Liverpool City Council has announced a transformative £20 million capital investment programme designed to overhaul core public services, from revitalising community leisure centres and parks to launching a groundbreaking initiative to tackle homelessness by renovating hundreds of empty properties.
The ambitious plan, set for approval at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, signals a major push by the city's leadership to deliver tangible improvements in neighbourhoods across Liverpool, focusing on the everyday services that residents value most.
Key Takeaways
- £20 Million Investment: Liverpool City Council is allocating significant capital funds to upgrade parks, housing, leisure centres, and waste management.
- Homelessness Initiative: A £7.3 million grant scheme aims to bring 365 empty homes back into use, projected to save the council £13.3 million in temporary accommodation costs.
- Leisure Centre Modernisation: An initial £5.18 million will be spent on upgrading Lifestyles fitness centres, the first phase of a wider £30 million plan.
- Public Spaces Upgrade: Parks and play areas will receive £4.75 million for new equipment, benches, and pathway resurfacing.
- Cleaner Streets: £2.2 million is earmarked for rolling out communal bin 'hubs' to improve recycling and reduce fly-tipping.
A Radical £20M Overhaul for Liverpool's Core Services
Liverpool's civic leaders are set to approve a comprehensive £20 million funding package aimed at breathing new life into the city's public infrastructure. The plan represents a strategic shift towards reinvesting in community assets following a period of financial stabilization for the council.
The investment targets four critical areas: housing and homelessness, public health and leisure, green spaces, and environmental services. Each component is designed to address long-standing issues and improve the quality of life for residents in every corner of the city.
Tackling Homelessness: A £7M Plan with a £13M Payoff
The cornerstone of the new programme is a radical £7.3 million initiative to combat Liverpool's homelessness crisis. Rather than solely relying on costly temporary accommodation, the council will offer grants to private landlords to renovate and bring 365 empty properties back into use for those in need.
This innovative approach is not just a social imperative but a fiscally astute one. Council officials estimate that this investment will generate a staggering £13.3 million in savings by drastically reducing the city's reliance on expensive hotels and B&Bs for temporary housing.
A Proactive Approach to Housing
The plan also includes a £310,000 investment to create a new, centralized customer services hub. This 'Housing Solutions Service' will be staffed by a specialized team to rapidly assess the nearly 10,000 homeless household referrals the city receives annually. The goal is to streamline decision-making, reduce delays, and prevent unnecessary placements into temporary accommodation from the outset.
Revitalising Community Hubs: Modernising Leisure and Libraries
Recognizing the importance of public health and community spaces, the council is injecting an initial £5.18 million into its Lifestyles leisure centres. This first phase will focus on immediate, high-impact upgrades.
Visitors can expect to see new, state-of-the-art gym equipment, refreshed reception areas, and the refurbishment of disused 3G pitches. The plan also includes the creation of new adventure activities to broaden the appeal of the centres to families and younger residents.
Long-Term Vision for Leisure
This initial funding is just the beginning. It forms the first part of a much larger, decade-long vision that could see up to £30 million invested by 2032. Future phases include the development of dedicated new youth hubs, further cementing these centres as vital community assets.
Liverpool's libraries are also set for a digital upgrade. The investment includes £213,000 for new public computers and self-service kiosks, alongside £116,000 for equipment to expand face-to-face council service access points within library branches, making civic services more accessible.
Greener, Cleaner Streets: Upgrading Parks and Waste Collection
A significant portion of the funding, £4.75 million, is dedicated to enhancing the city's green spaces. The investment will target the upgrade of 23 play areas across Liverpool, providing safe and modern equipment for children.
Beyond the playgrounds, parks will receive a general facelift with new benches, more litter bins, and the much-needed resurfacing of pathways to improve accessibility for all users.
Inspired by Glasgow: The 'Bin Hub' Roll-out
To tackle issues of street cleanliness and boost recycling rates, £2.2 million will be used over the next three years to introduce communal bin 'hubs'. This strategy is specifically aimed at areas with a high density of terraced housing where individual wheelie bins can clog pavements and alleyways.
"This is about making sure that people feel they are getting value-for-money from their Council Tax and the money we are spending is used in their neighbourhood."
The model is based on a successful scheme in Glasgow, which proved popular with residents, reduced instances of fly-tipping, and improved the overall streetscape. The move is also a proactive step to meet the government's requirement for separate food waste collection, which comes into effect in 2026.
Leadership Perspective: A Return on Financial Stability
Council leaders have stressed that this multi-million-pound investment is the direct result of years of work to stabilize the city's finances. Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Ruth Bennett, framed the spending as a commitment to the public.
"We are determined to improve life for residents in communities across Liverpool by making our city cleaner and greener and improving the buildings that we deliver services from," she stated. "We have spent the last couple of years putting the council on a much firmer financial footing and as a result we are now able to commit to making investments in services that we know our residents really value and care about."
Council Leader, Cllr Liam Robinson, echoed this sentiment, linking the financial turnaround to tangible community benefits. "These investments are possible because of the work we have done over the last couple of years in making our finances sustainable," he added. "It is an integral part of our journey to delivering quality, joined-up services in our neighbourhoods, which reflect the needs of local residents."
