A report of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England published in November 1978 set out proposals for changes to the wards of Liverpool City Council, maintaining the number of councillors at 99 representing 33 wards.

[1] The report describes the boundaries of Old Swan ward as "Commencing at a point where the southeastern boundary of Tuebrook Ward meets the southwestern boundary of Croxteth Ward, thence southeastwards along said southwestern boundary and southwards and southwestwards along the western boundary of Broad Green Ward and continuing southwards along Mill Lane to the Edge Hill to Huyton railway line, thence westwards along said railway to Rathbone Road, thence northeastwards along said road to Pighue Lane, thence generally northwestwards along said lane to the railway at Olive Mount Curve, thence northwestwards along said railway to the southeastern boundary of Tuebrook Ward, thence northwestwards and northeastwards along said boundary to the point of commencement".

[2] A review by the Boundary Committee for England recommended that the council was formed of a reduced number of 90 members elected from 30 wards.

[3] The ward was part of the Liverpool Wavertree Parliamentary constituency.

After the boundary change of 2004 the whole of Liverpool City Council faced election.