Planning granted for two residential towers in Liverpool

The proposed new towers would be residential schemes and are the first large scale new-build residential schemes on Liverpool’s waterfront since the credit crunch began, according to Liverpool Vision, the City's economic development company.

The two towers would be linked by a podium block which would contain two levels of car parking and would be topped with a garden deck and edged by three dockside duplexes, according to the plans.  The north tower at 13 storeys contains 83 apartments with the 15 storey south tower comprising 106 apartments.

The current development proposals have been put forward by Investec Bank, which acquired the site following the collapse of an un-named developer which had bought the plot with the previous planning permission.

Investec has teamed up with Vinci contractors to build the project.

"Investec had suffered a considerable loss when its client defaulted and its only option was to now build something with the hope of recovering some money," said Jon Healiss, architect for the scheme.

The new development has 132 one-bedroom or studio apartments, 59 two-beds including three duplexes facing on to the dock, and one three-bed. It also has 100 parking spaces.

“During the boom times, there were hopes that there would be a collection of tall buildings at this end of the city centre. There is now potential to build something here, not quite of the same class, but something similar and interesting,” said Healiss.

Liverpool Vision said that Healiss told the planning committee that the development was a viable proposition and that the bank hoped the flats would be ready to be sold in two years.

The site is on the edge of the buffer zone for the city’s World Heritage Site. The area is set aside in city council policies as a place where tall buildings are permitted.