Operator of Liverpool Shopping Park secures planning consent for £8m final phase, adding 40,000 sq ft of retail space and pushing it up to a total of 277,000 sq ft. Tony McDonough reports
Nine years after it first opened Liverpool Shopping Park is about to see its final phase completed after securing planning consent.
Derwent Estates, acting on behalf of park owner the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation, has secured permission to extend the facility by 40,000 sq ft in a £8m investment. This will take the total retail space up to 277,000 sq ft.
Liverpool Shopping Park, which is located off Edge Lane not far from the city centre, opened in October 2017. It is 97% let across its existing phases and is home to more than 30 national retail and leisure brands.
They include Next, JD Sports, H&M, Boots, Pets at Home, Smyths and most recently, Nando’s, Wagamama, Five Guys and Tesla.
This final phase of development will be anchored by M&S Food, which has committed to a new 15-year lease and will relocate from its existing unit into a purpose-built 24,500 sq ft flagship food hall, which will more than double the existing floorspace.
Derwent says the remaining 16,500 sq ft of accommodation is expected to attract further national operators. James Maule-Ffinch, asset management director at Derwent, said: “Securing planning permission for the final phase marks the completion of the vision for Liverpool Shopping Park.
“Throughout its evolution, the scheme has consistently attracted leading national occupiers and demonstrated the resilience of well-located retail warehousing.
“M&S’s commitment to a new flagship food hall is a significant endorsement of the park’s performance and this investment is testament to their confidence in the continued future success of the Park.
“The remaining retail space presents an excellent opportunity to further strengthen an already exceptional tenant mix and sustained customer footfall.”
Derwent Estates will appoint a contractor to carry out the construction of this final phase in the coming weeks with work due to start on site before the end of 2026.
McMullen Real Estate and CSP are retained letting agents for the remaining 16,500 sq ft of retail accommodation.
READ MORE: Peel Land proposes 1.3m sq ft employment hub
READ MORE: Liverpool seeks developer for huge 55-acre site
The project team comprises ATP (planning consultant), Drees & Sommer (project manager), TSA Riley (cost consultant), RGP Architects, Healey Consulting (civil and structural engineer) and Crookes Walker Consulting (MEP consultant).
The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation’s purpose is to fund projects run by registered charities in England, Wales, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland which change the lives of people most in need as well as supporting the Roman Catholic Church.
Albert Gubay was an entrepreneur who, in his lifetime, created a business empire that was worth more than £700m. As a young, penniless man where he vowed to give half of the wealth he created to the service of God.