Former police headquarters on the market, providing major regeneration opportunity

The ‘best regeneration opportunity in the entire country’ is on the market from today (August 19).

Canning Place, the waterfront site which had been the Merseyside Police headquarters for more than 40 years, is being marketed by consultancy and construction firm, Mace Consult, and commercial property estate agents, Colliers.

It is being sold by Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell following the force’s move to a new HQ at Rose Hill, near Liverpool John Moores University’s Byrom Street site, in 2022.

The 2.64-acre Canning Place site, described by police chiefs as ‘the best regeneration opportunity in the entire country’ is positioned in a prime location just a stone’s throw from the city’s famous waterfront, facing the Albert Dock, and next to Paradise Street bus station and the Liverpool One shopping and leisure complex and Liverpool’s creative quarter, the Baltic Triangle.

The sale is a key step in the Police and Crime Commissioner’s 12-year plan focused on modernising and updating Merseyside Police’s stations and buildings.

Earlier this year, as part of the two-stage process of putting the site on the market and in line with the PCC’s commitment to social value, a public consultation was held to find out how the public and local stakeholders would like the land to be developed.

The results of that consultation have been used to shape the production of a Planning and Development brief which is being used to advertise the site and guide potential bidders.

Emily Spurrell said: “Our iconic waterfront boasting the Three Graces and the Royal Albert Dock and Kings Dock is known and loved by people across the region, the country and indeed the world.

“Canning Place occupies a prime location along that skyline, so the sale of this key site provides a unique opportunity to create something special.

“We want this pivotal plot of land to be used for a bold, ambitious, high quality development which will enhance the city’s vibrant spirit, attract visitors and businesses, and benefit local people.”

She added: “Moving Merseyside Police’s headquarters from Canning Place to Rose Hill is already saving the organisation approximately £550,000 each year – money which we are investing in the frontline.

“By selling this landmark site, we will generate money which will be used to continue to transform the police estate, making sure our stations are fit to serve our officers and staff, so they are fit to fight crime now and into the future.”

Merseyside Police began the process of vacating Canning Place and relocating to Rose Hill in October 2021 bringing more than 1,100 officers and staff together under one roof. The state-of-the-art new headquarters, just off St Anne Street, was officially opened by HRH The Earl of Wessex in March 2022.

Since then, Canning Place, which first opened its doors in 1977, has been used to house various police teams, while refurbishments to other stations have taken place and has been a base for significant policing operations, including Eurovision.

The site encompasses the former seven floor station which is more than 135,000 sq ft, an annex, car park and a gatehouse.

Now the site has been fully decommissioned, the Police and Crime Commissioner is inviting bids from developers with a track record of transforming high profile sites. The closing date for applications is October 24, 2024.

The sale of Canning is the latest step in the PCC’s 12-year Estate Strategy. The strategy includes major new police hubs in St Helens, Wirral, Knowsley and new police stations in Southport and Newton-le-Willows, all of which are due to be completed in the next five years.

During the life of the plan, more than £21.6m is expected to be recouped from the sale of 11 old and unused stations, including Canning Place, Bromborough, Maghull and Ainsdale.

By selling outdated buildings that are no longer fit for purpose and replacing them with state-of-the-art new stations, it is anticipated that a further £2.4m will be saved on the annual cost of running the police estate.