Member Article

Liverpool Waters £5.5bn redevelopment approved by Government

The Government has given the go-ahead for a £5.5bn project that will transform Liverpool’s docklands and provide more than 15,000 jobs.

Liverpool Waters was granted planning permission in March 2012, and has been approved by central government this week despite culturally concerned opposition to the plans.

Worries that a large scale development will take away the Merseyside city’s UNESCO status as a world heritage site have held plans back, however approval was won in spite of protesters’ efforts.

Led by North West property giant Peel Group, the project will span the Liverpool waterfront and include a residential area, business complex and hotel space, as well as leisure services including food and drink facilities and a marina.

The project will also produce the largest building in the North West with the addition of a 55 storey high-rise tower block.

Liverpool’s former Central Docks will be redeveloped after a long period of dereliction, and Peel Group said this will bring much needed prosperity to the area.

A dedicated landing area for large vessels will also ensure that larger commercial ships will be able to come to the Liverpool docks.

Peel Group hopes the development will make Liverpool into “the UK’s second city” as a result of economic benefits brought in by the scheme, which it says will “satisfy the needs of this century.”

Lindsey Ashworth, development director of Peel, commented: “This is a well-deserved reward and justice
for all those who never gave up supporting this scheme. It’s our Government wishing a Happy New Year to Peel and Liverpool.

“English Heritage together with the World Heritage Body UNESCO put up massive obstacles to prevent this development proposal getting permission.

“Their studies and arguments have all collapsed and rightly so as it’s simply not right to expect derelict parts of cities with such a rich history to stand still and be fossilized.

“This consent will open up opportunities and new prospects to link our UK businesses with other international businesses such as Asia.

“All cities in the UK have to compete with each other and each has to compete with rival European Cities. Liverpool is now well placed to be alongside the best of the best.”

Ian Pollitt, development and investment surveyor for Peel, added: “After over 5 years working on this exciting and challenging project, today’s decision by the Government to not call a public enquiry for the Liverpool Waters project is fantastic news for the future of Liverpool and I would like to thank all of the Liverpool Waters design team, together with everyone at Liverpool City Council who have worked so hard to deliver this outline planning permission.

“This is another important step forward in the regeneration of Liverpool’s already world famous waterfront.”

A statement on the Government’s decision from English Heritage said: “A decision on call in has to be taken on the basis of all the planning issues involved, not just heritage.

“We therefore acknowledge the Secretary of State’s decision not to hold a public inquiry on the Liverpool Waters application.

“We have always felt that it would have been possible to develop a scheme that delivered jobs and growth and which enhanced rather than harmed Liverpool’s outstanding heritage.

“We are therefore very disappointed that Peel failed to take this opportunity and insisted that the current scheme was the one on which a decision must be taken.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .