The Homes and Communities Agency has unveiled a new masterplan for Kings Dock, Liverpool, which sets out a vision and development framework for a leisure-led, mixed-use quarter that is set to create up to 1,000 jobs.
Working with Liverpool City Council and the Arena Convention Centre Liverpool (ACCL), the HCA has devised the plan to guide development at Kings Dock to maximise the growing visitor economy and enhance opportunities for existing and future residents of the area.
It positions the quarter as a destination in its own right, building on its history and heritage and maximising the attractive dockside location.
The masterplan provides a framework for a mixed-use development that is anchored around new destination leisure uses that add to the tourism offer of the waterfront. The new development will also create a pleasant neighbourhood with attractive public squares and open spaces allowing access to the water space.
The development and design principles are set out in an accompanying planning brief including the layout of the development; its relationship with surrounding sites, neighbours and heritage; the quality of the public realm and architecture; and links to the docks, South Docks Waterspace and the Albert Dock developments.
The new masterplan builds on the successful first stage of development of the northern half of the Kings Waterfront site that is home to the world class Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool, hotels, restaurants, multi-storey car park and apartments. It supersedes the original residential-led masterplan from 2003 reflecting the increasing opportunities presented by the growing visitor economy on the waterfront, including the forthcoming £40m expansion of the Arena and Convention Centre due to open in 2015 on the adjacent site.
Deborah McLaughlin, HCA Executive Director for the North West, said: “The masterplan has been designed to help continue the transformation of Liverpool into one of the UK’s most business and enterprise-friendly cities and position the city as an international conference and events destination. The proposals are wide-ranging to ensure that the emerging development framework is relevant, realistic and deliverable in the current economic climate. As landowner, the HCA is committed to ensuring that the Kings Dock contributes hugely to the prosperity of Liverpool.”
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, said: “This is an important piece of work, which will guide the future development of Kings Dock. The masterplan lays out our vision to maximise the potential of the area, so we can make it an outstanding, international, visitor destination. Great progress has been made at Kings Dock in recent years and this plan will help us build on that momentum. It supports our recently launched Strategic Investment Framework for the city centre, which includes plans to drive forward the regeneration of the waterfront, increasing visitor numbers, boosting our economy and creating jobs.”
During the production of the masterplan, stakeholder and public consultations were undertaken. The HCA will be marketing and seeking developer partners during 2015.