More than £1bn worth of regeneration projects started in Liverpool in 2013 despite the difficult economic climate, new figures have revealed.

According to the Liverpool Express, a total of £1.06bn worth of regeneration schemes got underway last year, across the city – and together, they will deliver more than 4,250 jobs.

It is the highest level of investment in Liverpool since 2008, when the city reached its regeneration pinnacle as European Capital of Culture.

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: "This is really good news for Liverpool, and proof that our business-friendly approach and willingness to work with the private sector is paying dividends. The massive amount of regeneration activity which started in this city during 2013 is very encouraging and shows that we are beginning to overcome the economic downturn."


Key developments which have begun in the last 12 months include:

• An investment of more than £60m on new office space and shops, creating a combined 3,323 jobs.

• A massive £331m investment in health facilities – including the new Alder Hey Children's Hospital -creating 417 new jobs,

• £100m investment in three new schools – including the £17m Archbishop Beck Sports College – and two new university buildings.

• The £7.6m construction of Liverpool Science Park's third building, ic3, at the heart of the city's Knowledge Quarter.

• Major investment delivering an additional 200 hotel rooms in the city this year, including the conversion of the derelict, Grade II listed Royal Insurance building in the city centre into an Aloft branded hotel.

Meanwhile, the city is making major progress in its housing delivery programme, with work getting underway in the past year on over 2,600 new homes. Key projects include in Anfield, where a £23m investment in new housing and the on-going refurbishment of 550 homes is supporting the wider, £260m regeneration plans for the area.

The new figures follow a major year of growth for Liverpool in 2013, which saw over £500m of projects completed and delivered across the city, delivering more than 3,000 new jobs. Success stories included the £50m refurbishment of Liverpool Central Library; the delivery of two schools, including the new £15m Notre Dame Catholic College in Everton; the opening of American fashion chain Forever 21's flagship five-storey store in the city centre; and the building of almost 500 new homes.

(CD/JP)