Cabinet set to consider contractor for park-to-park cycle corridor
A plan to create a segregated cycle connection between Princes Park and Sefton Park is expected to move forward this week, with Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet asked to appoint a contractor to design and build the scheme. The project, valued at £3.68 million, would form the first section of a wider active travel network extending more than 4km between Sefton Park and Liverpool city centre.
The proposed corridor would run for almost 1km from the Princes Avenue junction, pass through Princes Park and terminate at Sefton Park. Alongside the cycling infrastructure, the council is proposing upgrades to pedestrian crossings at three busy junctions to improve safety and access, particularly for journeys to nearby parks and schools.
Scope, aims and local relevance
The scheme sits within the authority’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, adopted in 2024, which supports its Net Zero 2030 goal by encouraging more journeys by walking, cycling and wheeling. For residents from across Sefton travelling into Liverpool’s south end, the changes are likely to be most felt on approaches to Sefton Park, a destination popular for leisure and major events, with an emphasis on safer links at junctions where conflict between road users can be most acute.
- Dedicated, segregated space for people on bikes between two major green spaces
- Upgraded pedestrian crossings at three locations to improve accessibility
- Integration with future routes towards the city centre, expanding options for car-free trips
What will change on the ground
Initial concept work was completed and shared publicly at the end of 2024. According to the council, more than 80% of respondents expressed support, and that feedback has informed refinements to the design now moving to the next phase. Subject to Cabinet approval, detailed design would begin in the autumn, with construction planned to start in late 2027. Further engagement is promised before shovels hit the ground, allowing residents, businesses and park users to review the final proposals.
Funding for design and construction would be supported in part by Active Travel England. The council has presented the corridor as a priority for delivering safer, continuous routes that connect neighbourhoods to parks and schools, and ultimately the city centre, without relying on cars.
Timeline, cost and length
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Estimated cost | £3.68m |
| Length of corridor | Almost 1km |
| Wider network ambition | More than 4km between Sefton Park and the city centre |
| Design phase | Due to start autumn (subject to approval) |
| Construction start | Late 2027 (expected) |
Council’s position
“We want people to have a choice in how they get around Liverpool. Improving routes for people who walk, wheel and cycle is an important part of that, helping to create safer, more accessible connections while encouraging more sustainable ways to travel. This investment will benefit local communities, improve access to some of our best-loved green spaces and support our wider ambitions for a healthier city.”
That statement from the Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity underscores the council’s rationale: shifting short local journeys to active modes and reducing risks at complex junctions. The focus on the parks corridor suggests priority is being given to areas with high footfall, leisure trips and family travel.
Why it matters for Sefton
Sefton Park draws substantial numbers from across the Liverpool City Region, including families and club riders from Sefton. A continuous, protected link between Princes Park and Sefton Park, combined with safer pedestrian crossings, can make those journeys more reliable and less stressful, particularly at peak times and during events. The scheme also ties into a broader programme intended to connect Sefton Park to the city centre, potentially offering a future low-traffic alternative for cross-city trips that many Sefton residents undertake for work, study or leisure.
Residents will have another opportunity to comment once the detailed drawings are produced. The Cabinet decision on appointing a contractor will determine whether the project progresses to that next stage this autumn, keeping the timeline on course for a construction start in late 2027.
