton and Everton the Community are deeply rooted in the Walton, County and Kirkdale communities. We have been delivering programmes in the area for 33 years and in recent years, working with partners, have invested more than £10m into transforming previously derelict sites into thriving community facilities.
“This project will allow us to further extend our work with local people and help to deliver a new district centre that will bring many exciting new opportunities for people within the local community.”
The L4 community lies just three miles to the north of Liverpool city centre and is connected to it by the A59 (County Road) which is currently undergoing a £4.5m upgrade.
Launched today, the seven strands of the Country District Centre masterplan are:
- The Vision – Setting the ambitions of the district centre for the next ten years.
- Enterprise, employability and training – Creating a space for entrepreneurs and businesses to grow working in partnership with Everton in the Community.
- Community Hub – Refurbishing Spellow Library to be a multi-service inclusive space for the community, providing Adult learning, Children services and business support.
- Business Fund – A small grant for businesses to improve their business, properties and re-open following Covid-19. Due Spring 2021.
- County Community Police Team – In partnership with Merseyside Police the fund has created a dedicated police team for businesses, residents and the community.
- Creative Community – Culture Liverpool will be working with artists to bring art, creativity and community cohesion to the District Centre.
- Christmas on County – The fund will aim to bring a spectacular Christmas display for the community in December 2021.
Acting Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Wendy Simon, said: “There is a proud history in the County and Walton Road community that deserves a bright future – and the people who live and work there now have a golden opportunity to shape that story.
“Thanks to the Town Centre Fund the city council has been able to marshal all the key players in the area to devise a long-term masterplan and identify some creative solutions which will have an immediate impact for local businesses and residents.
“As well as the investment in the highways infrastructure, the enterprise resource, the community hub and the business fund will all help create a solid platform to provide the right tools for the community to take control of their own destiny and hopefully attract even more investment to support more start-up companies and training.
“This is community-led regeneration in action and I’m delighted we have the support of key partners such as Everton, who have invested heavily in the area and it’s future, and Merseyside Police to underpin these projects. The artistic elements and the exciting plans for Christmas will hopefully inject some colour and hope for everyone in the area, and crucially give them back a sense of pride. Covid has clearly had a major impact on everyone’s plans over the past year, but the masterplan and these projects gives the County District Centre a route to recovery not just in the short term but for years to come.”
The £6million Town Centre Fund was established by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to provide up to £1million for each of its six local authorities, to support plans to revitalise town centres across the city region.
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Since I was elected, I have made it a priority to invest in and improve areas like County Road. I know it is even more important to local communities given the impact Coronavirus has had on them.
“I launched my Towns Fund to make that happen. We’re investing £1m in a range of projects to help revamp the area in the short-term and to develop plans to make it even better in future.
“High streets and town centres are at the heart of our communities, providing a hub for people to meet, shop and socialise but sadly too many have seen better days. I want us to do all we can get to get areas like County Road on the up again.”
The County District Centre vision document can be found at: http://regeneratingliverpool.com/project/county-district-centre/
The public are also encouraged to email their thoughts and ideas to the County District Centre team via email at: CDCTeam@liverpool.gov.uk
