Liverpool targets 2017 start for 1.8m sq ft Knowledge Quarter extension
Liverpool City Council has confirmed its plans to create a new campus at Minshull Street on the outskirts of the city centre, specialising in life and medical sciences and providing an extension to the existing Knowledge Quarter.
The redevelopment of the former Archbishop Blanch site, near to Royal Liverpool University Hospital and the University of Liverpool, will include offices, a 30-storey landmark building, 27 acres of public realm, retail, hotel, conference facilities, and 700 parking spaces.
There will be 10 plots included in the first phase, with three phases of development overall.
The council said that the scheme would form a key plank of the Knowledge Quarter Mayoral Development Zone, with phase one likely to begin on site in 2017.
The plans also include a new rail station with access to the existing underground network and the national high speed rail network via Lime Street Station.
Colin Sinclair, recently appointed chief executive of the Knowledge Quarter, told Place North West that masterplanning for the Knowledge Quarter was ongoing, and talks were underway with a number of occupiers from science education and healthcare “whose needs may of course ultimately shape the development. But in addition to their space requirements there will be access to the planned new train station, retail, hotel and conferencing and associated car parking with an emphasis on cycling and pedestrian access across the whole of the Knowledge Quarter”.
At the MIPIM UK conference in October last year, Ged Fitzgerald, chief executive of Liverpool City Council, hinted that the council was due to announce a large-scale development at the Archbishop Blanch site, to provide an oven-ready investment opportunity for Asian investors. At the time he gave a development value of £1bn.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “The extension of our Knowledge Quarter is a game-changer in terms of the high-quality jobs we will be able to bring into the city in hi-tech, 21st century industries.
“This will help us to develop our Knowledge Quarter as we work with all our partners, including the University of Liverpool and the proposed health campus at the Royal Hospital to make the city a beacon for investment in this and similar sectors. We want to build on the success we are already achieving to make Liverpool a leader in this field.”
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More good news for Liverpool and let us hope this attracts the investment required. It will be a great change from the Paddington I remember as a child in the good old days..looking forward to this one.
By Man on bicycle
Great news, especially with the potential of a station.
Do we know if this site requires the demolition of the old Mount Vernon Pub? I’d heard it rumored on Facebook.
Hope this comes together, looks to be a fantastic scheme.
By Anon
Be careful you don’t disrupt the trains and the cutting that runs close by. I had a nightmare when we did the works outside the Blackwells bookshop. Had to take a sicky one day to avoid the heat!
By Bob Dawson
Ha ha lets hope Big Joe gleans a bit of knowledge!
By Bob Dawson
The architecture looks great and will dominate the city approach well away from the WHS, so no problems with UNESCO. Huge potential here with the existing underground tunnels affording direct access to Merseyrail underground. We should spend a bit extra on the new station to give it the wow factor. What should we call it? Paddington?… after the road?
By Alfie
Alfie: According to the Echo, it will be named Paddington Place!
By Anon
It was an area that housed Paddington Wash house, Paddington (Gardens) tenements and then Paddington(Paddy) Comp. So Paddington Place, sounds okay, but that would be a great name for a Soap Opera.(oh no don’t get started on that one)
By Man on bicycle