Speke Garston Development Company - Mixed-Use Development - Liverpool, North Shore

Date: 26 Mar 2002

A major new study is now under way with the aim of creating a development master plan for the regeneration of Liverpool's 'North Shore' area.

A consortium of regional and national experts has been appointed to carry out the three-month assessment of the Atlantic Gateway Strategic Investment Area (SIA).

The Atlantic Gateway is one of eight areas of Merseyside that have been identified as having the greatest potential for economic growth with the help of European Objective 1 funding.

The Atlantic Gateway corridor runs from just north of Liverpool city centre through the docklands to Switch Island in Maghull. The scheme will be implemented as a joint initiative between Liverpool City Council - via Speke Garston Development Company - and Sefton Council via its new Atlantic Gateway team.

The contract to carry out the study - which is being funded by the North West Development Agency and Objective 1 - has been won by a consortium headed up by urban design and regeneration experts Taylor Young who are based in Handforth near Wilmslow.

They will be supported by other specialist firms including Amion (economic development), JMP Consultants (transportation), Jones Lang LaSalle (commercial property), the Appleton Group (landscaping) and Tweeds (costing).

The job of the consortium is to map out how sites and premises can be developed to attract investment and jobs to the Atlantic Gateway corridor while minimising the effect of this extra business activity on residents in the area.

Important features of the scheme will include continuing the upgrading of Atlantic Avenue and the Leeds Liverpool Canal and more support for existing local businesses.

Developing closer business links between north Liverpool and the city centre and creating better transportation links in the area will also be part of the plan.

Atlantic Gateway Manager Margaret Jackson commented : "The start of work on the master planning exercise is an important milestone for the programme which has the potential to make this area one of Merseyside's most exciting sources of employment opportunities."

Speke Garston Development Company Chief Executive, Bob Lane,
added : "We look forward to working with our colleagues in Sefton and using the experience we have gained in south Liverpool to bring about significant change for the better in the North Shore area."

Stephen Gleave, Director of Taylor Young, said : "All the members of our consortium are delighted to be working on this important study.

"Our aim is to come up a way forward that offers the greatest potential in terms of both the physical and economic regeneration of the Atlantic Gateway corridor."

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