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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
David Humphreys

Liverpool Council will 'control future use' as King's Dock plans change

Liverpool Council will be able “control future uses' of King's Dock” as it changes course on its management of the site.

That was the view of Cllr Sarah Doyle, as cabinet members endorsed a new way of delivering projects on land on the south docks that could 'change the waterfront' for good. The local authority executive has backed plans to move to a “managed design” approach, with a development manager and master planner working to the council.

Utilising the managed design option allows the council to retain ownership of the land and instruct planners and designers to take the project forward. Once planning permission has been secured, the local authority would release plots for selected partners.

READ MORE: 'Reputational damage' hurting recruitment at Liverpool Council

Cllr Doyle described the new approach as “really forward thinking.” She said: “This approach is self explanatory and will allow us to control future uses of the site and promote quality, heritage and adhere to social values, environmental and inclusivity policies.”

Liverpool Council has full freehold ownership of the site, with extensive developments undertaken in 2008 to provide leisure, residential and conference facilities including the M&S Bank Arena, Exhibition and Convention Centre, almost 2,000 residential housing units and hotels.

Only two years ago, the council had sought to dispose of the land to a preferred developer, who would then fund and develop the sites, and has acknowledged it lacks “the internal resources and capacity to deliver the project without external professional advice and support.”

It does not wish to develop the site itself and has therefore resolved to invest £1m into a new approach to the management and progression of the land connected to Wapping Dock to the north and Queen’s Dock to the south.

Cllr Jane Corbett, deputy mayor and cabinet member for development and economy, said the council would seek to educate itself from the approach. She said: “This has been thought through really carefully and we will learn the lessons from that.”

Following cabinet approval, the council will now apply to Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for funding, which is expected to be repayable.

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