Liverpool City Council has created a £1.4bn five year recovery plan aiming to help recover the nation’s economy post-Covid and post-Brexit, two moments in time that will continue to have a massive impact on the country for years to come.

The 178-page report submitted to the Prime Minister and Chancellor outlines a multi-faceted programme highlighting how the city can tackle and prevent a socio-economic crisis in the future and outlining opportunities in the face of economic uncertainty.

The plan proposes to deliver 25,000 new jobs across the city, a further 12,000 construction jobs and more than 9,700 apprenticeships, in a bid to strengthen the city’s financial position,  and underline its strategic role as a global gateway in post-Brexit Britain.

Commissioned by the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, and co-signed by the Metro Mayor, Steven Rotheram, The Liverpool Economic Recovery Plan (LERP) recognises four key themes – innovation, housing, employment and creativity – as integral to the city’s growth. More than 25 ‘shovel-ready’ projects are also identified as those that can begin before the end of 2020, including a new cruise terminal, a major housing development next to the International Garden Festival site, the next phase of the city’s health innovation campus at Paddington Village, as well as a Science and Tech Innovation Centre as part of the Liverpool John Moores University development at Copperas Hill in the city’s Knowledge Quarter.

Our MD, Sean Keyes, comments on how instrumental the construction sector will be in rebuilding the future’s economy:

“I remain buoyant about the construction sector – it will be this sector that is instrumental in getting the UK and city region economy back motoring again – and it is encouraging to see our city region leaders getting behind us in such unprecedented times. This report is absolutely essential – particularly the plans to create 12,000 construction roles and more than 9,700 apprenticeships – we must continue to invest in our youth as it is they who will drive the city region forward.

“Liverpool has been riding the crest of a wave in recent years and we must be bold in our endeavours to continue that momentum and to lead from the front by building back bigger, better, and greener. If this pandemic has taught us anything it is how we all need to better look after our planet and food chain.

“In terms of spending to counter the impact of the pandemic, the UK has spent 100% of its annual GDP – this is far lower than some other countries, so there is money to be spent. To do nothing would be imprudent. We have to act now to speed up the country’s recovery.”