Construction underway on Liverpool’s £150m Project Jennifer

Regeneration firm St. Modwen has begun constructing the £150m Project Jennifer scheme in North Liverpool.

The transformation of the city’s Great Homer Street will create a Sainsbury’s supermarket and district centre along with new homes and improved public spaces.

Sainsbury’s has chosen building contractor McLaughlin & Harvey to deliver its 67,000 sq ft supermarket, which will create 220 new jobs. Work on the site started at the end of September.

St. Modwen, meanwhile, appointed builders Caddick Construction for the district centre. Work on that aspect of the scheme will start in the coming weeks.

Being delivered by St. Modwen in partnership with the city council and Sainsbury’s, Project Jennifer will create over 1,000 jobs in the North Liverpool Mayoral Development Zone.

The development will bring, in addition to the Sainsbury’s store, 80,000 sq ft of retail space and 900 free customer parking spaces, as well as a McDonald’s restaurant and petrol station.

Road improvements include a new junction to link Scotland Road with Great Homer Street and improved links to nearby Everton Park.

St. Modwen’s projects director, Paul Batho, said: “The commencement of construction work of the new Sainsbury’s and the district centre is a major milestone in the delivery of the regeneration of Great Homer Street and begins the countdown to project completion next year.

“There is a substantial investment being made in this part of the city and, when complete, Sainsbury’s and the new district centre will boost the local economy bringing much needed jobs and vibrancy to this important part of the city.”

Sainsbury’s project manager Nick Alston is overseeing the building of the store.

He said: “This scheme has been a long time in the making and we’re delighted to be on site building our Great Homer Street store.

“As a large supermarket, once complete, it will provide over 220 new local jobs, and will offer the local community a great range of both food and general merchandise on their doorstep.”

Liverpool Mayor Liverpool Joe Anderson commented: “Project Jennifer has been a keystone development that I was so keen to get underway as it had been delayed for many reasons and over a number of years.

“The project underlines what can be achieved when the public and private sector work together.”

He continued: “This new investment, the new jobs and the new houses will all breathe new life into the community and will act as a vital catalyst in the wider regeneration of north Liverpool.

“I’m delighted to see the work has begun and much like the work in nearby Anfield look forward to its completion.’’

The new supermarket and district centre are due to open in May 2017.

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