Today, nearly a quarter of Merseyside's residents are too young to remember Liverpool's city centre before Liverpool ONE. Many of these young people have socialised, shopped, or worked in this iconic destination without fully grasping its profound impact on Liverpool's incredible revitalisation.

In the late '90s, Liverpool was at a turning point and set for extraordinary change with the council's drive for regeneration, the selection of Grosvenor as the development partner and its subsequent contribution to Liverpool's significant resurgence. We undertook the design of the city's first substantial regeneration programme in years. To the south, in Speke, considerable improvements to a major arrival route were made, while in the city centre, BDP was shaping the Ropewalks regeneration initiative. Then, the Paradise Street Development Area competition was launched, which would eventually become Liverpool ONE.

The challenge was immense. BDP masterplanned a 42-acre area of Liverpool, creating a mixed-use development of new and refurbished buildings, streets, and spaces. Our landscape and lighting experts played a pivotal role in creating a design strategy that seamlessly connected different elements of the masterplan, guiding people through previously unconnected areas of the city. Our collaboration with construction giants Laing O'Rourke and Balfour Beatty was crucial in bringing this vision to life.

In a collaborative and freeform manner typical of BDP, our work on the masterplan allowed various architects to design individual buildings while fostering creativity and coordination through workshops and extensive consultations with key stakeholders. As a result, the design was free of boundaries – a design for new, distinct city quarters, led by socialist principles for a city so well known for its creativity, activism and culture.

The result is a harmonious blend of different 'voices' in tune with the urban fabric that has evolved over the years. Liverpool’s rich heritage, with its historical precedents and street patterns, greatly influenced the layout of Liverpool One, and it has revolutionised how people navigate the city, today.

One of the core aspects guiding our approach was the preservation of Liverpool's rich culture. Sightlines to iconic landmarks such as the Liver Building, Albert Dock, and the Anglican Cathedral were carefully safeguarded. These sightlines serve as threads that tie the city's past to its present, creating a unique sense of place in a rapidly evolving urban environment.

Since 2008, Liverpool ONE has welcomed 390 million visitors, generating £4.1 billion in economic activity. This urban regeneration project has created 4,700 jobs, boosting the local economy by 24%. Beyond numbers, it has fostered a sense of community and pride in the city through events, charitable initiatives, and support for local youth.

Liverpool ONE stands as a testament to the enduring power of creating spaces that reflect the unique character of a city. Like all great cities, Liverpool continues to evolve and change, and most locals would agree that Liverpool ONE has given it a new heart. This iconic development is a beacon of hope, reminding us that with vision, commitment, and creativity, we can breathe new life into our cities and pave the way for a brighter future.