A city council member has told the ECHO how the authority will aim to protect Liverpool's world-famous skyline in 2023 and shared her thoughts on other policies, as well as reservations about the government's Levelling Up initiative.
Sarah Doyle is Liverpool City Council's cabinet member for development and housing. She told the ECHO that among a number of policies being brought forward in 2023 is a "tall buildings policy".
She said the issues has been a "point of contention for many years", especially when Liverpool was stripped of its UNESCO World Heritage status in 2021.
She told The ECHO: "I think the policy is really exciting and I don't know many other cities that have it.
"It's how we protect Liverpool's skyline."
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There will also be a community housing policy brought forward, as well as identifying land across the city that could be used for community led housing.
She added: "We are doing it in tranches.
"In January, there will be five sites ready to go as part of a three-year programme."
The New Year will also put placemaking and environmental sustainability in the spotlight, according to Sarah, as well as Stonebridge Cross, a site in north Liverpool earmarked for more than 1,000 homes .
She said: "We really want to see that site unlocked, it's a lot of housing potential."
Sarah shared her reservations about Levelling Up, which the government describes as a "moral, social and economic programme". Its second fund closed in the summer, with areas across the Liverpool City Region hoping for a portion of the £4.8bn pot.
Sarah said: "Personally, I'm not optimistic about Levelling Up. I don't know what's going to happen with it; the government is still very unstable. I would prefer they fund us properly so we can do quality regeneration across the city.
"In autumn, the combined authority spoke to us and said the government had asked if we wanted to make a bid for investment zones.
"We got together and looked at what it meant, but we were concerned it was more of a tax incentive.
"We sent a letter saying we're hopeful about the lifespan of investment zones, but we'd prefer them to be properly funded - we want the whole of Liverpool to have the uplift that it needs."
In September, Mayor Joanne Anderson also branded Levelling Up as "nonsense" .
Sarah said the Levelling Up bid is "only one part" of the work the council are doing. She added: "We're advancing a lot of other policy areas. We also have Kings Dock progressing; that really for me is a sign of how we're doing redevelopment and design in the city.
"I'm really passionate that any land the council does have, we try to develop in line with our values."
One change she'd also like to see in 2023 is how the council engages with residents and stakeholders on planning.
She said: "It's all about how we change and improve.
"I would hope our residents feel more listened to and connected to the regeneration happening around them. One complaint I always hear that there are big schemes happening and people don't know how it will benefit them.
"Regeneration should be community led in evert sense. Even if it's a private scheme you can engage with residents."
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