Planning permission granted for new business district
Urban Regeneration Company, Liverpool Vision has been granted outline planning consent for a major new Commercial District in the heart of Liverpool city centre.
The Commercial District Masterplan which provides for the creation of 1.5m sq ft of high quality commercial office space, new public spaces and associated car parking, on the site bounded by Leeds Street, Pall Mall, Tithebarn Street and Old Hall Street, can now progress.
Landowners with interests in the site, including Hilstep, NCP and Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), will now pursue expressions of interest from developers keen to gain a foothold in Liverpool's rapidly expanding office market.
The outline planning consent means developers can now advance detailed planning applications for specific developments. A Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) - which is expected to be adopted later this year by Liverpool City Council - will guide development on the site.
Liverpool Vision Chief Executive Jim Gill says: "The past few years have seen renewed developer and investor confidence in the city centre office market through the success of schemes at Princes Dock, Temple Square, 101 Old Hall Street, City Square, St Paul's Square and the speculative scheme at Unity."
"There is serious developer interest in the Pall Mall site which will become Liverpool's premier business address with the potential for over 3000 new jobs."
Cllr Mike Storey, Leader of Liverpool City Council at the time, said: "This is an important step forward in the city centre's drive to be a prime location for businesses. We are successfully addressing the problem of the lack of high quality office space which held the city back and this development will mark a giant step forward for the business district."
Paul Lakin, NWDA Area Manager for Merseyside, said: "Today's decision paves the way for a major new Commercial Quarter that will breath new life into the city centre. The development of the Commercial District forms an integral part of Merseyside's ongoing renaissance and is essential in attracting new business and further investment into the city."
A masterplan, commissioned by Liverpool Vision, (will open a new window) Liverpool City Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), has been the subject of extensive consultation with local businesses and landowners.
Evidence of the strength of Liverpool's commercial office market was demonstrated by the performance in the first half of 2005. Take up rose from 163,000 sq ft in the first half of 2004, to 228,000 sq ft for the same period this year.