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Liverpool is currently benefiting from significant investments in its parks and open spaces, funded by developer contributions secured through Section 106 agreements. These agreements require developers to allocate funds aimed at mitigating the impacts of their projects on local communities. According to a recent update presented to the Finance and Resources Scrutiny Committee on 24 September, a total of £20.2 million has already been spent on such improvements, with an additional £7.8 million earmarked for upcoming projects and £7.7 million more in the pipeline.
So far, 27 different parks and green areas around the city have seen upgrades and new facilities. Some of these projects include installing paths, benches, and bins at Belle Vale Park, planting trees and adding play features along Great Homer Street, and creating a new multi-use games court at the Bronte Centre. Other completed projects involve a new playground at Rice Lane Recreation Ground, constructing a heritage wall at Reynolds Park, enhancing access and infrastructure at Everton Park Nature Garden, and establishing a woodland trail at All Saints in Speke.
Play areas at several parks have also been improved, including Calderstones Park, Lower Breck Recreational Ground, Walton Hall Park, and Wavertree Botanic Park, among others. Heritage enhancements have been made as well, such as the final phase of the Mandela 8 Memorial and bridge access in Princes Park, improved signage and features at Sefton Park and Palm House, and upgrades to Wavertree Botanic Park, Sudley Fields, St James Sunken Garden, and Newsham Park. Complementing these developments is a tree-planting initiative, which aims to plant over 700 new trees across various neighborhoods like Wavertree, Kirkdale, Newsham, Garston, Speke, and Dingle, supported by match funding from the Northern Forest grant.
In addition to parks, a public realm and open space project is progressing in the Fabric District and London Road areas, focused on tree planting, enhancing walking routes, and improving highway features such as bus stops and cycle lanes. Councillor Nick Small, Cabinet Member for Growth and Economy, emphasized the city’s commitment to ensuring that local communities benefit directly from development, stating, “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.” Meanwhile, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Transformation, Cllr Ruth Bennett, highlighted ongoing efforts to secure contributions from developers and maintain a strong pipeline of projects, noting, “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.”
To support the timely delivery of future projects, Liverpool City Council has expanded its operational capacity by hiring two additional project managers and forming a new team dedicated to parks and green space management. This has allowed for more efficient processes, such as simultaneously tendering six playground schemes. Efforts are also underway to improve the recovery of outstanding Section 106 contributions. Looking ahead, in October 2026, the Cabinet will consider a new proposal for managing projects that includes enhanced engagement with ward councillors and neighbourhood managers. The city is also consulting on a broader policy within the new Local Plan, which could expand the ways developer contributions are used to support community development
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