Liverpool City Council has appointed a team led by LDA Design to develop a transformational masterplan to revitalise St George’s Gateway, the city’s cultural quarter.
The 35-hectare site features some of the city’s finest architecture and cultural centres, including Grade I listed St George’s Hall, Liverpool Empire Theatre, the Walker Art Gallery and World Museum Liverpool. The Council sees the quarter as having significant regeneration opportunities, especially following the demolition of two over-sized flyovers (the Churchill Way flyovers) which used to run behind the museum and galleries.
The LDA Design-led team is charged with developing a framework for an ambitious 10-year vision that will knit the quarter into the wider city and better connect to adjoining communities. Goals include developing a clear strategy for the public realm and for active travel; proposals for transport improvements; and the creation of new green spaces. The framework will also identify future development opportunities and a land-use strategy and set out creative re-uses of unoccupied or under-used buildings.
The LDA Design-led team was commissioned by the Council working with Liverpool John Moores University and National Museums Liverpool. The team includes Haworth Tompkins, WSP, Pegasus, Hatch and engagement specialists PLACED and AspinallVerdi.
The aim is to protect and enhance the area’s character and celebrate local heritage. So, the framework will set clear design codes to shape development in the area. Once approved, it will be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document to ease future change and decision making.
Mark Graham, a director at LDA Design, said: “St George’s Gateway is hugely significant, historically and culturally, and has all the ingredients needed to create a world-class gateway for Liverpool.
“The masterplan will need to work well for everyone, residents, students, visitors and local businesses, and we are eager to gather ideas as soon as possible for shaping a high-quality place with sensitive development at the heart of the city centre.”
Images Credit: LDA Design
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