A key step in creating a new “creativity district” in Liverpool will take a step closer this week.
Liverpool city council’s Cabinet is being asked to endorse the commissioning of a Spatial Regeneration Framework (SRF) – a key planning document that will shape the future development of the Ten Streets area, which sits on the city’s Atlantic Corridor.
The SRF document is a critical piece in the Ten Streets masterplan as it will be considered for adoption as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to assist in the determination of all future planning applications in the area and any potential use of the Council’s Compulsory Purchase Orders.
The Cabinet report will be debated on Friday, 7 April and comes just two months after the successful launch of the Ten Streets vision, which unveiled 10 big ideas to regenerate 125 acres of former dockland between the northern edge of the city centre and the landmark Tobacco warehouse at Stanley Dock.
Ten Streets has the potential for up to 1 million square foot of development, delivering around 2,500 new jobs, and the city is keen to attract creative companies and enterprises to flourish alongside artistic organisations – which will include the UK’s first revolving theatre.
The area also lies on the boundary of Peel’s £5.5bn Liverpool Waters scheme with Stanley Dock situated less than a mile from Bramley Moore Dock – the proposed home for Everton Football Club’s new stadium. Subject to funding, a planning application on that site is expected early next year.
The city council has already made a big commitment to improving transport infrastructure in the area and is currently investing £100m in upgrading the roads, creating a new Cruise terminal and is in talks to establish new rail connections.
Last week the city council also approved Regional Growth Fund to be invested in The Kazimier’s Invisible Wind Factory which is seen as one of the primary creative incubators in the district.
Ten Streets is also a key part of the city’s big picture regeneration vision that will deliver £11 billion investment and create 40,000 new jobs in total over the next ten years. As a creative economy district, Ten Streets will complement other employment areas like the Knowledge Quarter, Commercial District and Liverpool Waters.
Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said: “The launch of the Ten Streets district was a phenomenal success and has generated a huge amount of interest from the creative sector.
“The vision for the area is the right one and now we need to move to the next stage to start creating the foundations on which to build an exciting new future for this historic part of North Liverpool.
“This is a long term project but the pieces of the jigsaw are starting to fall into place and I’m hugely encouraged by the partners who are working with the council that we can deliver something totally unique in the UK.”
The SRF will be drafted and ready for consultation by summer and completed before the end of 2017. The project will be overseen by a steering group made of up of local stakeholders.
Key partners in the Ten Streets scheme also include Harcourt Developments who are the city’s development partner on the project along with Paris-based architectural practice AWP whose work includes the 365 acre strategic masterplan for the Paris Central Business District.
The SRF consultants, who are to be appointed subject to Cabinet approval, will be procured through the Pagabo ‘Asset Management, Surveying and Design’ Framework.
