A controversial £130m redevelopment of a listed building on Liverpool’s Albert Dock has been approved by the city council after a skirmish with local campaigners.
The 800-home redevelopment of Heap’s Mill, in the city’s southern docklands, was yesterday approved.
Elliot Lawless’s One Park Lane is behind the Falconer Chester Hall-designed project, which will include 12,000 sq ft of leisure and retail units around a new public space named Baltic Square.
The building – originally set for demolition to make way for a 25-storey residential tower – was spot listed after a campaign by local protesters and a string of negotiations between developer and council.
One Park Lane then revised the application, which now retains the Victorian-era rice mill and includes a 16-storey block along with three other towers between 14 and 12 stories.
Lawless said: “A lot of credit is due to Liverpool council for its advisory role and its responsiveness. We were working under tight deadlines because of our funders’ needs and the council pulled out all the stops to ensure a scheme which respects and preserves this lovely old building.
“Our objective is to be on site by the spring so that we can bring this prominent site back into use as soon as possible.”
“We have some other sites in the city centre, so this project will give us a clear steer as to what we may achieve elsewhere.”
The homes will be for private rental and market rent through a social landlord, with the remaining block housing serviced apartments. In the mill there may be opportunities to develop larger apartments for sale.
