Elliot submits Beetham Plaza plan
Liverpool developer Elliot Group will today lodge a planning application to redevelop the city’s Beetham Plaza, following its acquisition of the site’s long leasehold in January.
Elliot’s £15m proposals include a 100-room boutique hotel on the plaza’a eastern side, improvement of the plaza’s public realm, and the re-siting of Richard Huws’ ‘bucket fountain’. The business said that discussions with the city council are ongoing regarding a new home for the water installation.
The architect for the project is Falconer Chester Hall, with Zerum acting as planner.
The mixed-use Beetham Plaza development includes 42 apartments, along with the Etsu and Silk Road restaurants, a 4,500 sq ft office occupied by a local law firm and an underground car park. Designed by Brock Carmichael, it was completed in the 1990s.
Director Elliot Lawless said: “Beetham Plaza remains one of the most successful residential developments on Liverpool’s waterfront, but the public square behind needs more animation and life to support its commercial tenants.
“If we re-site the fountain it will enable us to develop a new hotel and new ground floor restaurant and café space whilst investing in the public realm and a new lighting scheme. Residents and businesses will share in the benefits of this investment and the extra footfall.”
Elliot Group has carried out consultation on the fountain issue, asking the public for ideas as to suitably visible locations, reporting that Williamson Square and a refurbished Strand have been popular suggestions.
Lawless added: “The fountain is a one-off but it’s hidden away in a corner that both locals and tourists rarely find. It merits a more prominent location so that it can become one of the city’s ‘must Instagram’ attractions.”
The proposed hotel development, if granted consent, would support 25 new jobs when operational, said Elliot, and would be managed by Liverpool-based EPIC, which recently opened the Seel Street Hotel within Elliot’s £100m Wolstenholme Square project.
Why not put that fountain on that circle bit outside the Lyceum at the bottom of bold street?
By Why not
@WhyNot – funnily enough, that was one of the first suggested locations for it back in 1962 when Merseyside Civic Society had the idea of commemorating the start of the Tryweryn Scheme.
By Sceptical
Seems like a good spot with the Lyceum new digital screen and the fountain
By Why not
Great suggestion Why not!
By Morgan
It’s too ’60s’ for the Lyceum site. If it commemorates Tryweryn perhaps it should go in the grounds of the Welsh ‘cathedral’ on Prince’s Road following restoration works here. We could make a real effort to engage the Liverpool Welsh community – and descendants of the people of Tryweryn – and try to heal the deep wounds that still remains following the flooding of this Valley and the Welsh village of the same name.
By Roscoe
Dont think an 1860s area is best for 1960s moving art Roscoe; but I would think there are many good sites for the fountain.
An aside; it will be to Liverpool’s greatest shame if they allow the lost of the ‘Welsh catherdral’.
By Anonymous
It’s contrast between the two that would make it great imo
By Why not