|
The
ambitious scheme includes a concert arena, conference centre, hotels,
residential apartments, tram access, parks, public piazza and car
parking.
A
new direction
The
new approach follows the decision not to proceed with a proposal
for a 55,000 seat multi-use arena, which in turn had replaced plans
by Everton FC to move to the site from Goodison Park.
These
fell through after the club failed to come up with sufficient money.
A revised
proposal by Liverpool Vision, the landowner English Partnerships,
Liverpool City Council and Northwest Development Agency has now
been revealed.
The
missing link
Alongside
Will Alsop's Fourth Grace, a new cruise liner terminal and the nearby
Paradise Street Development, the transformation of the King's Dock
will strengthen the appeal of the Liverpool waterfront and integrate
the Liverpool marina; presently isolated at the furthest end of
the Mersey strip.
In
this way the city will become more of an integrated whole in readiness
for the 2008 Capital of Culture celebrations.
Further
design work and public consultation will take place before plans
are finalised and presented in June/July. A public exhibition at
the Moat House Hotel in late January will be followed by a second,
revised display in May of this year.
Past
potential
King's
Dock lies adjacent to The Albert Dock, the latter successfully rescued
from near-dereliction and restored to become a thriving city quarter.
It's
now home to the progressive Tate Liverpool gallery and most recently
Baby Blue - the latest bar/club concept from renowned Cream entrepreneur
James Barton.
At
14.6 hectares the expanse is currently little more than a car park
for most of the year, but during the summer plays host to the giant
4,500-seater circus-like auditorium for the Summer Pops music festival.
In
June 2003 approximately 30,000 Paul McCartney fans from across the
world packed into a specially-built temporary arena on the site
for a homecoming concert.
|
