FAQs

Paddington Village is part of a £1bn expansion to Knowledge Quarter (KQ) Liverpool, a 450-acre innovation district across the city. KQ Liverpool combines universities and colleges, hospitals, businesses and tech organisations to help drive innovation and growth across the city.

Paddington South is the next phase to come forward in the Paddington Village development. The project aims to deliver mixed-use research and innovation, commercial and education facilities, centred around high-quality public realm:

• World-class materials chemistry and chemical sciences facilities
• State-of-the-art research and translation spaces and an innovation incubator for academic/industry collaboration
• Mixed-use community spaces within a modern and accessible public realm
• Improved biodiversity, including retained trees and green assets
• Strong connections to University of Liverpool campus and the wider area
• An integrated active travel network, prioritising walking, wheeling and cycling

Liverpool City Council are working in partnership with the University of Liverpool to deliver the masterplan for Paddington Village South, in conjunction with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and project partners.

Paddington South is being funded through a mixture of local, regional and government funding, alongside University and private investment.

The masterplan brings together our collective vision and priorities for Paddington South. It acts as the guiding framework for the site and ensures plans are developed in a thoughtful, coordinated way. The masterplan therefore enables the community to understand and feedback on key elements of the proposals as they progress.

A public consultation on the emerging masterplan will begin on Monday 23rd February 2026 and end at midnight on Sunday 22nd March 2026. During this period, the project team will gather and review feedback to help shape the proposals and finalise the masterplan.

While this consultation is not linked to a planning application specifically, applications will be required for individual development plots as they come forward over time.

Following the demolition of the former Smithdown Lane Police Station in 2025 and further site enabling works, we’ll aim to start work on phase one towards the end of 2027, subject to planning approval.

As a long-term masterplan, a phased delivery approach will be adopted and we are anticipating phase one to complete within 5-years, including a targeted 2031 opening for the new Chemical Sciences Building. The remaining development plots are expected to come forward over at least the next 10 years.

Land ownership across the site is shared between Liverpool City Council and the University of Liverpool, who are working in partnership to deliver the ambitious masterplan for Paddington South.

The masterplan proposes to create development opportunities for chemistry innovation and chemical sciences education - alongside mixed-use community facilities. These will be delivered across two initial phases and comprise five development plots, transforming the eastern section of the site into:

• Two world-class chemistry facilities for the University of Liverpool
• Two commercial laboratories and workshops
• Vibrant community spaces, with the potential for a pavilion to offer both community and commercial purposes

As part of the masterplan for Paddington South, future development opportunities include residential provision and additional education or commercial facilities to the north of the site, alongside improvements to the University’s existing chemistry buildings, adjacent to Grove Street.

The development proposals also illustrate indicative cycle and walking routes across the site, which will connect to and benefit from a broader programme to improve Liverpool’s cycling and walking infrastructure. This will come forward separately in a future consultation.

Aligning to the city’s Public Realm Strategy, the masterplan will maximise the retention of greenspace and existing trees where possible. Not only will this support natural habitats to thrive in the area, but continue being a space for people to visit, dwell, enjoy and engage in.

Enhancements in the form of accessible landscaping and tree-lined pathways will create clear and direct routes through the space, benefitting from efficient lighting and wayfinding.

Importantly, these spaces will be carefully maintained, ensuring they remain a defining and valued part of Paddington South for the long term.

No – the site is not designated as green belt as it sits within the existing urban area and is allocated for development. The Public Realm Strategy, adopted by the Council in 2022, will safeguard the community green space as part of a co-ordinated approach to open spaces across the city.

Some University-owned buildings currently exist on the site, including the veterinary practice, the former Oxford Pub which closed its doors back in 2007, and a building which is currently leased to Kids in Bloom nurseries.

As part of the broader programme to improve Liverpool’s cycling and walking infrastructure, the plans see the former Oxford Pub and current nursery building being demolished by late 2028. Options are being pursued by the University in partnership with Kids in Bloom for the relocation of the childcare facilities close to our campus to help ensure continuous provision for parents who use it. This includes University staff, but also the wider community who value the high-quality provision and location close to the city.

It is envisaged that the veterinary practice will continue to operate normally for the next 5-10 years as the proposed development to the north of the site is earmarked as a long-term opportunity.

Pedestrian access into the site will be provided through seven key gateways, comprising improved access at three locations on Smithdown Lane, alongside two entry points on Oxford Street and Grove Street respectively.

Cycle lanes into and through the site will be accessed from Oxford Street, Oxford Street East and Grove Street, including a new ‘super crossing’ to re-establish Crown Street as a gateway into the University campus and beyond.

Any planning applications that come forward will need to be accompanied by a transport assessment which will address these concerns.

Additionally, the programme to deliver active travel improvements across the city will require a separate consultation process and associated transport assessments.

Development at Paddington South may require temporary road closures, however we anticipate minimal impact on access to the University or surrounding amenities. As the design develops, we’ll gain a clearer understanding of construction arrangements, which we will share with the community in a timely manner to ensure everyone is informed.

A public consultation on the emerging plans for Paddington South will be open from Monday 23rd February 2026 and close at midnight on Sunday 22nd March 2026.

Our public consultation will invite feedback from residents, businesses, stakeholders, University staff and students, and other interested parties on our emerging plans for Paddington Village South. To feedback to the team, you can...

Attend our public drop-in event:

• The Spine Building – Ground Floor, next to the Spanish Steps
• Thursday 5th March 2026 - 2pm to 7pm

Get in touch online:

• Share your thoughts by email to: paddingtonvs@social.co.uk
• Complete our online feedback form at: www.paddingtonvillagesouth.co.uk

Send your comments by post to:

• ‘Paddington South Consultation’
• Social, Huckletree, The Express Building, 9 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, M4 5AD

Please make sure that all responses are received no later than midnight on Sunday 22nd March 2026, which is when the consultation will close.

For more information on the emerging masterplan and how to share your feedback, visit our dedicated project website: www.paddingtonvillagesouth.co.uk