Plans for £2 billion 'Urban Village' in Liverpool revealed
The first public exhibition on the £2bn masterplan to create a world leading urban village in Liverpool is being held today.
The first public exhibition on the £2bn masterplan to create a world leading urban village in Liverpool is being held today.
The event, at Kensington Fields Community Centre, on Low Hill, will go into detail on the Paddington Village scheme - the flagship development of the city’s new Knowledge Quarter (KQ Liverpool).
Running from 2pm to 7pm, the public exhibition is part of a 7 week long consultation exercise, which has been created to guide the development of the 30 acre site.
Paddington Village, which lies less than a mile from the city centre, will focus on creating a world-class investment environment for knowledge-based businesses and a new vibrant residential neighbourhood.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, announced the establishment of KQ Liverpool as one of five Mayoral Development Zones with the aim of creating 10,000 new jobs.
Situated in sight of the new Royal Liverpool Hospital, Paddington Village consists of three zones:
• Paddington Central (Phase 1) – At the heart of Paddington Village, the tall buildings will complement the adjacent University buildings. Paddington Central will include a new Urban Square.
• Paddington South (Phase 2) – Paddington South will be largely residential and educational and will deliver medium to high density development. New green space will provide a relaxing environment, a contrast to the busier Paddington Central.
• Paddington North (Phase 3) – This area is predominantly residential and fronts on to Kensington Fields. Development in this area will complement the scale and form of Kensington Fields and will accommodate existing communities facilities.
Mayor Anderson said: “KQ Liverpool is going to transform this city’s economic landscape beyond all recognition and Paddington Village is its beating heart.
‘’How we develop Paddington Village is the first major step and this public consultation is vital to ensuring everyone is on board at the beginning of what will be a very exciting journey.’’
Occupiers already secured for Paddington Central are the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) for a Northern Centre of Excellence, and a 45,000 sf ft ‘live-learn facility’ for Liverpool International College made up of flats and lecture halls, of which a planning application has now been submitted to Liverpool City Council.
The arrival of the RCP will signal the start of phase one of the 10 year development site, encompassing 1.8m sq ft.
Phases 2 and 3 are longer term and there will be a need to consider existing uses on the site alongside new development.