Green light for Liverpool exhibition centre

PLANS for a new exhibition centre and hotel on Liverpool’s waterfront have been approved by the city council.

The £40m, 90,000 sq ft exhibition building will be connected to the existing Arena and Convention Centre (ACC) by a covered bridge link.

There will also be a £27m, 200-bed four-star hotel which will be run under Accor’s Pullman brand by Warwickshire-based Branded Hotel Management (BHM).

Mayor Joe Anderson said: “This is fantastic news for Liverpool. I’ve pushed this project hard from the beginning, because I know the huge economic benefits it will bring to our city, attracting new visitors, boosting local business and creating jobs.

“This decision from the planning committee means we can now press ahead with delivering an absolutely world class waterfront development. Exhibition Centre Liverpool and the integrated hotel will allow us to build on the massive success of ACC Liverpool, and will drive our transformation into one of Europe’s leading destinations for large-scale conferences, exhibitions and events.

“It’s a huge boost for our city and yet more evidence that despite the recession, we continue to forge ahead with delivering important regeneration schemes. I’m looking forward to construction getting underway.”

Funding for the facility is being raised through borrowing supported by revenue generated by the expanded ACC Liverpool. It will be  owned by Liverpool City Council and the exhibition centre will be managed and operated by the existing ACC Liverpool team.

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