Return of the skyscraper as Y1 tries again

8 Feb 2010, 10:34

Residential investor Ray Smith's Y1 Developments has released images of revised designs for a tower on the site of the King Edward pub on Leeds Street, Liverpool.

Landowner Richmont Properties and joint venture partner Y1 say they are hopeful of gaining planning consent soon and have secured 'first stage funding' although the source was not disclosed.

If built, the tower would be the tallest development in the North of England at 54 storeys or 165 metres. The proposed tower will have a mixture of office, retail and residential properties with a large restaurant at high level with an open viewing deck accessible by the public.

Peter Buglass of Richmont Properties said: "These designs and artists impressions are still work in progress but are indicative of how the building might look. We are confident that following final revisions arising from the CABE review the application will move forward quickly to a positive conclusion."

Talks are ongoing with design watchdog CABE and Liverpool City Council planning officers.

Plans mooted in the boom years of the last decade eventually came to nothing. The new building is a complete redesign from that proposed in 2007 with the new designs having incorporated constructive comments made by the City Council and CABE. The current design has incorporated fresh master plan proposals to work alongside and enhance the proposed Liverpool Waters development being worked up by Peel Holdings.

Smith made his fortune from trading off-plan and buy-to-let apartments and became famous locally for extravagant parties at his Formby home complete with pop star entertainment and fake snow at Christmas.

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