AMBITIOUS plans have been unveiled for a multi-million pound redevelopment of Stanley Dock.


The scheme includes digging out the centre of the Tobacco Warehouse to create a garden-filled courtyard surrounded by apartments.

More than 930 apartments will be built in the three warehouses on the site, with 650 duplexes in the 13-storey Tobacco Warehouse itself.

Reflective sails will be installed on the side of the dock to shine extra light on to the side of the giant warehouse, whose lower floors will become car parking for hundreds of vehicles.

The development, due to start in late 2008 or early 2009, will take seven years to complete.

But the regeneration scheme will mean the end of the heritage market on the Stanley Dock site.

Plans were submitted to the city council last Friday and revealed at yesterday’s Liverpool ECHO Stop the Rot campaign meeting.

Architect Howard Carter, from London-based Thinking Space Architects, said: “It’s a comprehensive redevelopment of the complex.

“The north and south warehouse proposals are similar. We’ll remove some of the later additions at roof level, and return the buildings to their original form.

“The area of the south warehouse closest to the Tobacco Warehouse will be offices and the other end will be accommodation.

“The Tobacco Warehouse itself is a challenging building. Just the sheer size of it is an enormous logistical issue.

“It’s 160ft from window to window and the ceiling height is only 7ft, it’s very deep and very shallow.

“We’re going to take the core out of the building and create at central courtyard with gardens.”

Some apartments will be a duplex with a two-storey high living area. The windows will also be enlarged.

One-bedroom flats will surround the courtyard, while the building will also have 372 two-bedroom apartments and 53 three-bedroom flats.

Offices, shops and restaurants are also included in the plans.

Peter de Figueiredo, of English Heritage, said: “We’ve been quite closely involved in discussions with the architects and agents.

“The north and south warehouse schemes are very sympathetic. The Tobacco Warehouse requires a lot more intervention and change to make it usable.”

Stop the Rot forum chairman, the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, said: “I welcome this development and it’s good to see them bringing in both work units and residential.”

catherinejones@liverpoolecho.co.uk