Liverpool City Council has chosen HOW Planning and shedkm to establish the planning framework and development principles for the regeneration of the Ten Streets area in the city’s historic north docks.
The production of a Spatial Regeneration Framework (SRF) will set out what can be achieved in the district, which has already been earmarked to house a major cultural venue and house the athletes village if Liverpool’s bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games is successful.
The appointment of the two firms follows the successful launch of the Ten Streets vision, earlier this year, which unveiled 10 big ideas to regenerate 125 acres of former dockland between the northern edge of the city centre and the landmark Tobacco warehouse at Stanley Dock, which lies within Liverpool’s World Heritage Site.
Ten Streets, which lies within the poorest ward in the UK – Kirkdale – has the potential for up to 1 million square foot of development, delivering around 2,500 new jobs, and the city is keen to attract creative companies and enterprises to flourish alongside artistic organisations, which will include the UK’s first revolving theatre.
Ten Streets, which sits on Liverpool’s Atlantic Corridor, is a key part of the city’s big picture regeneration vision to deliver £13 billion of investment and create 40,000 new jobs over the next ten years. As a creative economy district, the scheme will complement other employment areas like the Knowledge Quarter, Commercial District and Liverpool Waters.
Neil Lucas, Partner at HOW Planning, said: “HOW Planning and shedkm architects are delighted to be appointed to work on the Ten Streets project. This is a fantastic opportunity to create a vibrant new neighbourhood in Liverpool City Centre: one that celebrates and builds upon the area’s heritage and unique characteristics, introduces new uses and public realm, and knits together the emerging schemes in the Atlantic Corridor. We look forward to working closely with Liverpool City Council, Harcourt, and other stakeholders in delivering the vision.”
Hazel Rounding, director of shedkm, said: “shedkm and HOW Planning are incredibly excited to be working on leading the vision to shape this area of the city with Liverpool City Council and Harcourt. As regeneration specialists established in Liverpool 20 years ago, shedkm are particularly keen to work with the historic urban grain of the Ten Streets area to promote a cultural hub as a catalyst for the wider area, whilst establishing a framework for exciting future development and potential game-changing interventions.”
Liverpool city council has already made a big commitment to improving transport infrastructure in the area and is currently investing £100m in upgrading the roads, creating a new Cruise terminal and is in talks to establish new rail connections.
The city council also approved Regional Growth Fund to be invested in The Kazimier’s Invisible Wind Factory which is seen as one of the primary creative incubators in the district.
Other key partners in the Ten Streets scheme also include Harcourt Developments who are the city’s development partner on the project along with Paris-based architectural practice AWP whose work includes the 365 acre strategic masterplan for the Paris Central Business District.
Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said: “When you look at the partners involved in the Ten Streets district, it has phenomenal potential for growth and can become a major catalyst in the city’s future economic success. This is a long term project but it’s a hugely exciting time because we can now start setting the foundation stones to deliver something totally unique in the UK. I look forward to seeing what HOW Planning and shedkm produce and how we can deliver the next steps on completely transforming this part of north Liverpool.”
The Ten Streets SRF is due to go out for public consultation later this summer and is set for completion by the end of the year. It will then be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document which will assist in the determination of all future planning applications and any potential use of the Council’s Compulsory Purchase Orders.
Ten Streets also sits on the boundary of Peel’s £5.5bn Liverpool Waters scheme with Stanley Dock situated less than a mile from Bramley Moore Dock – the proposed home for Everton Football Club’s new stadium. Subject to funding, a planning application on that site is expected early next year.
