Garden Festival Site-DECISION TIME

[Kev]

OMG! As the company who holds the lease on the festival site throws out thier plans for it, we are left with a potential blot on the city when it comes to 2008!

What would u do with it?

I think a nice 9 hole golf course! perfect waterfront site!

[hoolak]

It's looking like Jarassic Park at the moment.
Few scalls about too.

Maybe they should re-open it as JaKidda Park.

[scouser]

THE future of Liverpool's former International Garden Festival site was in the melting pot last night after investors forced out the chief executive of the company that owns it.

The showpiece site at Otterspool could now be sold, causing further delays to the redevelopment of the land which has lain derelict for almost two decades.

A group of institutional shareholders forced the removal of Oliver Iny from Planestation, formerly known as Wiggins. Shareholders led by Prudential's investment arm M&G, which has a 15% stake, said they had lost confidence in Mr Iny.

According to a source, M&G was unhappy with Mr Iny's "confrontational" style and in particular his "bad relations" with Liverpool City Council.

Last night the leader of Liverpool City Council Mike Storey said he welcomed the removal of Mr Iny.

"The city council is the freeholder of the site and Planestation is the leaseholder. The company has come forward with two planning applications that have subsequently been withdrawn.

"A lot of time has been wasted and I want to see this site developed well in time for 2008.

"I want a scheme acceptable to the community that protects the open space and I will be calling on Mr Iny's replacement to come forward as soon as possible with a sympathetic scheme."

Cllr Storey said the council's cautious approach to the previous Wiggins' proposals had proved to be right.

The council's executive director for regeneration, Charlie Parker, said he hoped the change would bring a "fresh approach" from the company.

The move has prompted speculation that the group may be broken up and sold off at some time in the future.

Stuart Sharpe, a unit trust investment director at fund managers BWD Rensburg said the sale of the Garden Festival site wouldn't be a surprise.



SORT IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kev]

THE new chief executive of the company that owns Liverpool's former Garden Festival site is poised to decide whether it will be redeveloped or sold.

The future of the site was put back in the melting pot earlier this month when the former chief executive of Planestation, Oliver Iny, was forced out by investors unhappy at his management style.

Now corporate recovery specialist Martin May has been appointed to the helm and has begun an immediate review of all the company's operations.

He recently completed turnarounds at McNicholas Construction Holdings and Cape where he is currently chairman.

Mr May said: "It is my aim to execute a thorough review of operations at Planestation before implementing a strategy for the benefit of shareholders."

In December, Planestation raised more than £46m through the placing of new shares for working capital. Last month it announced a new Irish airline EUjet would operate 29 European routes from its international airport in Manston, Kent aiming to carry two million passengers within three years.

Planestation, formerly Wiggins, had put forward proposals for the Otterspool festival site, including the building of 1,275 luxury homes and retail developments.

But the firm withdrew the planning application last August after being told by the council it had little chance of success.

In October, council leader Mike Storey said he was running out of patience with the company and was looking at legal moves to take back control of the site.

He added: "What we want from the company is a promise they will deal with the appalling legacy of this site and we will be looking for a proper, high quality development."

[Kev]

FROM THE LIVERPOOL ECHO/ DAILY POST

LIVERPOOL'S International Garden Festival site is to be sold in a deal which it is hoped will reverse years of dereliction and decay.

Sources last night told the Daily Post that owner Planestation has agreed a multi-million pound deal to give up its lease of the riverside site.

The news comes only days before the 20th anniversary of the Garden Festival opening and follows years of failure to develop the land in Otterspool, south Liverpool.

The Daily Post understands executives from Planestation, formerly Wiggins, agreed on Tuesday night to assign the site's lease to an unnamed company.

The new leaseholder will hire a developer who will draw up a fresh planning application to transform the site in time for Capital of Culture year in 2008.

The deal for the lucrative site will be announced next week.

A source close to the negotiations last night said: "The deal has been on the cards and will be announced next week.

"Planestation will assign the lease to a third party and it will strike a deal with a developer.

"Planestation have been changing their portfolio of assets and this fits in with that."

It is understood the council wants any new developer to use the majority of the site for family homes.

A small number of the shops will be built and an area will be left open - possibly as part of a coastal park.

Part of the site, including the Chinese gardens, will be restored as public gardens.

Council leader Mike Storey said: "This is the news we have been waiting for for many years.

"There has been a singular lack of progress on this site which meant so much to a lot of people who remember it in its hey-day as a successful garden festival.

"The inactivity has been as frustrating for the city council as it has been for anyone else who values it as a primary site.

"Hopefully now quick progress can be made on delivering an appropriate and sustainable development which will enjoy the support of local people and visitors."

A Planestation spokesman last night refused to comment.

Jean Hills, from the Garden Festival Campaign, urged the new owner not to just build hundreds of homes on the site.

She said: "I want to know who the developer is and what they want from the site. I would much rather have the council take direct control."

Labour leader Joe Anderson said: "The council should have used CPO powers to bring in developers who want work with the council and transform that site. That should have been done two years ago."

The reclaimed landfill site has been derelict since 1986 and a succession of plans for its revival have fallen through.

Wiggins was granted a lease by Merseyside Development Corporation in 1996. In 1998, the company revealed plans for a 1,000ft tower which the council ruled was not feasible.

Three years ago, Wiggins announced scaled-down plans which met fierce opposition from environmental groups, partly because it included a new road to run parallel with Otterspool Promenade.

Last year, the company's third plan for the site was withdrawn before it reached the council's planning committee. In December, the company changed its name to Planestation and announced a £46.3m refinancing package.

[Kev]

::)A DEAL has been struck to sell Liverpool's International Garden Festival site after twenty years of decay.

Current owners Planestation Group yesterday announced it has agreed to sell the site to Haydock-based Langtree Group.

Their lawyers are now in final discussions and expect the multi-million pound sale to go through in the next two weeks.

The new owner is likely to build houses on the majority of the site, leave an area of open space and refurbish some of the original gardens.