A new park the size of Anfield and Goodison's pitches combined could be built in the city’s north docks and form the next stage of the Liverpool Waters development.
Developers Peel L&P hope to build the almost five acre ‘Central Park’ south of Collingwood Dock near to the Tobacco Warehouse and Titanic Hotel, with Everton’s new stadium at Bramley Moore situated just north of the proposed site. If approved the new park would be one of the city’s largest and a significant addition of green space to Kirkdale and the adjoining city centre area.
According to Peel L&P, Central Park would bring direct access to parts of the Leeds Liverpool Canal for the first time in a number of years, with a section running from Canning Dock toward Waterloo Dock, Princes Dock and the Three Graces. The plans would also open up the central dockland area to the public - somewhere that has remained largely derelict since the city’s historic docks closed.
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Central Park would form one of the main parts of public realm space throughout the whole Liverpool Waters project. Peel L&P were granted outline planning permission for the £5bn project in 2012 and aim to redevelop a large stretch of Liverpool’s docklands from Princes Dock to where the new Bramley Moore Stadium will one day stand.
So far a number of major residential developments have been delivered within Liverpool Waters at Princes Dock and Jesse Hartley Way, with Central Park seen as a catalyst for attracting more people into the area. The new Isle of Man Ferry terminal is also under construction at the south of the Liverpool Waters site.
A public consultation is being held on the plans with people being asked to come forward and suggest what they would like in the park and how they might use it. People can have their say via the online consultation here.
Chris Capes, Peel L&P’s Development Director for Liverpool Waters, said: “We really want Central Park to become a destination for everyone and a place where people can visit and relax with their family and friends.
“We know the docks are hugely important everyone in the city which is why our design is driven by the regenerative nature of Liverpool’s waterfront to form strong connections between people and nature. And we are really keen to have a conversation to find out what people like to see in parks and how they use them.”
Chris added: “Green space has never been so important. Not only for our physical and mental health and wellbeing but also as a way of absorbing air pollution. Being able to create a new large public park at the heart of the city in an urban environment is really exciting.
“It’s fantastic to have reached this next stage in our journey. Despite the challenges of the last couple of years we’ve been busy working behind the scenes, so it is great to be able to share our proposals and have a conversation about what a new park could mean to the local community.”
