Delay for festival site plan given government approval

Permalink: Delay for festival site plan given government approval
by Lin Freestone

Plans submitted by Langtree McLean for the redevelopment of the Liverpool International Garden site have just received government approval. Planning permission had already been granted by Liverpool City Council for the £250m project for the demolition of the derelict festival hall and building of 1,300 homes.

The remainder of the site was to be transformed into 56 acres of new parkland, initially scheduled for completion in time for Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year in 2008. However, the government called for a public inquiry into the proposals, which only came to an end in January of this year.

Despite the decision by the Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears, that the scheme would have positive and substantial regeneration benefits and was economically viable, work is unlikely to start for another 12 to 18 months. It had been hoped to begin work before the end of the year.

The first priority of the developer, a joint venture between urban renewal specialist Langtree Group and housebuilder David McLean Holdings, is to deliver a high quality park and restore the 67 acres of neglected gardens created for the 1984 International Garden Festival.

Langtree McLean will now re-evaluate the current position of the market and agree a timetable with Liverpool City Council. The phasing of the housing scheme, which will include 1,308 apartments and 66 town houses, has been affected by the year-long delay caused by the public inquiry.

There is still much work to be done on the detailed planning aspect of the scheme but the developer remains confident of the eventual success of the project that will deliver high quality homes in a prime location.