Public views are being sought on a £1bn development that could shape Liverpool's waterfront for generations to come. Ahead of a hybrid planning application likely to be submitted to the city council this summer, operators behind the Kings development around Gibraltar Row on the edge of Liverpool city centre are launching a consultation on the project.
Proposed buildings and zones
A total of 10 buildings are proposed for Kings, which will be divided into three zones. The scheme's residential element will be at the northern end, linking the nearby communities of Waterloo Dock and Pall Mall. Office space will be at the development's southern end, acting as a bridge between the business district and Princes Dock office quarters. The scheme's leisure zone will be in the middle, combining cultural attractions with two hotels, plus cafes, bars and restaurants.
Hybrid planning application details
The hybrid application will seek detailed consent for layout, site services and some of the buildings, with outline consent for the remaining building plots. The application will include four residential towers, two hotels, Grade A offices, a new arts venue, shared workspace for start-ups and tech businesses, and a range of food, beverage and leisure outlets.
In February, Liverpool Council planners gave consent to a 28-storey tower to be built on the seven-acre plot.
Architect's perspective
Chris Bolland, of Brock Carmichael Architects, said: "This is a key moment in the shaping of our final proposals. An awful lot of hard work has gone into our designs, taking into consideration everything from heritage and permeability to layout, massing and scale. The council has been a key partner and offered a robust challenge which has helped us deliver a very strong set of proposals. Now we need to hear what the people of Liverpool and Wirral think."
Exhibition and consultation details
Attendees will be able to review the plans and speak with the design, planning, heritage and transport teams behind the proposals from 10am to 7pm on May 1 and 10am to 4pm on May 2. An exhibition will also be hosted in the Radisson Blu hotel on Old Hall Street. A full consultation website mirroring the exhibition's contents will go live on May 1. The site will be closing for submissions at midnight on May 7, and will be found at www.kingsconsultation.com.
Developer's comments
Hugh Frost, chairman of Beetham Davos Limited, acting for the applicant KEIE – part of the TJ Morris group which owns Home Bargains – added: "This is everyone's skyline and the online consultation will help ensure we fully reflect the views of people from across Merseyside. We have thought very carefully about historic sight-lines from the Wirral shore and are in no doubt that the development, when complete, will add huge value and interest to those of its residents and businesses with views of Liverpool."
