Liverpool Council has asked for £1m in financial support as it seeks to change its approach to the management of King’s Dock.
The local authority has made a request for “repayable assistance” to Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) as it moves towards a new way of delivering projects on land on the south docks. Last month, Liverpool Council approved plans to move to a “managed design” approach, with a development manager and master planner working to the authority.
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.
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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. However, the council does not have the requisite funds available and has therefore asked LCRCA to lend a hand.
According to a report going to the combined authority later this week, “LCC and the Combined Authority officers will negotiate the terms of the repayable assistance to ensure a fair and proportionate amount is repaid from proceeds arising from the King’s Dock site sales.” The report added: “The completion of development of King’s Dock is of strategic importance for the Liverpool City Region as it will enhance the prime waterfront location as an exemplar mixed use regeneration project, complementing the existing events, conference and exhibition centre with sustainable housing, commercial uses and improved place making.
“The report seeks approval to award repayable assistance in support of the design and master plan development.”
During a Liverpool Council cabinet meeting in March, Cllr Sarah Doyle, cabinet member for development and economy, said its new approach to King’s Dock “will allow us to control future uses of the site and promote quality, heritage and adhere to social values, environmental and inclusivity policies.”
