Despite objections from three bishops, planners approve Great George Street regeneration scheme on the site of the failed New Chinatown project. Tony McDonough reports
Major projects worth than £100m in and around Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle have secured approval from city planners.
On Tuesday morning, the city council’s planning committee gave the go-ahead to the 3.5 ha, mixed-use Great George Street regeneration scheme on the site of the failed New Chinatown scheme, as well as two Elliot Group projects at Park Lane and Crown Street.
The Great George Street Project includes a total of seven new buildings, ranging in height from two-storeys to 18-storeys, incorporating residential units, a 144-bedroom hotel and creative workspaces for independent businesses.
Both of Liverpool’s cathedrals, as well as three bishops, argued that the tallest block would obscure the view of Liverpool Cathedral, but councillors decided to approve the scheme.
It will also include a new park which will boast landscaped gardens, wide footways, a cycleway and public realm and will utilise the latest in urban agriculture technology, including edible planting.
Chief executive of The Great George Street Project, Neal Hunter, said: “Achieving planning consent is a key stage in the progress towards the realisation of our vision.”
Developer Elliot Group secured planning permission for two blocks at the its Park Lane development – a joint venture with Valorem Investment Partners around the historic Heap’s Mill. The firm’s proposals for new key worker accommodation and student homes on Crown Street on the edge of the Knowledge Quarter were also passed.
The two deals represent an investment of £100m and bring to seven the amount of live schemes the company has in Liverpool. Elliot Group boss Elliot Lawless said: “We said when bought the Park Lane site in the summer that we’d push on quickly with the development and with this permission we’re able to keep our promise.”
The news follows completion of the company’s deal to acquire another major site in the Baltic tech district, for which plans are currently being drawn up for discussion with Liverpool council.
On Park Lane, Block A will provide 90 new apartments from ground to 15th floor with communal facilities such as a residents’ gym. There will also be a commercial unit of 1,259 sq ft. Block B will be a 260-bed hotel with a restaurant, bar, gym and business centre. A deal to confirm the name of the operator is imminent, says Lawless.
The Crown Street development will provide 106 key worker homes and 182 student bedrooms across two new residential blocks on a 1.3 acre site. The blocks will rise up to six storeys and front Crown Street and Falkner Street.
Both schemes have been designed by the Liverpool studio of Falconer Chester Hall. Zerum acted as planning consultants.