Homes England has been named as the preferred bidder for the former Merseyside Police headquarters at Canning Place.
The 2.6-acre site, comprising a seven-storey building, annex, car park and a gatehouse, was put up for sale last year. The money recouped from the sale of the site will be reinvested into modernising and updating Merseyside Police’s stations and buildings across the region.
Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency, has proposed a mixed-use waterfront development, likely to comprise residential, hotel, retail, leisure and commercial spaces.
Police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell, working with the Merseyside Police estates team, will work with Homes England through the final stages of due diligence, with the aim of exchanging contracts later this year.
In addition, the partners will work with Historic England and Liverpool City Council on advancing the masterplan.
Once the sale is completed, Homes England will look to select a development partner and secure planning consent from the council to manage and deliver the vision for the scheme.
Spurrell said: “Canning Place occupies a prime location on waterfront but the building was no longer fit for policing purposes.”
Eamonn Boylan, chief executive of Homes England, said: “Once the purchase of the site is completed, we will work with Liverpool City Council and Historic England to agree a masterplan that delivers a vision for the development that respects its waterfront setting, before selecting a development partner to transform the site into a mixed-use development fit for a new generation.”
Mace Consult and Colliers, supported by Placed engagement specialists, assisted with the marketing and disposal of the site.
Image © Merseyside Police
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