Michael Hestletine, the ex-Conservative deputy prime minister, has spoken about his joy in the ‘huge regeneration’ of Liverpool. Lord Hestletine was known as the ‘Minister for Merseyside’ in the 1980s after he took a personal interest in the regeneration of the city after the Toxteth riots in 1981, BBC News reports.
Liverpool has seen several billions of pounds of investment since the 1980s and has enjoyed a remarkable cultural and economic revival. Schemes such as the regeneration of Albert Dock, the Lime Street renovation, Liverpool One and the Liverpool Waters project have transformed many formerly neglected post-industrial areas into desirable places to be.
Lord Hestletine told the BBC: “In 1980 there were a thousand beds in hotels, today there are nine thousand beds in hotels and that tells you all you need to know, that there’s been a huge regeneration.”
He added: “You just need to look around, it brings tears to my eyes. The city is on a springboard, it’s not a static phenomenon. This city is going places and it’s very exciting to see”.
“When I was here in 1980, I looked out at the river and it was an open sewer, I said to myself, ‘what have they done to you, you are the lifeblood of this city. Very shortly afterwards I announced the plan to clean up the Mersey and there are fish in that river now.”
The successful regeneration of Liverpool means that it is now a very attractive place for investors. One of the flagship schemes is known as the Knowledge Quarter Gateway (KQG), which aims to create a word-leading innovation district in the city. There are particular strengths in materials chemistry, infection, and high performance and cognitive computing.
Investment is ongoing to improve connectivity between centres of innovation and academic and cultural institutions within the city. Just 20 years ago, Liverpool was overshadowed by Manchester, but now it is seeking to bring its economic status closer to that of the southeast and London.
There have been suggestions by some people that Liverpool and Manchester should combine to form a ‘supercity’ that can compete with London. When asked about this idea, Lord Hestletine said:
“Pull the other one. They are two great, thriving cities and let them compete. It’s very good having one trying to outdo the other it will improve local circumstances, that’s exactly the dynamism that made this place.”
Liverpool has several world leading facilities, including the Liverpool Science Park, the Materials Innovation Factory, the Digital Innovation Factory and Sensor City. It also has three major universities and a School of Tropical Medicine. Besides this, it has a thriving creative and performing arts scene.
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