Plans to transform a large derelict site located between the thriving Baltic Triangle area and Liverpool Cathedral have been approved by Liverpool City Council at today’s planning committee (December 10).
The Great George Street Project is a 3.5 ha, mixed-use regeneration site that will realise and reimagine new greenspace in Liverpool city centre through the creation of a bold new linear park. Joining Liverpool’s other world famous and iconic city greenspaces, this new city park will boast landscaped gardens, wide footways, a cycleway and high quality public realm, and will have the health and wellbeing of the local community, new and existing, firmly at its core, by utilising the latest in urban agriculture technology, including edible planting.
Following years of decline, the scheme will revitalise the area with mixed use residential apartments and family homes – comprising of one-two bed apartments and two-three bed townhouses – alongside commercial, A3 and creative workspaces for independent businesses to grow into this new creative corner of Liverpool city centre. Included within this will be 4,183sqm of much-needed new office space, giving businesses in the digital, tech and creative sectors a place to call home. Leisure and hospitality facilities will also feature within this new blended neighbourhood, including a 144 bedroom hotel.
The plan is for seven buildings, ranging in height from two-storeys to 18-storeys.
Spokesperson for The Great George Street Project, Neal Hunter CEO, said:
“Achieving planning consent is a key stage in the progress towards the realisation of our vision and we have advanced negotiations in play with a highly respected funding partner, who is committed to being with us for the full life of this development project to deliver the entire scheme.
“We took over this site in February 2018. It is fair to say that it has been a challenging and complex site, with historic issues from a number of previous failed schemes, which could have blighted this project altogether. We believe that actions speak louder than words and we have worked closely with the planning department at Liverpool City Council to deliver a scheme that will create a quality neighbourhood that connects Chinatown with Ropewalks and the Baltic Triangle, to realise a vital new community, and we are committed to see this to completion.
“It should be mentioned that we have revised the scheme from previous approvals as we recognise the city continues to evolve at a rapid pace, and it is vital that the project is aligned with this ever-changing landscape.”
Planning officer comments:
“This development proposed more family orientated accommodation for those that want to live in the city, and to genuinely propose an attractive environment for families wanting to live in this location.”
“We consider a development of this scale is appropriate to a city that has national and international aspirations.”
“The development is not located within the heritage site however it is located in the buffer site. This has been considered.”
“We wish to allow the silhouette of the cathedral to continue to dominate the city. For all applications in large scale developments, the development level falls below the shoulder of the cathedral. In this particular instance the overall height of the shoulder of the cathedral stands at 85.3m and the height of this development 82.7m.”
The Great George Street Project also supports The Baltic Farm – a creative food project that is currently located within the site at the old Shell garage, and key to the scheme’s vision in creating a vibrant and socially-transformative community space.
The Great George Street Project has been supported by Brock Carmichael, Arup and Planit-IE in the planning process.
