Festival Gardens redevelopment moves forward

A derelict dockland transformed in 1984 could get a new lease on life through a housing and public space plan.

The changing fortunes of Liverpool's Festival Gardens

Just over 40 years after its 1984 opening as The International Garden Festival, Festival Gardens on Liverpool’s waterfront faded from prominence. The 90 acre site, once a symbol of regeneration after the Toxteth Riots, fell into disrepair. Liverpool City Council bought the land and spent about 53 million pounds to clean and clear it. Officials now say a new plan could turn the space into housing plus a redesigned public space, building on lessons from past efforts.

Several schemes to revive the site were abandoned or scaled back over the years. The current proposal aims to fill a gap in housing supply while restoring riverfront access and green space. Yet the timing, funding, and governance of any development will shape how the public perceives the project. Residents, small businesses, and heritage groups will watch closely to see if history repeats itself or a broader community plan succeeds.

The project tests how cities balance memory with growth. Preserving a waterfront that once symbolized public aspiration while selling land to meet housing targets asks tough questions about accountability and value for money. If delivered well, the gardens and homes could anchor a new era of inclusive regeneration. If not, the project risks becoming another chapter in a long history of stalled promises. The plan also highlights the role of public funding in equitable urban outcomes and how communities can influence long term decisions when budgets are tight.

Highlights

The waterfront will reveal whether memory or money leads the way next