City in line for 1,500 jobs boost
Some 1,500 new jobs could be created in the first phase of a transformational redevelopment of Liverpool’s King’s Dock waterfront.
Wirral-based business The Contact Company is working with landowner Liverpool City Council and development partner YPG to build new offices on land at Monarch’s Quay.
The new complex would be in addition to the company’s existing sites in Wirral and would house some 1,500 new employees who will be required to service the growing business.
A planning application for the building was submitted yesterday (Thursday, August 31).
Subject to consent, it would represent the first phase of a major mixed-use development which would create a new leisure, commercial and retail destination on the King’s Dock.
The planning application also includes the design and delivery of new public realm adjacent to the Queen’s Dock.
The Contact Company would expect to open the doors of its new office by the end of next year. The building would be four storeys high and a total of 45,000 sq ft of Grade A office space.
The opening would mark the biggest single jobs boost for Liverpool City Region since the opening of Liverpool ONE in 2008.
Further phases of development of the site could include a 2,000-seat ice rink, a hotel, new apartments and homes, restaurants, bars and shops and a car park.
A new Winter Garden, new public realm, ten pin bowling and an innovative virtual reality leisure centre are also being considered.
Hundreds of additional jobs would be created in the further development phases and during construction.
The partners behind the development will be undertaking public consultation on all future plans.
The Monarch’s Quay site is already allocated for mixed-use development in the Liverpool Unitary Development Plan, which has been widely consulted on over a number of years and dictates acceptable uses and design principles for the site.
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said the overall plans would represent a major boost for the city in terms of jobs and new leisure facilities.
He added: “This is brilliant news for Liverpool and could ultimately lead to the creation of a new riverside destination, boosting our visitor economy and creating jobs for local people.”
The Contact Company provides customer contact services to a range of UK and international businesses. It was founded in 2006 with 15 staff and now employs some 1,200 people at its two contact centres and recruitment centre in Wirral.
Asif Hamid, its chief executive, said the new premises was a direct result of significant business growth, adding: “Our new office will be a high quality, landmark building and will mean a huge range of opportunities for employment and training.
“We remain committed to our Wirral operation but this development will enable us to significantly expand our business and compete for global customer care contracts.”
Chris Bliss, project leader for development partner YPG, a specialist mixed-use developer which has some £180m assets in its development pipeline, said: “Our focus is on delivering the highest quality design, build and fit-out for what is a unique riverside location.
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with the city council and The Contact Company to help bring forward such a significant development for the city.”
Steve Rotheram, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, said: “The Contact Company is one of the city region’s more recent success stories. I’m delighted that it has chosen to invest in our area again with this exciting project, which recognises that ambitious growth plans such as those proposed can be successfully realised here.”
The new office for The Contact Company has been designed by Liverpool architect Falconer Chester Hall. Consultation on later phases of the overall Kings Dock development is expected to begin in September. The planning application was submitted by Knight Frank.
