Liverpool
History
• Started as a small fishing town in the 13th century.
• One of the UKs biggest ports by the 1800s as a result of slave trade and the
cotton industry.
• Suffered due to the deindustrialisation in the 1960s and 1970s.
• Massive out migration and environmental degradation in many poorer areas.
• Rioting in Toxteth in 1981 about the lack of job opportunities and poor housing;
at the time Liverpool was the 2nd most deprived city in the UK.
Early attempts of rebranding
• In 1981 Michael Hessltine set up the Merseyside Development Corporation (MDC) to
regenerate and improve the image.
• The MDC largely focussed on waterfront development such as the Albert Dock (top-
down strategy). This opened as a tourist destination in 1988, it included bars,
museums, a gallery, offices, restaurants and apartments (market-led, property
developers and business owners).
• The MDC was in operation until 1998 but came under a lot of criticism as it was
not fit for purpose, this caused 50,000 jobs to be lost between 1981 and 1991.
European Capital of Culture 2008
• Liverpool is known for its rich history of popular music, performance and visual
arts.
• Liverpool’s role of ECC 2008 generated over £800 million for the city in that
year alone, it is also estimated that over 15 million visitors were attracted to
the city.
• The centrepiece of the waterfront is Liverpool Arena (11,000 seater) which has
hosted many events.
• The Liverpool One shopping centre has been one of the biggest regeneration
projects as it dropped to the 17th most visited in 2002, after being the 3rd in the
1960s. The shopping centre cost over £1 billion.
The 21st century rebrand
• Since the MDC, regeneration has largely focussed on the culture (arts, music,
sport) with waterfront regeneration, city centre living and retailing.
• Regeneration led by Liverpool Vision, working with other stakeholders such as
Liverpool Cury Council and Barclay Wealth Management to attract £4 billion needed
for regeneration.
History
• Started as a small fishing town in the 13th century.
• One of the UKs biggest ports by the 1800s as a result of slave trade and the
cotton industry.
• Suffered due to the deindustrialisation in the 1960s and 1970s.
• Massive out migration and environmental degradation in many poorer areas.
• Rioting in Toxteth in 1981 about the lack of job opportunities and poor housing;
at the time Liverpool was the 2nd most deprived city in the UK.
Early attempts of rebranding
• In 1981 Michael Hessltine set up the Merseyside Development Corporation (MDC) to
regenerate and improve the image.
• The MDC largely focussed on waterfront development such as the Albert Dock (top-
down strategy). This opened as a tourist destination in 1988, it included bars,
museums, a gallery, offices, restaurants and apartments (market-led, property
developers and business owners).
• The MDC was in operation until 1998 but came under a lot of criticism as it was
not fit for purpose, this caused 50,000 jobs to be lost between 1981 and 1991.
European Capital of Culture 2008
• Liverpool is known for its rich history of popular music, performance and visual
arts.
• Liverpool’s role of ECC 2008 generated over £800 million for the city in that
year alone, it is also estimated that over 15 million visitors were attracted to
the city.
• The centrepiece of the waterfront is Liverpool Arena (11,000 seater) which has
hosted many events.
• The Liverpool One shopping centre has been one of the biggest regeneration
projects as it dropped to the 17th most visited in 2002, after being the 3rd in the
1960s. The shopping centre cost over £1 billion.
The 21st century rebrand
• Since the MDC, regeneration has largely focussed on the culture (arts, music,
sport) with waterfront regeneration, city centre living and retailing.
• Regeneration led by Liverpool Vision, working with other stakeholders such as
Liverpool Cury Council and Barclay Wealth Management to attract £4 billion needed
for regeneration.
