I’m Chris, one of the surveyors on the Board of the Fabric District CIC, where I contribute my experience in property development and urban regeneration.
I first got involved in this area during the 1980s, when it was known as Islington or ‘the London Road area’. Having seen the neighbourhood over several decades, it’s been good to be able to take a longer view of what’s happening today. Here are a few of my thoughts about the past, present and future of what is now very much the Fabric District.
The twentieth-century decline and the impact of the Second World War left many areas just outside the city core in a run-down state. Historic districts like London Road, Ropewalks, Baltic, North and South Docks all needed urgent help and, over the last 30 years or so, most have seen a major recovery. The Fabric District, however, lagged behind. That’s one of the reasons why the CIC was formed: to draw attention to the area and to form a plan that would bring renewed focus and investment.
The Board of the CIC is a group of volunteers determined to turn things around. With help from a wider network of volunteers, we have teams that focus on several key areas:
- Physical & green regeneration – encouraging sympathetic development of underused land and buildings
- Economic regeneration – representing the best interests of our business & residential communities
- Social & Cultural regeneration – running or promoting local events, working with our creative community
- Marketing & PR – raising the profile of the area and drawing attention to what’s happening here
We’ve enjoyed some recent success. The Sunday Times named the Fabric District the second best place to live in the UK for the under 35s and, last year, the fifth best place to invest in the UK.
Alongside this recognition, there have also been some more down-to-earth, but important successes where we’ve had considerable influence. These include the listing of the Clocktower Building on London Road and the recently announced funding for improvements to Monument Place and London Road.
Why Fabric District Liverpool Is Experiencing Major Regeneration
The City Council now consults us on all Fabric District planning applications, and we aim to act as a bridge for our local community to the Council, as well as the Liverpool City Region. This gives us access to the people designing and promoting schemes in the Fabric District, including highway projects, cycle routes, public realm improvements, development proposals, and wider economic, cultural or social initiatives.
In my view, the Fabric District is in a much better position compared to the ‘bad old days’ when we were largely forgotten and overlooked. However, we’re not as healthy as we should be, and there’s still a long way to go.
Our relationship with both the business and residential community is therefore really important. We work hard to improve communication, representation and the sharing of information so that people feel involved in the area’s future.
Looking ahead, it’s worth mentioning the recently published draft Local Plan and our engagement with the City Council around it. The draft includes a number of proposals designed to recognise, protect and encourage investment in what makes the Fabric District distinctive. In particular, we welcome:
- The recognition (for the first time) of the Fabric District as a distinct city centre ‘character area’
- The need to protect existing businesses and to retain active street frontages
- The need to retain a mix of residential types and to limit student housing blocks to ensure the area doesn’t become a ‘student ghetto’
- Recognition of the importance of connectivity, not just to the city centre and to transport hubs, but also to our neighbouring districts, such as West Everton
The Fabric District’s story has always been one of change and renewal — and with the right vision, its best chapter is still to come.
