‘Creative District’ Ten Streets gets design team

A specialist design team has been appointed to shape a new “creativity district” in Liverpool.

The city council has procured HOW Planning and shedkm to establish the planning framework and development principles for the Ten Streets area in Liverpool’s historic north docks, following a competitive tender.

The production of a Spatial Regeneration Framework (SRF) will set out what can be achieved in the district, which has already been earmarked to house a major cultural venue and house the athletes’ village if Liverpool’s bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games is successful.

The appointment of the two firms follows the launch of the Ten Streets vision, earlier this year, which unveiled 10 big ideas to regenerate 125 acres of former dockland between the northern edge of the city centre and the landmark Tobacco warehouse at Stanley Dock, which lies within Liverpool’s World Heritage Site.

Ten Streets, which lies within the poorest ward in the UK – Kirkdale – has the potential for up to a million square feet of development, delivering around 2,500 new jobs, and the city is keen to attract creative companies and enterprises to flourish alongside artistic organisations, which will include the UK’s first revolving theatre.

Ten Streets, which sits on Liverpool’s Atlantic Corridor, is a key part of the city’s big picture regeneration vision to deliver £13bn of investment and create 40,000 new jobs over the next 10 years. As a creative economy district, the scheme will complement other employment areas like the Knowledge Quarter, Commercial District and Liverpool Waters.

Neil Lucas, partner at HOW Planning, said: “HOW Planning and shedkm architects are delighted to be appointed to work on the Ten Streets project.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to create a vibrant new neighbourhood in Liverpool City Centre: one that celebrates and builds upon the area’s heritage and unique characteristics, introduces new uses and public realm, and knits together the emerging schemes in the Atlantic Corridor.

“We look forward to working closely with Liverpool City Council, Harcourt, and other stakeholders in delivering the vision.”

Hazel Rounding, director of shedkm, said: “shedkm and HOW Planning are incredibly excited to be working on leading the vision to shape this area of the city with Liverpool City Council and Harcourt.

“As regeneration specialists established in Liverpool 20 years ago, shedkm are particularly keen to work with the historic urban grain of the Ten Streets area to promote a cultural hub as a catalyst for the wider area, whilst establishing a framework for exciting future development and potential game-changing interventions.”