Liverpool Safe Spaces Program for Outdoor Dining

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Old Hall Street, Liverpool

Townscape partnered with Aecom and Liverpool City Council to deliver HVM protection for Castle Street, enabling outdoor dining whilst maintaining pedestrian safety.

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As part of a wider Government initiative to support the reopening of streets and town centres, Liverpool City Council embarked on an ambitious safe spaces scheme. Working with design consultancy Aecom, the council wanted to enable bars and restaurants to safely extend onto pavements, particularly along Castle Street and other key areas of the city. The goal was straightforward but challenging: create outdoor hospitality spaces that felt welcoming to customers whilst genuinely protecting people from hostile vehicle threats.

We supplied a range of PAS 68 certified products including street planters, street furniture, and concrete bollards, all custom-finished to meet the design requirements that Aecom's architects had specified. The solution used a mix of street furniture and landscaping elements to create a coherent safe spaces scheme across Castle Street. Every element was chosen not just for its HVM capability but for how it contributed to the overall aesthetic and functionality of the streetscape.

The completed scheme demonstrates how proper HVM planning allows towns and cities to open up public spaces confidently. People now gather in Castle Street for food and drink knowing they're protected, without that protection dominating the scene. The project shows councils and hospitality businesses that with the right design approach, hostile vehicle mitigation and vibrant public spaces aren't at odds, they can enhance each other.

As more Government funding flows toward town centre recovery, this scheme provides a practical template for balancing safety with the welcoming character that makes town centres worth visiting.