Liverpool bosses call for expansion of city’s business district

A new masterplan will explore the potential of expanding Liverpool’s business district.

A report to the city council’s Cabinet next week will recommend drafting a Spatial Regeneration Framework (SRF) to manage the district’s growth and maximise its potential

The SRF would seek to connect it with Princes Dock in the £5bn Liverpool Waters development.

The district already covers 40 acres on the northern edge of the city centre and mostly comprises professional offices.

However, a rise in residential use through Permitted Development Rights is impacting the city’s growth potential, according to the council.

The authority said in a media release that residential projects are having a particular impact on the city’s potential for supplying Grade A and B office space.

Working alongside private sector partners at Liverpool City Region and Professional Liverpool, the council will commission the SRF in the hope of giving its planning arm the ability to determine future development use.

It believes doing so will allow Liverpool to compete with the other core cities.

Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said: “Liverpool’s business district is a major engine in the city’s economy and its future growth needs to be proactively managed to maximise its potential and further underpin the development of Liverpool Waters.

“The supply of Grade A office space is critical to any successful city centre which is why we are supporting the Pall Mall development but to stimulate demand and provide more supply, which will in turn create much needed jobs in the professional sector, we need a long term vision which this Spatial Regeneration Framework will underpin.”

He continued: “The fact is the city centre has boomed in the past decade in its appeal for shoppers, tourists and those wanting to live in a great city centre and the competing needs of a growing population and visitor economy now needs to be addressed to ensure the district remains a dynamic and vital cog in our commercial economy for the next 20 years.”

According to the council, data shows that office take-up in the business district rose 16% in 2016, when it was at its highest since 2009.

Grade B office space represents the mainstay of the district, accounting for 97% of the total take-up. But there is currently no vacant Grade A office space in the area.

Liverpool City Council is addressing the issue by supporting plans for a £200m scheme in Pall Mall. Due to be delivered by Kier Property, the development will create 400,000 sq ft of new Grade A office space and has the potential to deliver up to 2,500 new jobs.

The authority is also investing £100m in road infrastructure on the district’s northern fringe.

Steve Stuart, chair of the professional and business services board for Liverpool City Region, said the SRF could “support a vibrant and successful commercial district that can help deliver the high value, high skill jobs that will support the city and wider city region growth objectives”.

Professional Liverpool CEO John Hall said expanding the district “can only be seen as a good thing for the city”.

Liverpool BID Company is likewise backing the plans, with chief exec Bill Addy confirming that the organisation is “fully committed to future-proofing the continued growth and success” of the commercial district.

The Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet will consider the report on Friday (May 25).