Key appointments to major waterfront development scheme
The architect and planning consultancy have been appointed to deliver a major development on the banks of the River Mersey.
KEIE, part of Liverpool-based retail giant TJ Morris, and its partner, Liverpool property firm Beetham, have appointed architect Brock Carmichael and planning consultancy Pegasus Group to its King Edward Triangle project.
They are working on the masterplan for the 5.7-acre site, as well as preparing detailed designs for the first of what is hoped to be a cluster of tall buildings.
Beetham’s Hugh Frost said: “These are two of the most critical appointments we will make, and it’s good to have such capable people around me to help drive the project forward.”
Darren Muir
Work has begun on designs for a mid-rise tower at the base of the scheme on the corner of Waterloo Road and Paisley Street, with pre-application discussions shortly to commence with Liverpool City Council, says Darren Muir, director of Pegasus Group’s Liverpool office.
He added: “The overall project will deliver a step-change in how the north end of the city centre looks and functions.
“Ensuring all elements knit together into a satisfactory whole is a critical role of the planning function and we’ve got our shoulders to the wheel.”
Chris Bolland, managing partner at Liverpool-based Brock Carmichael, confirmed that discussions on ‘the early direction’ of the scheme’s overall masterplan have already been held with Liverpool council.
“The council have been constructive and fully engaged, and we have been able to move forward elements of the masterplan design already,” he said.
Chris Bolland
“There’s still plenty to do, of course, but it’s shaping up to be the game-changer everyone wants it to be and I’m looking forward to sharing our designs in due course for proper scrutiny.”
The appointments follow recent confirmation of a second acquisition of neighbouring plots by the consortium.
PMR Engineering Services’ Empress Works, running down Paisley Street, was acquired in August to provide an extended northern boundary for the proposed development.
TJ Morris, through its KEIE subsidiary, has partnered with Beetham to bring the prime city development site forward.
Beetham is best known for redefining the skylines of Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham and demonstrating that high quality residential and mixed-use towers could thrive in key provincial cities.
