Liverpool City Council has appointed the firm behind the regeneration of London’s Olympic Park to create a new masterplan for the Baltic Triangle, home to many of the city’s digital and creative industries.
LDA Design is to draft a Spatial Regeneration Framework (SRF) to guide the future development of the 37.6-hectare area, which lies just to the south of Liverpool city centre.
As a result of the area’s proximity to the city centre and its blossoming creative and digital sector – overseen by the Baltic Creative and Baltic Triangle C.I.Cs – it has attracted significant levels of development. Since January 2012, £128 million has been invested in new developments with a further £62 million currently on site.
However, the area has also seen significant growth in residential development over the past decade – with a doubling in its population – and there has been an ever-increasing development pressure on the remaining available land.
This new report will build on the Baltic Triangle Development Framework, endorsed by the council in December 2017, which set out a number of design and development principles.
The draft SRF, which will include an expanded area incorporating Cains Brewery and surrounding neighbourhood south of upper Parliament Street, will go out to public consultation in the summer and once adopted by the council would be used as a Supplementary Planning Document to inform any planning applications in the area.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “The area’s position as one of Britain’s fastest-growing digital and creative hubs is something the city takes great pride in and we want to nurture this to ensure its future as a major engine in our economy.”
Mark Graham, Director of LDA, said: “The Baltic Triangle is renowned as one of the most creative and independent districts in the UK, with a growing global reputation, and has seen huge growth over recent years. The complexity of the place brings significant challenges and opportunities, this work will set a framework that outlines the positive future growth of the area. We are delighted to be part of it.”
LDA Design will be supported by a team of consultants including property consultancy Jones Lang LeSalle, international engineering firm Mott Macdonald, heritage specialist Robert Bevan and Manchester-based digital marketing and placemaking firm DS.Emotion.
