Great George Street Developments GGSD has pledged to complete the original first phase of the project, comprising 117 apartments, but is consulting with the public on later phases. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool’s troubled New Chinatown scheme is set to get back on track with a new developer which has unveiled a £200m plan for the site.
And Great George Street Developments GGSD has pledged to complete the original first phase of the project meaning small Far East-based investors who feared they would lose their money will now likely get the apartments they paid for.
Work on the scheme stopped last year amid a legal row between the original developer, North Point Global, and the collapse of the contractors working on the site.
Now GGSD is pledging to restart the first phase – comprising 117 apartments and 4,122 sq ft of commercial space – this year in line with the original planning consent. But it will look to redesign later phases and will hold public exhibition and consultation.
Details of those further phases will be shared with visitors at a one day public exhibition on Tuesday June 5, between 12.30pm and 7pm, at the Siren, %4 St James Street, Liverpool, in the city’s Baltic Triangle district.
Everyone is welcome to attend the exhibition, where there will be the opportunity to meet the development company’s team of professional advisors and to ask questions about the plans.
Subject to the outcomes of the consultation, the company hopes to submit a planning application for the further phases this summer.
Overall, the new design for the site could see the creation of a total of approximately 760 largely one, two and three-bed apartments, 25 townhouses, 75,000 sq ft of commercial space and 31,500 sq ft of office space.
It would also see the creation of new green space and public realm, including the narrowing of Great George Street to create a new linear park.
Neal Hunter, development director for Great George Street Developments, said it had been engaging with key stakeholders on the plans and were now keen to get public feedback.
He explained: “Our view is that the new overall scheme can better align with the city’s strategic aspirations and better connect with the Baltic Quarter and the existing Chinatown.
“Our new proposals will see the creation of new green spaces, a lovely linear park and outside event space. It will complement the Georgian Quarter, just up the hill, and connect in a sympathetic way to the Baltic Triangle and the surrounding residential properties.
“Ultimately, we want to create an inclusive, vibrant new district for the city, where people can live, work and play. We want it to become a destination for young enterprises and established businesses alike, as well as a home for people of all ages and family circumstances.”
Advisors to the new project include Arup, Brock Carmichael architects, JMW, CBRE and Planit-IE.