The Fourth Grace- PROJECT CANCELLED!

[Kev]

THE latest proposals were outlined today for the content of Liverpool's controversial Cloud development.

The new fourth grace project has moved into its next phase after winning approval for £43m government funding.

Developers Neptune have revealed more about what is planned for the Cloud's interior.

The proposals confirm two levels of underground car parking, which will provide 864 spaces for hotel and residential users.

A spiral staircase will lead visitors down from the hill on which the building will sit into the Cloud's proposed jewel in the crown, National Museums Liverpool.

Three fast lifts will whisk visitors to the Liverpool Lounge at the top of the Cloud through an atrium.

The hotel development within the Cloud will provide 120 beds and the residential blocks behind the Cloud on The Strand will create 481 flats.

About 13% of the Fourth Grace will be dedicated to public space and the rest is private sector-led, which will make the project economically viable, say developers.

The Lounge area at the top of the Cloud is earmarked for world-class exhibitions, but the scheme's architect, Will Alsop, said it will be an attraction in its own right because of the views of the city and the sea it will offer

"I would encourage visitors and Liverpudlians to go to the Liverpool Lounge," he said.

"It is free and you get an amazing view of the city and the river. You can go there and just do nothing.

"It seems to me in many funded public spaces that people are always looking for a return. But this is just like being on the pavement, only it is a number of storeys high."

Meanwhile, new funding has been pledged to help National Museums Liverpool set up world-beating shows within the building.

The Northwest Development Agency has agreed to make up to £250,000 of extra aid available for museums bosses to complete their studies on the exhibition space within the scheme.

An NWDA spokeswoman said: "We have committed up to £250,000 for NML towards feasibility funding.

"This is in addition to the £43m announced recently."

An NML spokeswoman said: "We are very keen to continue working with the consortium on this and this funding will make that possible."

Museum trustees are set to announce some time in April their final decision on moving into the Cloud.

From The Liverpool Echo....

[Kev]

A PLANNING application for the Fourth Grace will be submitted inside three months.

The timescale was revealed by the landmark scheme's private sector partners as they brought leading city figures up to date with its progress at Mathew Street's View Two gallery.

Information about the £228m Cloud project, which will sit alongside Liverpool's famous Three Graces at the Pier Head, has been at a premium up to this point.

[Kev]

MUSEUMS chiefs could soon agree to move into Liverpool's Fourth Grace, it was revealed today.

The decision will be a huge step forward for the development of the Cloud design (left), which must have National Museums Liverpool on board to go ahead.

Officially the NML will not confirm its commitment to the £228m Pier Head scheme until May.

[LV]

Somebody who doesn't like the 'Fourth Grace'!

www.fourthgracehaveyoursay.co.uk/

[Kev]

ARCHITECT Will Alsop yesterday warned the people of Merseyside to support his controversial Fourth Grace scheme - or risk losing it.

He also revealed the cost of the iconic waterfront structure has been significantly lowered by £70m. The original estimate for the project was £270m.

more here!

[Kev]

Well what do you know.....its not getting built...the signs were there wernt they?

The Fourth Grace, which formed a major plank of the Capital of Culture bid, was expected to be one of the jewels in the crown of 2008. Rising costs have led to the flagship project being shelved.

In May plans for the project were being overhauled following concerns from heritage groups and city planners with an expectation of submitting a planning application in August.

It was proposed that the residential element of the scheme would increase doubling the original number of apartments to 700. The partners in the scheme Liverpool Vision, the North West Development Agency, Liverpool City Council and National Museums Liverpool decided to cancel the project after the estimated cost of the scheme rose from £228m to £324m.

The Fourth Grace is the latest city centre scheme to be cancelled after plans for a new Everton stadium on the Kings Dock were also dropped.

[steve]

how much do we pay these people who are behind this planning? are we incapable of emplying people who are capable of forward thinking, planning and project management. those behind this should be held accountable like we would be if we screwed up in work