Liverpool set for 3000 new jobs as work begins on £100m shopping park

Work on the redevelopment of Edge Lane Retail Park is now underway, with building firm Caddick Construction chosen to deliver the new multi-million pound retail and leisure site.

To be known as Liverpool Shopping Park, the scheme will comprise 727,000 sq ft of mixed-use commercial space across 41 retail units and is expected to create over 3,000 jobs.

Once complete, the site will encompass the existing Edge Lane Retail Park and land located across the junction of Edge Lane and Rathbone Road.

The first part of the construction efforts will create the Western Quarter – 92,500 sq ft of space across a horseshoe-shaped row of retail units. The work will also include industrial units located on Rathbone Road and two retail units on the site once occupied by Blockbuster.

The city’s Mayor, Joe Anderson, said: “This is a key gateway route into Liverpool and is the first glimpse that new visitors get when they come to Liverpool for the first time.

“I have worked closely with The Derwent Group to support them to come up with an exciting scheme that will be a top quality shopping and leisure destination and deliver many new jobs.”

He added: “Liverpool Shopping Park will breathe new life into this part of the city, and it complements the other major regeneration schemes happening in the area including new housing, the film and TV studios at the former Littlewoods Building and the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

David Lyons, the managing director of The Derwent Group, called the “transformative” project the “final piece of Liverpool’s retail puzzle”.

He said: “Liverpool Shopping Park will bring branded fashion retailers, restaurants and leisure operators together in an out-of-town location, complete with plenty of free parking and great access in and out of the city.

“This is a sizeable and strategic £100m investment for The Derwent Group and it will deliver much needed regeneration and jobs in this part of the city.”

David continued: “It’s taken some time to get this project on the table but everything is now in place for work to begin in earnest in April. We are delighted to be working with Caddick Construction again.”

Caddick Construction has worked with Derwent for the past 14 years, according to the building firm’s MD Andrew Murray, delivering projects worth £84m.

He added: “This is our newest and most high profile project to date. This is a very diverse build and one that will deliver real transformative benefits to this part of Liverpool.”