New World Square

[wallasey]

I like both proposals!

The first is out of this world as you rarely see any curvy buildings so I think that they would add to the Pier Head area immensely!

The second proposals are simple, which is probably why people don't like them but they do look good and they seem to compliment their neighbours too!

[FKoE]

I'm just lickin' me lips at all the higher business rates and community charges WE the council going to get .......... *slurp ...

[Waterways]

I never knew that Paul, cheers.

I don't think it ever was. Lincoln and Cologne cathedrals are very high. Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building in the world for centuries.

[Kev]

Opening to all - a bird's-eye city view

Nov 13 2006

By Sam Lister

VISITORS are set to get a dramatic new view of Liverpool's historic waterfront, the Daily Post can reveal.

Developers want to build an observatory on the roof of the city's new five-star hotel and open it up to the public.

As well as the bird's-eye level extended viewing platform, the design includes plans for a rooftop restaurant.

Architect John Lyall said: "Views across Liverpool's World Heritage waterfront are the definitive image of Liverpool. But in reality there is no place, at the moment, where their full majesty can be experienced and appreciated by the public.

"For the first time, this observatory will enable the public to view the World Heritage Site from an elevated point."

London developers Lead Asset Strategies (LAS) are behind the plans, which are part of the New World Square development on Princes Dock.

The £130m mixed-use project will form a key gateway connecting the dock to the Pier Head and wider waterfront.

As well as an international hotel and business centre and a 25 storey residential tower with 120 apartments, a u-shaped building with 264 apartments there will also be commercial space for restaurants and shops, and a new illuminated piazza and performance area.

The observatory would be decked out with a visual history of the city's waterfront identifying key landmarks.

LAS is working on the detailed design of the observatory, which they hope would become a major waterfront destination, and is expected to submit a planning application soon.

Developers hope to go on site in spring next year with completion due for late 2008.

Raj Basu, LAS chairman, said: "The site itself is crucial to the history of the City. From here, thousands embarked on their journey to the New World, and it was also a key gateway for new settlers to England, many of whose ancestors remain in Merseyside and the North West.

"The viewing gallery will commemorate this heritage as well as providing the public with the chance to really appreciate one of the world's greatest waterfronts.

"Because of the site's unique heritage value we are also proposing to include a narrative commemorating the Waterfront's past, as well as viewing aids to help visitors identify key city landmarks."

LAS is working on the detailed design of the observatory, which they hope would become a major waterfront destination, and is expected to submit a planning application soon.

Developers hope to go on site in spring next year with completion due for late 2008.

Raj Basu, LAS chairman, said: "The site itself is crucial to the history of the City. From here, thousands embarked on their journey to the New World, and it was also a key gateway for new settlers to England, many of whose ancestors remain in Merseyside and the North West.

"The viewing gallery will commemorate this heritage as well as providing the public with the chance to really appreciate one of the world's greatest waterfronts.

"Because of the site's unique heritage value we are also proposing to include a narrative commemorating the Waterfront's past, as well as viewing aids to help visitors identify key city landmarks."

samlister@dailypost.co.uk

source....

[The Teardrop Explodes]

The original curved orange-segment designs for NWS were wierder and therefore better imo.

[Paul D]

The latest planning application is now for a revised 16 storey development I'm not liking this anymore,the original was well better.

[AK1]

The latest planning application is now for a revised 16 storey development I'm not liking this anymore,the original was well better.

Agreed! They seem to be cutting it back more and more. I dont see the problem with a taller tower. You could stick a 25 storey tower on that plot and it wouldn't deminish the three graces at all. This attitude of ' the three graces must be the only looked at buildings' is really getting on my nerves. No matter how many buildings you put on the waterfront, the graces will always be admired. We can have other buildings to look at aswell!!

[scouserdave]

"For the first time, this observatory will enable the public to view the World Heritage Site from an elevated point."

I think a few us have already been there, done that, wore the t-shirt

[Kev]

DEVELOPERS behind one of Liverpool's most prestigious waterfront developments last night vowed to bring the first major five- star hotel to the city.

Lead Asset Strategies has applied for permission for the £130m New World Square scheme and the application is expected to go before planning councillors this month (DEC).

The development includes a rooftop restaurant and public viewing area to allow visitors to get a spectacular view of Liverpool's World Heritage Site.

And LAS insists the development’s hotel will built to five-star specifications.

Company chairman Raj Basu said: “From the outset we have viewed this site as a five-star location, and we have designed the hotel to a five-star specification with some exceptional features and qualities.

“The design integrates with the Pier Head canal link. The canal will run through an illuminated culvert under the hotel, and passing boats can be viewed from a glazed wall in the basement health spa.

“With the extraordinary revival of Liverpool's commercial quarter, and its growing reputation as an exciting and cosmopolitan visitor destination, operators’ perceptions of the city are changing.

“The 2008 Capital of Culture award and the recent World Heritage Site designation have opened people's eyes to what Liverpool has to offer. A great international city like Liverpool needs and deserves the highest quality tourism facilities.”

The company hopes to announce a five-star operator if planning consent for the scheme is granted.

The mixed-use Princes Dock project will connect the dock to the Pier Head and wider waterfront.

As well as an international hotel and business centre and a 25-storey residential tower with 120 apartments, and a u-shaped building with 264 apartments, there will also be commercial space for restaurants and shops, and a new illuminated piazza and performance area.

The observatory would be decked out with a visual history of the city’s waterfront identifying key landmarks.

Developers hope to go on site in spring next year with completion due for late 2008.

Jack Stopforth, chief executive of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, said: “It is vital for the city's continuing success that we strengthen our credentials in the international corporate hospitality market by attracting and securing a five star operator in Liverpool.

“There is currently an excellent boutique hotel offer; however, it is a matter of scale and economics. If Liverpool wants to attract global companies, who will automatically demand the highest quality accommodation, then a five-star hotel is a must.”

source.....

[Paul D]

Multi-million city scheme set for go-ahead


A MULTI-million pound hotel, homes and leisure complex earmarked for Liverpool’s waterfront is set to get the go-ahead.

The £130m New World Square development - proposed for land at Princes Dock - includes a five-star hotel and more than 360 apartments, partly in a 16-floor tower.


http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/l...name_page.html

When the heritage freaks back something it gets approved I just can't see anything positive in this building.

[Waterways]

Liverpool's first 5 star hotel? The Adelphi at its height was second to none.

[Kev]

Can it be better than the Radisson? I would have thought that was 5*

[Kev]

ROYAL Liver Assurance has criticised a multi-million pound waterfront project that includes Liverpool's first five-star hotel.

Company bosses believe the Princes Dock scheme will block out the majority of views of the famous Royal Liverpool Building, known the world over as an icon of Liverpool.

Despite the objection, the city's planning managers are recommending the council planning committee should approve the scheme when it meets next Tuesday.

In another attack on the scheme last night, Wayne Colquhoun, chairman of Liverpool Preservation Trust, said: "It seems this city is determined to agree to major schemes within the World Heritage area before a major report from Unesco on December 15.

"I can't believe they are even considering this when just four days later we will have an idea from the World Heritage Centre about their views on the developments in and around the Pier Head."

The council-backed organisation, Liverpool Urban Design and Conservation Advisory Panel, praised the architect for a scheme on what is a world-class location.

But the panel said the stature of the iconic site was too great to be used predominantly for mass market residential purposes. Instead, it should be used as the headquarters of a major international company.

Instead the developers, Lead Asset Strategies, plan to build just a modest amount of office space within the project.

The site, between the River Mersey and the Crowne Plaza Hotel is within Princes Dock, currently used as the operational base for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

Planning committee members plan to visit the site before making a decision later on Tuesday morning.

Lead Asset Strategies is seeking the go-ahead for a development that includes 362 apartments, a hotel and spa, office suites and commercial space. There will also be a three-level underground car park for 380 vehicles.

The hotel will be housed in a 13-storey building, with 224 guest rooms as well as a business centre and a public viewing terrace on the roof.

A proposed tower building has been reduced in height from 24 levels to 17 after concerns were raised by English Heritage and the council's planning manager Nigel Lee. This was because of the closeness to the site of the Royal Liver Building.

The extension of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal to the Albert Dock will pass through the site in a culvert.

Royal Liver Assurance also opposed the Mann Island development by Neptune, again because of the impact on views of the Royal Liver Building. That scheme won planning consent last month on the casting vote of committee chairman Cllr Lady Doreen Jones.

The assurance company has told the council it believes the scheme contravenes a Unesco convention, a claim disputed by council officials who insist neither project close to the Pier Head poses a threat to the World Heritage site.

Planning manager Nigel Lee says the scheme will introduce a positive and complementary addition to the inventory of outstanding architectural buildings that define the character and importance of the Pier Head.

"The new complex has been designed to respect and celebrate the city's historical and architectural legacy," he said.

larryneild@dailypost.co.uk

[Squirrel]

Can it be better than the Radisson? I would have thought that was 5*

The Radisson SAS is a four star (I've heard it described as "four star deluxe", whatever that means, I suspect that its a cop out aimed to get away with the fact that an actual five star hotel was promised for that site).

Five star hotels are rather rare outside of London. Manchester has only one - Rocco Forte's Lowry Hotel and that's recent.

I'll be pleasantly surprised if either of the two currently promised "five star hotels" for Liverpool - New World Square and the old Municipal Annexe actually turn up to be so. Ending up with two of them sounds very hopeful indeed.

[AK1]

Cries of 'sacrilege' as first five-star hotel is approved Dec 13 2006

By Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post Staff

THE path was cleared for Liverpool's first five-star hotel yesterday when a £130m waterfront project was given the go-ahead.

The city's planning committee approved the New World Square development at Princes Dock despite objectors warning it will block out views of the Liver Building and strangle tourism in the city.

Wayne Colquhoun, chairman of Liverpool Preservation Trust, described the scheme as "sacrilegious" and a Crowne Plaza hotel spokesman said it would create an over-supply of hotel accommodation in the city - forcing other new hotel chains out of business.

The project is being delivered by developers Lead Asset Strategies (Liverpool) Ltd and is designed by leading UK architect John Lyall.

The developers are in talks with a number of five-star hotel chains with a view to operating from the site but said a deal could not be secured until the whole scheme had got the green light.

Apart from the hotel, the development will include a health spa, commercial office suites, restaurants, shops, 362 residential apartments, a new public piazza and a rooftop observatory, on the condition that developers include a large amount of greenery and soft planting as part of the scheme.

Work is likely to start in the early part of 2007 with completion targeted for late 2008.

Lead Asset Strategies chairman Raj Basu said: "It has been a lengthy process of consultation and dialogue with the planners, but I am pleased that we have now received approval for this extremely exciting development.

"We are looking forward to commencing work in the early part of the New Year and getting on with the delivery of what will be both a stunning new landmark and a vibrant destination on one of the world's greatest waterfronts.

"Although no deal with a hotel chain has yet been approved, we are certainly a lot closer after this decision."