Live Labs 2 blog – an update on the Liverpool City Council project
This month the Live Labs 2 project update comes from Andrew Mollon, Senior Responsible Officer for Liverpool’s Live Labs 2 project and Director of Sustainable Transport, Highways and Parking for Liverpool City Council.
Live Labs 2 Expo 2025
Liverpool was the destination for the Live Labs 2 project teams, Commissioning Board, thought leaders and innovators in March, with the second Live Labs 2 Expo providing an opportunity to showcase findings and discuss decarbonisation in action.
Our team had a busy start to 2025, preparing for the Expo and presenting at Interchange in Manchester. So, it was brilliant to take a moment to reconnect with all the projects in person and highlight Liverpool’s progress.
I was honoured to take part in the round table discussion at the Expo, sharing my passion for decarbonisation, exploring the next steps and discussing what we’ve been able to achieve in our city.
Liverpool – decarbonisation in action
Liverpool is making great strides towards the goal of net zero by 2030, effort that was recently recognised by the United Nations, with Liverpool being named as the world’s first Accelerator City.
2025 will also see decarbonisation themes run through a range of public and cultural events starting with Radio 1’s Big Weekend in May.
The Liverpool Live Labs team is also celebrating having made the Climate Champion’s Power List. This list is officially announced at the Unlock Net Zero event and recognises individuals making a positive impact on climate action within the UK housing and built environment sectors.
Transformative art
Art and highways don’t usually go (officially) hand in hand, but a key project commitment for our team was to engage the wider community and foster a stronger sense of place.
One example of this in practice is the recently commissioned Harmony installation, which was always intended as something that could spark conversations, encourage interaction and raise awareness about broader sustainability work.
Created by the artist collective Reskate, the public art piece uses Luminokrom, the same photoluminescent material trialled at Everton Park to replace traditional street lighting with road markings.
The paint glows in the dark after absorbing ambient light, without using any power supply or associated carbon emissions. The artwork created transforms between day and night, serving as both a visual statement and a sustainability showcase, and has already received a great deal of positive media coverage.
To measure its impact, our team have been tracking engagement metrics, and this data will help understand public interaction and shape future community engagement efforts.
Achievements so far
Reflecting on everything we’ve been able to achieve in the first two years of this project has been important for us as a team.
Across the project, several low carbon solutions have already been implemented, delivering reductions in environmental impact and improving road safety and infrastructure quality.
On Pinehurst Avenue, cold-applied MMA, a flexible and durable material for road markings has been introduced. This solution enhances visibility and longevity and delivers a 31% reduction in carbon emissions compared to traditional methods.
On Upper Pitt Street, Kiacrete, a permeable pavement surface, has been used to allow rainwater to naturally drain into the ground, reducing runoff and flood risk. This installation marks the first permanent Kiacrete site in the UK and was delivered in collaboration with Imperial College London. We expect it to achieve a 40% carbon saving over the next 40 years, and we will continue to monitor its effectiveness in the coming months.
Evotherm, a warm mix asphalt, has been used on Millersdale Road. An environmentally friendly alternative to traditional asphalt it will achieve a 20% carbon reduction resulting in a more durable, sustainable road surface.
The team implemented HALO on Alderwood Avenue, a low-temperature base and binder that includes recycled material—achieving an 8% carbon reduction on the scheme.
Furthermore, at Alderfield Drive, the team trialled low-carbon equipment, including an electric generator called Instagrid. This equipment reduced on-site emissions by 25.9 kgCO₂e per day while keeping the site running. We learned a lot about the complexities of inspiring behaviour change on this project. The contractor was both eager and hesitant, wanting to try the better option but keeping the conventional fuel generator on-site “just in case.”
Over the next month, Flowell LED panels will be installed at a zebra crossing near Belvedere Road to improve pedestrian visibility, particularly in low light. These panels are activated by thermal cameras that detect when a person is waiting to cross, conserving energy by operating only when needed.
Similarly, on Booker Avenue, two 20mph speed limit signs using Flowell technology were installed near a school to enhance safety in a high-risk area.
The team and I are looking forward to understanding the effectiveness of these new technologies and the evidence of road user behavioural change at these locations.
A Procurement Toolkit aimed at embedding low-carbon approaches across the entire procurement lifecycle has been developed by Bird and Bird in partnership with Liverpool City Council. It is designed to support public bodies in adopting innovative solutions and implementing innovative technologies into 'business as usual' practice.
In Year 3, this work will also expand to explore the role of circular recycling supply chains within the local Liverpool ecosystem.
Research is underway at Liverpool John Moores University to develop a low-heat, quick-cure cold mix pothole repair material, with support from Tarmac and Huyton Asphalt Civils. This new material will be tested against existing alternatives to evaluate its environmental and performance benefits.
The development of the Pell Frischman Configurator Tool for Highways Maintenance continues, with the team focused on exploring ways to reduce carbon emissions, improve road safety and enhance the overall quality of infrastructure.
The tool is aimed at small to medium-sized schemes, with the Princess Drive project serving as the first major test case. Scheduled for delivery in summer 2025, this scheme presents a challenge, with the opportunity to apply different solutions to various sections of the road which is comprised of varying materials including concrete and asphalt.
This variation enables the team to explore tailored solutions for different types of road construction, optimising both environmental performance and infrastructure durability. Initial analysis of Princess Drive has identified options that could reduce carbon emissions by 18%. However, the team is determined to push the boundaries further by exploring alternative solutions, such as ex-situ cold recycled materials with the highest recycled content, to achieve even greater carbon reductions.
Looking Ahead
As the Princess Drive site and other schemes continue to evolve, our team remains committed to scaling low-carbon solutions across highways maintenance.
Although Liverpool Live Labs was one of the last teams to mobilise, the strength and resilience of the partnerships we’ve forged with collaborating organisations have driven remarkable progress in a short time.
This powerful collaboration is proof of what can be achieved when innovation, shared goals, and determination come together.
Further information
- For more information on ADEPT Live Labs 2: Decarbonising Local Roads in the UK, please look at the Live Labs 2 section on the website
- Find more information about Liverpool City Council’s ‘Ecosystem of Things’ project here.
Author
Andrew Mollon is Director of Sustainable Transport, Highways and Parking for Liverpool City Council and Senior Responsible Officer for Liverpool’s Live Labs 2 project.
