Prime Liverpool site hits the market
Developers have until late October to come up with a compelling bid and vision for what is billed as one of the region’s best regeneration sites – Merseyside’s Police’s former Canning Place headquarters.
Located next to Liverpool ONE overlooking Salthouse Dock, the 2.64-acre site “provides a unique opportunity to create something special”, according to Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell.
“We want this pivotal plot of land to be used for a bold, ambitious, high-quality development that will enhance the city’s vibrant spirit, attract visitors and businesses, and benefit local people,” she said.
What that something special is remains to be seen but the site is likely to generate interest from developers working across a variety of sectors.
The PCC is inviting bids from developers with a “track record of transforming high-profile sites”. In Liverpool that would include Grosvenor, which developed the adjacent Liverpool ONE and Ion, which was behind the redevelopment of Mann Island.
Colliers is marketing the site and the closing date for bids is 24th October 2024. Mace and Placed are also advising the PCC.
Proceeds from the sale will be used to enhance the police estate as part of an ongoing 12-year investment plan, Spurrell added.
Merseyside Police started vacating Canning Place in 2021 when the force’s £48m Rose Hill headquarters completed.
“Moving Merseyside Police’s headquarters from Canning Place to Rose Hill is already saving the organisation approximately £550,000 each year,” she said.
Always bizarre for the bizzies to be holding on to such a prime piece of real estate for so many decades. Strange city.
By Anonymous
The PCC has been in her post since 2021 and she and Merseyside Police have known for some years this building would become vacant so why has it not been aggressively marketed well before now.
Of course there will be hindrances as to what any developer can do here, not least Liverpool Council’s height phobia.
It certainly is very much a prime site that deserves something memorable and of high quality, let’s hope some big hitting developers are keen.
By Anonymous
Fantastic site , I generally support high buildings but don’t agree with a high building in this location…but quality is crucial
By George
One of the best sites anywhere, surrounded by some prime real estate. Whatever comes forward, one has to hope that the police and the council hold out for top quality design and place-making.
Mixed-use is clearly the way forward: what a place for high-end hotels, resi and leisure. There’s a useful height precedent at the rear of the site on the corner of Park Lane, and that should be exploited.
By More Anonymous than the others
This has to be one of the prime development sites in the region. Hopefully whichever developer is eventually chosen to take the site forward will give the city a building or even buildings that could be considered to be called ‘the fourth grace or graces’ given the waterfront location of the site and its close proximity to the other ‘three graces’. Only the very best in terms of design and construction will be good enough for this site!
By Brendan R
A Liverpool Opera House, new Music Hall or Theatre would be nice.
By Stu
An easy downmarket office to resi conversion and a surface car park to boot. What more could your average Liverpool property “developer” ask for.
By John
With a fantastic waterfront don’t always need anonymous tall buildings for effect. City would benefit from a few skyscrapers to book end the stunning architecture and views already present in the central city though
By Friar
Please keep it as at least a medium rise building – maybe repurpose to save on carbon??
By Phil Ingham
I visited Manchester last week and was so impressed at the rapidly changing skyline of the City Centre. Surely we here in Liverpool now need to grasp the opportunity at this site and deliver a mixed use development of height and scale. Rennaker should buy this site and replicate their scheme at Deansgate Square. Come on Liverpool!
By Mrs Johnston
Agree with all the comments, it needs to be mixed use with high quality materials, no random plastic cladding please, decent height and active street frontage on all sides if possible and I don’t mean another Greggs. Manchester is attracting the likes of Arm so come on Liverpool get those new companies and activities in to the city.
By GetItBuilt!
I assume this site is for sale, then if so how can Emily Spurrell dictate to any buyer or developer what they build on it. Yes we all want to see something worthy of this location, something exciting and memorable, but someone might buy the site and offer up a vision but then withdraw it and embark on something else.
Let`s just hope that plenty of reputable buyers emerge who have the financial clout to deliver a good outcome.
By Anonymous
As with the King Edward Triangle, this site will be a litmus test for the Council’s ability to work with developers and deliver something of real quality. Right now, they are clearly a brake on development, sacrificing investment and job creation on the altar of their ideology.
By Anonymous
Apparently the development should be ‘two tier’…
By Anonymous
Didn’t Ion give us the Premier Inn on Lime St, on the old Futurist site, surely we need better than that.
By Anonymous
She forgot to include ‘inclusivity’ etc etc
By Eric
By what Academic and Intelligence Quota, does Emily Spurril and the community of chimmne sweeps bottle washers and wheel tappers qualify as Masters of the Universe in the development and financial wellbeing of this prime site.
The Duke of Westminster is an hereditary property development experts. If he were to buy it, his Grovesnor development team would be ideal for a successful future.
The local councillors are 1st class at spending money on cycle lanes and increasing councillors expense gratis payments.
Bah Humbug
By Anonymous
Keep it low key nothing too flashy and cheap so we don’t look liken we are doing that well to the world
By Anonymous
Let’s hope they build something better than Student Accommodation or Buy to Let’s.
By Anonymous