No inquiry call-in for Via Verde

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has decided not to hold a public inquiry into the large mixed-use Via Verde scheme planned by Viride Holdings for Leeds Street and Vauxhall Road in Liverpool.

The nine-storey, £85m scheme, a joint venture with the nearby Eldonian village community trust, won unanimous approval in July from the city council but was referred to central Government due to its scale.

Via Verde will create more than 350 new homes, including over 100 family units, along with 90,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and offices.

Will Tasker, of Jersey-based Viride, said: "We are delighted the scheme has cleared this hurdle. It means we are now in a position to move forward with the project and we look forward to commencing work in 2009, with a completion date in 2011. The project will make a vast difference to Vauxhall Road by creating a new high street on the very fringe of the city centre."