Work has begun on creating a permanent new car park at Kings Dock to replace the one destroyed in a fire on New Year’s Eve 2017.
Liverpool City Council has appointed Willmott Dixon to construct the nine-floor facility which will have a capacity for 1,454 cars.
Ground clearing works have commenced on site and the new car park is scheduled to open in summer 2020.
A temporary four-floor car park, with capacity for 550 vehicles, opened in December to support events at the city’s waterfront event campus for the next 18 months, whilst the new car park is built at nearby Monarch’s Quay.
The new £30m car park, covering approximately 500,000 sqft, will follow the same internal circulation layout as the council’s recently opened Victoria Street car park, which was also built by Willmott Dixon.
Its design will feature a series of gentle ramps along the circulation lanes and it will be fitted with 15 electric charging points and a full sprinkler system.
The demolition of the damaged Liverpool Waterfront car park, which was destroyed in the 1,000 degrees Celsius blaze, is almost complete. It will then be levelled and made safe before being incorporated into a wider masterplan for Kings Dock.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “I’m delighted we’ve now begun to start building a new permanent car park to support the M&S Bank Arena, Exhibition Centre Liverpool and ACC Liverpool.
“It’s been a fantastic effort by all concerned that not one event at our waterfront venues was cancelled in the aftermath of the fire.
“This new facility will provide the waterfront with a car park fit for the future. The site of the original car park will be a useful asset in how we shape the next phase of the regeneration of Kings Dock.”
Anthony Dillon, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the North, said: “From the moment we received the call from Liverpool City Council in the immediate aftermath of the fire, we’ve been committed to supporting the regeneration of Kings Dock, and we’re thrilled to be able to continue that work.
“In total, across the city of Liverpool, we have delivered more than £90m of community and regeneration projects, and have invested over £75m with local businesses. We are delighted to begin our latest project for Liverpool City Council and to be leaving a lasting positive legacy for the people of Merseyside.”
Bob Prattey, Chief Executive of The ACC Liverpool Group, said: “We are embarking on an exciting phase with the construction of the new permanent car park and we ask for visitors’ continued patience as building work takes place.
“When open, it will benefit visitors to the multitude of conference, entertainment events and exhibitions we hold across the site. In the meantime we are pleased to have a temporary multi-storey car park adjacent to our venues.
“We are working with Liverpool City Council to explore opportunities for the site of the former car park and will ensure that plans enhance the continued development of the campus and the city.”
