PDA

View Full Version : The Quarter - Vermont developments



Kev
11-16-2005, 05:37 PM
http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/nov2005/6/5/0007EBC5-51A0-137B-8C480C02AC1BF824.jpg

This is the site that is opposite NORTON SCRAP:


DEVELOPERS plan to transform a run-down corner of Liverpool with a £100m tower block.



The 22-storey high-rise will form the centrepiece of a development set to include housing, office space and an upmarket hotel.



Liverpool firm Vermont today revealed the scheme it wants to build at the junction of Parliament Street and Sefton Street.



If granted the go-ahead for the project, Vermont will create office space for up to 200 workers, a 132-bed four-star boutique hotel and 400 underground car parking spaces.

Alongside them will be 400 homes, made up of town houses and apartments. About 50 of them will be available as part of a shared ownership scheme.


The project will also create hundreds of jobs and training opportunities for local people, pledged the developer.



A planning application has been submitted after 18 months of talks with the council and a decision is expected by early next year.



More (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=16377539%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26page=2%26headline=tower%2dplan%2dto%2drevive%2dr un%2ddown%2dcity%2dcorner-name_page.html)...

garstonlad75
11-16-2005, 08:45 PM
Nice in'it Kev,
I like to see new stuff going up around the city but why can't they channel some of this new stuff to the suburbs.

It seems to be forgotten that most of the people who helped put this city on the map were from the suburbs.

People will be coming to Liverpool and going back home talking about the city centre because that is all they will have seen. Investment in arenas and stadia and sports facilities needs to reach the outer lying areas of the city as well. Otherwise these communities will want their voices to be heard and there is only one way they will know how to do it and then we get a bad name.

Sorry Kev but a prime example is Garston (i can hear them now, here he goes again) this used to be a great docks & industrial area, look at the state of it now. Speke had a great manufacturing base which is being slowly whittled away. It costs more to bring it back in the future than it does to keep it here.

What is it they call it oh yeah, regeneration!!!!

Kev
11-16-2005, 09:00 PM
The Speke/Garston area has seen massive regeneration and is a hotspot for housing at the mo.

There's massive waiting lists to live in Speke.

But Garston has seen a big rise in new private housing as confidence in the area has increased. The higher prices in Allerton etc mean people move into areas like Garston. I know its all housing, private etc but I'd much rather see a new housing development being built on derelict sites rather than a patch of wasteland. The old firestation should look nice when its done, the matchworks is a success, the PC world that has opened on that old site is a bonus.

Anyway this is going off topic :p

garstonlad75
11-16-2005, 09:04 PM
Point taken.

The new development does look good though :slywink:

Kev
11-16-2005, 10:40 PM
http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/xa.jpg

Liverpool Pictorial (http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/)

Max
11-17-2005, 09:59 AM
http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/nov2005/6/5/0007EBC5-51A0-137B-8C480C02AC1BF824.jpg

This is the site that is NORTON SCRAP at the moment I think:


DEVELOPERS plan to transform a run-down corner of Liverpool with a £100m tower block.



The 22-storey high-rise will form the centrepiece of a development set to include housing, office space and an upmarket hotel.



Liverpool firm Vermont today revealed the scheme it wants to build at the junction of Parliament Street and Sefton Street.



If granted the go-ahead for the project, Vermont will create office space for up to 200 workers, a 132-bed four-star boutique hotel and 400 underground car parking spaces.

Alongside them will be 400 homes, made up of town houses and apartments. About 50 of them will be available as part of a shared ownership scheme.


The project will also create hundreds of jobs and training opportunities for local people, pledged the developer.



A planning application has been submitted after 18 months of talks with the council and a decision is expected by early next year.



More (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=16377539%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26page=2%26headline=tower%2dplan%2dto%2drevive%2dr un%2ddown%2dcity%2dcorner-name_page.html)...


Bout time they built me a tower.:unibrow:

Paul D
11-17-2005, 02:57 PM
Look at the crappy warehouses it will replace,anything will be an improvement to that area,all that we need now is for the norton scrap yard to get developed and I'm sure it will if this goes ahead and it will all look amazing.

Kev
11-17-2005, 03:26 PM
Look at the crappy warehouses it will replace,anything will be an improvement to that area,all that we need now is for the norton scrap yard to get developed and I'm sure it will if this goes ahead and it will all look amazing.

I agree Paul :unibrow: Hope the businesses get relocated though

Paul D
08-15-2006, 01:15 PM
Good news concerning this development it has been recommended for approval by the Planning Manager, apparently with a considerably modified tower. Unfortunately the Planning Report doesn't contain any renders but by the sound of it a more slender tower will replace the original sail design.:celb (23):

Kev
08-21-2006, 09:03 AM
Good news concerning this development it has been recommended for approval by the Planning Manager, apparently with a considerably modified tower. Unfortunately the Planning Report doesn't contain any renders but by the sound of it a more slender tower will replace the original sail design.:celb (23):

Well thats great news :PDT_Piratz_26:

Kev
08-23-2006, 10:40 AM
A NEW £100m scheme on Liverpool's Waterfront was yesterday given the green light by city planners.

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/aug2006/9/7/3A0AB0E9-9323-10AF-ADD8ED19AC05A968.jpg


The Sefton Street Quarter, created by Liverpool-based Vermont Developments, will see the transformation of an under-utilised and low-quality industrial site into a prestigious mixed-use development including a luxury hotel and landmark 22-storey apartment tower.

Family homes, commercial, leisure and retail space together with public realm areas will be built on the two-acre site at the junction of Parliament Street and Sefton Street.

The Vermont team is headed by city living pioneers Paul Bolton and Mark Connor, who previously built-up Charlton Homes and its city centre development arm, Space, before selling it to Irish housebuilder McInerney Homes.

Space was responsible for one of the first major apartment schemes in the centre of Liverpool - the redevelopment of Liverpool's Hatton Garden parcel depot in 2001.

The original design for the Sefton Street Quarter scheme was modified after the city council and building watchdogs argued that it obscured views of the Anglican Cathedral.

Vermont scaled down its plans for a taller, 30-storey tower and revised the top of it so that it had a stepped design to improve sight lines to the Cathedral. The number of houses and underground car parking spaces was also reduced.

Mark Connor, chief executive of Vermont, said: "We had a comprehensive dialogue with the city in order to understand its aspirations for the area and how our scheme could contribute.

"We feel this collaborative approach and the input received from all stakeholders in the process has had tangible benefits on the proposals for the site. We wanted to ensure that the development will provide a lasting and positive legacy for the local community and also the wider city."


He said he was fairly confident that the scheme would be approved - but was always conscious of the fact that somebody could throw in a "wild card".

"There's always a healthy anxiety (at these meetings) but we've been working in conjunction with the city for two or three years," he said.

"If somebody had said we'd got it wrong, then we'd all have got it wrong.

"This wasn't a scheme that we just put on someone's desk and asked for a decision."

Work on the development, which is being funded with a combination of bank and private equity, should start on site within a matter of weeks, with construction phased over three-and-a-half years.

Mr Connor added: "This is a hugely significant scheme that will transform an under-utilised industrial site into a vibrant and sustainable mixed use development, generating considerable additional employment and opportunity for the local community.

"We feel the scheme will both extend the boundary of the city centre, and act as a major catalyst for further investment on Parliament Street, Sefton Street and beyond.

"Sefton Street Quarter is within easy walking distance of Kings Waterfront and the new arena and convention centre. With the anticipated Cultural Quarter also intended for the area, it's clear the critical mass of the city centre is changing as all the pieces of the regeneration jigsaw come into place."

Because of its size, the scheme will now be referred to the Department of Communities and Local Government, or effectively, what was the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, for final approval, although this is not expected to be a problem.

Mr Connor said: "It has to be referred because it exceeds 150 units in total. There's also a policy designating that area for employment use, but we are going to be providing 300 plus jobs in the leisure, commercial and retail parts of the scheme so you would hope that the DCLG will say that's one of the boxes ticked.

"We don't see any further hurdles that we have to jump. I'm fairly confident."

Huge plan will include nearly 400 homes

* 145-bedroom 4-star boutique hotel.

* 30,000 sq ft of commercial and leisure accommodation.

* 265 underground car parking spaces

* 6,000 sq ft of neighbourhood retailing

* A high quality public plaza

* 374 homes which include townhouses and family apartments

* 53 homes available under a unique retained equity scheme

* 762 temporary construction jobs, with a commitment to local recruitment and training

source (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/thebusinessweek/regionalnews/tm_objectid=17608648%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26page=3%26headline=no%2dmore%2dhurdles%2dfor%2dse fton%2dstreet%2dquarter-name_page.html)....

Paul D
08-23-2006, 02:02 PM
I'm made up it's been officially approved them old industrial warehouses are really ugly and detract from the whole area so I'll be glad to see them go.:celb (23):

kenotoole123@msn.com
08-23-2006, 02:18 PM
Great News !!!...Now they can carry on down to the New 'Brunswick Dock Tower'....(Hopefully !!!)....Cheers..Ken.

Paul D
08-23-2006, 04:12 PM
Great News !!!...Now they can carry on down to the New 'Brunswick Dock Tower'....(Hopefully !!!)....Cheers..Ken.

I hope so there's also the 22 storey Queens Dock tower in with the planners over the road from this and a couple of similar towers in Kings Dock awaiting approval.:)

Kev
08-24-2006, 04:00 PM
PLANS for new community housing for almost 400 families have been backed by councillors.

The £100m scheme for the Sefton Street area of Liverpool will now be passed to the government for final approval.

If it gets the go-ahead, it will transform a rundown industrial site just south of the city centre into a residential area within walking distance of the new Kings Dock arena.

The project includes a 145-bedroom boutique hotel, about 375 family apartments and town houses, shops, leisure facilities and apublic square.

Developer Vermont estimates about 760 construction jobs will be created.

Director Mark Connor said: "With the Paradise Project and Kings Dock, the city centre is expanding and we think this will be the new southern gateway into the middle of Liverpool.

"This is a cutting edge project because it provides good-quality family accommodation on the edge of the city centre."

Vermont's proposal was approved by Liverpool council's planning committee yesterday. Because of its size, it will now go to Ruth Kelly's government department to be rubber-stamped.

Work should start in the next few weeks, with completion in about 3½ years.

Sloyne
08-27-2006, 02:51 PM
Last Friday's Echo (25/08/06) had a letter from Canada pertaining to this project and the English Heritage objection to the original proposal.

Blabber
08-27-2006, 10:50 PM
PLANS for new community housing for almost 400 families have been backed by councillors.

The £100m scheme for the Sefton Street area of Liverpool will now be passed to the government for final approval.

If it gets the go-ahead, it will transform a rundown industrial site just south of the city centre into a residential area within walking distance of the new Kings Dock arena.

The project includes a 145-bedroom boutique hotel, about 375 family apartments and town houses, shops, leisure facilities and apublic square.

Developer Vermont estimates about 760 construction jobs will be created.

Director Mark Connor said: "With the Paradise Project and Kings Dock, the city centre is expanding and we think this will be the new southern gateway into the middle of Liverpool.

"This is a cutting edge project because it provides good-quality family accommodation on the edge of the city centre."

Vermont's proposal was approved by Liverpool council's planning committee yesterday. Because of its size, it will now go to Ruth Kelly's government department to be rubber-stamped.

Work should start in the next few weeks, with completion in about 3½ years.

Fabulous news. The city needs to draw in families as well as the 1-2 bedroom apartment market. It will help the city centre sustain a lot of services that have been missing for a long time. Hopefully a decent city centre school, of the public sector variety, will open up to serve these new families.

Paul D
08-28-2006, 12:14 PM
Last Friday's Echo (25/08/06) had a letter from Canada pertaining to this project and the English Heritage objection to the original proposal.


I saw that Patrick very well put.:unibrow:

Paul D
09-04-2006, 01:23 PM
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2449/seftonstqimage4dt8fz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This is a better look at the approved 22 story tower that will be built on the corner of Sefton Street.

Harry
09-04-2006, 03:01 PM
This looks great, in the international style and the sort of modern building to be found in continental European cities.
Lets hope we've seen the last of any new buildings constructed using drab red brick, a building material no better than breezeblocks. I doubt it though having seen the renders for the hotels on the King's Dock, a disgrace given that CABE, English Heritage and others who should know better gave their blessings to them.
We finally seem to have realised the benefits of putting striking new developments in strategic positions around the city such as this and the Norton's scrapyard corner, surely leading to even more regeneration in these areas.
Now if only we can tell people on Wirral to mind their own business when complaining about towers blocking their views of the Anglican Cathedral.
As the letter from the Canadian gentleman stated, they don't pay taxes to Liverpool and should have no say in blocking developments on this side of the water just to preserve their view.

Paul D
09-04-2006, 03:09 PM
As the letter from the Canadian gentleman stated, they don't pay taxes to Liverpool and should have no say in blocking developments on this side of the water just to preserve their view.


Correct!:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

Paul D
09-27-2006, 02:50 PM
Go-ahead for £100m mixed development


SEFTON Street Quarter has been given the final green light by the government department responsible for housing, urban regeneration and planning.

The Department of Communities and Local government yesterday endorsed Liverpool City Council's planning approval of the £100m development.

The scheme will transform an under-utilised and low-quality industrial site into a mixed-use development including a luxury hotel and 22-storey apartment tower. New family homes, commercial, leisure and retail space as well as attractive public areas will also be built on the two-acre site at the junction of Parliament Street and Sefton Street.

The project, created by Liverpool-based Vermont Developments and its joint venture partner, Ethel Austin Property Group, had been referred to the department because it required a change of land use. Further consent was also necessary because of its scale, passing the 150-units threshold.

Mark Connor, chief executive of Vermont Developments, said: "We believe our scheme will provide a landmark development at the southern gateway into the city."

taffy
01-05-2007, 11:21 AM
I've not seen this name before. It looks like an attempt to airbrush the name Toxteth out of this L8 development. Similarly the name "Georgian quarter" ( largely in L8 but not Toxteth) has been invented to disguise its L8 post code. I suspect this is because it does not fit in with the deprived image associated with Toxteth. It of course forgets that other part of Toxteth along the south Docks (L3) which we are now told to call Docklands and the council were even forced to remove the Toxteth sign near the Herculaneum as it upset the new locals who felt couldn't possibly live in Toxteth. At least that what their estate agents told them.

ayjaykay
01-05-2007, 12:21 PM
Why does everywhere have to be a 'quarter' now? And can there really be more than 4 quarters in 1 city anyway?:)

scouserdave
01-05-2007, 12:50 PM
A few more pics of the Sefton St area.

http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/sefton001.jpg

http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/sefton002.jpg

http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/sefton003.jpg

A.D.W
01-05-2007, 10:39 PM
^Most of those buildings in the first picture from ScouseDave are gone now.^

Paul D
02-03-2007, 04:03 PM
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/927/vermonttju1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And here's what's replacing it.

Kev
02-03-2007, 04:17 PM
Great stuff, what are the chances of a similar scheme being developed on Norton Scrap?

Paul D
02-03-2007, 04:37 PM
Great stuff, what are the chances of a similar scheme being developed on Norton Scrap?

To tell you the truth I can't believe it hasn't happened already,I think it's only a matter of time though.

Kev
02-03-2007, 04:39 PM
To tell you the truth I can't believe it hasn't happened already,I think it's only a matter of time though.

me too, should it happen, that way into town would be great!

Paul D
02-03-2007, 04:42 PM
me too, should it happen, that way into town would be great!

That's why I can't understand why nothing has been proposed already,maybe developers know they'll have a hard time with the planning dept over height issues?

Kev
02-03-2007, 04:46 PM
Would the owner be holding out for a massive payment?

Paul D
02-03-2007, 05:00 PM
Would the owner be holding out for a massive payment?

Surely the land has never been worth more than it is now? Something was mentioned years ago about this site but since then silence.

Downey
05-09-2007, 06:57 PM
Thought i'd bring this post back up as building work has now gone well under way, they have a big crane on the site and lots of work has been going on, I work nextdoor to the project for a roofing company, yet I have a feeling we are going to get moved, because I can't see how there going to build this:

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2449/seftonstqimage4dt8fz2.jpg

Next to this:

http://www.lacyroofing.com/yard.jpg

Kev
05-31-2007, 01:55 PM
31st May 2007

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/244/523149060_8d742d6bb9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/523149060/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/190/523160509_64ade29e55.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/523160509/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/226/523160645_d84f523d8e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/523160645/)

AK1
06-20-2007, 11:18 PM
http://www.vermontdevelopments.com/ourvision/residential/seftonst.html :)

Kev
09-30-2007, 03:30 PM
30th September 2007

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1143/1463280954_51f2ca7948_o.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1143/1463280954_51f2ca7948_o.jpg)

Kev
10-17-2007, 08:55 PM
Here's the flythrough of the development:

CLICK HERE (http://www.vermontdevelopments.com/assets/flash/sefton/sefton.swf)

A very expensive production.

Kev
10-19-2007, 03:53 PM
Here's another quality vid, starting at the pier head:

http://www.thequarterliverpool.com/thetower/movie.asp

Cadfael
10-19-2007, 03:59 PM
Here's another quality vid, starting at the pier head:

http://www.thequarterliverpool.com/thetower/movie.asp

A lovely video but they never show it when it's peeing down with rain on a Monday morning in the rush hour do they :rolleyes:

lindylou
10-19-2007, 05:33 PM
good video. Thanks Kev :)

chippie
10-19-2007, 06:08 PM
yes I enjoyed the vid thanks Kev, hope the actual turns out as well as the vid

petromax
10-20-2007, 11:03 AM
Surely the land has never been worth more than it is now? Something was mentioned years ago about this site but since then silence.

It is understood that Norton want more than the development of the property can currently justify. Norton own it out right without holding costs; are a cash-rich business that can afford to wait.

Others, elsewhere in the city have been persuaded to develop sites via threat of compulsory purchase order if they don't (use it or lose it) but this is not a core area ...yet

Kev
12-28-2007, 11:44 AM
27th December 2007:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2325/2143802826_557daf0e33_o.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2325/2143802826_557daf0e33_o.jpg)

taffy
12-28-2007, 01:47 PM
This structure in Toxteth seems different from that in the fly by video of the development.

http://www.thequarterliverpool.com/thetower/movie.asp

SteH
12-28-2007, 04:10 PM
This structure in Toxteth seems different from that in the fly by video of the development.

http://www.thequarterliverpool.com/thetower/movie.asp

I assume whats so far up is only a small part of the development they dont seem to have starte the tower at all yet.

taffy
12-28-2007, 06:45 PM
I assume whats so far up is only a small part of the development they dont seem to have starte the tower at all yet.

Yes, you're right and I was wrong !!! What's going up first is the building behind that which will front Parlaiment St. It was just the zoom perspective of the photo which confused me.

Kev
02-16-2008, 04:33 PM
16th Feb 2008:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2047/2269350814_656200a88d_b.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2047/2269350814_656200a88d_b.jpg)

Kev
02-24-2008, 08:49 AM
Four-star hotel for £100m Quarter ‘gateway’ project

Feb 20 2008 by Tony McDonough, Liverpool Daily Post

INTERNATIONALLY renowned hotel chain Ramada Plaza is to open a four-star outlet on the edge of Liverpool city centre.

Malta-based hotel operator Corinthia Hotels International (CHI) has signed an agreement with Merseyside developer Vermont to bring a Ramada to its Quarter scheme near Liverpool’s waterfront.

The 173-room Ramada Plaza Liverpool will form the centre-piece of Vermont’s £100m scheme , within half a mile of the city’s new Echo Arena and BT Convention Centre.

The hotel will be aimed at corporate and high end leisure customers and will feature a fine dining restaurant, spa and business centre with conference facilities.

More than 150 full-time jobs will be created by the scheduled opening in June, 2010.

Mark Connor, chief executive of Vermont Developments, said: “The successful conclusion of these negotiations is a major milestone for our development at The Quarter.

“Ramada Plaza is one of the world’s foremost hotel brands and to secure such a prestigious hotel operator as CHI is a testament to the quality of the scheme and Liverpool’s growing international reputation.

“We are looking forward to seeing the Ramada Plaza hotel at The Quarter providing a welcome addition to the emerging hotel strip along Liverpool’s waterfront.”

The mixed-use Quarter scheme in Toxteth will form a “dramatic” gateway into Liverpool city centre, featuring a graceful 22-storey residential tower, office accommodation, retail and leisure space and a new public square.

CHI chief executive Tony Potter said: “We are thrilled to be bringing the up-scale Ramada Plaza brand to Liverpool for the first time in collaboration with Vermont, adding to our ever growing International presence.”

Vermont Developments was formed in 2004 by property entrepreneurs Paul Bolton and Mark Connor. They previously built-up Charlton Homes and its city centre development arm, Space, before selling it to Irish house builder McInerney Homes.

Earlier this month, the company revealed it had sold 83% of the 187 apartments in the first phase of the residential element of The Quarter.

The properties, at the junction of Sefton Street and Parliament Street, have all been sold off plan.

tonymcdonough

bluchilli
03-24-2008, 02:45 PM
Just thought I'd join the forum and say hi as Kev is an old friend of mine. Having worked for various advertising and design agencies in Liverpool I have been fortunate enough to complete work for a couple of development companies. One of them is Vermont developments - see their Quarter website here:

http://www.thequarterliverpool.com/thetower/movie.asp

The movie they had produced was very professional (30 grands worth all 3d rendered onto live footage).

Here is the company website:

http://www.vermontdevelopments.com/

MarL
06-20-2008, 04:44 PM
[QUOTE=Downey;56970]Thought i'd bring this post back up as building work has now gone well under way, they have a big crane on the site and lots of work has been going on, I work nextdoor to the project for a roofing company, yet I have a feeling we are going to get moved, because I can't see how there going to build this:


Next to this:



Hi Downey
I to work close by. Have you heard that you are moving. We are in an old building and I wound'nt mind been moved somewhere else!!!!

jon_hall
06-21-2008, 08:05 AM
Have they old any flats in this?

Barely anything sold in the St Pauls Development, Beetham West hasn't sold a lot, Albany building up for sale with most of the flats unsold (owner went bust)

And yet they still want to build 1 bed flats everywhere.

Kev
07-20-2008, 04:22 PM
19th July 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/2684861483_6e415c8e83_o.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/2684861483_6e415c8e83_o.jpg)

Kev
08-02-2008, 09:26 PM
INTERNATIONAL hotel chain Ramada is to extend its first venture in Liverpool at the waterfront Quarter development. Read (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/08/02/hotels-group-in-city-deal-100252-21452104/)

skgogosfan
10-18-2008, 03:06 AM
That's good news and a great shot,Kev. Can't wait to see it finished!

Dave.

Kev
12-19-2008, 08:19 AM
At last, I was starting to give up on this one:

Dec 18 2008 Exclusive by Neil Hodgson LDP

WORK is set to re-start on a ?100m Liverpool development which will employ 200 contractors at the peak of construction.

The Quarter, on the junction of Sefton Street and Parliament Street, involves a 173-bed four star hotel, 22-storey residential tower, apartments, office, retail and leisure space and a new public square.

Liverpool developer Vermont was pressing on with the first of four phases when it was put into administration in August by Downing Corporate Finance, one of its London-based shareholders, over a completely separate project in Salford.

At the time Vermont was involved in five schemes and chief executive Mark Connor said three, including The Quarter, would not be affected by the administration and work would continue.

But work stopped at the sites eight weeks ago due to legal and contractual problems.

As exclusively revealed on the ECHO website last night these have now been resolved after a deal was agreed with development partner Ethel Austin Properties and financial backer Bank of Ireland and preparatory work is now under way at The Quarter with a return to work on the site set for early January: ?We are back on site doing some enabling work and will hit the ground running on January 5 with a full team on sales and lettings moving on.?

Mr Connor, who heads new company Vermont Capitol, said their two other schemes in Liverpool?s Seymour Street and in Southport will also recommence early next year.

?It?s been a difficult few months but having reached agreement with all the stakeholders on the project we can focus on moving forward with delivering our vision for The Quarter.?

Residents are already living in the first phase of The Quarter - with 83% of the 187 apartments sold - and he said lettings, even in today?s credit crunch, are ?exceeding all expectations.?

He said the Bank of Ireland and Ethel Austin had been ?very supportive? through the crisis adding: ?I have nothing but admiration for how we have been treated by them.?

When work re-starts at Sefton Street next month about 60 workers will return to the site in the short term, peaking at about 200 as work approaches completion between 2010 and 2011.