Mersey Ferries Terminal Building
_tcm81-105804.jpg "The proposed new ferry terminal at the Pier Head")
The Mersey ferries are one of the most famous features of Merseyside. Every year 700,000 visitors to the area take a Ferry across the Mersey.
However, the facilities at the Pier Head for handling passengers were not adequate and the design of the previous structure itself - built in the 1960s as a temporary measure - was regarded as inappropriate to a prestige waterfront location.
A new £10.5million terminal is currently being constructed as part of the Pier Head improvements that include the new £8million canal link, the £65million Museum of Liverpool and £120million Mann Island development.
Merseytravel's new terminal will:
- attract additional visitors to the Pier Head and waterfront in general;
- enhance visitors experience at the Pier Head;
- complement adjoining schemes including the canal link, Mann Island and public realm;
- encourage action to address the inappropriate quality of the adjoining restaurant building;
- promote the development of the leisure and tourism business in Liverpool and Merseyside.
The project is being supported with a £3.7million grant from European Objective 1 funding, one the last Objective 1 funded projects to receive more than £1.5billion from Europe over the last 15 years.
The expanded facility will include retail and catering outlets targeted at the leisure and tourism market and improved facilities for ticketing, a passenger waiting area, café and gift shop. An external viewing deck will face inland towards the Three Graces.
In early 2008 it was announced that a second Beatles Story museum would be opened within the new building. It would be linked with the existing Beatles Story Museum at the Albert Dock which attracts some 200,000 visitors a year. Within the terminal building will be a four-dimensional theatre which promises to take visitors on a "magical journey through the music of The Beatles" complete with motion, smoke and water. Special exhibition areas and a Fab4Store will also be set up.
Map showing project location
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