New lease of life for landmark building
Liverpool Land Development Company (LLDC) announced today (9th November 2005) that the former Littlewoods Pools headquarters, which is owned by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), will soon enjoy a new lease of life and play a leading role in the regeneration of the Edge Lane corridor.
LLDC has appointed multi-award winning developers Urban Splash as preferred developer, subject to final terms, for the iconic buildings. They will form a prominent and highly visible part of LLDC's regeneration scheme "The Edge Lane Project". Over the coming years, Edge Lane and the surrounding area will change radically. It is the positive change that residents, businesses and commuters have demanded for more than 20 years.
Urban Splash's ambitious and exciting plans for the former Littlewoods buildings include apartments, a hotel element, and commercial and speciality retail space. It will be complemented by underground car parking and will provide around 100,000 sq ft of decked landscaped plaza.
In May LLDC put the contract for the development to competition, challenging five short-listed developers to submit a bold vision for the dormant art deco buildings, which would both complement Wavertree Park and Botanic Gardens and link seamlessly to the company's proposals for an adjacent science park.
Built in 1938 by the Moores brothers to house their Pools business, the Littlewoods buildings were a classic example of the art deco "ocean-liner" style popular at the time.
As the buildings lie at one of the highest points in Liverpool, they command an unsurpassed view of Liverpool, Wirral and the distant Welsh mountains.
LLDC's Chief Executive, David Waugh, said: "We are delighted to appoint Urban Splash as preferred developer for the iconic Littlewoods Buildings. This is an exciting opportunity to redevelop an important landmark feature, and will be one of the first major regeneration schemes to take place in the Edge Lane corridor.
"Located on the eastern gateway to the city centre, these highly regarded buildings form a significant part of the comprehensive regeneration plans for the Edge Lane area. They have a fascinating history and deserve a new lease of life, creating new residential space and employment opportunities."
Bill Maynard, director of development, Urban Splash, said: "This is a truly magnificent building and we are very proud to have been selected to restore this important part of Liverpool's heritage.
"Our proposals will restore and enhance this much loved building and we are particularly pleased to be involved in the regeneration of the broader Edge Lane area."
Paul Lakin, NWDA Area Manager for Merseyside, said: "The NWDA fully supports the plans for this mixed-use development, which is the first step in LLDC's ambitious regeneration plans for the Edge Lane corridor, an area which has been identified as having huge growth potential."
The Edge Lane Project aims to revitalise the Edge Lane corridor by radically improving the area's residential, retail and commercial offerings, attracting major investment and generating hundreds of jobs for the community. It addresses a range of regeneration issues, including the need for new jobs in the area, building sustainable communities, attracting investment both from the public and private sectors, providing safer roads, improving the environment with hard & soft landscaping, providing a better mix of housing and overall improving Edge Lane for the community, business, visitors, investors and tourists.