Plans floated to green Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock
Designed by landscape architect Planit, the 375,000 sq ft dock would see improvements to landscaping, its public realm, and visitor experience.
Alterations to the external public spaces around the historic waterfront have been proposed to the Liverpool City Council.
The three-zone project, put forward by Deloitte, would alter the appearance of Mermaid Court, Hartley Quay, and the Northern Gateway, adding greenery and street furniture.
Plans could add up to 40 species of adaptive plants to revitalise an underused public realm.
If approved, work could start in spring 2025.
Helen Legg, chair of the Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, said: “Liverpool’s waterfront, and in particular the Royal Albert Dock, is the city’s greatest asset.
“As the largest collection of grade one-listed buildings in the country, it’s essential that we invest in maintaining and developing the dock.
“We are doing this alongside ambitious plans by Tate and National Museums Liverpool to reimagine the museums on the site thus reinstating Royal Albert Dock’s cultural and heritage significance.”
Zone one which concerns Mermaid Courtyard, is to the south of Mermaid House, by the Tate Liverpool.
The applicant sees this site as an “opportunity to become a local and tourist landmark, where plants and people coexist in a nature-led yet functional extension of Tate Liverpool”.
Proposals would see almost 3,000 sq ft of outdoor, accessible public space added to the area, which aims to be a “launching pad for the gallery”, according to plans.
Street furniture such as lounger seats, benches, and a feature driftwood seat would be implemented.
Plans for zone two at Hartley Quay, home to Royal Albert Dock’s Culture Mile, aspire to “transform the journey into a marathon” rather than a sprint.
Landscaping here would include greenery and improved disability access, hoping to encourage footfall to the area.
The final zone improvements at the Northern Gateway aim to “challenge street clutter and encourage dwell”, according to plans.
As the first experience of Royal Albert Dock from the city centre, the Northern Gateway will be enhanced with way-finding, storytelling, and information boards.
Hartley Quay is one of the three zoned areas to be considered for public realm enhancements. Credit: via Virtual Planit
Danny Marsh, studio director for Planit Liverpool, said: “This was an exciting opportunity to refresh the Royal Albert Dock public realm and reassess the collective priorities of the landlord, tenants, public, and planet.”
He added: “The Royal Albert Dock is one of the most important historical and cultural sites in the UK, and we want to make the external environment befitting of this stature.”
Royal Albert Dock is the freehold ownership vehicle of the wider Albert Dock, owned jointly by General Projects, Neo Capital, Tate Gallery, National Museums Liverpool, and The Colonnades Residential.
Jacob Loftus, chief executive of General Projects, added: “The public realm works proposed set out our intentions to modernise and activate the Royal Albert Dock for the local community and visitors alike.
“This enables us to create a truly unique public offer while celebrating the heritage and cultural qualities that make this area of Liverpool such an intrinsic part of the city.”
The application submitted by Deloitte will be considered by Liverpool City Council.
Others on the project team are GWB, TEP, Clancy, and Chris Page.
To view this application, use the reference 24F/2916 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.
So little happening development-wise in Liverpool at the moment that this becomes headline news. It’ll be nice for the Albert Dock to look even more attractive and these improvements will be welcome, however one of the other schemes mentioned ie the National Museums development Slavery Museum may be in doubt as central government may withhold the money promised by the previous government.
By Anonymous
Looks pleasant
By L17
Beautiful images
By Anonymous
Looks like the waterfront in Toronto
By Watcherzero
Great idea, Liverpool’s tourism sector is booming, this would be a welcome boost to the Albert Dock. Get it done!
By Liverpolitan
I think that the plans put forward will really enhance the ‘Royal Albert Dock’ experience and will I am sure be appreciated by visitors and tenants of ‘the dock’ alike. I just hope that whatever plants they use to ‘green’ the area will be used to what at times can be a harsh environment with salt being carried on the sea spray from the river being carried a fair way inland. I think the investment in these plans makes far more sense than NML’s ‘box in the dock’ plan for Canning dry dock/graving dock. Maybe if the new government are going to hold back £10 million for the whole scheme then the ‘box in the dock’ idea could be shelved. That to me would make real sense!
By Brendan R
Unless planting is in raised beds, weed growth will simply spread, and the raised beds themselves need to be properly maintained – unlike most of the others in the city.
By JA
The Albert Dock really does not get the attention it should it is a really beautiful area – could be so much more. We go to places similar to this when on holiday – yet don’t go there – hoping this will help improve utilisation.
NB hope the new street furniture is skate boarder PROOF.
By Lizzy Baggot
@Watcherzero Lived in Toronto for years – it’s waterfront is a sad collection of hideous high-rise buildings and green spaces built for no one. They’ve managed to make you forget that the city is on one of the largest lakes in the world. Don’t insult our waterfront by comparing it to that mess of poor quality glass and concrete.
By Anonymous
Would be nice if more was done to make areas that are like ghettos now, outside of the city centre, places being left to rot even more
By Anonymous