Lime Street CPO row rumbles on

The Homes & Communities Agency remains locked in legal argument with Barbara Daley Hair & Beauty over the level of compensation for moving to make way for the new £8m Lime Street Gateway entrance to Liverpool's main station.

The HCA served a compulsory purchase order which saw several shops vacated and demolished ahead of the long-awaited public realm scheme. The work by Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering is close to completion.

Barbara Daley relocated to nearby North Western Halls to make way for the scheme but the cost of the fit-out at the new base is being disputed.

A spokesman for the HCA said: "The HCA has been actively engaged in reaching voluntary agreements with all parties affected by the Lime Street Gateway Compulsory Purchase Order in relation to compensation payments. Currently, there is only one remaining outstanding compensation claim that is to be settled. Whilst the HCA remains committed to reaching agreement with the affected party, that party has recently referred the question as to the amount of compensation they are to receive to the Lands Tribunal. Negotiations with the outstanding party will continue in parallel with the Lands Tribunal process."

The cost to the taxpayer of the legal fees involved in the dispute could not be revealed for confidentiality reasons, the HCA added.