Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has approved a £96m funding package to build the Liverpool Baltic station.

The decision paves the away for a planning application to be submitted to Liverpool City Council in October.

Pending approvals from the Department for Transport, construction will begin next year, with mayor Steve Rotheram pledging to have the station open by 2027.

The investment will fund the new station, alongside improvements to active travel and surrounding public spaces, following significant support from a recent public consultation.

The Liverpool Baltic station is set to be located on Merseyrail’s Northern Line.

Plans for Liverpool Baltic include step-free access from the street to the train, passenger waiting facilities, accessible toilets, secure cycle parking and improved links to the area’s walking and cycling networks.

Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “I’ve always said that a world-class transport network is key to unlocking the full potential of our region – and that’s exactly what we’re building.

“This new station at Liverpool Baltic is just another step on the journey towards making our Merseyrail system bigger, better, and more accessible for everyone.

“People here are passionate about their communities, and I’m really proud to see the overwhelming support this project has seen, which reflects just how much of a difference it’s going to make.

“It’s about more than just getting from A to B – it’s about connecting people with jobs, education, and each other while cutting down on car journeys to help us hit our net-zero targets.

“We’re investing nearly £100 into a station that’s going to change the face of one of the coolest, most vibrant areas in the country – and we’re not stopping there.”

The mayor also has plans for three more new stations in Daresbury, Woodchurch and Carr Mill - with work on all three set to begin by the end of this decade.

The development builds on the success of the £80m Headbolt Lane station, which opened last year in Kirkby.

The £96m required for the station will come from the £710m City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), dedicated to major transport projects across the city region.

Alongside this, funding for various active travel schemes was also approved at this month’s Combined Authority meeting.