Land deal brings Liverpool towers closer to reality
TJ Morris’ development vehicle KEIE has acquired more land at King Edward Triangle, where it plans to bring forward the city’s tallest tower in partnership with the Beetham Organisation.
KEIE has bought an engineering works on Paisley Street, immediately north of King Edward Industrial Estate in Liverpool from owner PMR Engineering Services.
The occupier plans to be out of the building within the next 18 months, which gives the developers time to draw up a masterplan for the tall building cluster. The joint venture’s land holdings now total 5.7 acres.
“This is a key piece in our site assembly, paving the way for our wider masterplan,” said Beetham chairman Hugh Frost.
“The market is naturally very excited about our plans and we’ll be revealing more in due course. For now, we are focused on consolidating our position with a number of leaseholders and dealing with the challenges of deciding on scale, massing and building uses across the proposed redevelopment.”
The partnership between TJ Morris and Beetham to redevelop King Edward Triangle was announced earlier this year. At the time, Frost said he wanted to deliver “a stunning mixed-use development worthy of our great city” on the Gibraltar Row site, which is earmarked for 1,200 homes under the Liverpool Waters masterplan.
Frost is considered by some as a skyscraper pioneer and led the way for the development of tall buildings outside of London in the early part of the 21st century.
His Beetham Organisation is behind well-known towers in Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham – all designed by SimpsonHaugh Architects.
Liverpool’s tallest building, the 40-storey West Tower, was developed by Beetham and is located a stone’s throw from King Edward Triangle.
Brabners acted for TJ Morris on the acquisition of the Paisley Street site. HM3 Law acted for the vendor.
Related Articles
Analysis - Event Summary
Liverpool City Region Development Update | Photos, slides, and summary
A new government, revised city council structure… could these trigger a new dawn for Liverpool and its neighbours? The public and private sector – including Everton FC, Liverpool City Council, and Muse – shared their reasons to be optimistic for the city region’s future, as well as details about the challenges the area faces.
Analysis
PODCAST | Scheming with Nuala Gallagher
This week on Scheming, Liverpool City Council’s corporate director of city development chats with Place North West about looking to mainland Europe for placemaking inspiration, bringing a beach to London, and setting a new tone in Liverpool.
The front section of that engineering works at the top of Paisley St is worth saving and could be turned into a bar or micro brewery, in addition the old Bacchus Greek Taverna in Waterloo Street is also worth saving along with its adjoining building as both could become bars/cafes/shops to serve the local area and increase in residents.
TJ Morris appear to be going about this professionally buying up the required land and properties, they have also promised to do all they can to relocate ousted businesses so they can remain in proximity of the area.
Look forward to see the proposals and expect some high quality design.
By Anonymous
Can’t wait for them to break cover with their designs.
By More Anonymous than the others
Skyscrapers lend themselves better to a waterfront, this will look incredible when it’s done. Hopefully the buildings will have a bit of character though and maybe at least one has a spire.
By Anonymous
Totally brilliant news! I can’t wait to see the development of this area taking place with the backing of well established businesses. Bring on the diggers!
By Brendan R
Interesting that PMR is being wound up as of last week, so why will it take 18 months to vacate?
By Abots
Awaiting with growing excitement at the release of the renders in the near future.
By Liverpool4Progress
Great news they will look amazing on the Waterfront
By Anonymous
No skyscrapers please, they will.make it very windy
By Anonymous
Appreciate that people like sky scrapers on the water front – so why aren’t we doing this with the Festival Gardens isn’t that low rise housing? And what happened with King’s Dock is that still a call centre?
By Bob Dawson
@ Anon 9.29am, skyscrapers or not it`s still windy on the waterfront.
By Anonymous
Pigs may fly whilst this council sits
By Ben
Why does planning and everything else take so long, just get on with it could be three years before building starts
By Larry
Amazing news and cannot happen quick enough that bit of land is a prime location for redevelopment. And has been wasted if the current occupants can be relocated and then it’s a win win. I just hope we have a real vision with it and we need a couple of 50 plus story buildings to make them stand out on the waterfront.
By Djsjtj
TJM bought most of this land from Peel who had done nothing with it for over 15 years . Now TJM have it they are forging ahead with their plans, and maybe if Peel sold more of their land other developers might do the same.
By Anonymous
Larry clearly has no idea how complicated construction projects of this nature are.
By Dr Ian Buildings
What everyone is ignoring is that half this site is owned long leasehold to occupiers who have had no consultation and are unlikely to relinquish their assets without a fight.
By Anonymous