Pro-Vice Chancellor, Liverpool John Moores University joins Future Cities Forum

Iimage: courtesy of Liverpool John Moores University

Future Cities Forum is delighted that Dr Aileen Jones, who is Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Engagement and Partnerships at Liverpool John Moores University, will be contributing to its 'Student Cities' discussion event. She is responsible for the strategic leadership of LJMU’s partnerships within the UK and internationally and the university’s external engagement work.

Aileen was previously Executive Director of Investment and Delivery at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority since 2021, leading the Combined Authority’s investment work to maximise economic impact in the Region. In that role she led a team of over 220 staff and developed the strategic vision for the economic development of the City Region and investment of devolved funding. She also led the delivery of business support and the city region’s inward investment function, and complex devolved programmes with a focus on people and skills, apprenticeships and homelessness.

Before that, she was Deputy Director of the Heseltine Institute at the University of Liverpool and previously Head of UK Public Policy for HSBC in London, following 15 years working in a range of public policy roles.

She has spilt her career between the public and private sectors, including three years in Parliament as a Committee Specialist, leading Select Committee inquiries on a wide range of issues in Northern Ireland including public service reform, community relations, and criminal justice. She has a PhD in public policy from University of Ulster and publications in place, spatial strategies and regeneration. Aileen was born and grew up in Northern Ireland.

IM Marsh and Liverpool John Moores University

The university vacated the site a number of years ago with no teaching or other student-facing activity at IM Marsh since 2020.  The site has been secured throughout that time and LJMU has been actively engaged with the neighbourhood to keep local residents updated and informed.

The university’s estates strategy has focused on bringing all activities into the city centre to work more efficiently and sustainably. Over recent years, students have increasingly opted for city-based teaching and living accommodation.

With a student population of more than 27,000, LJMU has focused on investing in high quality campus facilities in both the city centre and around the Mount Pleasant area, including the development of the former Copperas Hill site which now features the award-winning Student Life Building and sports facilities.

The release of the IM Marsh site will allow LJMU to invest further in developing student-facing services, specialist facilities and the continued maintenance of an extensive campus portfolio in the city centre.

The property offers a rare development opportunity of significant scale in this highly sought after South Liverpool suburb.  CBRE are seeking offers for the property by no later than 28 May and will consider proposals on either an unconditional or subject to planning basis.

All offers received for the site would be considered in line with statutory guidance. This includes a legal requirement that any interested party wishing to change the use of the sports pitches would need to consult Sport England. 

Following the sale, any planning applications would be subject to public consultation and considered by Liverpool City Council’s Planning Committee.