A city within a city: Liverpool’s New Chinatown plans come one step closer

Major plans to transform Liverpool’s historic Chinatown are set to take a step closer next week as developers seek planning permission for the £200m development.

The New Chinatown proposal, which hopes to bring businesses, homes, a hotel and leisure facilities to the area, along with a new Chinese retail hub, will go before the city council’s planning committee seeking permission for phase one of the project on Great George Street.

The meeting will also see the committee considering outline proposals for phases two and three of the project.

If consent is granted, work on phase one will get underway within weeks.

Construction firm North Point Global was chosen as the prefered developer for the site in June by Liverpool City Council and the site’s former owner, regeneration company Urban Splash.

Peter McInnes, the chair of North Point Global, said: “This has been an incredibly intensive process to deliver planning on a project of this scale in such a short time period, but it underscores the importance of the project to the city and the Mayor’s determination to progress a key strategic site.

“Hopefully planning will be approved next week and we can really start to deliver something exceptional.”

The Government has identified New Chinatown as a key project within the Northern Powerhouse. The scheme was presented to Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Manchester in October.

The plans are fully funded by the UKTI’s Regeneration Investment Organisation and North Point’s Chinese investment partners.

The project will aim to establish a Chinatown that reflects “the energy and intensity of modern China”, according to the minds behind it, potentially offering a hub for Chinese businesses that wish to set up shop in the UK.

The scheme’s lead architect, Antonio Garcia of BLOK Architecture, commented: “From the beginning we have had a vision for an essentially Chinese development that will breathe new life and vibrancy into an historic but recently declining area.

“The Chinese theme has informed our design philosophy, the mix of uses and in particular the new retail and commercial core that will become a major new destination within the city.”

The vision for New Chinatown has been shaped through dialogue with Chinese businesses and community organisations in Liverpool, as well as investors and business owners based in China.

Speaking further about the plans, North Point chair Peter McInnes said: “This is potentially one of the most exciting and original developments being delivered in the UK today.

“It has caught the imagination of everyone from local politicians, investors, the UK Government and the community.”

He added: “New Chinatown will be creating a city within a city, and we see enormous potential for additional phases and creating a destination of international scale and appeal.”

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