Top award for Liverpool One
(Published: 10 February 2009)
_tcm81-126505.jpg "Various images of the first phase of Liverpool One")
Liverpool One - the £1billion retail-led development in the heart of Liverpool City Centre - has landed a major planning award.
It has won the Royal Town Planning Institute national award for best city or metropolitan scheme. The scheme was submitted by Liverpool City Council.
The award judges praised the speed with which such a major scheme went through the planning process: "Never let it be said that the planning system is incapable of delivering big projects in a reasonable time and to a high standard. With a professional approach, a quality product, and a partnership mentality - we have seen proof that it is possible."
They added: "The Liverpool One development - formerly known as the Paradise Project - has been developed over a remarkably short timescale, at a cost of more than £1000 million, and has already begun to transform the fortunes of Liverpool City Centre.
"One of the most striking features of the development is the way in which it links the shopping area to the waterfront (as well as with other areas which are undergoing regeneration such as the Ropewalks and the Baltic Triangle). Previously the journey from the centre to the Albert Dock and other waterfront areas seemed long, unattractive and daunting; but now the route is clear, direct and extremely appealing.The design was extremely impressive across the board, with the use of different designers giving the scheme the flavour of a slice of the City Centre rather than a monolithic slab of development.
"The standard of architecture and the public realm is very high. Above all this has the potential to be a transformational development, changing the reputation and fortunes of one of our major City Centres, both by making the centre work better -through the improved linkages- and by providing a range of attractive facilities which should bring many more visitors to Liverpool."
Cllr Peter Millea, Executive Member for Assets and Development, said: "This accolade is an acknowledgement not only of the quality of the design and architecture of Liverpool One but the way in which this massively complex scheme has been handled and delivered. The judges were particularly impressed with the partnership approach and we are delighted that it has won one of the top national honours."
Liverpool One covers 42 acres, features four retail districts, 30 individually designed buildings, 1.4 million sq ft of retail space, a multiplex cinema, 230,000 square feet of restaurants, cafés and bars, together with more than 600 new apartments, two hotels, offices, a revitalised five acre park, and new public transport interchange.