Liverpool’s King’s Dock could have a casino

LIVERPOOL’S King’s Dock could be home to a casino, but not a drive-through restaurant.

That’s the guidance included in a new masterplan for the southern part of the site which is likely to be approved by councillors in the city on Friday.

It was commissioned because the last residential-led masterplan, drawn up in 2003, was considered out of date, “in the light of the opportunities presented by the growing visitor economy on the waterfront,” according to a council document.

“It is clear that the site has the potential for a more diverse mix of uses to complement ACC Liverpool’s large scale Arena, Convention Centre and proposed Exhibition Centre,” said a report prepared ahead of a meeting of the council’s cabinet.

The focus is now on leisure and tourism, with suggested uses for the 350,000 sq ft Homes and Communities Agency-owned site, including a casino, cafes and restaurants, “modest” food retail, offices and residential. There will also be an emphasis on open space and utilising the waterside location.

“For sake of clarity, however large scale food/non food retail, roadside uses such as drive through restaurants, petrol filling stations, industrial or warehousing will not be appropriate,” said the report.

The report added: “It is the final remaining undeveloped area of land within the central Waterfront area. As such it has an important role in linking the waterfront area of the World Heritage Site to the waterfront residential neighbourhood to the east and south and beyond.

“Development should attract and retain visitors and deliver economic activity that will add value to the wider area. At the same time it should also provide a pleasant neighbourhood for existing and future residents, making the docks’ water space and river front accessible to the local community.”