Revised plans for Via Verde to be submitted in December
Mees Demolition Group has cleared the700,000 sq ft Via Verde site in Liverpool to make way for more than 1,300 apartments, with a revised planning application due to be submitted by the end of the year.
The former DP Watson Building has been demolished and the site cleared over an eight-week period to allow a new proposal for Via Verde to go ahead.
The site on the corner of Leeds Street and Vauxhall Road has been long mooted as a major residential development in Liverpool, with plans for Via Verde first approved in 2008.
Eldonian Property proposed to build than 400 homes and office space at Via Verde, with the scheme given the green light by the council, despite it being recommended for rejection by planning officers.
However, this development was never progressed. Eldonian then submitted a second planning application in 2016, including 914 residential apartments across five blocks ranging between four and 12 storeys in height.
The 2016 application, which had Day Architectural and planner Knight Frank in its professional team, also included 28,000 sq ft of commercial space; 6,600 sq ft of retail space; and a rooftop restaurant.
Eldonian Projects is now aiming to submit a revised planning application for the project in December this year, with hopes to start the project in spring 2018, subject to planning approval.
The latest proposal includes 1,308 apartments across five blocks varying between 18 and 21 storeys in height. There will be 468 one-bed apartments, 468 two-beds, 234 studios, 78 three-beds and 60 town houses.
As well as residential accommodation, the development will also provide 55,000 sq ft of commercial space at ground floor and mezzanine level, spread across all five blocks, and 682 parking spaces.
Thomas Mee, director at Mees Demolition Group said: “This site, often referred to as Via Verde, is the largest on the new northern boundary that is creating space for the expansion of the business district as well as providing a range of residential properties.
“My team pride ourselves on dismantling and clearing sites of all sizes on time and this vast site was no different with us coming in on time so the next stage of development can take place.”