Controversial city centre development given Council backing

The Greenland Street proposal

Liverpool City Councillors today approved a controversial housing scheme within the city’s Baltic Triangle area, despite the objections of local councillor Steve Munby.

Developer Legacie wants to build more than 500 apartments on land off Greenland Street, stretching up to the junction of Great George Street and Parliament Street.

Its application was deferred at a planning meeting a fortnight ago due to objections from councillors and the Baltic Triangle CIC (Community Interest Company).

However, last week, following meetings with the developer, the CIC decided to withdraw its objections.

After a site visit by the planning committee this morning they reconvened to the Town Hall to reconsider the application, where it was unanimously given the green light.

The development proposes towers of between eight and 18-storeys high to be built in the city’s digital and cultural centre.

Steve Munby, Labour councillor for Riverside Ward, had previously registered a number of complaints about the plans.

He had described the development as “the last thing we need at the top of the Baltic Triangle” – and said the build would be a “terrible approach” and one that would be “very damaging to a crucial area of the city”.

The Baltic Triangle is seen as the city’s creative district, hosting myriad digital and creative businesses.

He told TheBusinessDesk.com today that his concerns involved issues over the provision of public open space, and how the scheme could impact any possible re-opening of the St James Street train station, in the shadow of the development.

But he argued that there was no need for more residential towers in the Baltic Triangle, and fears further development could drive out the creative businesses that had originally inspired the area’s regeneration from a derelict strip of land to a thriving small business district.

He said: “There have been 3,000-4,000 new flats that have gone up in the last two or three years, and there’s no shortage of places for people to live.

“If residential development is all based on price, this is pricing out the creative sector and you are left with flats and bars, which is what is happening now.

“It is a flipping point from a quirky, creative thing, to a new Concert Square.”

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