CPO kicks off £150m Great Homer Street scheme
LIVERPOOL City Council has officially made the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) needed to progress the £150 million regeneration of Great Homer Street in north Liverpool.
The CPO will allow the council and its development partner St. Modwen to move ahead with the acquisition of land needed to deliver the project, which includes new retail and employment space, houses, a community centre and a leisure centre on the 45-acre site of the former Great Homer Street market.
The scheme, known as Project Jennifer, will also a 110,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s supermarket – the largest foodstore to be built in Liverpool to date.
Developer St Modwen said that the supermarket would act “as a catalyst for the wider redevelopment of north Liverpool”.
Some 80,000 sq ft of additional retail units, 480 new homes, 80,000 sq ft of light industrial units and 40,000 sq ft of new community facilities – including a new market and a health centre – are planned for the site.
The plans have also been adapted to allow residents at Skirving Street, who had been threatened with eviction, to remain in their homes.
Michelle Taylor, regional director at St. Modwen, said: “This decision is another major milestone for the regeneration of Great Homer Street.
“There is still a great deal of work to be done but, with the CPO process officially underway and providing there are no major objections received, the scheme could start on site as early as 2012.
“Residents of Skirving Street told us that they wanted to stay in their homes and we have listened. The plans have been adapted and these properties will not be affected by the CPO.
Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Malcolm Kennedy said:
“It’s great news that this hugely important scheme, supported by the local community, is moving forward. It will transform the Great Homer Street area and make a massive difference to people’s lives.
“It will help transform north Liverpool, provide vital new facilities and create more than 1,000 jobs.”
A statutory period now begins during which any objections to the CPO will be heard. If challenges are lodged, the CPO will be referred to a public enquiry which would probably be held later this year.
