Liverpool begins hunt for Kings Dock developer
The successful bidder will lead the next phase of regeneration at the waterfront site and draw up plans for a 750-home development across eight acres of dockland.
Kings Dock presents Liverpool’s “clearest opportunity to reach an international standard in design and development”, according to tender documents.
Liverpool City Council has launched a procurement exercise to appoint a development manager to create an “exemplar project for the city [that] will be a clear statement of intent by the council in terms of placemaking and high-quality design and development”.
As well as homes, plans for the site could also include a cruise liner terminal, and cultural and leisure uses.
The regeneration of Kings Dock will be split into two phases. The recently launched procurement exercise is for phase one, which would see the successful party draw up plans for the site with a view to obtaining outline planning permission for the residential-led project.
The company appointed as development manager will be eligible for phase two – the delivery of the scheme – but “their selection is not automatic”, according to tender documents.
Once planning consent is secured, Liverpool City Council’s intends to sell off the sites.
The authority has had full legal title and ownership of King’s Dock since 2017 when it acquired the remaining vacant development plots from Homes England on a 999-year lease for £4.1m.
Prior to the pandemic, Liverpool City Council had been working on a development strategy for Kings Dock.
This proposed selling the plots without planning consent, effectively relinquishing control of what would ultimately be built on the dock.
Bids were received from 20 developers and eight were shortlisted. However, the process was discontinued.
The next phases of regeneration at King’s Dock follow several major developments in the area. These include the M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool Exhibition Centre, a 1,450-space multi-storey car park, 1,800 homes, and three hotels.
Those wishing to bid for the role of development manager – on a two-year £150,000 contract – to lead the next phase of regeneration at Kings Dock have until 29 August to do so.
As least someone in the council is optimistic and great if this comes off, in reality though where are the developers going to come from, and there is talk of another cruise terminal? Meanwhile the arena car park that burnt down is now a vacant site and the flats around it now all empty from 3 years ago, the council has many glorious projects pending in the form of : Cruise Liner terminal and hotel, Garden Festival site, Littlewoods Film Studio, Pall Mall Offices, so this can join the queue.
By Anonymous
The council’s timing is impeccable. Just as we look certain to head into economic turbulence it re-ignites a project for which it received around a dozen really credible bids four or so years ago as the market was rising strongly. I suppose that’s what happens when people without any entrepreneurial instinct get their hands on assets.
By Buyer Beware
This just won’t happen, so many plans so many dreams unfulfilled.
By Dan
Will there be bungalows and will there be parking?
By Anonymous
I think the headline should say – “Liverpool Begins hunt for Kings Dock Developer….Again!”
By Victoria Sponge
Can’t wait to see what amazingly generic 5 and 6 storey buildings get plonked on there.
By Michael