Development team assembled for Liverpool’s new £50m cruise terminal

Liverpool City Council has chosen engineering consultants Ramboll to head up the technical team developing plans for the new £50m Mersey cruise terminal.

The multi-disciplinary design team, appointed following a Europe-wide tender, comprises architects Stride Treglown, property consultants JLL, cost management firm Gardiner & Theobald and landscape architecture firm Hyland Edgar Driver.

The team will initially develop a detailed design for the proposed facility, which will transform the former Princes Jetty off Princes Parade, before submitting a planning application later this year.

Supplementary applications, according to the city council, could include projects such as a 200-room hotel, 1,100-space multi-storey car park and other schemes to enable Liverpool to handle the next generation of turnaround cruises, which can carry as many as 3,600 passengers.

In 2016, over 60 cruise vessels brought 120k passengers and crew to Liverpool.

The Ramboll team has more than 20 years of experience working on cruise liner terminal projects across the UK, with over 30 years in marine structure design.

The firm has also previously worked on projects in Liverpool, including Princes Dock and the existing cruise liner terminal, which launched in 2007 and today generates over £7m annually for the city’s economy.

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said: “Liverpool needs a new cruise facility so that we can provide the next generation of super liners and passengers with a world class welcome and a five star experience.

“Appointing Ramboll to lead this very experienced technical team is a key step in ensuring we develop a facility to the highest standards.”

He added: “A new cruise facility would also be a huge boost to our plans to regenerate the North Liverpool docklands and create thousands of new jobs.”

Ramboll project director Dave Grove commented: “The whole design team is extremely proud to have secured the position of Technical Advisors, and look forward to supporting Liverpool City Council in this exciting endeavour.

“The cruise ship terminal project is one of vital importance to the City, and will secure the future of this new cornerstone in Liverpool’s economy.”

He continued: “Having personally worked in the quayside area throughout my 20 year career at Ramboll, I am confident that we can deliver a design that will meet the highest standards and needs of all who will use the facility.”

Elsewhere, Liverpool City Council is due to submit an outline business case for a £20m boost for the cruise terminal from the Liverpool Combined Authority’s Strategic Investment Fund (SIF). If successful, a full business case will then be submitted.

The multi-storey car park proposal has been earmarked for the new cruise terminal, but the authority is reviewing locations to the north of Leeds Street. This would allow the parking facility to support other waterfront initiatives like the Ten Streets digital-creative zone and Everton FC’s proposed stadium at Bramley Moore Dock.

Liverpool City Council is now undertaking further maritime and infrastructure investigations and environmental impact assessments. The authority is working closely with Peel Land and Property, which gifted Princes Jetty to the city.

Ian Pollitt, assistant project director for the £5.5bn Liverpool Waters scheme, which incorporates Princes Jetty, said: “We are delighted that the design team for the new cruise terminal is now in place. Liverpool is a maritime city and this new terminal will be a great way of linking our future with that proud heritage.

“There is a real buzz around Liverpool Waters and the Waterfront at the moment, with a constant stream of good news.”

He continued: “We are working very closely with Liverpool City Council and our other partners to progress the development and this latest development is a further sign of our joint commitment to the Liverpool Waters project and the wider city region.”