Baltic Triangle CIC says delays to the new £100m Liverpool Baltic Station may put business investment decisions at risk and is urging the Combined Authority to offer ‘clear timescales’ for the delivery of the project. Tony McDonough reports
Delays to the building of the new £100m Liverpool Baltic Merseyrail station could have detrimental effects on businesses in the area, it has been claimed.
Baltic Triangle CIC, a not-for-profit organisation set up to promote the fast-growing district, is urging Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to urgently clarify when work will begin and when the station will be delivered.
Last week LBN reported that hopes the new station, serving both the Baltic District and the Knowledge Quarter, would be up and running in 2028 had been dashed. The Combined Authority admitted it had yet to appoint a main contractor on the scheme.
“Appointing the main contractor is the next key step in this process, and we have been exploring a range of delivery methods to ensure the project is delivered to the highest standard – more will be announced on this soon,” it said in a statement.
Major rail infrastructure projects are almost always carried out by Network Rail, the state-owned operator of the UK rail network. However, Network Rail is currently short of capacity due to the impact of HS2 and this is the main cause of the delay.
In a statement, Baltic Triangle CIC said: “”The Baltic Triangle is a place people choose to be – to work, create, live, socialise and build businesses.
“The Baltic Station was meant to make that easier, whether you’re a digital creative commuting in, a visitor heading out for the night, or someone moving easily between the Baltic and the rest of the city.
“When delivery slips, the impact is felt on the ground. It affects how people get here, how long they stay, and how confidently local businesses can plan. Delays also risk pushing costs up over time, which helps no one.
We understand that rail projects are complex and that national pressures, including those involving Network Rail, play a part. But from the Baltic Triangle’s point of view, what matters now is momentum.
“The community needs clear timescales, a firm route to delivery, and confidence that this station will be delivered for the people it was promised to serve.”
In the early years of the 21st century, the Baltic Triangle, located just south of the city centre, was a deserted wasteland of old docklands warehouses. Today it is a thriving district of creative and digital businesses as well as bars, restaurants and homes.
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Along with Elevator Studios, Baltic Creative CIC, a separate organisation from Baltic Triangle CIC, kick-started the regeneration of the district which now teems with life.
Baltic Creative offers 118,000 sq ft of commercial space and is home to 170 businesses employing around 600 people.