Interview: Sarah Kelsey -North Liverpool Partnership Manager
Sarah Kelsey is Liverpool Vision's North Liverpool Partnership Manager. She works closely with both Liverpool and Sefton Council’s regeneration teams, and other public and private sector partners, to coordinate the delivery of the North Liverpool/South Sefton Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF).
How would you explain your role within Liverpool Vision? What are your key responsibilities?
The North Liverpool/South Sefton SRF sets out an ambitious framework for the comprehensive economic, social, and physical regeneration of the SRF area, which encompasses the Liverpool wards of County, Kirkdale, Anfield, and Everton.
My overarching responsibility is to act as ‘champion’ of the vision for North Liverpool and South Sefton, as set out in the SRF Framework. This involves ensuring that regeneration activity in the area is delivered in a cohesive and integrated way. A significant part of my role involves working in partnership with public and private organisations, to facilitate the delivery of North Liverpool’s redevelopment and investment.
How did the SRF come about?
An enormous amount of progress has been made in Liverpool, particularly within the City Centre and South Liverpool, over the past ten years. That progress has been guided by long term ambitious plans which highlighted opportunities, joined up activity and partners and got everyone working in the same direction. The SRF will do the same, over time, for North Liverpool and South Sefton.
This SRF was developed by Liverpool Vision, in partnership with Liverpool City Council, Sefton Council, Government Office North West and Homes and Communities Agency. The SRF stemmed from a request by the City Council’s North Liverpool Scrutiny Panel, who highlighted the need to co-ordinate current and future regeneration activity being carried out in the area.
The Panel acknowledged that, in this climate of reduced resources, in was paramount that regeneration be delivered in a cohesive and organised way, to maximise resources and ensure the area received the greatest possible value, and that all partners and agencies were working towards a unified goal and vision.
This vision and goal is one of a comprehensively regenerated area that can punch its weight and fulfil its potential, significantly adding value to the area and the city region's economy.
The North Liverpool and South Sefton SRF is a comprehensive document. How would you summarise the frameworks plans?
The SRF identifies that the area has significant development and investment opportunities which have been termed 'transformational projects'. Collectively, these projects have the potential to significantly change the fortunes of North Liverpool and South Sefton and for the city generally, developing and maximising the area’s great potential.
The SRF sets out how we will prioritise investment and activity to make the most of major opportunities and build on successes; it will influence, guide and stimulate activity in an integrated and co-ordinated way in order to maximise the investment returns.
How will these plans benefit the people of North Liverpool and South Sefton?
The SRF framework is comprehensive as it is considers economic, social and physical regeneration. By addressing these equally important aspects the areas will benefit from a much improved capacity to retain and encourage businesses. This will create more jobs, greater affluence and, in turn, secure an improved standard of living for its people.
What are the next steps?
£25.3M Regional Growth Fund assistance has been secured for the City Fringe Employment and Investment Programme. This programme encompasses the redevelopment of Stanley Dock, the Eldonian’s low carbon energy production proposals, alongside business support initiatives, associated land acquisitions and infrastructure works including super fast broadband provision. It will allow Liverpool Vision, the City Council and Sefton Council take forward a wealth of activity in a coordinated and integrated way.
To help promote the SRF area, in terms of its significance as an investment area, we are working with the local film production company, Hurricane Films, to produce a film that will highlight the wealth of transformational activities in the area, with a view to encouraging investment. The film should be ready in the New Year.
Tell me about the North Liverpool team. What are their areas of expertise?
I am part of a small strategic team at Liverpool Vision who have the responsibility of championing the SRF vision and principles. The team is headed up by Ian McCarthy, and is most amiably and ably assisted by the team co-ordinator, Mary Currell. I hold the role of North Liverpool Partnership Manager, together with my colleague, Richard Tracey, who is currently on secondment from the North West Development Agency but will be joining the team on a full time basis after Christmas.
Ian, Richard, and I are all town planners by profession. Collectively, we have a wealth of experience in both economic and physical regeneration. Richard has a particular specialism in green infrastructure, and my previous experience, and particular interest, has been in community-based economic development and regeneration, which is particularly pertinent given the Government’s current focus on localism and the right of communities to make decisions and plan their own areas. In addition, Ian is a qualified member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
During your time at Liverpool Vision you have worked on many regeneration initiatives. Are there any that stand out as particularly special?
I am currently involved in supporting the Eldonian Group with their aspirational plans to develop parts of North Liverpool as an ‘eco-hub’. This would see the area producing its own sustainable energy supply via local networks, to meet its own heat and power needs, including Liverpool Waters. This is a great project to work on as it directly addresses fuel poverty in the area.
Another project that I really enjoyed was the regeneration, and subsequent successful branding of the Cavern Quarter. At the time, the area around Mathew Street and what is now known as the Cavern Quarter, was reasonably neglected and wasn’t fully contributing to the area’s economy. My role involved working with many of the businesses in the cavern quarter, re-branding the area and raising aspirations. This significantly raised the profile of that area, enabling the Caver Quarter to become a well known visitor destination.
If you could have one wish for North Liverpool what would it be?
That the area continues to develop, surpassing its potential, and becomes an even greater place to be, whether you live, work or play there.
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Telephone: +44(0)151 600 2900
Email:
info@liverpoolvision.co.uk