The redevelopment of the Great George Street estate in Liverpool 1 by developers Urban Splash has started on site. The £100 million scheme is the largest housing scheme to be created in Liverpool by one single developer.
The scheme, which will eventually comprise 748 apartments, 15 houses and 80,000 sq ft of commercial space, is to be branded Tribeca - the TRIangles BElow the CAthedral - because of the shape and location of the site and with a deliberate nod towards the trendy district in New York of the same name.
It will take eight years to complete in six phases, and incorporate the efforts of at least three architects' practices.
In the early stages of the project, little will be seen above ground. The first task will be to fill in the nineteenth century railway tunnel ventilation shaft in the middle of the site. However, it is hoped to have the first units, including 10 houses to rent and 36 apartments for shared ownership, completed by mid 2009.
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The scheme has been shepherded through a protracted process of negotiation in respect of the land deal, complex site assembly issue and a challenging planning application.
Simon Humphreys, development director at Urban Splash's Liverpool office, said:
"Our vision is to make Great George Street a residential thriving commercial street again, and give it a proper identity as a gateway to the city."
It is hoped that every space along the street at ground level - from the already established Wedding House at one end, to the Blackie at the other - will be given over to retail and business opportunities. Planning permission for a hotel has already been approved.
For residents of the 20 social houses and the one, two and three-bedroomed apartments targeted at first-time buyers, there will be underground parking, private balconies and use of a one-acre private "pocket park".
Mr Humphreys added:
"City centre flats get a bad press, but we always believed that if it is the right type of apartment and right kind of quality, it will sell.
"All those perceived downsides to living in the city centre won't be here. The whole package will make it a success. We invest in our architecture, we want them to be exciting places to live, and if we get it right, people will be queuing up to live here."
Exisiting residents who live on the site have been involved in each stage of the development, meeting with archi-tects and choosing their favourite features for their new replacement homes.
Mr Humphreys said:
"Those people who are being moved out of their homes are being provided with something far superior and have been involved. They have all taken ownership and know exact-ly where they are going to live.
"It is not often an opportunity like this arrives to really make a difference in one area of a city. It is not change for change's sake, we are taking what is not working and replacing it to improve the area in a way that will definitely be to the betterment of the city."
Riverside ward councillor Steve Munby, a member of the Liverpool Partnership who has pushed for the scheme, said:
"Great George Street is a key entrance to the city and it's pretty disgusting. The residents' general verdict was anything is better than what we have got at the moment. It is desperate.
"It is a fantastic scheme and Urban Splash have done a great job. I've been one of the sternest critics on unwanted flats, but they are helping fund social housing for local residents and are not just coming in to rip off the city. I think it's going to bring this part of the city back to life. I'm proud we have managed to achieve it."
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