Ten years on, contractors in place for Edge Lane upgrade

Birse Civils has won the contract to deliver long-awaited improvements to Edge Lane on the route into Liverpool from the M62, crucial work that spent years mired in legal challenges.

Plans to demolish houses and widen the road at the western end were first tabled a decade ago but campaigners, led by local resident Elizabeth Pascoe, succeeded in quashing the first compulsory purchase order on a technicality in 2006. A second CPO was granted in September 2008 and Pascoe, who said she had run out of money needed to fight the public sector proposals, stepped aside.

Birse Civils, based in Cheadle Hulme, will demolish 125 houses fronting Edge Lane and widen the road to a dual carriageway, as it is at the eastern end of Edge Lane towards the motorway.

There will be new pedestrian crossings, traffic lights, landscaping and public realm including sculptures and feature lighting.

Birse Civils, part of the Balfour Beatty group, pipped Bam Nuttall, Carillion Construction and Morrison Construction to the contract.

A further 250 properties will be demolished nearby under a separate contract, yet to be procured by Liverpool City Council, as part of a housing renewal programme.

Earlier phases of the Edge Lane project have seen new entrances to the Liverpool Science Park and extensive landscaping and highways improvements to other parts of the busy road.

The project is funded by the Homes & Communities Agency, Liverpool City Council and coordinated by Liverpool Vision.

Birse Civils will spend the first three months of the 23-month contract moving utilities pipes and services. Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

Your Comments

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Contrary to the published story, the new entrance & Innovation Boulevard development off Edge Lane was created for Liverpool Innovation Park & not the Science Park as published.

The Liverpool Innovation Park & the Liverpool Science Park are distinct & separate parts of the same innovation ecosystem.

By Mark Tock

what in god’s name is a innovation ecosystem?

By anon

I can’t believe this is actually going ahead. For years I have driven past these properties and wished they were renovated to their past glory, willed Elizabeth Pascoe to win. Shame on the council and housing trusts who have allowed them to fall into such a state of disrepair that people now look at them as an eyesore or impediment to improvement. We are losing a piece of our heritage and a potential great gateway into the city.

By K Johnson

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