Liverpool Garden Festival Site
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A new public park will be created as part of the redevelopment of the former Garden Festival site at Otterspool. The city's executive board has approved a deal which will lease Priory Wood in St Michaels to Langtree McLean, the company which is preparing to bring the derelict south Liverpool landmark back into use. Councillors stressed that there had never been any intention to develop the wood on Riverside Drive and it would be retained as open space, with full public access.
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So what do u think about that then?
Liverpool's Garden Festival Site
Liverpool's International Garden Festival Site
Saturday 30th September 2006
An early morning drive took me and my eldest lad to the very small car park that is hidden just off the round-a-bout on Riverside Drive. The gate was open so we went through, the man walking his dog plus well trodden pathways were reasurance that we were ok.
Walking around the edge of the fence we saw plenty of openings into the site but carried on round until another much larger gap appeared with well trodden paths on the other side, where many had been before us.
We were immediately greeted by a huge hill, that we decided to walk up. From the top (which is very small area to stand) we could see all around, the Anglican Cathedral, the Festival Dome, southwards towards Garston. That was a unique experience.
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Returning towards ground level we continued following the path around until little reminders of what was once a world class tourist attraction began to appear. The old paths, wooden bridges, overgrown lakes even a large hand impression that I seem to remember included dinosaur ones.
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As we carried on, a shiver went down my spine as the Japanese gardens came into view. I was excited and stunned. They have stood here for decades in this condition, a testament to the original build quality? Lets hope these are restored soon.
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Time was flying by as we began our exit towards the promenade towards the River Mersey. Even that was beautiful as we walked towards the railings.
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Liverpool's Garden Festival Site
Bulldozers move in on Garden Festival DomeNov 22 2006
By Larry Neild, Liverpool Daily Post
DEMOLITION will start of the landmark dome at the Liverpool International Garden Festival site today to pave the way for a £250m transformation.
Local companies Langtree and McLean will this morning deposit ambitious plans for the derelict site that will see more than 1,300 new homes built around the cleared dome area, as well as the restoration of the original gardens created for the festival in 1984.
The vandalised dome will be scrapped after hopes of relocating it were dashed on cost grounds.
One of the biggest hurdles to the redevelopment, management of the 56-acre parkland, was resolved just 24 hours ago after months of intensive behind-the-scenes discussions.
It has seen the Land Restoration Trust appointed to manage and cultivate the site’s stunning attractions, which include the original Chinese and Japanese gardens. The gardens will be fully restored and made accessible to the public.
The cleared dome site will form the centrepiece of a residential scheme that will see the building of more than 1,300 homes.
The plan is for 936 two-bed apartments, 372 one-bed apartments and 66 townhouses. Many will be homes with balconies overlooking Otterspool Promenade and the river estuary.
Langtree and McLean have been involved in protracted talks with city planners about the scheme, which will see the creation of the city’s first major parkland for 25 years.
If the planning committee approves the new plans next spring, the companies plan an almost immediate start on the development.
Improvements to local traffic islands are included to make access easier, and Priory Woods, linking Otterspool with St Michael's in the Hamlet will be improved, with the installation of CCTV to make it safer.
Last night, Langtree chairman John Downes said the aim was to have the new park and restored gardens element completed in time for Liverpool’s Capital of Culture Year in 2008.
Mr Downes said: “We are eager to get started and deliver what will be a stunning redevelopment and regeneration project for Liverpool.
“Until all the pieces were in place we did not want to submit our planning application. Having worked on the development alongside the planners we are hopeful that the process will not be prolonged. If approval is given, as we hope, next spring, we are eager to immediately start work.
“The dome, sadly, cannot form part of our plans. It is in a poor state and is incapable of being moved elsewhere.”
The project was welcomed last night by city council leader Cllr Warren Bradley.
He said: “The former International Garden Festival site is one of the most important gateway routes into the city and demands a development of the highest quality.
“Clearly this scheme will be subject to the normal planning procedure, but it is very encouraging that progress is being made with this site.”
As well as apartments, in blocks up to eight storeys high and family houses, the scheme includes a number of retail and community units.
The Langtree McLean partnership acquired the site in ay 2005 and since then have been working on a master plan for the area. Until now the complexities of the site have thwarted the scheme.
The new park will be funded through the residential development around the dome area, using a dowry for the long term management of the gardens.
A public exhibition about the development is to take place at the Atrium at the entrance of the Liverpool Daily Post & Echo Building in Old Hall Street from Monday until Friday next week. Details will be available at www.festivalgardens.co.uk