Isle of Man ferry terminal on course for summer start

Work on Liverpool’s £30m Isle of Man ferry terminal is set to begin in the summer with the scheme in line to secure planning permission next week.

Designed by architect The Manser Practice and funded by the Isle of Man Government, the project will see a 30,000 sq ft terminal built at the site, which sits within the wider £5bn Liverpool Waters.

Place North West first revealed contractor Sisk had been appointed to the project last month, and subject to planning, work will start in the summer; the project is due to hand over in October 2020, and the first ferries are expected to be up and running by the end of that year.

Vehicle access will be via a link road, currently being delivered by Liverpool City Council, while the development also includes some office space which will be occupied by the Isle of Man Government.

The Isle of Man Government signed a long-term leasehold with Peel, understood to be for around 190 years, on the site in September last year. The construction value of the scheme is around £20m, while the GDV is around £30m. Aecom is also working on the project alongside The Manser Practice.

The scheme is set to go before Liverpool City Council’s planning committee next week with a recommendation to approve.

The planning officers’ report, released ahead of the committee, said: “The new ferry terminal will consolidate and improve an historic ferry connection which has operated for over 200 years connecting the city to the Isle of Man.

“It will also create a number of new jobs and unlock other development opportunities bringing in further investment in to the docklands. The development will provide a new area of public realm and open access to private land creating a new pedestrian route along the dockside.

“It will re-introduce an active maritime use into currently derelict docks enlivening the waterfront and reinforcing the strong identity and sense of place that exists in West Waterloo Dock and Princes Half Tide Dock by building on the existing local built and cultural heritage.”

Sisk’s appointment to the Isle of Man terminal follows the confirmation last year that the city’s cruise terminal had secured a £20m grant to allow construction to begin. This new terminal will host cruise ships year round, and will be built by contractor McLaughlin & Harvey.

It sits roughly opposite the proposed Isle of Man terminal. Nearby, the city council is working up plans for a 200-bed hotel with contractor Wates, while an 1,800-space car park will also be built as part of the development.