Edge Lane set for approval despite business protests

A MAJOR redevelopment of a retail park on Liverpool’s Edge Lane is set for approval next week but it has drawn flak from several of the city’s most prominent businesses.

Derwent Holdings’ £200m scheme will redevelop Edge Lane Retail Park but also take in some surrounding land, including a park, to create 890,000 sq ft of commercial development, retail and leisure units and 1,800 parking places.

Derwent, the property group owned by tycoon Albert Gubay, says it is ready to start work next week if the scheme is approved as expected on December 7.

But a report prepared by the council ahead of the meeting includes concerns from the retailer TJ Hughes which operates a distribution centre close to the site, Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster’s property company which owns the Liverpool One shopping centre, and Ray Sanders Ltd, owner of promotional and souvenir mug company Prince William Pottery.

TJ Hughes said the car parking provision is insufficient and it fears a build up of parked cars in nearby streets could create problems for its trucks. It is also concerned about the expansion of the retail park to take in Rathbone Park and some residential land and fears the development could hit trade at its London Road store.

Grosvenor is also worried about the impact of Derwent’s development on trade. “Grosvenor wishes to ensure that new out-of-centre developments do not undermine the high level of retail enhancement in the city centre which Liverpool One was intended to achieve,” said the company.

It added: “The development could effect retailer confidence in the city centre and start to dilute the strength of Liverpool ability to attract high quality retailers. Regeneration should not be at the expense of achieving long term investment and success for Liverpool city centre.”

Ray Sanders also disagrees with the retail park’s expansion arguing that it will harm trade in other centres. It owns land that is required by the scheme but it said it has not been formally approached by Derwent.

“The redevelopment cannot be delivered without acquisition of their [Ray Sanders’] interests,” said the report. “No commitment has been made to procure such by DHL [Derwent Holdings] and it would seem that the only guarantee of delivery would be for the council to use compulsory purchase powers. They would seriously oppose such a move.”