'Bold and ambitious' plan to add £10bn to the Liverpool City Region economy and create tens of thousands of jobs

MAYOR Steve Rotheram has launched a:- 'bold and ambitious' 10 year blueprint to create tens of thousands of jobs and add £10bn to the Liverpool City Region economy.

Built on innovation and collaboration, the Liverpool City Region Growth Plan is a roadmap to:- increasing wages, driving investment, raising living standards and providing better services for the Region's 1.6 million residents.

Increasing productivity is at the heart of the plan, which if raised to the national average would alone add £6 billion to the City Region's £43.3 billion a year economy.

This will be achieved by building on the City Region's world leading innovation while accelerating growth of its most productive sectors including:- advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences, digital and technology and creative industries supported by maritime, professional and business services and the visitor economy.

With plans for the world's largest tidal power scheme, the City Region will also embrace clean energy opportunities and emerging green technologies.

Developed; and to be delivered; in partnership with local authorities, businesses, Universities, the voluntary and community sector, unions and Government, the plan highlights the importance of improving:- skills, public transport, housing, health and infrastructure for raising productivity.

Providing a skilled workforce and better services and infrastructure will help attract and retain high performing businesses that can pay higher wages and more taxes to fund public services and investment.

The Combined Authority is using its devolved powers and strategic investments to strengthen the foundations of the City Region economy to ensure everyone can realise their potential.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "Nobody on the doorstep has ever asked me to explain my growth plan for the City Region ,  but this document is possibly the most important strategic document we will ever produce. Our Growth Plan is a blueprint for a fairer, greener, more prosperous future; 1 where ambition, partnership and determination come together to create jobs, power homes with clean energy, and give every child the chance to reach their full potential here. I know the word:- 'growth' can often feel a bit abstract ,  it doesn't mean much to ordinary people in their daily lives. What really matters is what growth means in practice. It's about jobs you can build a life on, opportunities for your kids and grandkids, new homes you can afford to live in, investments in public transport and investment that brings prosperity back to our communities. This is our moment to show the country what we can achieve when we back ourselves, invest in our own future, and build the infrastructure for the next generation."

Since devolution in 2017, more than 35,000 homes have been added to Liverpool City Region's housing stock, over 74,000 apprenticeships started, the number of jobs has increased by 45,000 and the size of the economy has grown to £43.4 billion

Economic forecasts show the Liverpool City Region Growth Plan, backed by sustained investment across the North of England, could add more than £10 billion extra to the economy and create tens of thousands of jobs,  aligning with the Government's national growth mission.

The plan points to the City Region's £11bn investment pipeline and the Life Sciences Innovation Zone and LCR Freeport, under a shared Industrial Strategy Zone status, as key drivers for growth.

It also highlights numerous eye catching opportunities within life sciences, digital and tech, creative industries, advanced manufacturing and clean energy with the potential to turn the dial on productivity.

These include the ambitious £550m Health Innovation Liverpool (HIL) development that will bring 2,200 jobs and deliver more than £1bn in economic benefits, and the 10 fold expansion of Daresbury's cryo-plant to create a new National Cryogenics Facility to serve a global quantum computing cluster.

With Cammell Laird and its advanced manufacturing and digital capabilities, the City Region is also well placed to provide solutions to the UK's defence requirements in an uncertain world. And it's uniquely placed to lead the way in the development of future zero-bills home building.

The LCR Growth Plan was launched today, at the Materials Innovation Factory, a world leading collaboration between the University of Liverpool and Unilever that's driving the computer and robotics-aided discovery and design of materials.

Helping launch the Local Growth Plan, University of Liverpool Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones said:- "As a global university rooted in our City and Region, we are committed to driving the future prosperity of the Liverpool City Region. Through our research, education and innovation activities, we support innovation led growth and create opportunities for people, businesses and communities. Our world leading Materials Innovation Factory is a powerful example of how university, industry collaboration fuels innovation, delivers impact and drives economic growth. We look forward to working with our partners on this Growth Plan to make Liverpool City Region a powerhouse of research, innovation and enterprise."

David Meyerowitz, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Business and Enterprise Board, said:- "This Growth Plan is a bold and ambitious blueprint that reflects the scale of our aspirations for the Liverpool City Region. By focusing on innovation and accelerating growth in areas where we have genuine strengths, we're unlocking the potential to add £10bn to our economy and create tens of thousands of high-quality jobs. Above all this is a collaborative effort, that will be good not just for business but for everyone, boosting innovation, driving growth and ultimately creating a better future we can all share in."

Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities, Miatta Fahnbulleh, said:- "This bold Growth Plan shows exactly what devolution can achieve when local leaders are empowered to unlock their Region's potential. Liverpool City Region's ambition to add £10 billion to their economy whilst creating tens of thousands of jobs shows how communities can drive national growth from the ground up,  helping us move forward with our Plan for Change."

Jay McKenna, Regional Secretary, TUC North West, said:- "This Growth Plan represents a major step forward for working people across the Liverpool City Region. By focusing on creating tens of thousands of good, preferably unionised jobs, raising productivity, and ultimately improving public services, it offers a real opportunity to lift living standards and make a difference to the hard working families of Liverpool. Crucially, it's been shaped through genuine collaboration; unions, employers, and the public and private sectors will all play a role in its delivery. Together, we can build a fairer, stronger economy that works for everyone."

Director of the Association of Liverpool City Region Colleges Sue Higginson OBE said:- "It is fantastic to be part of Liverpool City Region's ambitions to transform living, learning and working. The role of our FE Colleges, as anchor organisations, is central to turning that ambition into reality, working with the City Region, strategic partners and employers across all industry sectors, to achieve change and growth through skills."

Plans for new Padel Courts in Southport submitted with owners aiming to open new facility in Spring 2026

PLANS to create new Padel  Courts, at Victoria Park, Southport, have been submitted to Sefton Council. Owners hope to be able to open the exciting new facility in Spring 2026. Players will be able to enjoy 5 Courts at Birkdale Padel , plus 3 refurbished tennis Courts. In a boost for park users, a new grab and go coffee kiosk will also open to the public and Victoria Park visitors.

A Sefton Padel Limited spokesperson said:- "We're thrilled to announce that the planning application for Birkdale Padel, on behalf of Sefton Padel Limited, has now been officially submitted! A massive thank you to everyone for your patience; we had to wait for a number of specialist supporting surveys to be completed before submitting. We've also made an exciting update… our Court surface colour will now be blue! This provides better visibility and matches the colour used on the professional tour."

The Birkdale site will feature:-

• 5 Padel Courts in total (with Phase 1 to 2 uncovered Courts live for Spring, and Phase 2 and 3 covered Courts ready by end of Summer)
  

• Vending for balls and racket hire.
  

• 3 refurbished tennis Courts.
  

• Changing rooms, toilets and showers.
  

• A grab and go coffee kiosk open to the public and Victoria Park visitors.

"Big thanks to Sefton Council for their continued support throughout this process. There's 2 hours free parking on Rotten Row, accommodating 80+ cars, and Birkdale Padel  will be located just behind Penelope's, in Birkdale. The planning process can take up to 12 weeks, so we're hoping for a decision around Christmas / New Year; right on track for our Spring 2026 opening! Work will begin immediately once permission is granted. Join our waiting list at:- SeftonPadel.Com to stay up to date with every stage of progress and to be first to hear when membership and Court bookings go live. For sponsorship details, Court naming rights and advertisement opportunities on Court glass and across the site, please contact us to join our waiting list, further details to be released following planning approval. We'll also be sharing the planning reference number soon to everyone on our waiting list via email so you can show your support publicly on the planning portal; this will be a huge help in making Birkdale Padel  a reality! Thank you all so much for your incredible support; we can't wait to deliver a world class Padel  venue with a top coach."

In August, Sefton Council announced that it had agreed Heads of Terms for a partnership with Sefton Padel  to develop and manage brand new padel facilities at 3 sites across the borough. 

Subject to obtaining planning consent, 11 new Padel  Courts will be developed as part of a 6 figure investment programme. They will be located at Victoria Park in Southport, Coronation Park in Crosby and at Formby's Duke Street Park.

Additionally, 9 existing traditional tennis Courts will be refurbished to improve facilities for existing and new tennis players.

With its origins in Mexico, Padel  is a racquet sport, similar to tennis but played on smaller, enclosed Courts. Racquets and balls are also smaller than in tennis and players can bounce shots off the walls. 

Founded and owned by local entrepreneur Paul McComb, Sefton Padel  is a new Sefton company. After a competitive procurement process, the Council has appointed Sefton Padel  to lead on the development, delivery, and long-term operation of these facilities.

Sefton Padel's commitment to the local community and local economy to community engagement includes:-:- free introductory sessions for local schools, holiday, coaching camps for children and collaboration with local tradespeople and suppliers.

Speaking in August, Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson said:- "I'm delighted that we are working with a new Sefton based business to deliver this exciting development, which will give people across the borough the opportunity to take part in the fast growing sport of Padel . All 3 sites will be delivered and maintained to a high standard. They will include modern technology such as secure smart entry systems and automated lighting. Along with the refurbished tennis Courts, the new facilities will help the Council ensure Sefton's parks are vibrant, sustainable places that meet the needs of today's communities."

Paul McComb, Director of Sefton Padel , said:- "We're thrilled to be working in partnership with Sefton Council and with local volunteers to bring this fantastic new offering to Sefton; providing high quality Padel  facilities that everyone in the community can enjoy."

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