Application in for Liverpool aqua park

An application to put up temporary dockside facilities to support an urban aqua park at Duke’s Dock, between Liverpool’s Albert Dock and the Echo Arena, has been lodged with Liverpool City Council.

Duke’s Dock is the part of the southern dock system immediately below the Albert Dock, and is linked to Salthouse Dock and Wapping Dock to the east. Occasionally used for water sports, it is owned by the Canal & River Trust. Gower Street Estates owns the dockside land in question.

Place North West understands that the intention is for the aqua park to open for this year’s summer holiday period.

The application covers storage, reception, booking areas and staff and customer facilities such as changing rooms and toilets. The scheme has been put together by Wilmslow-based FOB Design UK, which also designed the Play Factore facility at Trafford’s Chill Factore. Liverpool-based Devaplan has submitted the application on behalf of Liverpool Wake Park Ltd, based in Holmes Chapel.

The aqua park itself is to comprise a series of inflatable obstacles anchored to the seabed, with the course running for 92m between the two bridges. Accessed from the north quay, where the proposed ancillary facilities would be located, the obstacles would be removed in winter months.