Liverpool earmarks docklands for creative zone

Liverpool City council’s cabinet will meet on Friday to consider a new development framework for the city’s Northern docklands, in which the council has identified a 27-acre priority zone for regeneration known as Ten Streets.

The council said it wants to create a ‘Cultural Enterprise Industry Hub’ to complement the £5.5bn Liverpool Waters project being brought forward by Peel, and the investment by Harcourt Developments at Stanley Dock.

A recommendation is going to the cabinet on Friday 14 October to approve the Atlantic Corridor Development Framework. The first phase of the framework prioritises a 27-acre stretch of land called Ten Streets, which begins less than one mile from the city centre’s commercial district and runs to the Stanley Dock complex.

The council’s view is that many of the warehouses and dockside buildings in the Ten Streets zone lend themselves to conversions and with a low rents base, are considered an ideal location to attract artistic, creative and digital businesses. Peel and Harcourt are two of the main landholders within the site.

According to the report to the cabinet, £260m has been invested in new developments within the Atlantic Corridor boundary since January 2012, £52m is currently on site and a further £130m of development has planning permission or is in the pipeline.

Key proposals of the Atlantic Corridor Development Framework include:

  • Provide the stimulus and foundation for new development, new projects and new initiatives in this part of North Liverpool
  • Provide clear, direct links across the Atlantic Corridor to connect Ten Streets and Liverpool Waters with the key east west pedestrian and cycleways
  • Retention and conversion of historic warehouse and dockland structures to provide increased activity along street frontages, particularly at the lower floor level and in the evenings
  • Contemporary approaches to building and streetscape designs to create a distinct sense of place
  • Building scale, form and massing to respond to the scale and drama of the warehouses, streets and framed views of the River Mersey and proposed Liverpool Waters cityscape

A masterplan is being worked up for Ten Streets, in which the council will outline plans to blend historic buildings with new developments, similarly to the transformation of the city’s Baltic Triangle.

At Stanley Dock, Harcourt is on site with a multi-million pound redevelopment, which has already seen the completion of the Titanic Hotel and Rum Warehouse Conference Centre. The developer has begun preparatory work on its next phase, the residential conversion of the vast Tobacco Warehouse. The renovation includes 538 apartments, a 254-bedroom aparthotel, and 150,000 sq ft of mixed commercial space. 

Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said: “Liverpool’s Atlantic Corridor has the potential to become one of the jewels in the North of England’s economy. It’s been a sleeping giant for far too long and now thanks to work with partners such as Peel and Harcourt we have for the first time in generations a plan to resurrect its fortunes.

‘’In many ways the warehouses that fell silent with the changes in the docks fortunes are now its greatest asset as they are the perfect spaces for start-ups and emerging businesses in the digital and creative sector. There is much work to be done in establishing the Ten Streets as a brand and location, but the vision is there, the support is there from the city council and, crucially, the private sector to deliver something very special.’’

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£5.5bn Liverpool Waters project being brought forward by Peel…not in my lifetime and i’m only 33!

By Bored now

Princes Dock will see a couple of buildings on site next year, the cruise liner terminal and the IOM ferry terminal will be built and if Everton get the docks, it will be a catalyst for more work in and around Liverpool Waters. Things may start to happen a lot quicker in next to no time, have faith.

By John.

It’s going to start next year and already a number of major projects on site currently.

By Jack

All very well declaring that every run down warehouse neighbourhood is the perfect breeding ground for artistic, creative and digital businesses, but has anyone demonstrated a business case? As good as Baltic T is, it did cannibalise the previously artistic, creative and digital community of the Rope Walks (to the latter’s detriment). Won’t this now cannibalise and dilute what is being achieved in Baltic?

By Sydney Youngblood

How does this proposal, Baltic and the planned investment at Littlewoods link?

By Stan

No, no, no and no again. Why on earth would creative industries want to be so disconnected from the city centre? Bold Street/ Central Village/ Baltic Triangle/ University Qtr – these are the creative areas. Stick with them, promote them. Leave the docks for Port related industries and sports/venue stadia.

By Chris

Creatives are providing business services. If the “cluster” is really growing rather than people trying to hype up its importance then they must be selling more of their services to more businesses. Question is, which businesses and where?

By Fuster Cluck

Liverpool: mega potential, but just can’t seem to ‘click’.

By Mizzer

MIZZER: Liverpool can’t seem to click ? that is poppycock!

By Mancypie

“Creatives are providing business services. If the “cluster” is really growing rather than people trying to hype up its importance then they must be selling more of their services to more businesses. Question is, which businesses and where?”

Erm, your comment sems to assume that the Liverpool creative sector has already reached saturation point in terms of supplying Liverpool businesses. Which it hasn’t. There’ll still be loads of Liverpool businesses that procure their creative/digital requirements elsewhere (Manchester, dare I suggest). Then of course there’s that little market called the rest of the world. See, there’s this wondrous new invention called t’internet, allows digital business in particular (which is what the vast majority of “creative” businesses now are) to supply their products and services to anyone, anywhere at anytime. Sounds like good news to me, long may the natural ebullience of the Liverpudlians continue to flourish in a sector that is so well suited..

By John

Not implying anything. Just cynical about any government hype around clusters. It’s becoming a bit of a cliche.

At the end of the day, to be growing, this sector must be selling more of their services. If so, to whom? Local firms? Other indigenous companies? Overseas? What is the evidence for this or is it just speculation?

By Fuster Cluck

LIVERPOOL EARMARKS DOCKLANDS FOR DOCK ZONE. Imagine that.

By franz

Liverpool has had the second highest digital/creative sector growth rate in the UK in recent years, despite the fact that the figures only measure the city not the city region.

By Alfie

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