The leader of Liverpool Council has heralded the project going ahead
How the view would look from Waterloo warehouse (Brock Carmichael)
The construction of a 28-storey tower as part of a £1bn transformation on the edge of Liverpool city centre is one of the “most ambitious projects” in the city for a century. That is the view of council boss Liam Robinson who heralded the “significant” 250-apartment block at King Edward Triangle receiving planning permission.
The scheme, put forward by Davos Property Developments Limited in conjunction with Beetham Davos Ltd is the first plot of the £1bn King Edward site. Beetham joined forces with KEIE – part of the TJ Morris group which owns Home Bargains – to buy the former King Edward industrial estate on Gibraltar Row on the edge of Liverpool city centre for a landmark high-rise development.
Despite a series of policy clashes and harms being identified with the scheme, city planners have given the go-ahead for the striking new development. Cllr Robinson said amid objections the council saw the “vision” and “opportunity” the scheme represented.
Part of the Liverpool Waters scheme, a long-term project from Peel Waters to transform the city’s post-industrial northern docklands, the King Edward project will be a high-rise residential development comprising more than 1,000 apartments. The tower, designed by Brock Carmichael, comprises 255 one and two-bed apartments.
The development focuses on the plot which includes the former Bacchus Taverna at the junction of Waterloo Road and the now stopped-up Galton Street, at the northwest boundary of the seven-acre development site.
A residents’ lounge, gym and workspace will be provided on the first floor, with the top floor boasting two indoor lounges and a large outdoor space for barbecues and social gatherings. The King Edward Triangle is one of the five neighbourhoods of Liverpool Waters, combined with Central Docks, Clarence Docks, Princes Dock and Northern Docks.
Speaking at the city council’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Robinson said: “Particularly pleased to see earlier this week that the very exciting plans for King Edward Triangle, one of the most significant and ambitious projects I believe our city will see in this century, the first stage of that development received its planning permission. Really looking forward to seeing that coming forward.
Cllr Liam Robinson in his office at the Cunard Building. (Image: Liverpool Echo)
“Disappointed that some of our political opponents don’t support that, but then again, we see the vision, we see the opportunity and we’re determined to see those things delivered going forward.” Concerns were raised by councillors regarding a number of elements of the development.
Cllr Pat Moloney, who sought to block the development, said: “This is going to be a prestigious development right on the waterfront, commanding views of Liverpool and the bay. I cannot believe this scheme cannot contribute under section 106.”
Cllr Moloney also said it was “reckless” of the applicant to only provide 21 parking spaces, eight of which were for electric vehicles. Cllr Billy Lake added: “This is one of the biggest structures we’ve ever seen in this city.“The committee has heard me before going on about brown boxes, this is the daddy of them all. There are too many rooms with no natural light and it’s a nondescript appearance.
“You’re going to be able to see this from the Isle of Man.” Planning officers acknowledged that while there were some clashes with existing policy, it was deemed the harms were outweighed by public benefits.
This included the lack of any affordable housing provision. Despite this, the scheme was passed.
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