Local people and firms in line to benefit from the construction of the 200-bed hotel as well as a lobby bar, cafe, restaurant, business suite. Tony McDonough reports
A proposed 200-bed hotel next to Liverpool’s new Cruise Liner Terminal is a step closer to reality after a detailing planning application was submitted to the city council.
The council’s main contractor on the scheme, Wates Construction, has submitted the application for the project which will include the four-star hotel, a lobby bar, cafe, restaurant, business suite and back of house facilities.
It will also include visitor and coach parking, and a taxi pick-up and drop-off point and is intended to support and supplement the new cruise terminal at Liverpool Waters’ Princes Dock, which once built will accommodate the world’s largest cruise ships.
Public consultation
Submission of the planning application follows the consultation held in September 2018, which gave residents and businesses the chance to view plans and provide comment on the proposed new four-star hotel.
Equivalent to the size of two football pitches, the terminal itself would be serviced by an off-site multi-storey car park. And, as part of the construction of the hotel, Wates has made a commitment to provide training and employment opportunities for local people as well as the appointment of local supply chain partners.
Wates has already appointed construction safety specialist firm Project Four, to ensure the project is compliant with strict construction, design and management (CDM) regulations. Project Four is based just along the river at Mann Island.
Step-change
John Foster, pre-Construction director at Wates Construction, said: “The new Liverpool Cruise Terminal Hotel forms a core part of the transformation of Liverpool’s waterfront, which will represent a significant step-change in the city’s tourism industry as well as positively impacting its economy.
“Submission of planning is an exciting step for the team and brings to fruition months of hard work to consult with local people and develop plans for a luxury hotel befitting a world-class tourist destination.
Construction of the new hotel was procured via Major Works UK, part of Scape’s National Construction framework, which has been designed to deliver significant levels of local economic engagement as well as extensive community initiatives.
Wates design team include Brock Carmichael as Architects, Curtins as Civil and Structural Engineers, Ramboll as Mechanical and Electrical Engineers and Planit as Landscape Architects.
Funding support
Expected to cost more than £50m, the new cruise terminal facility is supported with £20m from the Local Growth Fund, which is awarded to the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and invested through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Strategic Investment Fund.
The site of Princes Jetty and the land known as Plot 11 along Princes Parade, which are needed for the construction of the new cruise terminal and the hotel, will be gifted to the city council by Peel Land and Property.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson added: “This hotel is a vital element of the new cruise terminal and is part of our vision to create a world class experience for the cruise companies and their passengers.”