New vision unveiled for Liverpool’s waterfront
Peel Waters has submitted its revised £5bn Liverpool Waters masterplan, which recently received a £55m funding boost from Homes England to enable the delivery of the 2,350-home Central Docks
Focussed on 150 acres between Princes Dock and Northern Docks in Liverpool, the masterplan outlines the basic vision of the 30-year regeneration project. This is the second iteration of the masterplan, with the original having been approved 11 years ago.
The revised masterplan includes Everton’s Bramley Moore Dock Stadium, more public realm, and a broader mix of house types and affordable homes. You can get a sense of what it will entail by looking at the newly released CGI at the top of this article.
Much of the space dedicated to offices, retail, leisure, and resi has been chopped from the original version of the application. The tweaked masterplan is set to include 1.2m sq ft of offices, 280,000 sq ft of retail, 6.6m sq ft of residential, and 290,000 sq ft of leisure. Those numbers in the original framework had been 3.3m sq ft, 880,000 sq ft, 7.2m sq ft, and 355,000 sq ft, respectively.
Regardless of the square footage breakdown, development director Chris Capes has emphasised that the masterplan changes say nothing about Peel’s goals for the area.
“As this new image shows, we haven’t compromised on the scale and ambition of this project but we have reflected on what is most important for the future of this historic site, both as an international tourist destination and for the communities who want to live and work here every day,” Capes said.
“Central Docks alone will deliver thousands of new homes, alongside commercial, retail, leisure and community infrastructure and public spaces over the next ten years.”
Capes also said: “Our new vision for Liverpool Waters is both exciting and inspiring, driven by the people of Liverpool and the urgent need to create a sustainable place for future generations to live, work and visit.”
Torus development sets the level needed in the 10 streets area . High quality see if peel can match it the site is spectacular don’t let the city down
By George
No towers please, it would cause too much wind and nobody much likes them
By Anonymous
Looks terrible. What a disappointment.
By Anonymous
At first it was a little disheartening to see the ambition of the taller elements has dwindled quite a bit, however with all that land behind it could potentially lead to a really fantastic and dynamic waterfront view, with these tiers of buildings stacking up behind one another (of course, that requires some of these to get spades in the ground to begin with..)
By Anonymous
Looks boring – just blocks with a bit of colour
By Anonymous
Liverpool has a rich history and has a lot going for it without the huge shows of development power from the big hitters.
The main problem with attracting anyone in this country to anywhere is the weather, all cities in the UK lack covered areas, that includes trees (Manchester is the worst) and there doesn’t feel like there’s much landscaping here or acknowledgement of our adverse climate.
By Mike
Believe it when I see it. Peel’s is hardly a track record of dynamism and delivery as far as Liverpool Waters goes, now is it?
By Anonymous
Wouldn’t it be good to see a tram or a cool mono-rail (pushing my luck I know) system linking the stadium through to say Albert Dock. Visited Toronto last year and the public transport was a pleasure to use, even a loop to the mighty Toronto FC (BMO Field) from Union. Regeneration whether on this site or Festival Gardens needs to remove the need for cars. People need the choice, it shouldn’t be a necessity, it’s expensive, not green and adds to congestion. Imagine if you could even get from the airport to the stadium. To dream a dream…
By G McCain
No way is it still a £5B development. It is very dissapointing but not surprising.
By Jon
If Manchester had a waterfront like that it would have been completed years ago. Years of no vision or ambition from Liverpool leaders is the reason everything gets scaled down.
By Simon Clark
Hopefully it will all be completed this century, maybe by 2050
By Paul76
I would settle for this outcome even with these moderate towers, however it’s kind of laughable in that they seem to be taking credit for the proposed King Edward high rises, as this site was bought by TJ Morris who will be developing the site. Furthermore almost everything else will be built and funded by someone other than Peel who will only receive the lease rent.
By Anonymous
I know this is early stages, but if the ambition for the architectural quality is to be that of shown, then this is very poor
By meh
Lets face it, it doesn’t matter how many revised plans Peel release, none of them are going to happen, as they’ve hardly done anything in the last ten years. Emperors new clothes et al. Best thing Peel can do is sell to someone who actually wants to regenerate and develop the docks in to a thriving, productive area of Liverpool city centre providing thousands of new homes and jobs with dense high quality architecture and a few signature towers set against its stunning riverside location.
By GetItBuilt!
Do not miss this opportunity to get some 50+ storey towers in the Liverpool skyline
By Giant Skyscraper Fan
Looks very blocky. I thought Liverpool was meant to be taking a different approach?
By Oh dear
Only the 15th/16th re-announcement in as many years. Looking forward to the next one
By Anonymous
It’s important not to read too much into the CGIs and visuals. Peel are simply selling off the various serviced plots to developers who will ultimately design the schemes within the parameters set out by the amended outline planning permission. For example, the towers at King Edward Triangle are simple massing blocks to show what they have outline consent for – TJ Morris/Beetham will be designing the final product.
By Anonymous
We want preservation and some greenery. Why do some people support anything that makes us look like everywhere else.
By Bixteth boy
A copy+paste of Marina Bay, Singapore with a few small tweaks is all that is needed. Developers should have the easiest job in the world with this.
By Verticality
Peel do have a record of delivery in Manchester, Salford and Trafford however it’s generally comes with dull uninteresting architecture, looks like Peel are following their standard playbook with these proposals.
By Anonymous
looks terrible, so disappointing from all involved
By Anonymous
this will take peel to 2050 before the area resembles anything like that
By Anonymous
Well done Liverpool Labour now you can show the rest of the UK just how ambitious and business minded you are not.
By Anonymous
That looks awful! Where’s the ambition? This area could have become an iconic skyline with iconic skyscrapers. This, this is just… mehr. I feel that in a couple of decades other cities will be flying ahead (as they already are) and Liverpool will be shunted with minimal growth with nothing but themselves to blame. Why would a business open in Liverpool or a young worker stay when Manchester is just down the road providing the jobs/workforce that is needed.
By MC
Looks rubbish, like all new developments in the UK just bland with no character or architectural merit
By Anonymous
so disappointing to see how small this masterplan has become, started off with so much ambition, to end up like this is so sad for the people of Liverpool
By michael
Had to double take as this just looks like Peels Salford Quays scheme from 1993. If it is ever built like this it will need to be revisited within 20-30 years (as per the Quays).
By T.D. Smith
We cherish and protect the old architecture yet we build the most unimaginative and dull blocks nowadays.
By Mike
Lets just get this land built on, because as it is, it’s nothing and anything is better than nothing!!
By Anonymous
The clock tower looks nice.
By Anonymous
I’m sure we were promised a Beijing style skyline?!
By Anonymous
@July 16, 2.55pm, “preservation and greenery”…so you want to preserve what’s there ie a wasteland of dereliction and twisted metal , and as regards greenery there’s plenty of that too in the form of weeds, long grass, and out of control, wild shrubs. Yes keep the dockside and the water but this land needs to be built on with high density residential so this city repopulates and the economy recovers so our central and local shopping areas remain viable.
By Anonymous
Looks awfully like New York , a bit too much blocky, need more open spaces ??
By Pauline Hinton
Peel won’t be building anything here so don’t worry, the finished designs won’t resemble this cgi at all. The only thing that’s correct about that scene is the location of Central Park, which I think will be great for the area. Peel have sat on this land and their hands for far too long but I think the stadium and king Edward site will be the catalyst for change north of the city centre. Exciting times ahead!
By MT Hadd
The site is a really extraordinary site which deserves a really extraordinary plan which shows real vision and imagination. What Peel have come up with is a very ordinary plan which is totally lacking in vision and imagination which would relegate this part of Liverpool’s waterfront to one which is totally forgetable and one that has been copied the world over. Liverpool deserves the best and should have the best in terms of designs and plans. The ideas need to stand out and yes be seen as iconic and unforgettable as many of Liverpool’s other waterfront buildings are. I am not holding my breath as I cannot see any change being made down there for at least another 20 years anyway.
By Brendan R
Scanning through the comments there is a massive tendency to compare Liverpool to Manchester. A significant part of this seems to be with an ulterior motive.
By Committed Scouser
So the aim is to look small, dull, bland & boring all at the same time. Achieved. Will move to Deansgate as atleast they combine large and sleek with the old and actually make it work. At this point those liverpool cgi’s make the city an eyesore tbh.
By Anonymous
Genuinely what is the point of continually pumping out these revised CGIs and masterplans when nothings changed in terms of actual delivery? Just screams of actions for the sake of public perception that somethings happening. If it hadn’t been for Everton building the ground within the area there’d be next to nothing to crow about.
Hopefully the proposed financial commitment from Govt. results in something actually happening above the window dressing.
By Anon
Looks very underwhelming for such a world famous and prestigious location is this the best they can offer ? Peel seem to excel in consultations and revisions i think we would all rather see some spades in the ground , just get on with it please.
By Paul M - Woolton
This is prime waterfront real estate and this is what the developers were paid a lot of money to come up with? It’ll all be torn down and rebuilt in 50-100 years when they realise what poor quality this is for the area.
By Quail
After over a decade it appears that Peel have only been able to attract a small group of residential developers onto Liverpool Waters in the form of Moda, Romal, and Vermont. In order to turn these outline photo images into reality somewhere along the way Peel will have attract some really big developers as this site will need the input of a Battersea Power Station or up behind Kings Cross and St Pancras stations. Liverpool really needs this project to succeed so hopefully some shovels can be in the ground in the next few years and maybe a large portion of this built by 2034.
By Anonymous
I was working as a senior manager in a company which gave the vision for Liverpool after 1981 riots.Save Albert Docks for Liverpool and organise an international garden festival at the site where the refuse was dumped for years.Both initiatives no cost to Liverpool.The vision for the waterfront was to preserve the 3 graces and to build properties to enhance this iconic coast line.Later it was recognised as a world heritage site.Yes today what you see in Liverpool started with those two initiatives given to the government of the day.
At present Liverpool needs improved transport structure to take cars off the roads.Sadly no new roads have been built to ease the traffic coming and leaving Liverpool.
By Anonymous
This is a vision for Liverpool Waters and nothing guaranteed, it seems Liverpool City Council have visions too, or are they hallucinations? They keep telling us we have billions of £s worth of investment coming, but I can’t see it, there’s no meaningful planning applications coming through and like Liverpool Waters we wonder why.
By Anonymous
Boring skyline, won’t make me visit the area, taller building needed.
By Albert
Now doubt an awful lot of money will be made out of 2,350 home central docks, and Everton Football Club, including Moshiri will get absolutely no credit for kicking the whole thing off, in the first place whilst any follow-up or development will be dragged out of those with the money, screaming.
Bramley Moore Dock apart, the rest looks like a box of frogs.
By the time it is completed I will be dead, and my Lad will be considering retirement.
Go figure.🙄🙄🙄
By Dane Munro
A lot can change in 30 years, why didn’t they focus on brining three ten year plans forward from the beginning? Personally I don’t see anything bold here, its become something without that world class vision that was once promised, of course needs and requirements change, but this is a strategic area of one of our greatest cities. Still, we must remember what was there before I suppose.
By Cristoforo