Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has warmly welcomed new legislative progress in Parliament that brings the region closer to introducing a modest overnight visitor levy. Under the Visitor Levy Bill recently introduced in the House of Commons, regional mayors will gain devolved fiscal powers to apply a small percentage charge on commercial hotel and short-stay accommodation bookings. Rotheram, who has publicly pledged that any local charge would be capped at no more than five percent, estimates that the measure could generate up to £18 million every year. Crucially, all revenue raised would remain directly within the Liverpool City Region to fund essential high-street improvements, major cultural festivals, public parks, international destination marketing, and enhanced visitor infrastructure. To protect budget-conscious travellers and visiting families, the charge will be calculated as a fair percentage of the room rate rather than a flat fee, while student accommodation and residential care facilities will be entirely exempt. With the regional visitor economy currently valued at more than £6.8 billion and supporting over 55,000 local jobs, city leaders argue that the levy will ensure sustainable reinvestment into the cultural assets that attract millions of tourists annually.
Liverpool Fashion Week is actively pursuing multi-million-pound private investment to transform the established regional showcase into a major international fashion, media, and commercial platform. Following a highly successful run that saw its opening night completely sell out and generate more than half a million social media views within just two days, founder Amanda Moss stated that the event has outgrown independent funding. Having spent more than 15 years building strong regional industry relationships and providing a vital launchpad for emerging British designers, Moss is now targeting strategic partnerships with global luxury brands, corporate sponsors, and venture capital investors. The ambitious expansion blueprint aims to elevate Liverpool onto the international fashion calendar alongside major European style capitals, creating a sustainable year-round commercial asset rather than a single annual showcase. Organisers firmly believe that securing a substantial capital injection will drive significant economic benefits for the wider Liverpool City Region, boosting local hotel occupancy, supporting independent retail, and generating valuable new employment opportunities across creative and digital production sectors. Formal discussions are currently underway with prospective backers who recognise the commercial potential of Liverpool’s strong cultural identity and rapidly growing creative economy.
Peel Waters has announced significant construction milestones on its £81.1 million Central Docks infrastructure programme, marking exactly one year since breaking ground on the landmark waterfront regeneration scheme. Situated directly adjacent to Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium, the complex engineering project is being delivered by contractor Graham to prepare the vital foundations for the largest of the five distinct neighbourhoods within the broader £5.5 billion Liverpool Waters masterplan. Spanning 26 acres along the northern docklands, Central Docks is designed to transform underused post-industrial land into a vibrant mixed-use waterfront destination featuring thousands of new homes, modern commercial workspaces, independent retail outlets, and extensive public green spaces. Recent civil engineering works have focused on essential underground utilities, road networks, drainage systems, and public realm improvements required to unlock private-sector development plots across the site. Regional business leaders view the steady progress at Central Docks as a crucial catalyst for attracting long-term institutional investment into Liverpool’s northern corridor. Once fully realised, the wider Liverpool Waters scheme is projected to create thousands of sustainable jobs, boost local supply chains, and physically reconnect the bustling city centre with its historic maritime waterfront.
Emergency services evacuated multiple buildings in Liverpool city centre after a car crashed into a popular restaurant and ruptured a gas pipe. The collision occurred at around 10:15 am when a Peugeot vehicle ploughed into the front of the Tiger Rock Restaurant on North John Street. Three people who were inside the premises at the time sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene by paramedics. Merseyside Police confirmed that the driver remained at the location following the impact and that there is no indication the crash was a deliberate act. Because the collision damaged a gas main, firefighters and police swiftly set up a safety cordon, closed surrounding roads including North John Street and Victoria Street, and evacuated neighbouring businesses and flats as a precaution. Specialist gas engineers were deployed to isolate the supply and repair the ruptured pipe before the area could be declared safe. Commuters and shoppers were advised to avoid the vicinity for several hours while structural assessments and clean-up operations took place. Roads were eventually reopened later in the afternoon once engineers confirmed the leak was completely contained.
Independent local vendors in Liverpool are demanding changes after claiming they have been priced out of the city's annual Christmas market by pitch fees reaching up to £12,000. A group of traders recently met with Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson to voice their frustration over the steep charges imposed by the market's new operator, Underbelly. Long-time participant Anthony Grice, who runs the popular Scouse Bird Gifts brand, stated that the skyrocketing costs make it impossible for small regional businesses to afford a stall at the St George's Plateau event. He warned that the pricing structure threatens to strip the festive attraction of its authentic local character in favour of larger commercial chains. During the meeting, Councillor Robinson acknowledged that the local authority was aware of the new operator's pricing model when awarding the contract. However, he committed to reviewing how future arrangements can better support independent Merseyside merchants. Underbelly defended its pricing strategy, explaining that fees vary depending on stall size and product category, and stated that the overall investment funds upgraded festive infrastructure, entertainment, and marketing designed to drive heavy footfall for all participating vendors.
A brand-new £2.5 million outdoor sauna and wellness sanctuary has officially opened its doors in North Liverpool following an extensive regeneration project. Co-founded by Irish businessman Shane Hanley alongside regeneration firm Seven Group, The Urban Sauna is situated on Cherry Lane in Anfield as part of a wider 24,000-square-foot wellness and commercial hub. Built on a previously neglected plot of land surrounded by trees and greenery, the tranquil facility is designed to bring a spacious garden spa experience directly into a city setting. Visitors can enjoy two bespoke Scandinavian-style, wood-fired saunas capable of holding up to 16 people each, alongside two 10-person hot tubs and dedicated cold-water therapy amenities. The cold plunge options include an eight-degree Celsius pool as well as two individual ice baths maintained at five degrees and three degrees Celsius. Guests also have access to outdoor showers, modern changing rooms, warm ambient lighting, and a covered pergola featuring seating arranged around log-burning fire pits for relaxation between sessions. Organisers hope the unique open-air venue will attract health-conscious locals and visitors while breathing new commercial life into the Anfield neighbourhood.
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Rob Carden has criticised a popular BBC television crime drama set in Liverpool, stating that the show glamourises drugs and portrays criminal activity as profitable. Speaking immediately after a massive police crackdown across the region, Carden acknowledged that while the series highlights the violence and misery associated with organised crime, it also sends a damaging message about the lucrative nature of the illegal drug trade. His comments echoed earlier remarks from Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, who expressed disappointment that screenwriters continue to focus on organised crime rather than the warmth of Liverpool's communities. The police chief's warning coincided with the fourth wave of Operation Vanguard, a major enforcement sweep involving more than 220 officers executing 23 early-morning search warrants across Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, Knowsley, and St Helens. During the coordinated raids, which included dawn entries in areas such as Tuebrook, officers arrested 26 people and seized half a kilogram of cocaine, £24,000 in cash, and two Rolex watches. Carden emphasised that Merseyside Police remains determined to keep pace with innovative criminals and relentlessly pursue those who bring fear and harm to local neighbourhoods.
Commuters in Liverpool faced severe travel disruption on Friday evening after a serious collision involving a lorry and three other vehicles forced the closure of a major arterial route. The crash occurred just before 5:20 pm on the eastbound carriageway of the East Lancashire Road in the Gilmoss area, specifically at the busy junction of Portal Way and Willow Way heading toward the M57 and St Helens. Emergency services rushed to the scene, and Merseyside Police halted all eastbound traffic while paramedics assessed those involved and recovery teams worked to clear the damaged vehicles and debris from the carriageway. Drivers were strongly urged to avoid the area and seek alternative routes as heavy congestion built up across surrounding roads during the peak evening rush hour. Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the four-vehicle pile-up and are appealing to the public for assistance. Officers are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or who may have captured relevant dashcam footage while travelling along the East Lancashire Road around the time of the crash to contact the Merseyside Police Contact Centre quoting reference number 26000931960.
Plans to transform a redundant city-centre site in Liverpool into a major residential scheme have moved forward following the completion of a key legal agreement. Developer Packaged Living, working alongside Affinius Capital, has concluded a Section 106 planning agreement with Liverpool City Council for the proposed redevelopment at the junction of Old Hall Street and Leeds Street. This milestone advances the project beyond the planning committee approval it originally secured in November 2025, paving the way for formal permission to be issued. The scheme involves demolishing the former Littlewoods computer centre to construct two modern build-to-rent residential towers. According to project details, the development will deliver 434 professionally managed private rented apartments across the two high-rise buildings, with the taller tower reaching 25 storeys and the secondary tower standing at either 18 or 19 storeys. Forming a substantial part of Liverpool’s northern city-centre regeneration pipeline, the project aims to boost housing supply and revitalize the commercial district. Finalising the Section 106 agreement settles developer contributions and local infrastructure obligations, marking a crucial administrative step before construction crews can eventually break ground on the site.
A widespread Microsoft outage has caused significant operational disruption across Liverpool and the wider north-west of England, impacting local government, healthcare, and emergency communication channels. The technical fault, which began on Thursday and was attributed by Microsoft to higher-than-usual stress on its servers, affected key platforms including Outlook, Teams, and Copilot. Liverpool City Council confirmed that its officers were unable to respond to emails and warned residents that other municipal services could experience delays while engineers worked to restore normal connectivity. Merseyside Police also reported issues with their online reporting forms and live chat services, advising members of the public to call 101 for time-critical non-emergency matters. Local healthcare was similarly strained, as the outage limited the ability of pharmacies across Merseyside to communicate with GP practices, prompting the UK National Pharmacy Association to warn patients of longer waits for prescriptions. House buyers facing Friday completion dates also expressed concern over delayed legal communications. However, Liverpool John Lennon Airport confirmed that its operational systems remained completely unaffected, maintaining business as usual for passengers despite the regional tech troubles.
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