Approval sought to progress cruise liner terminal

Liverpool City Council is being asked to commit £950,000 to move its plans for a new cruise liner terminal at Princes Jetty to the next stage.

In March, the council commissioned early design work on a permanent cruise liner building, by a team led by Arup and including KKA Architects, Royal Haskoning DHV Engineering and cost consultants Turner & Townsend.

A report to the cabinet meeting on Friday 19 August is asking for approval for further investigations, impact assessments and surveys, and to start the procurement process for a technical team to advise the council.

The council wants to create a larger terminal able to handle turnaround cruises with up to 3,600 passengers. The former Princes Jetty at Princes Parade, close to the landing stage, is preferred location. The jetty is owned by Peel Land & Property.

At this stage the council said is envisioning a two storey building on reclaimed land on the River Mersey, as well as the construction of a new quay wall and changes on Princes Parade to allow coaches to drop off and pick up passengers.

The new facility, if completed, would include a new passenger and baggage terminal, passport control, lounge, café, toilets, taxi rank, vehicle pick up point and a car park.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “I am determined that we find solutions to continue the huge growth in cruise liners that we have seen over the last few years.

“We know there is a lot of interest from cruise companies in coming to Liverpool but what is holding us back at the moment is the limited space we have in the existing facility.

“To deliver on our ambitions, we would need to invest in a new terminal building which will bring bigger liners carrying more passengers, meaning a bigger boost for the local economy.

“We have various options of funding the scheme which we will be exploring, but the figures speak for itself in terms of the jobs that are supported and created by passengers and crew spending money while they are in the city.”