Visionary plans for the regeneration of Liverpool’s Chinatown were today given unanimous support by Liverpool City Council’s Planning Committee.
Developers, North Point Global, are now pledging to start work on the £200 million development early in the New Year with completion of phase one scheduled by the middle of 2017.
The New Chinatown project will deliver 850 new homes, businesses, leisure facilities, a hotel and a unique Chinese retail core. The decision comes less than six months after the selection of North Point Global as preferred developers for the key site by Liverpool City Council and former site owners Urban Splash.
North Point Global Chair Peter McInnes said:”Today’s decision is great news and is the culmination of six months of very intensive work by our design, development and planning team. We have also had fantastic support from the City Council’s planners and politicians who have shown incredible resolve to support the delivery of this transformational vision for Chinatown. I would also like to thank organisations and businesses in Chinatown who have provided support, advice and encouragement during the design and planning phase.”
Liverpool Deputy Mayor, Cllr Ann O’Byrne added: “Today’s decision is a key step forward for this crucial project, and we look forward to working with the developer so that their vision becomes reality.”
The New Chinatown project has been identified by the Government as one of the key projects within the Northern Powerhouse initiative, and the scheme was presented recently to the Chinese Premier’s delegation during his visit to Manchester. The scheme is fully funded and is being backed by both North Point’s established Chinese investment partners and the UKTI’s Regeneration Investment Organisation.
The development aims to create an entirely new kind of Chinatown that captures the energy and intensity of modern China, and creates a hub for Chinese businesses and retailers keen for a foothold in the UK. Lead Architect for the scheme, Antonio Garcia for BLOK Architecture said:”From the beginning we have had a vision for an essentially Chinese development that will breathe new life and vibrancy into an historic but recently declining area. The Chinese theme has informed our design philosophy, the mix of uses and in particular the new retail and commercial core that will become a major new destination within the city.”
Peter McInnes added:”This is potentially one of the most exciting and original developments being delivered in the UK today. It has caught the imagination of everyone from local politicians, investors, the UK Government and the community. New Chinatown will be creating a city within a city, and we see enormous potential for additional phases and creating a destination of international scale and appeal.”
