£35m Lime Street plans given the greenlight

The multi-million pound plan to revamp Liverpool’s Lime Street is set to proceed after the High Court turned down a bid from campaign group SAVE Britain’s Heritage to stop the scheme in its tracks.

The project involves retail, commercial and leisure redevelopment, including student accommodation and a new hotel. The initial plans will be followed up with proposals for an entertainment and media centre in the former ABC Cinema building.

The Honourable Mrs Justice Patterson DBE today (Friday 15) rejected an application for a Judicial Review from SAVE Britain’s Heritage, made on the grounds that Liverpool City Council, in compiling its plans for Lime Street, breached planning guidance by failing to notify UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee and the Department for Culture Media and Sport.

However, Judge Patterson turned down the claim because Historic England was consulted and did not object or ask that the plans be scrutinised by Greg Clark, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said: “We were confident that we had properly and rigorously considered this application following all of the relevant government guidance, and it is pleasing that the High Court has come to the same conclusion.

“Lime Street is a key gateway route in the city centre that is in desperate need of investment and upgrading. The scheme went through a very rigorous evaluation before being approved.”

He continued: “We want to get on with allowing the developers to invest in their vision and bring Lime Street up to a much higher standard than it has been for decades and one that is fitting for a major entry point into the city centre.

“This legal move, which I believe was based on spurious grounds, was an attempt by outside interest groups to delay much-needed regeneration, and fortunately the High Court has seen right through it.”

Speaking further, Mr Anderson said he is now looking forward to “being able to crack on” with the transformative project, which he believes will “act as a catalyst” for further investment in the city centre.

The redevelopment work will not preserve the iconic facade of the former Futurist cinema on Lime Street, for which a campaign group called Save the Futurist was launched, due to its poor structural condition. However, the city council said the campaign group has now accepted this decision.

Property development firm Neptune Developments is the company chosen to deliver the Lime Street overhaul.

Neptune’s MD, Steve Parry, said: “We are pleased that the High Court has ratified the local planning decision and found that it was made in an entirely appropriate and thorough way.

“Lime Street urgently needs this project to happen. There has already been a cost associated with a delay that has impacted on the project’s financial viability.”

He continued: “On a positive note we have exchanged with a major fund before Christmas and can now hopefully get on with early demolition and delivery of a new vision for Lime Street.”