A new masterplan for one of the UK’s creative hot-spots has been endorsed – which could soon lead to Liverpool’s first new train station and public park of the 21^st century.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet today (Friday, 23 October) approved the Baltic Triangle’s draft Spatial Regeneration Framework (SRF) – which has been developed over the past 12 months to guide the historic area’s future development.

Once a major warehouse and production hub moulded by the city’s empire building dock economy before it collapsed, the area has undergone a £250m boom since its first development framework was created by the city council in 2007.

Fuelled by a blossoming creative and digital sector – overseen by the Baltic Creative and Baltic Triangle Area CICs – the area is now home to more than 500 businesses employing more than 3,000 people.

But the Baltic Triangle, which covers 93 acres of mixed-use land on the southern fringe of the city centre into the Dingle and Toxteth, has also housed a doubling in its population since 2010.

The new masterplan, led by consultants LDA Design who also oversaw its public consultation, aims to set out guidelines on the remaining available land to balance the needs of business growth and residential development.

Key recommendations within the Baltic Triangle SRF includes:

·             Support for a new rail station at St James Street (closed in 1917)

·             Creating a new public park – Baltic Park

·             Enhancing connectivity, specifically pedestrian and cycle routes

·             Creating green corridors, linking into the city’s £3.4m Urban GreenUp project

·             Protecting open spaces and setting open space design guidelines

·             Encouraging a balanced mix of housing types and homes for families

·             Ensuring buildings have active ground floor uses

·             The potential for a Conservation Area

·             Implementing the Agent of Change policy

The SRF also identified the following four Areas of Change and has set design guidelines for each that deals with considerations such as scale and design, connectivity, heritage and green infrastructure:

1. Police HQ and Heaps Mill
2. Wapping Goods Terminal
3. Flint Street South
4. Cains Brewery Village and Hill Street Corridor

The Baltic SRF will now be used in guiding planning applications in the area. It will be endorsed as a Supplementary Planning Document following adoption of Liverpool’s 15 year Local Plan, which is expected to come into force in late 2021.

A planning inspector is currently assessing Liverpool’s Local Plan, the public review for which ends today. A public consultation on the inspectors approved amendments to the plan is expected to be held in the Spring. If no further changes are made, the Local Plan will then be presented to the council’s Cabinet to finally endorse and adopt.

Liam Kelly, Chair of The Baltic Triangle Area CIC, said: “It’s extremely welcomed news that the council’s cabinet has approved these plans. This is a significant step in the right direction for game-changing plans such as the train station, but also more immediate solutions to challenges the area faces with development pressures – such as Agent of Change.

“These principles in particular are key to protecting the iconic night time industry that has contributed so significantly to the area’s identity. The recent pandemic has further highlighted to us the importance of the limited green spaces in the area, and the inclusion of the Baltic Park will support the fantastic work already underway bringing people together on the Baltic Green.”

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