Liverpool Commercial District facelift enters next stage

A £1.4m scheme to revitalise severals areas in Liverpool’s Commercial District is due to enter a new phase.

With the city’s Leather Lane recently upgraded, a 10-week regeneration programme targeting Bixteth Street launched this week. The work forms part of a non-stop schedule in which a number of key areas of the business district will be upgraded.

Work on Old Hall Street is due to begin at some point in October or early November, with subsequent upgrades coming to Edmund Street, North John Street and then Eberle Street.

The two-year scheme has seen the Commercial District BID invest £900k raised through a 1% BID business levy, which Liverpool City Council has matched. Further, authorities in the city plan to invest an additional £500k in upgrading Water Street next year.

Commercial District BID chairman Jim Gill said: “Upgrading the public realm is a critical part of a much wider programme to enhance the experience of the Commercial District and its appeal as the place to do business in Liverpool.

“Improving connectivity within the District, be it upgrading roads to improving broadband speeds, is a major goal of the BID as it will stimulate growth and investment and we’re delighted we have the support of the city council to help us achieve this.’’

Infrastructure support service firm Amey, which has an office in Liverpool, is carrying out the work, which includes road resurfacing and improved lighting, street furniture, kerbs and footways.

International property firm Bruntwood recently completed an upgrade of the Cotton Exchange building on Bixteth Street. Bruntwood’s director of property marketing, Colin Sinclair, said: “As a major investor in the Commercial District we are pleased to see these transformational public realms works.

“It’s a great example of public and private sector working together to create an environment where businesses can grow and prosper, creating jobs and so benefitting the whole Liverpool economy.”

The programme to improve public spaces within Liverpool’s Commercial District forms part of a wider four-year plan for improvement works all over the city, including better lighting and signage, coach parking and access for cyclists and pedestrians.

The city’s cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, said: “These works are a vital step in improving the experience of the Commercial District. It will make a considerable difference to businesses and other city centre users and shows our commitment to working with the BID Company to improving the Commercial District.”