Post by Kev on Jan 28, 2004 13:40:28 GMT -5
A NEW vision for Liverpool's waterfront was unveiled today.
And Liverpool could get its first five-star hotel as part of the deal.
Officials from regeneration company Liverpool Vision are in discus-sions with a number of top hoteliers about the waterfront site.
One contender for the site is the Hilton Group, which runs a chain of international hotels and also owns gambling and casino chain Ladbrokes.
Liverpool-based Beetham Group is another likely bidder with ambitious plans for a high-rise building that will include a hotel and luxury apartments.
Regeneration bosses today revealed the £100m master plan for the Kings Dock which includes a concert arena and conference centre, hotels, a new public piazza and multi-storey car park.
The plans can be viewed at an exhibition featuring computergenerated pictures of how the waterfront will look once the transformation is complete.
Sir Joe Dwyer, chairman of Liverpool Vision, said: "The exhibition is the start of a process of public consultation on our aspirations for this important site.
"Feedback from the people of Liverpool will really help to refine and influence the Kings Waterfront scheme."
A shortlist of six firms has been drawn up, each drawing up plans for a 9,000-seater arena which would also have a 1,500-capacity conference facility.
The successful bid will be announced next month and the plans will then be submitted in the summer.
The arena, exhibition centre and conference centre are due to be completed in time for Capital of Culture 2008.
City council leader Mike Storey said today: "This is one of the most important sites to be developed, not only in this region, but across Europe.
"It offers great potential for Liverpool and it's vital the public play their part in shaping the future."
Architects in the running to design the new Kings Dock Arena are behind some of the most famous venues in the world.
They include HOK Sport, which designed the Sydney Olympic Stadium, SOM, which created the Dallas Convention Centre, and Britain's leading architect Sir Norman Foster, who narrowly missed out on building the Fourth Grace.
Elliot Lewis-Ward, area director of English Partnerships, which owns the Kings Dock, added: "Kings Waterfront will have a significant impact on the local economy and the wider north west region so it is crucial we get everything right.
"The masterplan envisages the development of a multi-use arena, exhibition space, a conference centre, apartments, offices, hotels together with high quality public spaces and a multi-storey car park."
Capital of Culture creative director Sue Woodward said "We want to make sure that Liverpool looks at its best and is capable of staging the best by 2008.
"Being able to stage major open air events on a regular basis will provide a new element in what Liverpool has to offer."
* The exhibition is running at the Moat House Hotel, Paradise Street, until Monday.
From The Liverpool Echo
And Liverpool could get its first five-star hotel as part of the deal.
Officials from regeneration company Liverpool Vision are in discus-sions with a number of top hoteliers about the waterfront site.
One contender for the site is the Hilton Group, which runs a chain of international hotels and also owns gambling and casino chain Ladbrokes.
Liverpool-based Beetham Group is another likely bidder with ambitious plans for a high-rise building that will include a hotel and luxury apartments.
Regeneration bosses today revealed the £100m master plan for the Kings Dock which includes a concert arena and conference centre, hotels, a new public piazza and multi-storey car park.
The plans can be viewed at an exhibition featuring computergenerated pictures of how the waterfront will look once the transformation is complete.
Sir Joe Dwyer, chairman of Liverpool Vision, said: "The exhibition is the start of a process of public consultation on our aspirations for this important site.
"Feedback from the people of Liverpool will really help to refine and influence the Kings Waterfront scheme."
A shortlist of six firms has been drawn up, each drawing up plans for a 9,000-seater arena which would also have a 1,500-capacity conference facility.
The successful bid will be announced next month and the plans will then be submitted in the summer.
The arena, exhibition centre and conference centre are due to be completed in time for Capital of Culture 2008.
City council leader Mike Storey said today: "This is one of the most important sites to be developed, not only in this region, but across Europe.
"It offers great potential for Liverpool and it's vital the public play their part in shaping the future."
Architects in the running to design the new Kings Dock Arena are behind some of the most famous venues in the world.
They include HOK Sport, which designed the Sydney Olympic Stadium, SOM, which created the Dallas Convention Centre, and Britain's leading architect Sir Norman Foster, who narrowly missed out on building the Fourth Grace.
Elliot Lewis-Ward, area director of English Partnerships, which owns the Kings Dock, added: "Kings Waterfront will have a significant impact on the local economy and the wider north west region so it is crucial we get everything right.
"The masterplan envisages the development of a multi-use arena, exhibition space, a conference centre, apartments, offices, hotels together with high quality public spaces and a multi-storey car park."
Capital of Culture creative director Sue Woodward said "We want to make sure that Liverpool looks at its best and is capable of staging the best by 2008.
"Being able to stage major open air events on a regular basis will provide a new element in what Liverpool has to offer."
* The exhibition is running at the Moat House Hotel, Paradise Street, until Monday.
From The Liverpool Echo
