Approval for Davos’ £64m Liverpool tower
City councillors voted this morning to approve the 28-storey apartment block, the first phase of the £1bn King Edward Triangle masterplan being delivered by Davos Property Developments and the Hugh Frost-led Beetham Davos.
This is hoped to be the first tower in a future tall buildings cluster in Liverpool, with Davos having teased a potential 60-storey skyscraper for the area at MIPIM last year.
The 250,000 sq ft building approved today was designed by King Edward Triangle masterplanner Brock Carmichael and comprises 255 apartments on a plot at the junction of Waterloo Road and Galton Street.
The project has a gross development value of £64m, according to a viability appraisal by AspinallVerdi. Credit: via Merrion Strategy
There would be 127 one-bed flats, 123 two-bed ones, and five three-bed residences in the building. None of the apartments would be designated affordable due to viability concerns for the £64m GDV project.
Residents will be able to enjoy a lounge, gym, and workspace on the building’s first floor, as well as two indoor lounges and outdoor social spaces on the top floor.
“Today’s approval is a huge step forward for Liverpool’s continued regeneration journey,” said Cllr Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for growth and economy.
“The King Edward Triangle is a once in a generation opportunity to reshape an underused part of the waterfront, and this pathfinder building is the first visible sign of that transformation.”
He added that the project “demonstrates the confidence investors and developers continue to place in Liverpool’s future”.
Frost thanked the city council for its support on the project and added that the scheme is fully funded.
“It feels like we’ve pushed a big green button marked ‘go’,” Frost said, after hearing the planning verdict.
Frost teased that there is more to come, with a big announcement due at this year’s MIPIM property convention in the South of France.
“We have several events planned at MIPIM where we will be revealing further news that will leave people in no doubt about the scale and quality of the opportunity,” Frost said.
“Liverpool is a global brand and people want to see a skyline to match its status.”
Chris Bolland, managing director at Brock Carmichael, also gave a hint of what is to come in the near future. Reflecting on the planning committee decision, he said: “This provides the springboard for the whole scheme and gives an added boost to our work on the wider masterplan.
“We aim to consult with the public on our proposals in Q2 before submitting a hybrid application,” Bolland continued. “In the meantime, detailed work with the local authority and other stakeholders continues.”
Before any building work can begin, however, there is some demolition to do. Work clearing the tower’s site – including bulldozing the former Bacchus Taverna – is due to begin this spring.
In addition to Brock Cramichael, the project team includes Pegasus, Planit, WSP, Aspinall Verdi, Redmore Environmental, EnviroSolutions, Jensen Hughes, CCG, and Edge Consulting. You can learn more about the project by searching reference number 25F/1887 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.
