‘Neglected’ Liverpool city route to close for £39m regeneration scheme

Lime Street in Liverpool city centre is set to close for up to three weeks as work gets underway on a £39m plan to breathe new life into the area.

The street will be closed from next Tuesday (August 30) as developer Neptune, working in partnership with Liverpool City Council, delivers a hotel, restaurants, shops and student accommodation to create over 300 jobs.

Next week, Lime Street’s remaining frontages will be taken down to clear the site ahead of the construction phase, which is expected to span the next two years.

Cllr Ann O’Byrne, the city’s Deputy Mayor, said: “Lime Street has been neglected for far too long and this scheme will see it brought back to life, creating much needed new jobs and a fitting gateway on one of the main routes into the city.

“We know that the road closure will cause disruption for motorists and commuters but it is absolutely vital to the project.”

She continued: “Once this work is complete and the site is cleared, we will be able to get on with the construction side of the development and we are confident there will be no need for further full closures.

“This is an exciting time for the area as we crack on with a scheme which will help transform the fortunes of Lime Street and make it part of the city that we can all be proud of.”

As part of the Lime Street makeover, developers are currently working with the council to ensure the scheme’s design is reflective of the Futurist, a distinctive former cinema that could not be saved due to its poor structural condition.

A separate planning application for a project to transform the old ABC Cinema building into an international media venue is also expected to be submitted in due course.

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