Kings Dock development sites up for sale
After acquiring the freehold of Kings Dock in September, Liverpool City Council has put seven prime development plots on the market.
The plots range between half an acre and three acres in size and are available for a variety of uses, including leisure, hotel, residential, and offices.
The council has instructed CBRE to sell the sites, with expressions of interest invited by 24 January 2020. The two-stage process will see submissions from the market before a shortlist is announced next year; the purchase price will vary depending on what is proposed and which plot is being bought.
The council acquired the leasehold of Kings Dock in 2017 and bought the freehold for a nominal £1 sum earlier this year. Under this move, the council’s ownership now includes the Liverpool Arena; the exhibition and convention centre; the former multi-storey car park, now demolished after being severely damaged by a fire in 2017; and the undeveloped land bordered by Monarchs Quay and Half-Tide Wharf.
The sale of the undeveloped plots sounds the final death knell for proposals to build a 45,000 sq ft office on the site. Developer YPG had proposed building the office for The Contact Company, a call centre business owned by Liverpool LEP chairman Asif Hamid, prompting a backlash from the development community.
The land was originally suggested to be used for options including an “Olympic-standard ice rink, extreme sports centre, and quality restaurants,” according to the LEP.
A masterplan for Kings Dock was put forward in 2017 with a focus on tourism use.
Andrew Byrne, associate director at CBRE’s office agency team in Liverpool, said: “We are pleased to be appointed by Liverpool City Council to bring to market the Kings Dock land. The site offers an exciting opportunity for experienced developers to deliver a mixed-use landmark scheme in an excellent location on Liverpool’s iconic waterfront, close to some of the city’s most popular attractions.
“With a global perspective and exceptional economic strengths, the city is becoming increasingly attractive particularly with overseas investors who identify Liverpool as a real source of opportunity for inward investment.”
Elsewhere within Kings Dock, a replacement multi-storey car park for its fire-damaged counterpart was approved in October last year. The nine-level car park is to provide 1,640 spaces and is currently being built by contractor Willmott Dixon.
