Backed by Home Bargains billionaire Tom Morris the £1.2bn Kings development close to Liverpool waterfront will comprise 10 skyscrapers – one 70 storeys high – and the developer has now picked a contractor for the first tower. Tony McDonough reports
National building contractor GRAHAM has won the contract to build the first of 10 skyscrapers in the £1.2bn Kings development close to Liverpool waterfront.
Construction work on Kings is expected to begin in mid-2027 with a 28-storey ‘pathfinder’ tower. With the development value of £80m this building will comprise 255 apartments for rent and will be called No 1 Kings.
GRAHAM secured the contract through a competitive tender. Designed by Brock Carmichael Architects, No 1 Kings secured planning consent in February, since when an intensive programme of negotiations with shortlisted contractors has been under way.
Backed by Home Bargains billionaire Tom Morris, via his KEIE entity, Kings will feature 10 high-rise residential towers with a spectacular 70-storey structure that will include a five-star hotel and luxury apartments. It will be the tallest building ever built in Liverpool by far.
The hotel will occupy the first 23 floors of the building, offering 212 rooms, with the balance taken up by 563 luxury residences. Guest and resident amenities would include bars, restaurants, gymnasiums, banqueting and meeting facilities and a rooftop terrace.
In all, the building would provide 924,000 sq ft of space, making it the second largest building by floor space in Liverpool, after its famous Tobacco Warehouse. It is being designed by SimpsonHaugh.
In total Kings, located on what is currently the King Edward Industrial Estate, will comprise 2,750 apartments, 200,000 sq ft of office space, a new 25,000 sq ft events arena and 250,000 sq ft of commercial leisure, retail, and food and beverage space.
Hugh Frost, chairman of KEIE’s development partner Beetham Davos, said the appointment represents “a pivotal moment” for the wider Kings project.
“We’ve fired the starting gun and continue to push on with the Kings development in the background,” he said. “The tower is fully-funded by the project’s shareholders, so the market can see confidence in the vision.
“No 1 Kings will raise the bar as far as design, fit-out and amenities go. Its delivery will underpin our discussions with end-users for the Kings development and be a catalyst for wider redevelopment.”
Metropolitan Demolition has now cleared the site, which sits at the northern boundary of the eight-acre development zone, and made it ready for construction to start.
Peter Reavey, regional director for GRAHAM, added: “Kings is the largest single regeneration project outside London and there’s no doubt it will be a game-changer for Liverpool’s economy.
“We’re delighted to once again have the opportunity to demonstrate our high rise, build to rent capabilities in the city and are now busy mobilising to meet the client’s timescales.”
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Beetham Davos will submit a masterplan hybrid application in early 2027 seeking detailed consent for four of the initial buildings, including hotel, residential and leisure uses, and outline consent for the remaining proposed towers.
This application will include five residential towers, the five-star hotel with branded residences, a four-star hotel, grade A offices, plus shared workspace for start-ups and tech businesses, along with a range of food, beverage and leisure outlets.
Brock Carmichael are the masterplan architects for Kings, with SimpsonHaugh designing the potentially 70-storey centrepiece revealed at this year’s MIPIM international property congress in Cannes in March.
Pegasus Group is providing planning, economics, heritage and EIA Services, with Planit leading on public realm design. WSP is advising on highways.