Liverpool commits to Fast Track Cities+ to end HIV, Hepatitis and Tuberculosis

LIVERPOOL'S health and care partners have reaffirmed the City's global leadership in public health by announcing a bold expansion of their Fast Track Cities work. The City will now adopt an ambitious Fast Track Cities + (Plus) approach, widening its focus to end HIV, all blood borne viruses (BBVs), and tuberculosis (TB).

Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing, said:- "Liverpool has shown that bold ambition, backed by strong partnerships, really does make a difference. Our progress on HIV is something we are proud of, and today's commitment to a Fast Track Cities + approach signals our determination to go even further. By tackling HIV, Hepatitis B and C and Tuberculosis together, we can improve health outcomes, reduce inequalities, and support people across our City to live healthier lives."

Liverpool has been a long standing and active member of the international Fast Track Cities initiative; a global movement of cities committed to ending HIV as a public health threat. Through community engagement, strong collaboration, and innovative service delivery, Liverpool has delivered sustained progress against its HIV goals.

Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council, added:- "Our success in reducing HIV late diagnosis and improving access to testing and treatment demonstrates what is possible when we redesign services around people's needs and involve community voice. Expanding our Fast Track Cities commitment reflects the reality that HIV, Hepatitis B and C and Tuberculosis often affect the same communities and are driven by the same inequalities. This approach allows us to be more ambitious, more joined up, and even more impactful."

In recent years, the City has significantly reduced the number of people living with undiagnosed HIV, driven by expanded testing, targeted outreach, and the redesign of sexual health services. 4 years ago, an estimated 115 people in Liverpool were living with undiagnosed HIV; this has now fallen to around 45, meaning far more people know their status and are receiving treatment. HIV late diagnoses have also dropped sharply, from:- 56.7% 3 years ago to 36.1% todate, improving long term health outcomes.

Record levels of testing have supported this progress, with 108,889 tests carried out, back in 2025, across sexual health services and A&E. Services are also more effective at identifying people who can benefit from PrEP, and local uptake of this vital HIV prevention medication continues to rise. Together, these improvements are enabling earlier diagnosis, faster access to care, and better prevention, bringing Liverpool closer to ending all new HIV transmissions by 2030.

Building on this success, partners across the City have now committed to go further. The new Fast Track Cities + (Plus) approach recognises the interconnected nature of HIV, viral hepatitis, and tuberculosis, and the shared inequalities that influence them. This expanded commitment reflects a shared ambition to:-

End all new HIV transmissions and AIDS-related deaths by:- 2030.
End all new viral Hepatitis B and C infections by:- 2030.
End TB - achieve a 90% reduction in TB incidence by:- 2035.
Eliminate stigma and discrimination related to HIV, hepatitis and TB.

The Fast Track Cities + (Plus) approach places a strong emphasis on:- prevention, early diagnosis, rapid treatment, and person centred care. It also strengthens the City's focus on tackling the wider social determinants of health, such as:- poverty, housing, migration, and access to services, ensuring that no community is left behind.

Liverpool's progress to date has been driven by close partnership working between:- the local authority, NHS organisations, voluntary and community sector groups, and people with lived experience. Together, services across the City continue to make testing more accessible than ever before, offering clinic based testing, community outreach, and convenient online options, alongside high quality treatment, care and support to all that need it.

Liverpool's Fast Track Cities + (Plus) commitment aligns the City with a growing international movement of places taking integrated, equity-focused action to end infectious diseases as public health threats. It reinforces Liverpool's reputation as a City that is prepared to lead, innovate, and act decisively to protect and improve resident's health.

Working side by side with communities, and building on proven success, partners across Liverpool are united behind a clear and ambitious goal: to end HIV, eliminate bloodborne viruses and tuberculosis, and create a healthier, fairer future for everyone who lives in the city.

Dr Paul Hine, Consultant in Infectious Diseases and General Internal Medicine, HIV Clinical Lead, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, added:- "The Fast Track Cities+ pledge represents a vital next step in our collective mission to end HIV, Hepatitis B and C and tuberculosis. What makes this pledge so important is its commitment to a genuinely integrated approach. It recognises that these conditions do not exist in isolation. Over the past few years, the Fast Track Cities movement has enabled us to build exceptional partnerships across the NHS, local authorities, academics, the voluntary sector and our communities. These partnerships have helped us to attract new funding, strengthen clinical pathways and have accelerated innovation in prevention, testing and treatment. I am very optimistic about what we can achieve next."

The announcement comes during HIV Testing Week will run until:- 15 February 2026, a national campaign encouraging people to know their status. Throughout the week, services across Liverpool will be offering a range of free, accessible testing sessions and support. Residents are encouraged to take up the opportunity to test, an important step in protecting their health and contributing to the city's mission to end new infections.

Dr Evdokia Dardamissis, Head of Health Protection - Cheshire and Merseyside from UKHSA North West, commented:- "I'm proud to support Liverpool's continued commitment to tackling HIV, blood borne viruses, and tuberculosis. As part of the Fast Track Cities + partnership, our shared ambition to reduce new infections, eliminate preventable illness, and improve outcomes for everyone affected is both vital and within reach. I'm delighted to reaffirm this commitment and look forward to contributing to this important public health mission as we work towards ending new HIV transmissions and driving down BBV- and TB‑related harms across our City by 2030."

Liverpool City Region to send big delegation to MIPM 2026

THE Liverpool City Region is set to make1of its strongest ever appearances at the world's leading real estate event, MIPIM 2026, to promote �11bn of investment opportunities.

A total of 30 organisations will join Mayor Steve Rotheram in Cannes, from:- 9 March to 13 March 2026, to showcase several transformative, investment‑ready schemes.

The unique private-public sector delegation will promote major projects across:- Health and Life Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Technology, Creative, and Maritime, 4 core drivers of the City Region's economy.

These projects include HEMISPHERE1on Paddington Village, Health Innovation Liverpool (HIL) on the former Royal Hospital Site and Project Violet Phase 2 at Sci-Tech Daresbury, to name a few.

The size of the large contingent reflects growing confidence in the Region's development sector and follows a hat-trick of major companies recently announcing plans to establish their European HQ in Liverpool.

MIPIM remains a cornerstone of the Liverpool City Region Capital and Real Estate Investment Programme, which also includes:- major events such as UKREiiF 2026 in Leeds.

The programme aims to demonstrate to global investors why the City Region is the ideal place to grow a business, a family, and a long term legacy.

This year's delegation is the result of collaboration between:- the 6 local authorities, the Combined Authority, and dozens of private sector companies, 7 of which have signed up as gold partners for the investment programme. They are Atkins Realis, Beetham Davos, Landsec, Langtree, Liverpool BID Company, Sciontec and Starship.

Among the LCR flagship projects being promoted at MIPIM are:-

Bootle Town Centre transformation: A major regeneration initiative delivering new homes, commercial space, and high quality public realm.
King Edward Triangle project: a �1bn mixed use development across c.8 acres overlooking the Liverpool waterfront from Davos Property Developments and Beetham Davos.
The Littlewoods Project: A 260,000 sq ft creative campus representing a transformational growth opportunity for the Liverpool City Region. It will establish the UK's Next Generation Production Hub, a world class campus for:- film, TV, gaming, music, immersive technology, and digital screen industries.
Pall Mall: The construction of 400,000sqft of Grade A office space and a hotel in the Commercial Business District (CBD), providing much needed supply to meet occupier requirements for high quality, centrally located workspace close to key transport hubs. The project sits within the proposed Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), aligning it with the wider North Docks regeneration programme.
North Docks MDC: 174 hectares of predominantly brownfield land stretching from the North Docks, through Liverpool Waters and Pumpfields, to the commercial business district. The proposed MDC is designed to accelerate regeneration across the City's Northern Waterfront by:- coordinating development, unlocking investment, and delivering new homes, commercial space, and infrastructure.
Liverpool Central Station: A 40 acre site poised for redevelopment into a prime retail and mixed use destination in the heart of the City Centre.
Liverpool Waters (Peel L&P): A �5 billion regeneration of the City's Northern Docks into:- a world class, sustainable waterfront district.
Maghull Health Park: A new 30,000 sqm complex providing advanced digital and laboratory facilities, with ambitions to become an international centre for mental health research.
Paddington South, Knowledge Quarter Liverpool: Development opportunities in the life science and innovation sector with unique prospects for academic and industry cross collaboration. Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter is part of:- Liverpool's Life Sciences Innovation Zone and home to the to the:- University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
Wirral Waters: A �4.5 billion regeneration of Birkenhead's Docklands and sister project to Liverpool Waters.

Throughout the 4 day programme, the Liverpool City Region team will host panel discussions, presentations, and networking sessions designed to spotlight the Region's sector strengths and investment potential. A particular emphasis this year will be on green infrastructure and sustainable development, aligned with the Region's target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2035.

The Region's attendance at MIPIM supports Mayor Rotheram's ambition to increase foreign direct investment into the Liverpool City Region by 25% by 2030. The �11 billion investment pipeline being promoted is central to that goal, demonstrating the Region's readiness to welcome new international partners and deliver major projects at scale.

The City Region enters MIPIM 2026 at a time of significant progress and transformation. Recent milestones include:-

The launch of the Life Sciences Innovation Zone, expected to attract �800 million of investment and create 8,000 jobs.
Major upgrades to transport infrastructure, including:- new rail stations, a �500 million fleet of publicly owned trains, a new ferry, and an integrated bus network.
Work has begun to establish a Mayoral Development Corporation to accelerate the regeneration of complex sites, beginning with the North Docks area of Liverpool.

The Liverpool City Region Capital and Real Estate Investment Programme is built on:- strong public, private collaboration, demonstrating how partnership working can unlock investment, drive innovation, and deliver benefits for communities across the Region.

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said:- "The Liverpool City Region has always looked outward; proud of where we've come from, but never content to stand still. From global trade through our docks to world leading innovation in life sciences, digital and advanced manufacturing, progress here has always come from the confidence to think differently. That's exactly why MIPIM matters to us. It's where ambition meets opportunity, and where conversations turn into real investment, jobs and communities. This year, we're showcasing an �11 billion pipeline of projects that are ready for delivery, backed by strong partnerships, competitive costs and the political will to get things done. We're building a Region that's ready for what comes next; a place to grow a business, grow a family and build a long term legacy; and we're looking for partners who want to help shape that future with us."

Cllr Mike Wharton, Leader of Halton Council, LCR Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Business, Investment and Trade, said:- �MIPIM is an excellent opportunity for the Liverpool City Region to present a clear, confident proposition to the global investment community. By coming together as public and private partners, we are showing the scale of our ambition and our collective commitment to delivering sustainable growth that benefits people and places across the City Region."

Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council and LCR Cabinet Member for Innovation, said:- "Attracting investment into our City is essential for jobs and housing that we need for our future economic success. MIPIM puts us on a stage with the world's greatest cities and is a shop window for the incredible development opportunities that are on offer in Liverpool and the wider City Region."

Colin Sinclair, Chief Executive of Knowledge Quarter Liverpool and Sciontec Developments Limited and Chair of the Invest Liverpool City Region (ILCR) Partnership Taskforce, said:- �It's no coincidence that private sector support for Invest Liverpool City Region and for this year's MIPIM is stronger than ever. Our recent third place in the European Capital of Innovation Awards and several recent inward investment successes show that the Liverpool brand is viewed with positivity across the globe. As we celebrate KQ Liverpool's tenth anniversary, we can look forward to a period of sustained economic growth across the City Region attracting new investment, growing businesses, and creating new jobs."

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Liverpool commits to Fast Track Cities+ to end HIV, Hepatitis and Tuberculosis

Liverpool City Region to send big delegation to MIPM 2026