Keir Starmer Intends to ‘Put Rocket Boosters Under Liverpool’

On Tuesday, new Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Deputy Angela Rayner met with Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and other regional leaders in Downing Street.

This was a first-of-its-kind meeting, taking place just four days after Labour’s landslide victory. The Labour leaders stated that mayors have the local knowledge needed to take better advantage of opportunities and have been tasked with developing Local Growth Plans.

Pledges regarding planning reform have already been received well by the Liverpool new-builds sector, and these talks seem to confirm Labour’s commitment to boosting investment in the city.

During the talks, the Prime Minister confirmed he intends to collaborate with local leaders to develop proposals to boost growth and other opportunities. Speaking with Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram, Keir Starmer confirmed he wants to “reignite the potential of the Liverpool City Region.”

On Monday, Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves also referenced Liverpool investment as part of her party’s plans for local growth. Labour has pledged to reform the planning system, hoping to boost investment and speed up the development process.

While giving a speech outlining the government’s plans to “rebuild Britain”, she referenced Central Docks in Liverpool, a section of the multi-billion pound Liverpool Waters regeneration scheme. A new announcement from Peel Waters is expected to follow later this week, with the developers behind the project unveiling the next stage of the ambitious scheme in the up-and-coming North Liverpool dock area.

The plans include a 2.1-hectare park, enriching the local landscape with hundreds of trees, community gardens and new public realms. The North Liverpool dock area has become a magnet for regeneration and new developments, including residential new-builds and off-plan properties like The Gateway, a groundbreaking apartment complex.