King Edward Tower

[MarkA]

I took this from the Costco car park today as I liked the Liver building peeking over the horizon. The King Edward Tower will take that view away but will look awesome in its place.

[Paul D]

Liverpools King Edward Tower Gets Funding
Published on 2008-01-09 by Skyscrapernews.com

Scotching claims that a global credit crunch could affect Liverpool's future tallest building, the King Edward Tower, has taken a crucial step forwards in being realised.

The joint developers of the skyscraper, Y1 Developments Ltd and Richmont Properties, have secured the funding they will need to construct the £130 million project although they are still saying schtum on the actual source of the funding for now.

Designed by architects Leach Rhodes Walker, it has been a long time in genesis with over two years of consultations having taken place plus numerous design changes taking into account the views of the council and local stakeholders to reach the stage it has now of the planning application having been validated by the local council.

If built it will be 170 metres tall with 54 storeys. Inside will be 412 apartments plus office and retail space and plenty of basement level parking. For visitors the highlight will be a huge 600 square metre restaurant and skybar taking up the whole of the 14th that will be accessed by an exclusive express elevator that will whizz them straight there.

The planning committee of Liverpool City Council are expected to rule on approval of the scheme in the first quarter of 2008 with building works scheduled to begin in the autumn of this year should they be successful.

[AK1]

Anyone know what date the decision on this tower is going to be made. I know it's sometime this month, fingers crossed

[the pool08]

think its been move back to may

[Kev]

Government adviser slams plans for Liverpool super skyscraper

Mar 24 2008: Liverpool Daily Pos

THE Government’s key adviser on building design has condemned plans for Britain's tallest residential skyscraper near Liverpool’s waterfront.

A letter to the city council from architecture commission Cabe, obtained by the Daily Post, reveals the body’s criticism of proposals for the 54-storey King Edward Tower near Princes Dock, which could receive planning permission this month.

The letter condemns the “confused architectural expression” and “low ambitions for sustainability” it says the plans show, and concludes it does not support the proposal.

But the architects behind the development, LRW, have hit back, claiming Cabe has only taken a “snap shot view” of the scheme, which does not truly reflect its merits.

They added the final proposals were the result of a detailed consultation process with many official bodies within the city.

The letter from Cabe, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, says: “We agree with the principle of locating a tall building on this site, however our previous advice raised concerns regarding the precise height, form and architectural references of the pre application scheme.

“It is disappointing that the formal proposals have failed to respond to any of our previous comments.

“The amended scheme fails in our eyes to address the core failings of the original design, namely the unsatisfactory plan form, the unsuccessful relationship between the lower block and the tower, the confused architectural expression, the low ambitions for sustainability and the low quality public realm.

“The proposal does not meet Cabe and English Heritage’s guidance on tall buildings and should be refused planning permission.”

It adds there is a “relatively small amount of public space”, and describes the plan to build a tower and podium as an “uncomfortable amalgam”.

It also questions the structure’s place within the cityscape and concludes: “In summary, we do not support the proposal.

“It is disappointing that the pre- application consultation has not resulted in alterations that could have led to a contribution to the Liverpool skyline that responds more fully to the historic development and urban grain of the city.”

The £130m scheme by Y1 Developers and Richmont Properties on the King Edward pub site will comprise 412 apartments, 25,000 sq ft of commercial office space and a combination of 7,500 sq ft retail and leisure space, if given the go ahead.

A spokesman for LRW Architects said yesterday defended the development: “We are concerned that the Cabe response is effectively a snapshot view of the submitted designs given the limited time they have had to review these proposals and the limited time given to the associated presentation of said information.

“The project has been in detail design/development discussions for over two years with Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Vision, English Heritage and more recently LUDCAP. It is as a result of this detailed consultation process that the current designs were submitted for full planning consideration.

“LRW Architects feel that the current submitted design proposals, if approved by the council’s planning committee, will not only enhance this site’s immediate location and the wider setting, but will also act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration aspirations of the city of Liverpool.”

On the issue of sustainability the spokesman said minimum building regulations requirements will be exceeded and added the overall resulting sustainability could still be discussed with the council. The apartments on the 54th floor of the development would become the highest living spaces in the UK.

[SteH]

typical CABE doing everything they can to obstruct progress in Liverpool.

[Waterways]

If it is distinctive, high, stands out and not in London they scream that it should be a 10 floor stump. If this was in London they would have said add more floors.

The city needs population density. This block will house about 900 people right in the centre on the waterfront too. If this is turned down then another blow to the city. The city will not recover from this combined with the Brunswick Tower rejection. Large developers will pull out altogether seeing the city as no-go area. That will then be a major body blow to the city it may not recover from.

[Waterways]

Look OK to me. Get it built an get rid of that urban motorway between it and the Princes Dock.

[AK1]

If it is distinctive, high, stands out and not in London they scream that it should be a 10 floor stump. If this was in London they would have said add more floors.

The city needs population density. This block will house about 900 people right in the centre on the waterfront too. If this is turned down then another blow to the city. The city will not recover from this combined with the Brunswick Tower rejection. Large developers will pull out altogether seeing the city as no-go area. That will then be a major body blow to the city it may not recover from.

Couldn't agree more. I'm sick of cabe slating everthing that is planned in Liverpool. The Beetham tower in Manchester is nowhere near as impressive as this, yet cabe backed it!
I just hope that the council have the boldness and confidence to give planning permission. If they don't, this could be the final nail in the coffin for large scale investment in Liverpool. Fingers crossed

[Waterways]

Couldn't agree more. I'm sick of cabe slating everthing that is planned in Liverpool. The Beetham tower in Manchester is nowhere near as impressive as this, yet cabe backed it!
I just hope that the council have the boldness and confidence to give planning permission. If they don't, this could be the final nail in the coffin for large scale investment in Liverpool. Fingers crossed

CABE actually backed the Brunswick Quay Tower, unfortunately the idiots at the Council rejected it. Time to vote them out in May. We need dynamic people with vision. People who want to put this city back to where it was.

Will Peel go ahead with the Shanghai Tower after all this? They want to built in the middle Princes half-Tide Dock the UKs tallest building outside London - trying for the tallest would be have Whitehall call it in and reject it. London has to be the biggest.

[kenotoole123@msn.com]

'Peel' are also going to appeal against the 'King Edward Tower'...saying it will detract from their planned 'Shanghai Tower'....Maybe this will have a bearing too!!

[Waterways]

'Peel' are also going to appeal against the 'King Edward Tower'...saying it will detract from their planned 'Shanghai Tower'....Maybe this will have a bearing too!!

They are fools to do so, as It stinks of jealously. King Eddies will enhance the Shanghai and vice versa. Peels' objections will be ignore - I hope.

If they are not it will indicate that Peel have the city in their palms.

I was recently banned from posting to the Liverpool Echo forum for daring to mention that Peel were wanting to fill in historic West Waterloo dock as a means of gaining land by stealth. I emailed the echo webmaster and was ignored - no response. The forum is not used much anyhow, but that is not the point.

Anyone who dares to criticise Peel gets slammed down. This is not good for the city, to have one private company owning the commercial docks in Liverpool and Birkenhead and also the airport. And they they become a big property developer too.

If King Eddies gets rejected all other big developers will not even look at the city. They will spend a fortune and the time, on proposals that will be rejected. Then we will only have Peel - what Peel want.

[SteH]

'Peel' are also going to appeal against the 'King Edward Tower'...saying it will detract from their planned 'Shanghai Tower'....Maybe this will have a bearing too!!

That would be farcical, Peel havent even submitted a planning application how can they appeal against something when their own plans are still only at the drawing stage.

[Waterways]

That would be farcical, Peel havent even submitted a planning application how can they appeal against something when their own plans are still only at the drawing stage.

There intention with the Liverpool Waters publicity may be enough. Nevertheless it is silly to do so and the Council should dismiss their protests.

[RoddersUK]

Its not looking good for the King Edward Tower.
Cabe is really not happy with it.

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?...rycode=3110299