A team of planning experts has been chosen to draw up plans for a £2 billion regeneration scheme in Liverpool.

The council has selected a consortium of three companies to independently develop a Spatial Regeneration Framework (SRF) for the 56-acre Knowledge Quarter Gateway development;

• GVA HOW Planning – Strategic Planning and Consultation lead

• K2 Architects – Masterplanning and Architecture lead

• Planit-IE – Place-making and Landscape lead

The trio are tasked with how best to redevelop the Lime Street area around the Adelphi Hotel, Central Station and Mount Pleasant and dovetailing the proposals from Liverpool John Moores University on its Copperas Hill site, plans for the Fabric District, Merseytravel's plans for Central Station and various private sector schemes such as Circus Liverpool at the old Lewis's building.

A number of other consultants have been appointed to support the team including Mott Macdonald (transport), GVA (property advisory services), Rob Burns (heritage); and Enfusion (strategic environmental assessment).


The final SRF report is scheduled to be submitted by spring next year. Once adopted as a Spatial Planning Document, it will become part of the authority's statutory process to inform all future planning applications in the area.

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: "The Knowledge Quarter Gateway is vital to this city's economic future and such is the scale of its potential it will be a huge employer for generations to come.

"This gateway project is now the final piece in the jigsaw to connect the site to the rest of the city centre and complete the wider regeneration of Lime Street, Mount Pleasant and Brownlow Hill. Its impact cannot be underestimated and I'm delighted we have now a team of experts with the right experience to shape its direction."

Neil Lucas, at GVA HOW Planning said: "We are delighted to be appointed to work on the Knowledge Quarter Gateway project with Liverpool City Council. Our team has been brought together especially for this project as we know Liverpool, having helped design, shape and deliver some of the biggest regeneration schemes in the City, such as Ten Streets, Liverpool Waters, Liverpool ONE, and Festival Park to name a few.

"We aim to build upon the good work that has already been undertaken to date in the SRF area, and prepare a document that will help guide the transformation of this key part of the City Centre into a true gateway of city, regional and international importance."

Image: (L - R) Mark Davies of K2 Architects and Neil Lucas of GVA HOW Planning.

(LM)