Liverpool Waters - Design and access statement by Future Liverpool

Liverpool Waters Design & Access Statement November 2011 www.liverpoolwaters.com

Document Control

Document Control Project:

Liverpool Waters

Client:

Peel Land and Property (Ports) Limited

Job Number:

A067936

File Origin:

Document Checking: Prepared by:

Martin Bailey, WYG

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Checked by:

Paul Grover, WYG

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Verified by:

Keith Nutter, WYG

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Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

October 2011

Final Issue 25 November 2011

Contents Executive Summary

8.4

Public Transport

1.0

Introduction

8.5

Streets and Trafﬁc

1.1

This Statement

8.6

Parking & Servicing

1.2

Peel – The Applicant

8.7

Transport/Highway Improvements

8.8

Utilities and Infrastructure

1.3

Terminology

1.4

This Update

2 57

Part A: Urban Design Context 2.0 Context: The Site and its Environs

Part C: Principles for Detailing the Place, Appearance & Controls 9.0 Appearance - Principles

9.1

The Appearance of Liverpool Waters

2.1

The Site

9.2

Positive Outdoor Space

2.2

The Environs of the Site

9.3

Animating the Edges

Building Size and Scale

44 44

2.3

Heritage Interests in the Site & Environs

9.4

2.4

Character Analysis

9.5

Building for Change

3.0

Context: The Wider Framework for Urban Design Proposals

9.6

A Thriving Public Realm

3.1

The Wider Framework for Urban Design Proposals

9.7

Safety - and Sense of Safety

3.2

Planning Policy

10.0

Characterisation - Landscape & Public Realm

3.3

The Masterplan Process

10.1

Introduction - Landscape and Public Realm Characterisation

3.4

Baseline Studies

10.2

Public Realm Ambition and Context

3.5

The Liverpool Waters Joint Vision

10.3

Character Areas and Public Realm Typologies

Parks and Gardens

3.6

Further Urban Design Consultations

10.4

3.7

Key Conclusions on the Wider Context for Urban Design

10.5

Squares

10.6

Promenades

10.7

Water Spaces

10.8

Streets

10.9

Connecting the Neighbourhoods and Character Areas

10.10

Materiality and Softworks Palette

11.0

Characterisation - Buildings

11.1

Introduction to Building Characterisation & Precedents Study

11.2

Scope and Purpose of the Building Characterisation & Precedents Study

11.3

Liverpool Waters Master Plan - Overall Site Level Scale

11.4

Northern Docks Neighbourhood

11.5

Clarence Docks Neighbourhood

11.6

Central Docks Neighbourhood

6011.7

Princes Docks Neighbourhood

11.8

King Edward Triangle

12.0

Proposed Controls & Conclusions

12.1

Overall Controls

12.2

Linking the Principles in the Design & Access Statement to Detailed Proposals

12.3

Conclusion

Part B: Design and Access Principles 4.0 Design & Access - Introduction

4.1

The Nature of the Planning Application

4.2

Design Elements

5.0

Urban Design Principles and Objectives

5.1

Urban Design Principles

5.2

Urban Design Objectives

6.0

The Proposed Land Uses & Amount of Development

6.1

The Proposed Land Uses

6.2

The Proposed Amount of Development

6.3

The Amount of Development for Speciﬁc Land Uses

7.0

Layout, Landscape & Scale

7.1

Introduction

7.2

Heritage-Led Design

7.3

Creating the Urban Structure - Developing the Masterplan Layout

7.4

Landscape

7.5

Scale

8.0

Access - Making Connections

8.1

Means of Access to Liverpool Waters

8.2

Walking

8.3

Cycling

Appendix Contents Appendix 1 –

Plans

Executive Summary “The Liverpool Waters vision involves regenerating a 60 hectare historic dockland site to create a world-class, high-quality, mixed use waterfront quarter in central Liverpool that will allow for substantial growth of the city’s economy.” (Extract - Joint Liverpool City Council/ Peel Vision for Liverpool Waters)

6. A joint Peel/Council vision for Liverpool Waters provided an important reference point for subsequent work. The recommended CABE masterplan process was followed. A series of baseline studies was undertaken to ensure that all relevant characteristics of the site and surrounding area were understood and could be studied further.

• •

•

Liverpool Waters Outline Planning Application 1. Liverpool Waters is a major regeneration project involving 60 hectares of redundant docks in the heart of the city of Liverpool. An application seeking outline planning permission for the proposed development has been submitted to Liverpool City Council by Peel Land and Property (Ports) Ltd. The purpose is to allow the Council to make a decision on the general principles of how the site can be developed acceptably.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

October 2011

2. The Design and Access Statement accompanies the application. It explains and justiﬁes the design and access principles that will be used to develop future details of the scheme. This is a brief summary of the 2011 Update which also addresses comments received on the initial document, submitted in October 2010.

7. The baseline studies included archaeology and cultural heritage; landscape appraisal; townscape character assessment; socioeconomic assessment; ecological assessment; geo-environmental assessment; preliminary site investigations; noise and vibration assessment; air quality and odour assessments; sustainable development; climate change; ﬂood risk assessment; leisure and tourism study; transport assessment; lighting assessment; and aviation study.

The international heritage importance of the site, despite its present dereliction; As former docks, much of the site is dominated by water; The general air of dereliction extends into much of the adjoining area; In view of its prominent, central location, the site provides a massive opportunity for regeneration in a sustainable manner with heritage beneﬁts of international importance; The location in relation to the city centre and areas east of the site suggest strongly that the prime land uses should be commercial ofﬁces and residential; A strong network of roads adjoins the site based on its former use offering high accessibility.

ii) iii) iv)

4. The heritage interest in the Liverpool Waters site is of international importance. About 40% of the site is within the Liverpool World Heritage Site (WHS). Therefore great attention has been given to protecting, conserving and presenting the outstanding universal value of the WHS. 5. More broadly, the proposals have taken into account a character analysis at three distinct levels: city-wide; the area around the site; and the site itself. However, the wider framework for the Liverpool Waters urban design proposals is set by planning policies. The Council’s detailed guidance in the WHS Supplementary Planning Document (2009) was of particular importance as a basis for the proposals meeting the Council’s requirements.

•

8. Key Conclusions on the wider context for urban design related to:

Part A: Urban Design Context 3. In the ﬁrst part of the statement the main features of the site and its surroundings are brieﬂy described, its character is assessed and the wider context of considerations relevant to working up urban design principles for the site are summarised.

•

Waters will be used for; Amount: How much will be built; Layout: The principles of how the buildings and public and private spaces will be arranged on the site, and the relationship between them and the buildings and spaces around the site; Scale: The principles of how big the buildings will be (height, width, length); Landscaping: The principles of how open spaces will be treated to protect, enhance and create the character of Liverpool Waters; Appearance: The principles of what the buildings and spaces will look like in terms of, for example, building materials and architectural details; Access: The principles of vehicular and transport links and inclusive access - how everyone can get to and move around Liverpool Waters on equal terms.

vi)

Part B: Design and Access; 9. Part 2 of the statement ﬁrst clariﬁes the nature of the outline planning application and the urban design principles and objectives for Liverpool Waters. It explains the land uses and the amount of development proposed. The report is then concerned with the design concepts and principles involved and the following matters are addressed: •

Land Use: What the proposed buildings and spaces at Liverpool

10. The principal land uses at Liverpool Waters will be commercial offices and other business uses, residential development and tourism-related uses. As regards the amount of development, the proposals seek to deliver up to 1,691,000 square metres of development (rounded to the nearest hundred) over a period of up to 30 years. The actual amount will be subject to detailed designs at a later stage of the planning process meeting the requirements of the Council. 11. The amount of floorspace proposed for specific land uses at Liverpool Waters (rounded up to the nearest hundred) is set out below: • • • • • • • •

• • • • •

schools and places of worship): 8,900 square metres; Ofﬁces and services in local shopping centres: 8,600 square metres; Convenience (food) shops serving mainly day-to-day requirements: 7,800 square metres; Parking: 412,800 square metres A cruise liner terminal and an energy centre: 17,600 square metres; and Servicing: 36,000 square metres.

12. The amount of each of these uses is speciﬁed for each of ﬁve neighbourhoods in Liverpool Waters: • • • • •

A ‘Princes Dock’; B ‘King Edward Triangle’; C ‘Central Docks’; D ‘Clarence Docks; and E ‘Northern Docks’.

• •

blocks; parcels and plots.

Part C: Principles for detailing the Place, Appearance and Controls 15. The ﬁnal part of the report indicates the principles underlying the planned appearance and character of Liverpool Waters. This includes the design principles planned for the creation of high quality public realm and landscaping and for high quality buildings of a distinctive, Liverpool character. Finally, reference is be made to the proposed means of controlling the design and access arrangements at the next stage of the planning process when details are submitted to the Council.

reﬂecting the character and location of each neighbourhood and a balance of land uses.

16. Appearance is the aspect of a place or building that determines the visual impression it makes, including the external built form of the development, its architecture, materials, decoration, lighting, colour and texture. The statement sets out the principles behind the intended appearance and the arrangements ensuring that these can inform the ﬁnal design of Liverpool Waters.

13. The overall urban design aim is to make Liverpool Waters a place in which people will wish to live and work and which other people will wish to visit, which has a strong sense of place and which feels to be distinctly part of Liverpool.

17. The approach to detailing advocated in The Urban Design Compendium guidance involves the considerations listed below. The principles proposed in Liverpool Waters in relation to each is summarised in the statement:

14. The layout plan submitted as part of the planning application - which at this stage is indicative of Peel’s proposal - shows the principles of how the buildings and public and private spaces will be arranged on the site, and the relationship with buildings and space around the site. In detail, the creation of the new urban structure at Liverpool Waters as shown on the indicative layout plan was conceived in terms of the sequence referred to in the “Urban Design Compendium” guidance: • • • • • •

establishment of the movement framework; mixing land uses; density, facilities and form; energy and resource efﬁciency; landscape; landmarks, vistas and focal points;

• • • • • •

Positive Outdoor Space Animating the Edges Building Size and Scale Building for Change A Thriving Public Realm Safety - and Sense of Safety

18. The planned character of the landscape and public realm has been considered with care in some detail. A separate document “Liverpool Waters Public Realm Characterisation Study” sets out the principles more fully. The main points are summarised in the present statement. A series of typologies of spaces has been identiﬁed that will link the neighbourhoods, sit within them, or deﬁne gateways to them:

• • • • •

Parks and gardens - predominantly green, soft spaces; Squares - mainly hard spaces but balanced by tree-planting and soft areas; Promenades - key pedestrian routes crossing the neighbourhoods, each distinctive in character; Water spaces - focused around the retained docks; and Streets - generally east/west and deﬁned as vehicular, shared space or pedestrian streets.

19. The Council has developed a co-ordinated, restrained and rigorous palette of high quality hard landscape materials through its streets and squares over the past decade. Across Liverpool Waters a similar palette will be employed. 20. The planned building character also has been considered in some depth in a separate document “Liverpool Waters Building Characterisation and Precedents Study”. Key elements are summarised in this Statement. The purpose is to indicate how it is planned that the buildings will deﬁne the character of the neighbourhoods, urban blocks and streets within Liverpool Waters. 21. The intention is that Design & Access Statement and the two characterisation studies will be used as reference documents throughout the design of more detailed proposals at Liverpool Waters, assisting in their evaluation and providing a basis to develop high-quality designs on a long-term basis to ensure that the original joint Peel/Liverpool City Council vision is realised. 22. Overall the Design and Access Statement explains and justiﬁes at some length the design and access principles that will be used to develop future details of the Liverpool Waters scheme. It provides a sound basis for ensuring that Liverpool Waters will have the world class design quality which will attract international and UK investment to make heritage-led regeneration of this internationally important site a reality. In line with Peel and the Council’s joint vision, Liverpool Waters will symbolize the city’s 21st century renaissance alongside its 19th and 20th century heritage on the world stage.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

1 INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction 1.1 This Statement 1.1.1

Liverpool Waters is a major regeneration project involving sixty hectares of redundant docks in the heart of the city of Liverpool. An outline planning application was submitted by Peel Land and Property (Ports) Ltd (“Peel”) to Liverpool City Council (LCC) in October 2010. Following post-submission consultation with the Council and other consultees, amendments have been made to the proposals. This Design and Access Statement has been prepared to accompany the updated planning application. It explains and justiﬁes the design and access principles that will be used to develop future details of the scheme.

1.1.6

The purpose of the outline planning application is to allow Liverpool City Council to make a decision on the general principles of how the site can be developed acceptably. Prior to preparing detailed proposals, such an application allows for agreement to be reached on the amount and nature of development that can take place on the site.

1.1.7

The ﬁnal part of the report, Part C, indicates the principles underlying the planned appearance and character of development in Liverpool Waters. This includes the design principles planned for the creation of high quality public realm and landscaping. Similarly, the principles which will ensure high quality buildings of a distinctive, Liverpool character are outlined. Finally, reference will be made to the proposed means of controlling the design and access arrangements at the next stage of the planning process when details are submitted to the Council for its approval.

Hydraulic Engine House

Bramley Moore Dock Northern Docks Nelson Dock

Salisbury Dock Bascule Bridge Victoria Clock Tower

Collingwood Dock Dock Master’s Office

1.1.2

1.1.3

This Design and Access Statement is in three parts: • • •

1.1.4

1.1.5

Part A: Urban design context; Part B: Design and access; and Part C: Principles for detailing the Place, Appearance and Controls

In the first part of this statement the main features of the site and its surroundings are briefly described, its character is assessed and the wider context of considerations relevant to working up urban design principles appropriate for the site are identified and summarised. Part B of this statement first clarifies the nature of the outline planning application and the urban design principles and objectives for Liverpool Waters. It then explains the land uses proposed and the amount of development proposed at Liverpool Waters. Part B is then concerned with the design concepts and principles involved, in particular, the principles of layout, scale, landscaping, appearance and access are set out.

1.1.8

This Design and Access Statement is designed to fulﬁl a particular role in linking the general development principles of the proposals to ﬁnal detailed designs at later stages of the development process. As noted, it is the general development principles which are the matter for consideration now. However, conditions attached to any planning permission are expected to require later, more detailed proposals to accord with the principles set out in this document. In addressing the above matters, this statement follows national policy guidance as set out in Department for Communities and Local Government Circular 01/2006: “Guidance on Changes to the Development Control System” regarding the requirements for Design and Access Statements and good practice guidance published by The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (“CABE”).

Clarence Graving Docks Trafalgar Dock Clarence Docks

Central Park

Central Docks Prospect Park

East Waterloo Dock Princes Half Tide Dock

Alexandra Tower

King Edward Triangle

Princes Dock

Fig. 01 Liverpool Waters Masterplan

1.2

Peel – The Applicant

1.3

Terminology

1.4

This Update

1.2.1

The Peel Group is a leading UK-based infrastructure, transport and real estate company. The ﬁrm has a long-established experience in delivering major urban regeneration projects successfully. These have included, for example, the Trafford Centre (Trafford), MediaCity UK (Salford), Glasgow Harbour and Gloucester Quays. Such projects generally have involved partnerships with stakeholders, in particular, local authorities.

1.3.1

Deﬁnitions of the main design term used are relevant:

1.4.1

•

Design and Access Statement: A statement setting down the design principles proposed for the application site;

•

Character Areas: The primary sub-division of the application site relevant to the subsequent submission of applications for approval of design details which have been reserved for later consideration and approval by the Council;

•

Detailed Masterplans: Overall masterplans prepared at a later stage in relation to each character area designed to indicate matters such as the arrangement of blocks, plots and building, density, public realm, massing, landscape and ground levels.

Peel has placed stakeholder consultation and community engagement at the heart of the planning process. Since inception of the Liverpool Waters project in 2007, Peel has been committed to appropriate and extensive collaboration with stakeholders and the wider community. This is outlined in a separate document - ‘The Statement of Community Involvement’ (Nov 2011). This update of the Liverpool Waters Design and Access Statement addresses comments raised by stakeholders during the post registration consultation process on the Design & Access Statement submitted with the planning application in October 2010. It also addresses a number of other matters raised by stakeholders since the submission of the planning application.

•

Design Code: A set of rules and instructions to ensure realisation of the design quality summarised in the Design and Access Statement. Separate design codes are prepared for each code area addressing architecture, open space and landscape, parking, built form and townscape, streets and enclosures and sustainability measures.

Many recent projects by Peel have involved respecting and working successfully with important heritage interests, notably at Gloucester Quays. The company has been praised widely for innovative work and high standards in delivering schemes using alternative energy sources and in achieving the highest standards of sustainable development, MediaCity being particularly notable in the latter respect.

1.2.3

Peel is joint owner of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company Ltd. All of the land involved in the Liverpool Waters development is owned and controlled by the company other than adjoining areas of highway land.

1.2.4

Peel has major land and property interests in the River Mersey estuary, along the Mersey Ship Canal and in Salford and Manchester. At its broadest level, the Liverpool Waters proposal constitutes a key development opportunity, being part of Peel’s regional vision launched in 2008 known as the “Atlantic Gateway”, an aspirational plan involving a series of development projects with a capital value of some £50 billion. The cost of Liverpool Waters scheme alone is some £5.5 billion.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

1.2.2

Fig. 02 Media City, Salford

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

A URBAN DESIGN CONTEXT

Part A: Urban Design Context 2.0 Context: The Site and its Environs 2.1 The Site 2.1.1

2.1.4

The Liverpool Waters site is located in the heart of the city of Liverpool on the eastern bank of the River Mersey. The Appendix contains copies of relevant plans submitted as part of or supporting the planning application, updated in the light of consultations. Plan 001 identiﬁes the site location and its boundary. Plans 002 – 009 respectively show neighbourhoods, phasing, development parcels, development plots, building heights, access, car parking and buildings to be demolished – all of which will be considered later in this statement. The Appendix also includes a site reference plan, an indicative masterplan of the Liverpool Waters proposals, enlargements of the masterplan relating to each neighbourhood and, ﬁnally, a 3 dimensional axonometric drawing of the indicative masterplan layout.

2.1.2

As already noted, the site extends to some 60 hectares and is located immediately north of Liverpool’s Pier Head. It is over 2 km in length from Princes Dock in the south to Bramley Moore Dock in the north. The site is relatively narrow - about 450m across in the north and 200m in the south.

2.1.3

The site is bounded by the River Mersey to the west. To the east, the docks boundary wall lies within the site and deﬁnes it edge strongly except in two places. First, in the vicinity of Waterloo Warehouse, the eastern boundary of West Waterloo Dock and Princes Half Tide Dock deﬁnes the site. Second, in the south-east of the site King Edward Industrial Estate is included in the application site but located east of the docks boundary wall. The northern site boundary is not marked clearly on the ground at present but runs at the mid-point between Bramley Moore Dock (within the site) and Wellington Dock (to the north of the site). In the south, St Nicholas Place runs immediately beyond the site.

Virtually the entire Liverpool Waters site comprises reclaimed land which was created to form docks commencing in the late 18th Century. Over a third of the Liverpool Waters site consists of docks with open water. These are (from north to south): • • • • • • •

Bramley Moore Dock; Nelson Dock; Salisbury Dock; with Collingwood Dock to its east. Trafalgar Dock (remnants) with Clarence Graving Docks to its east; West Waterloo Dock (remnants); Princes Half Tide Dock; Princes Dock

2.1.5

By the early 21st century all of these docks were redundant by virtue of the changing nature of the shipping industry and the larger ships involved, both of which resulted in a refocusing of activity at Seaforth (further north) starting in the mid-20th Century. In the main, former transit sheds on the site have been demolished over a period although a modern transit shed remains to the south of Bramley Moore Dock. In the central part of the site the former Clarence Dock was closed in the 1930s, in-ﬁlled and redeveloped as a power station which continued in existence until the mid-1990s when it was cleared. Immediately to the west of that area, a canal acting as an extension of the Leeds-Liverpool canal has recently been constructed with the residual land further west (formerly part of Trafalgar Dock and West Waterloo Dock) now also in-ﬁlled.

2.1.6

The southern part of site in the area around Princes Dock has benefited from significant investment in commercial offices, hotels and residential development since the 1990s. However, substantial development plots remain and hence it has been included within the Liverpool Waters site.

2.1.7

The heritage of Liverpool associated with the docks is of international signiﬁcance and the relevant parts of the city have been designated a World Heritage Site. This is on the basis of innovation in dock technology, the role of the docks in the

Fig. 03 Dock Locations

development of maritime mercantile culture and global trading and their role in cultural connections throughout the British Empire. Parts of the site reďŹ&#x201A;ect these speciďŹ c values and, accordingly, are included in the Liverpool World Heritage site. Key features of heritage importance will be summarised shortly. However, at this stage, it is relevant to note the international heritage importance of the docks and the remaining associated artefacts in parts of the site, especially in the area around Princes Half Tide Dock, the area north of Clarence Graving Docks and the docks boundary wall itself. King Edward industrial estate in the south-east corner of the site comprises relatively modern warehouse-type business units. This has been included within the Liverpool Waters application site as the locality is one of substantial land use change where redevelopment is anticipated during the 30 year timeframe of this project as it has the potential to form a natural extension of the commercial core of Liverpool City Centre down to its waterfront.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

2.1.8

Fig. 04 Aerial photo with site boundary

2.2

The Environs of the Site

2.2.1

The River Mersey to the west of the site ﬂows in a northwards direction. At the north of the site the width of the Mersey is about 1.5 km.

2.2.6

To the north of the site is Wellington Dock and, beyond that, Sandon Dock waste water treatment works. Sandon Half Tide Dock separates the River Mersey from Wellington Dock and the treatment works. Further to the north, the docks are in active use. In the wider area to the east of these docks several areas have been redeveloped with more modern industrial and commercial premises.

Great Howard Street, the A565 road provides the main axis for this area and it runs roughly parallel with Regent Road/Waterloo Road for much of its length. Further industrial properties lie to the east of Great Howard Street up to the line of a railway which runs at an elevated level a short distance to the east. Beyond the railway line a signiﬁcant amount of modern residential estate development has taken place in the Eldonian Village.

2.2.7

In the southern part of the site, east of Princes Dock, Liverpool Waters abuts the city centre commercial core in the Old Hall Street/Chapel Street area. There has been a signiﬁcant amount of recent investment in this area, particularly since the 1980s, with a substantial number of modern, tall buildings.

2.2.8

St Nicholas Place, adjoining the site immediately to its south, provides access to the western part of Princes Dock. It also serves the Isle of Man ferry. Immediately to the south lie the Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building, the key landmarks of Liverpool’s waterfront collectively known as “The Three Graces”. The area between these iconic buildings and the River Mersey has recently been subject to a major enhancement scheme in which an attractive area of public realm has been created and through which an extension of the Leeds-Liverpool canal (which runs through the Liverpool Waters site) has been constructed.

2.2.2

2.2.3

To the east of the site, immediately beyond the docks boundary wall lies the A5036 road. This is named Regent Road adjoining the northern part of the site, Waterloo Road in the central section and Bath Street in the southern section adjoining Princes Dock. Immediately beyond this, to the east, is an area characterised by rather old brick-built industrial and warehouse premises which previously served the docks. Whilst the building fabric is outworn, the area currently serves many small businesses operating a wide variety of commercial ventures. These properties are generally single storey or two storeys in height although a small number of warehouses are signiﬁcantly taller.

2.2.4

The northern part of the area east of Waterloo Road is characterised by large warehouses around Stanley Dock, the massive Stanley Dock Tobacco Warehouse acting as a major landmark - albeit one of no beauty. Beyond this, north of Walter Street there has been a signiﬁcant amount of redevelopment for commercial/employment purposes.

2.2.5

The Mersey Kingsway Tunnel runs east-west under the site and a large ventilation tower serving the tunnel forms a landmark on the eastern side of Waterloo Road just north of Waterloo Warehouse which also acts as a local landmark. In the east of Waterloo Road, south of the line of the tunnel, is a retail park (containing CostCo and ToysRus), beyond which, further south, is the King Edward Industrial Estate, previously

mentioned.

Fig. 05 Stanley Dock Tobacco Warehouse

Fig. 06 The Three Graces

Fig. 07 Surrounding Land Use & Context Plan

2.3

Heritage Interests in the Site & Environs

2.3.1

As already noted, parts of central Liverpool, including about 40% of the Liverpool Waters site, have been “inscribed” as a World Heritage Site (“WHS”). The remainder of the Liverpool Waters site lies within a designated “buffer zone” around the WHS. The heritage interest in the Liverpool Waters site is therefore considerable and it is of international importance. Protecting, conserving and presenting the particular heritage interests in the site, especially those interests relevant to WHS designation, has therefore been the fundamental consideration involved in the urban design of the Liverpool Waters proposals.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

2.3.2

2.3.3

The heritage interests in the Liverpool Water site are addressed in great detail elsewhere in the Liverpool Waters planning application submission, in particular, in the Environmental Statement, chapter 4. WHSs are recognised as being of “outstanding universal value” under the World Heritage Convention, and are “part of the world heritage of mankind as a whole”, deserving “protection and transmission to future generations”. Therefore it is important to appreciate the reasons for the Liverpool WHS designation in order to ensure that the heritage is properly respected and presented in the urban design proposals for the site. This is summarised in the following paragraphs. The Liverpool World Heritage Site was designated as “the supreme example of a commercial port at the time of Britain’s greatest global inﬂuence”. Its outstanding universal value stems from three matters as follows:

Liverpool played a leading role in the development of dock construction, port management and international trading systems in the 18th and 19th centuries;

Buildings and structures of the port and the city are an exceptional representation of mercantile culture;

The city had a major inﬂuence on the worldwide movement of population and change in the 18th and 19th centuries through its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, and as the

leading port of mass European emigration to the New World. 2.3.4

The Liverpool WHS therefore represents the mercantile and maritime history of Liverpool. The Liverpool Waters site lies within one of six areas of distinct character which together comprise the WHS, each reﬂecting different patterns of historic growth. That part of the WHS at the Liverpool Waters site makes up about 22% of the whole.

2.3.5

Parts of the Liverpool Waters site are of special value in terms of the WHS on the basis of the group of surviving historic docks, the docks boundary wall and the general dockland landscape. As well as the dock basins, there are historic buildings within the site including the Victoria Clock Tower and the Dock Master’s Ofﬁce. There are also areas of original dockyard surfaces incorporating capstans, bollards and rail tracks. A number of structures of importance to the WHS as a whole adjoin the Liverpool Waters site. These include the Stanley Dock with its massive tobacco warehouse, the Leeds and Liverpool canal, the Waterloo Warehouse and, to the south, The Three Graces.

2.3.6

In the light of the above considerations, great attention has been given to protecting, conserving and presenting the aspects of outstanding universal value that are embodied in the site in preparing the Liverpool Waters proposals, speciﬁcally: • • •

Innovative techniques and methods of dock construction and port management; Maritime mercantile culture; and Liverpool – the pre-eminent world mercantile city.

Fig. 08 WHS & Buffer Zone

2.4

Character Analysis

2.4.1

The Liverpool Waters proposals have taken into account a character analysis at three distinct levels: city wide; the area around the site; and the site itself.

to Liverpool’s character. However, there is perhaps an overall, distinctive characteristic of Liverpool, this being edginess.

topography, its landmarks, its views and vistas, and its strong sense of connectivity encourage exploration and bring delight.

The Character of the Area around the Site

City-wide Character Social & Economic Factors 2.4.2

Careful consideration has been given to the key elements which make Liverpool’s feel and appearance unique, distinctive and particularly memorable with a view to seeking to ensure that such elements are incorporated within the proposals. Some ﬁve physical factors and another ﬁve key socio-economic factors appear to make Liverpool unique:

•

Commercial Astuteness: The development of the City was driven by astute commercial decisions. The great, characteristic buildings celebrate the power and value of commerce.

•

Internationalism: The City has looked outwards to Ireland, to America and to the Far East and continues to do so. Today it is twinned with both Shanghai and San Francisco.

Physical Factors •

•

The Special Location: By virtue of its particular Merseyside location in the north-west of England, Liverpool is one of the UK’s major ocean gateways to the world. The Importance of Water: Water-based connections are crucial and they are numerous. The water-based business which was central to Liverpool’s development focused on the docks. Water is also the basis of the important characteristics of openness and enclosure. The Iconic Skyline: The topography highlights the renowned, strong, waterfront skyline, its buildings seen to advantage in tiers. The reverse view - from the crest and key viewpoints elsewhere - comprises long vistas across the river and out to the open sea. Prominent, Distinctive Architectural Set Pieces: Liverpool’s characteristic buildings are robust demonstrations of prosperity and wealth, heroic in scale, forceful in outline, grand and rugged. Such qualities express not only the past wealth of the city, but also its self-conﬁdence. Legibility: Liverpool is a city that is easy to read. Its

Vision and Determination: Liverpool was built on a spirit of optimism and innovation, which is still reﬂected in its buildings. That underlying spirit remains despite the massive difﬁculties of economic restructuring which have been faced.

•

The People & their Culture: Cosmopolitan, outwardlooking, pragmatic, bold, open minded people with a typically sardonic sense of humour. There is a strong sense of belonging and of Liverpool’s role as the UK’s second city in the recent past.

•

Human Activity: Liverpool, particularly the central parts, is characterised by bustling activity. In their heyday the docks, the Pier Head and the waterfront were places of activity. Without human activity these urban places are dead places.

Linked to the above, there is a strong sense of connectivity linking areas of distinct character in Liverpool, some character areas having particularly strong civic qualities. Creativity, innovation, purposefulness and risk taking are also important

2.4.3

The character of the area surrounding Liverpool Waters has evolved in response to the dominating land use and character of the docks. In detail, it has responded to, and been adapted to the evolving functions and activities within the docks.

2.4.4

In the 20th Century, as the focus of Liverpool docks moved northward towards Seaforth, many land uses in the environs of the Liverpool Waters site declined and substantial redevelopment took place. The buildings to accommodate replacement land uses have generally been designed to meet functional requirements rather that the adjoining physical or historical character. In such areas there are few distinctive buildings and the overall character is weak.

2.4.5

To the south-east of the site, in the Old Hall Street/Pall Mall area particularly (but also on the Liverpool Waters site around Princes Dock), large modern buildings with extensive footplates have come to dominate the area and are now characteristic, a signiﬁcant number of these being tall buildings. North of this area, to the east of the site, the dominant structural characteristic comprises the main roads of the area rather than the building forms.

The Present Character of the Site 2.4.6

The present character of the site is dominated by the docks themselves and the water bodies they contain together with their outlook to the River Mersey. From Princes Half Tide Dock northwards there is an overriding feel of dereliction especially as viewed from ships in the River Mersey, from Princes Parade (in the south) and from glimpsed views along Regent Road such as through openings in the docks boundary wall. In contrast,

around Princes Dock, recent modern development adds an air of regeneration and investment conďŹ dence. King Edward Industrial estate appears rather incongruous in the context of modern land uses to the south and west yet less so alongside Victorian and Edwardian premises immediately to the north.

2.4.8

Along much of the eastern perimeter of the site the docks boundary wall is the dominant feature which, at present, continues (as designed) to isolate the site from its surroundings.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

2.4.7

Fig. 09 Liverpool Waterfront & Skyline at Night

3.0 Context: The Wider Framework for Urban Design Principles 3.1

The Wider Framework for Urban Design Proposals

3.2

Planning Policy

3.1.1

The wider framework for the Liverpool Waters urban design proposals is set by planning policies, the masterplan process and the series of baseline studies which were undertaken to ensure that all relevant characteristics of the site and surrounding area were understood at an appropriate level of detail.

3.2.1

The key planning policies relevant to the proposals are addressed in a separate document with the Liverpool Waters planning application, the Planning and Regeneration Statement where the ways in which the proposals respond to policy is set out. Key points relevant to this Design and Access Statement from four of these documents are brieﬂy as set out in the following paragraphs.

10a

10c

3.2.2

The Regional Spatial Strategy to 2021 (adopted in 2008) as part of the statutory development plan provides the strategic vision for Liverpool and the scale of residential and commercial development envisaged. The Liverpool Waters proposals respond directly to the plan objectives, the scale of development and the land uses envisaged. The proposals are crucial to achieving them.

3.2.3

The Liverpool Unitary Development Plan (adopted 2002) forms part of the statutory development plan. The plan seeks economic regeneration, environmental improvements and a reduction of inequality. The proposal map shows that signiﬁcant land use change was anticipated over much of the Liverpool Waters site. Overall, the proposal map annotations and related policies seek regeneration of the land included in the site with a variety of land uses including residential, business and recreation. Whilst particular uses were sought in various parts of the site, the policies of the plan make it clear that other land uses often will be appropriate, such as residential development – providing that they meet relevant criteria in the plan. In overall terms, the UDP provides broad support for the regeneration of the site for the range of land uses proposed.

3.2.4

Draft Liverpool Core Strategy Preferred Options 2010: The main purpose of this document is to identify broad locations and strategic sites for delivering housing and employment land. In the context of the LDF strategy of “focused regeneration” Liverpool Waters will play a vital role. Liverpool Waters is identiﬁed as “a major opportunity site” within the wider area referred to as “Northshore”. The draft policy is that Liverpool Waters should be developed for a mix of land uses including

10b

10d

a substantial residential element. It should make a signiﬁcant contribution to Liverpool’s economic growth, complementing investment in the City Centre. Development in and adjacent to the WHS should preserve/enhance the area and its special features. Key urban design principles are set out in the LDF policy referring to: • • • • • • • • 3.2.5

the delivery of high quality architecture; protection of the city’s historic fabric; improvement of the public realm; contribution to safety and reduction in crime; supporting increased permeability; showing that buildings and spaces are adaptable; supporting mixed communities; and supporting improvements to air and water quality.

Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City World Heritage Site – Supplementary Planning Document (“SPD”): The purpose of the SPD is to provide a planning framework for development which will enhance Liverpool’s heritage and boost investment, tourism and regeneration. It is intended by the Council as a policy document which will encourage economic regeneration with an emphasis on quality. The overarching aim of the SPD is to provide guidance for protecting and enhancing the outstanding universal value of the World Heritage Site whilst encouraging investment and supporting regeneration within it.

Fig.s 10a-d Planning policy documents

3.3

The Masterplan Process

3.3.1

It is a national policy in PPS1 “Delivering Sustainable Development” that: “Good design ensures attractive, usable, durable and adaptable places and is a key element in achieving sustainable development. Good design is indivisible from good planning”.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

3.3.2

3.3.3

3.3.4

The national adviser on architecture and urban design, CABE (part of the Design Council), advises that masterplans are valuable and that they can be helpful in three speciﬁc urban contexts, one of which is regeneration, to evaluate the current context and propose physical change. The closure of an industry that results in large areas of brownﬁeld and redundant land being available for development in docks is one such example of regeneration cited by CABE - precisely as at Liverpool Waters. In working up the Liverpool Waters proposals, the relevant guidance of CABE published in its document: “Creating Successful Masterplans” has been followed. CABE also initiated a number of design reviews of the Liverpool Waters proposals in the period during which they were being prepared and Peel responded constructively to the comments and advice received from CABE on each occasion by revisions to the draft proposals.

3.3.5

3.3.6

Implementation: An implementation strategy has been prepared, concurrent with the preparation and design stages. The latter part of that work focussed particularly on control mechanisms to deliver design quality, in particular the role of conditions, design codes and design advice during future stages of the project.

3.3.7

The key tests for a masterplan identiﬁed by CABE have been reviewed regularly in working up the Liverpool Waters proposals. These key tests refer to:-

• •

•

Reconciling economic goals and other public aspirations; Providing an urban structure which is easy to explain and use and robust enough for future cycles of redevelopment; Allowing for phased implementation; Providing value if only executed in part; Providing a ﬂexible and open-ended framework able to respond to change in demand; Achieving a sense of place and distinct local identity; Achieving an overarching, high quality public realm and landscaping; and Integrating with surroundings.

3.3.8

In working up the Liverpool Waters proposals other urban

The CABE masterplan process has involved three main stages in working up masterplan proposals for Liverpool Waters. These are summarised in the following paragraphs. Preparation: The starting point for preparation was the framework of development plan and other planning policies setting out the aims of Liverpool City Council and other public bodies relevant to development of the site. In that wide context, provisional aims and objectives for the masterplan were identiﬁed alongside Peel’s initial vision for the site. The strategic framework for the masterplan was then set down based on a series of detailed baseline studies designed to understand in some detail the existing characteristics of the site. On this basis, an urban design analysis and characterisation study was carried out. This stage concluded with developing the vision for development of the site in consultation with the City Council

and other stakeholders. Design: The strategic framework was tested, further baseline information collected and the initial vision was reviewed and expanded in consultation with the Council. An initial urban design for the site was the subject of consultations with key stakeholders on an iterative basis. (Full details of the extensive consultations undertaken and design changes made in response to points made are contained in a separate document - the Statement of Community Involvement - submitted in support of the Liverpool Water planning application.) A draft spatial masterplan was then prepared, reﬁned and ﬁnalised as part of the process of preparing the current planning application. The supporting documentation included both a Masterplan Report and a Design and Access Statement.

• • • • •

design guidance by CABE has been taken into account as relevant, for example, that contained in its publication: “By Design”. 3.3.9

Peel’s initial concept vision for Liverpool Waters was presented to the Council in March 2007 and it received wide publicity. The initial concept involved visually stunning, modern, city centre development set in its historic dockland environment which would attract substantial international investment in the regeneration of north Liverpool and the wider area. Thereafter, the proposals were worked up on the basis of both detailed technical baseline studies and widespread consultation following the recommended process.

3.4

Baseline Studies

3.5

The Liverpool Waters Joint Vision

3.4.1

The baseline studies were referred to earlier. They included the following topics:

3.5.1

In the context of the overall consultations with Liverpool City Council, a joint vision for Liverpool Waters at its broadest level was agreed between Peel and ofﬁcers of the Council. Starting with the concepts in Peel’s initial vision, this took into account the ﬁndings of the in-depth baseline studies and the consultations with many groups and organisations already undertaken at that stage. In view of its importance, the Joint Vision is reproduced below:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Air quality and odour assessments; Archaeology and cultural heritage; Aviation study. Climate change; Ecological assessment; Flood risk assessment; Geo-environmental assessment; Landscape appraisal; Leisure and tourism study; Lighting assessment; Noise and vibration assessment; Preliminary site investigations; Socio-economic assessment; Sustainable development; Townscape character assessment; and Transport assessment;

3.4.2

The ﬁndings of the baseline studies were the subject of consultations with Liverpool City Council and many other organisations. A summary of the main ﬁndings of all the studies was sent to the Council and circulated more widely.

3.4.3

As regards the matters addressed in this Design & Access Statement, the finding of all the baseline studies influenced the work significantly, especially that relating to archaeology/ cultural heritage, character assessment, sustainable development and transport.

city centre expansion and will further stimulate economic and social regeneration and integration with the adjoining areas of the city centre, north Liverpool and the wider sub-region. Based on a 2-3 decade programme, the aspiration is that Liverpool Waters will become a new city quarter with a substantial workforce and population, delivering many thousands of new jobs and homes through a multi-billion pound private sector investment. As an integral part of Liverpool’s iconic skyline, and continuing its tradition of innovation, Liverpool Waters will symbolize the city’s 21st century renaissance alongside its 19th and 20th century heritage on the world stage.”

“The Liverpool Waters vision involves regenerating a 60 hectare historic dockland site to create a world-class, high-quality, mixed use waterfront quarter in central Liverpool that will allow for substantial growth of the city’s economy. 3.5.2 The aspirational scheme will create a unique sense of place, taking advantage of the site’s cultural heritage and integrating it with exciting and sustainable new development. Liverpool Waters will contribute substantially to the growth and economic development of the city, allowing ease of movement and strong connections between Northshore, its hinterland and the city centre. It will accommodate new and existing residents, attract national and international businesses and encourage a signiﬁcant increase in the number of visitors to the city, adding to Liverpool’s cultural offer and providing a new and complementary destination.

The joint vision provided an important reference point for subsequent work.

Liverpool Waters will draw on the unique identity of the site and the city to define character areas, delivering a high density and accessible quarter which is both economically and environmentally sustainable and which will significantly reinforce Liverpool’s strong identity. Based on strong contextual and place-making principles, the area will be characterized by activity and diversity, providing public spaces that encourage formal and informal use. It will establish a stimulating and dynamic environment that re-vitalizes the whole area and responds to the needs of different communities. Liverpool Waters will include mixed use development of residential, visitor attractions and supporting uses, office/ commercial and local shops and services. It will accommodate

3.6

Further Urban Design Consultations

3.7

Key Conclusions on the Wider Context for Urban Design

3.6.1

Extensive consultations were held on urban design matters with Liverpool City Council, English Heritage and CABE in particular. These also took into account the outcome of successive consultations with English Heritage which focused on archaeology and built heritage.

3.7.1

The detailed studies and extensive consultations undertaken between the announcement of Peel’s initial vision for Liverpool Waters in early 2007 and submission of the planning application in October 2010 provided a sound and detailed understanding of the site and its context. These are absolutely fundamental to the urban design of the proposals. Based on the matters outlined above, key considerations which have shaped the proposals at their broadest levels are as follows:

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

3.6.2

Following the preparation of a draft masterplan layout by Peel, these consultations resulted in successive reﬁnement of the masterplan layout proposals. The Liverpool Waters planning application was submitted when these consultations reached the stage at which there was substantial agreement on most aspects of the masterplan, in Peel’s view, based on the correspondence with consultees and the Council.

Whilst at present derelict and unsightly, much of the Liverpool Waters site is of international heritage importance as part of the Liverpool World Heritage Site. Lack of public access (formerly for security reasons, today for safety) means that the important features that remain are largely unseen and poorly understood. In conjunction with regeneration, there is a huge opportunity to protect, conserve and present the particular heritage assets of the site which are of outstanding universal value

As former docks, much of the site is dominated by water in orthogonal shapes. The second dominant physical characteristic is of substantially derelict docklands - a characteristic of most of the site except Princes Dock and King Edward Industrial Estate. As noted above, this characteristic offers potentially major heritage interest in conjunction with regeneration.

Whilst there are important examples of recent investment, the general air of dereliction extends into much of the adjoining area to the east of Liverpool Waters and the fabric of many buildings in that area is outworn. This implies a strong potential to stimulate important investment in adjoining areas.

The location of the site immediately adjoining the heart of Liverpool at the Pier Head, its large size at 60 hectares and its prominence joining the River Mersey are all highly signiﬁcant. The air of dereliction tends to be associated by many people as characterising parts of the city as a

whole and Liverpool Waters therefore provides a massive opportunity for regeneration with heritage beneﬁts of international importance in a highly sustainable, prominent location. 5.

The position of Liverpool Waters in relation to the city centre and areas east of the site suggest strongly that the prime land uses should be commercial ofﬁces and residential with support facilities. However, there are additional opportunities for leisure and tourist land uses linked to existing leisure attractions in the city and the heritage of the site.

A strong network of roads adjoin the site designed to serve the intense economic activity it once accommodated. This network offers a particular opportunity in conjunction with regeneration, readily offering high levels of accessibility by road, by bicycle and on foot. The existing railway network is located conveniently close to the site making it an attractive mode for travel for future residents and employees. Current bus services are less attractive, however, with the future regeneration of the area new, more frequent services will become commercially viable and will serve the site.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

B DESIGN & ACCESS PRINCIPLES

Part B: Design & Access Principles 4.0 Design & Access: Introduction 4.1

The Nature of the Planning Application

4.2

Design Elements

4.1.1

Outline planning permission is sought in order to allow for a decision by the City Council on the general principles of how the site can be developed successfully for the land uses and amount of development speciﬁed in the planning application.

4.2.1

After summarising urban design principles and objectives, this section of the statement addresses the following matters:

4.1.2

•

It is the principles of the urban design of the site that are being decided as part of this planning application, not the details. Providing that these principles are acceptable, they will form the basis for the preparation of detailed proposals for speciﬁc buildings and speciﬁc parts of the site at a later stage. Those detailed proposals will also need to be approved by the Council at that later stage before development proceeds.

• •

•

4.2.2

Land Use: What the proposed buildings and spaces at Liverpool Waters will be used for; Amount: How much will be built; Layout: The principles of how the buildings and public and private spaces will be arranged on the site, and the relationship between them and the buildings and spaces around the site; Scale: The principles of how big the buildings will be (height, width, length); Landscaping: The principles of how open spaces will be treated to protect, enhance and create the character of Liverpool Waters; Appearance: The principles of what the buildings and spaces will look like in terms of, for example, building materials and architectural details; Access: The principles of: • Vehicular and transport links - why the access points and routes have been chosen, and how the site responds to road layout and public transport provision; • Inclusive access - how everyone can get to and move around Liverpool Waters on equal terms.

The urban design principles and objectives for Liverpool Waters will ﬁrst be reviewed.

5.1

Urban Design Principles

5.1.1

Context: based on Peel’s initial concept vision and later, the Joint City Council/Peel Vision (quoted in Section 3), agreed with ofﬁcers of the Council, the Liverpool Waters outline design proposal are based on a thorough understanding of the site and its environs and the aspirations of the community as expressed through planning policies and consultation. Within that overall context:

5.1.4

Detailing the Place: the detail of buildings and public realm have been considered in principle to ensure that the proposals can be developed as a successful urban environment when more detailed proposals are prepared.

•

The urban design proposals are heritage led having regard to the international heritage signiﬁcance of parts of Liverpool Waters falling within the Liverpool World Heritage Site. Conserving, protecting and presenting the outstanding universal value of the WHS is fundamental to the design; and

5.1.5

Implementation and Delivery: these are matters which have been considered carefully at the present stage in terms of conditions which may be attached to a planning permission and in terms of design codes for more detailed proposals at a later stage, the overall aim being to ensure design quality throughout the proposed development.

•

There is a vitally important need for economic and social regeneration in Liverpool and, by virtue of the size, location, existing land use and ownership, the Liverpool Waters site provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver this much-needed regeneration. The regeneration need has a major inﬂuence on the land use content of the proposals.

5.1.2

Creating An Urban Structure: it is vital to integrate the Liverpool Waters development within the existing urban structure of central Liverpool. The proposals seek to achieve this by creating neighbourhoods within the site and integrating them carefully - with each other and with adjoining neighbourhoods. It is important to note that such integration has been considered carefully in a 3-D sense, looking not only at the integration of the proposed development with other parts of the City in plan but also in proﬁle, taking into account existing and proposed landmarks, key views and Liverpool’s iconic skyline.

5.1.3

Making Connections: this provides the vital means of reintegrating the Liverpool Waters site within the city structure. Key means of achieving this include maximising the permeability of the docks’ boundary wall (an important, protected heritage feature) and maximising ease of movement

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

5.0 Urban Design Principles and Objectives

by all modes between the southern part of the Liverpool Waters site and the existing city centre commercial core.

Fig. 11 Axonometric Visualisation of Liverpool Waters

5.2

Urban Design Objectives

5.2.1

The Liverpool Waters urban design objectives are summarised in the following paragraphs.

5.2.2

5.2.3

Character - To Create a Place with Its Own Identity: This will be achieved for Liverpool Waters by responding to and reinforcing the important and distinctive heritage interests in the site - the docks and the remaining features associated with them. At the same time 21st century architecture and urban design will complement historic elements and symbolise the city’s renaissance on the national and international stage as a highly successful and attractive city. In detail, characteristics which are distinctly of Liverpool (as identiﬁed earlier in this statement) will form essential elements of the character of Liverpool Waters. Continuity and Enclosure - A Place Where Public and Private Spaces Are Clearly Distinguished: The continuity of street frontages and the enclosure of space will be achieved by clearlydeﬁning public and private areas within the master plan layout for the development.

5.2.4

The Quality of the Public Realm - A Place with Attractive and Successful Outdoor Areas: The proposals promote public spaces and routes that are attractive and which work effectively for all groups of society.

5.2.5

Ease of Movement - A Place That is Easy to Get to and Move Through: Whilst the Liverpool Waters site is in a highlyaccessible location, the docks boundary wall was designed specifically to control access to and from it. The extensive water bodies associated with the docks have strongly restricted movement within the site other than access to specific docksides. The Liverpool Waters proposals will create high levels of accessibility and permeability throughout the site, putting people before traffic and integrating land uses with transport to ensure that this objective is achieved.

5.2.6

Legibility - A Place That Has a Clear Image and Is Easy to Understand: The Liverpool Waters proposals promote legibility by providing recognisable routes, intersections and landmarks, carefully integrated into the existing city structure.

5.2.7

Adaptability - A Place That Can Change Easily. Liverpool Waters is being promoted as a 30-year programme of development and, accordingly, the masterplan layout is designed in a manner which can respond to changing social, technological and economic conditions. At the present design stage associated with an application for outline planning permission, the focus is on an adaptable masterplan layout rather than adaptable individual buildings.

5.2.8

Diversity - A Place with Variety And Choice: Diversity and choice will be promoted through a wide mix of land uses that will be attractive to different groups of people using the site residents, tourists and those working there. Fig. 12 Albert Dock

Fig. 13 Section through Prospect Park

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

6.0 The Proposed Land Uses & Amount of Development 6.1

The Proposed Land Uses

6.1.1

The principal land uses at Liverpool Waters will be commercial ofﬁces and other business uses, residential development and tourism-related uses.

6.1.2

The need for large-scale residential development stems from regional and city-wide planning policies. These seek to reinforce the recent growth of Liverpool following decades of decline which saw a substantial decanting of the population to adjoining local authorities and further aﬁeld. They also seek to broaden the population proﬁle. Again, the attractive, waterfront location, highly accessible to city-centre jobs, makes Liverpool Waters particularly suited to residential land use.

6.1.3

The ofﬁce and business use requirement at the site similarly stem from regional and city-wide planning policies. These seek such development to increase job opportunities, to reinforce Liverpool’s economic structure and to strengthen the city’s role on the region. The waterfront location of the site adjoining the city’s existing commercial core with excellent accessibility makes the site ideal for this land use.

6.1.4

The heritage assets of the site, its position adjoining other parts of the World Heritage Site, its location on the River Mersey waterfront and its central position within Liverpool make Liverpool Waters a great place to add to Liverpool’s existing tourist attractions, significantly adding to the tourism “offer” of the City as a whole. Tourism land uses will focus heavily on the heritage assets of the site. It will be possible for members of the public in large numbers to see these for the first time and, thereby, to fully appreciate their international significance.

6.1.5

6.1.6

The location of Liverpool Waters close to the heart of the city brings with it the huge beneﬁt, in principle, that Liverpool Waters will be highly accessible to all users by all the main movement modes. As the site has not been developed previously for such land uses, there is an opportunity through suitable design to make sure that this high level of potential accessibility can be realised throughout the site.

The primary land uses just outlined will be reinforced by a wide range of supporting and associated land uses as will be required to ensure a pleasant and convenient business, residential or tourism environment where such facilities are readily accessible to all. Such secondary land uses will be set out in detail shortly below.

Fig. 14 View of Liverpool One from the Albert Dock

6.2

The Proposed Amount of Development

6.2.1

The Liverpool Waters proposals seek to deliver up to 1,691,000 square metres of development (rounded to the nearest hundred) over a period of up to 30 years. All ﬂoorspace ﬁgures in the proposals are expressed as maxima. The actual amount will be subject to detailed designs at a later stage of the planning process meeting the requirements of the Council and also subject to any conditions imposed on a planning permission for Liverpool Waters by the Council.

6.2.2

The unusually large amount of development proposed has been based directly on regional and city-wide planning policies which seek to attract development on the scale envisaged over a similar timeframe. Planning policies seek to ensure that development takes place at higher densities - especially in city centre locations such as this - so that urban land can be used efﬁciently, reducing the need to travel and conserving scarce land resources. The amount of development proposed at Liverpool Waters is also the outcome of successive iterations of testing. This involved Peel’s urban design team carefully drawing up a draft indicative layout in the context of a wide range of planning constraints (established from detailed studies) and then testing these successively through both self- analysis and wide stakeholder consultation.

6.2.3

The objective of the latter exercise was thus to ensure that the submitted proposals use urban land efﬁciently, in an exciting way which is genuinely heritage-led and which meets reasonable urban design standards, thereby maintaining a high level of design quality.

6.3

The Amount of Development for Specific Land Uses

6.3.1

The amount of ﬂoorspace proposed for speciﬁc land uses at Liverpool Waters, expressed as maxima and rounded up to the nearest 100 square metres, is set out below: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Residential: up to about 9,000 dwellings, 733,200 square metres floorspace; Business space, mainly offices: 314,500 square metres; Hotel and conference facilities: 53,000 square metres; Buildings for assembly and leisure (such as gyms and cinemas): 33,300 square metres; Restaurants and cafes for residents, those working in the area and tourists: 27,100 square metres; Pubs/wine bars: 19,200 square metres; Comparison (non-food) shops serving local needs: 19,100 square metres; Community institutions (clinics, health centres, nurseries, schools and places of worship): 8,900 square metres; Offices and services in local shopping centres: 8,600 square metres; Convenience (food) shops serving mainly day-to-day requirements: 7,800 square metres; Parking: 412,800 square metres A cruise liner terminal and an energy centre: 17,600 square metres; and Servicing: 36,000 square metres.

Proposed Land Use

Neighbourhoods Princes Dock 1,200 units 57,100 14,900 800 7,600 100 25,200 4,700 -

Residential Ofﬁces/Business Hotel/Conference Assembly/Leisure Restaurants/Cafes Pubs/Bars Local Shops Non-food Community Local Services Local Shops - Food Parking Servicing Cruise Terminal/Other

King Edward Triangle 1,300 units 85,200 400 2,600 900 4,800 1,000 62,300 3,600 -

Fig. 15 Land Use by Neighbourhood (Square Metres/Number for Residential Units)

6.3.3

The amount of development for each land use has been specified in the Liverpool Waters proposals for each of the five neighbourhoods involved in the proposals. This is summarised in the table (Fig. 15). The neighbourhoods are shown in figure 16 and will be defined later in this section of the statement.

Clarence Docks 1,100 units 4,600 2,800 1,000 5,200 2,900 5,700 1,800 1,000 1,500 41,900 4,500 -

Northern Docks 2,700 units 1,800 1,000 2,200 1,200 4,000 6,600 300 1,000 103,100 5,800 1,000

(Note: All ﬁgures rounded to nearest 100) King Edward Triangle

Central Docks

6.3.2

Central Docks 2,900 units 165,900 35,300 30,700 11,900 12,600 8,700 600 2,600 4,200 180,400 17,500 16,600

Princes Dock

Clarence Docks Northern Docks

The amount of each land use within each neighbourhood was designed to reﬂect ﬁrst, the character and location of each neighbourhood, then the balance considered reasonable between the primary land uses (residential/business/tourism) and then a reasonable balance of shops, services and other supporting land uses. Fig. 16 Neighbourhood Location Plan

7.0 Layout, Landscape & Scale 7.1

Introduction

7.1.1

The overall urban design aim is to make Liverpool Waters a place in which people will wish to live and work and which other people will wish to visit, which has a strong sense of place and which feels to be distinctly part of Liverpool.

7.1.2

7.1.3

Based on the context outlined in this statement and the joint vision, the proposals involve the creation of a new urban structure for the site which can be integrated seamlessly with the adjoining parts of Liverpool. The spatial masterplan described in this statement includes proposals for buildings, spaces, movement strategy and land use in three dimensions. The ways in which the proposals are matched to a delivery strategy are set out in the separate Statement of Key Development Principles (November 2011), accompanying the updated Liverpool Waters planning application - with some of the key principles summarised in Part 3 of this statement.

7.1.4

On the lines recommended in CABE guidance the spatial masterplan:

September 2011 Design & Access Statement Liverpool Waters 22

This section of the statement addresses the related matters of layout, landscape and scale of the Liverpool Waters proposals. The layout plan submitted as part of the planning application which at this stage is indicative of Peel’s proposal - shows the principles of how the buildings and public and private spaces will be arranged on the site, and the relationship with buildings and space around the site (see Appendix).

• • • • •

•

Shows how the streets, squares and open spaces of Liverpool Waters are to be connected; Deﬁnes the heights, massing and bulk of buildings; Sets out suggested relationships between buildings and public spaces; Determines the distribution of activities and land uses; Identiﬁes the network of movement patterns for people moving by foot, cycle, car or public transport and by service vehicles; Sets out the basis for provision of other structural elements;

• •

7.1.5

Relates physical form to the socio-economic and cultural context; and Allows an understanding of how the new urban neighbourhoods of Liverpool Waters will be integrated within the surrounding urban context.

In the particular circumstances of Liverpool Waters, the proposals overall and the masterplan in particular involve heritage-led regeneration in view of the inclusion of part of the site in the World Heritage Site. Therefore, the speciﬁc ways in which the relevant heritage context of the site will be presented in the proposals will ﬁrst be summarised

7.2

Heritage-Led Design

7.2.1

It will be recalled that a key international policy aim is to conserve, protect and present to the public the heritage assets of the Liverpool World Heritage Site which justiﬁed its inscription and which make it of Outstanding Universal Value. Related to this, a key City Council aim is to secure protection and enhancement of the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage Site whilst encouraging investment and supporting regeneration within it. Accordingly, heritage is at the heart of the Liverpool Waters proposals which have been, quite literally, heritage led.

7.2.4

The Liverpool Waters development will allow the dockland landscape to be clearly seen and understood by the public for the ﬁrst time through the protection, promotion and interpretation of the values for which the World Heritage Site was inscribed.

7.2.5

All 49 heritage assets within the site will be retained and restored, including former operational buildings, the docks boundary wall, historic surfacing and quayside artefacts. The dock basins will be restored, including dock gates, and used for recreation to recapture the active character that they enjoyed.

With reference to the matters which justiﬁed inscription, the proposals will conserve, protect and present to the public the heritage assets of the site. The way it will do so is set out in a separate report submitted in support of the planning application - the “Liverpool Waters Conservation Management Plan”. The principles follow the Council’s guidance in the World Heritage Site Supplementary Planning Document. New features in the masterplan layout referred to will be explained and justiﬁed in urban design terms shortly in this statement. In summary:

7.2.6

The historic importance of the site will also be celebrated within the layout of the public realm, which will encourage exploration across the site via pedestrian and cycle routes connecting a variety of public spaces deﬁned by heritage features and their riverside setting.

7.2.7

A similar approach is proposed to the 18 identiﬁed features of historic interest in the Buffer Zone part of the site.

7.2.2

Innovative Techniques & Methods of Dock Construction 7.2.3

In the construction of the Central Docks, Jesse Hartley pioneered the development of inter-linked enclosed docks, connected to other transport systems, which inﬂuenced the design of ports worldwide. His successors adapted the system and introduced further innovation. Today, these historic structures are falling into decay. Most of the area is inaccessible to the public.

Fig. 17 Original Hartley Dock Boundary Wall and Gateways Drawings

Fig. 18 Original Retained Gateway Piers

Fig. 19 Drinking Fountain

Marine Mercantile Culture 7.2.8

Visibility of landmark buildings which are important in the WHS such as the Liver Building, the Victoria Tower, and the Stanley Dock warehouses will be protected within the proposals in a series of key views and vistas within the site and beyond it. The masterplan will introduce a focused appreciation of the heritage assets within a new and vibrant urban setting. Viewed from the west bank of the River Mersey a sequence of views will be revealed, inviting discovery.

7.2.10 It is planned that a spirit of innovation will be introduced, building on the links with China and other developing nations created by Liverpool City Council and Peel. It will re-establish a sense of internationalism that is a crucial ingredient of Liverpool’s mercantile past. Particular international connections associated with speciﬁc docks will be highlighted.

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

7.2.9

The distinctive aspects of mercantile culture relating to the site are seen chieﬂy in features such as the grandeur of the river wall, the dock retaining walls, the Victoria Clock Tower and the docks boundary wall. The warehouses beyond the site at Stanley Dock and the Waterloo Warehouse are statements of conﬁdence and civic pride, as are the three great early 20th century buildings at the Pier Head beyond the site to its south.

7.2.11 The outstanding aspects of a World Mercantile City that are embodied most forcefully in the Central Docks are the dock layout, the form of the dockland landscape, its relationship with the river and the monumental dock architecture. The Liverpool Waters masterplan will maintain the layout of the group of northern docks, reinforce the form of the water spaces and follow the historic pattern of quayside structures. 7.2.12 The footprints of proposed building blocks will be designed to compare with the rectangular transit sheds and warehouses that are associated with the docks. Although many of the buildings will be taller than those that preceded them, they will maintain the overall horizontality that is characteristic of the dockland landscape.

the dockland from other parts of the World Heritage Site in the city centre. Safeguarding and Presenting the Values of the World Heritage Site 7.2.17 The Liverpool Waters proposals are bold and ambitious. They reﬂect the essential characteristics of Liverpool which are associated with the Outstanding Universal Value of its World Heritage Site such as the city’s history of vision and determination, its commercial astuteness, and its spirit of internationalism. In Liverpool ‘spirit of place’ does not only come from the past, and it certainly does not result from an attitude of ‘playing safe’. It depends on maintaining the process of change and transformation that was central to the period that is now celebrated in the World Heritage Site inscription.

7.2.13 In the central part of the site, where the docks have been altered and inﬁlled in the 20th century, the layout reﬂects the pattern of the original docks and has been designed to avoid below-ground remains whilst adopting a grain derived from the streets outside the docks boundary wall. 7.2.14 Tall buildings - those proposed both in the extension to the existing city centre commercial cluster and in a proposed secondary cluster on the site of the former Clarence Power Station (as outlined shortly below) - will be set back from the river front behind a ribbon of mid-rise development that reinforces the horizontal nature of the dock landscape. The latter will strengthen the river edge and enclose the water spaces.

Liverpool Waters

7.2.15 The relationship between the differing character areas within it is vital to understanding the World Heritage Site. Thus, seen from across the river, a sense of connection will be maintained between the Pier Head, the Albert Dock and the Central Docks with the Pier Head group of buildings remaining the focal point of the city centre.

Fig. 20 Oriel Chambers

Outstanding Example of a World Mercantile City

Fig. 21 View towards the Liver Building from Princes Dock

7.2.16 Connections between the Pier Head and the Central Docks will be enhanced by the creation of a riverfront walkway and cycle route that will open up the waterfront and promote access to

Fig. 22 Aerial View of Former Clarence Dock Power Station, pre 1950’s extension

7.3

Creating the Urban Structure - Developing the Masterplan Layout

7.3.1

As noted, the masterplan has been formulated having careful regard to CABE’s published masterplan guidance “Creating Successful Masterplans”. It has also had regard to the contents of the “Urban Design Compendium” published by English Partnerships &The Housing Corporation and to “By Design - Urban Design in the Planning System: Towards Better Practice” published by CABE - two of the key urban design masterplanning publications advocated by CABE.

• • • • • • 7.3.4

The Liverpool Waters layout is ﬁrst outlined below on the basis of the ﬁrst four items in this sequence. This is followed by a consideration of landscape, landmarks, vistas and focal points. Finally, the scale of Liverpool Waters is considered in terms of the building heights envisaged, development parcels and blocks.

7.3.5

As noted, the indicative masterplan layout for Liverpool Waters is reproduced in the Appendix. 7.3.9

Fig. 23a

Establishment of the Movement Framework Fig. 23b

Fig. 23c

7.3.6

Whilst the Liverpool Waters site is particularly well located in relation to the strategic transport network, access to the site is highly restricted by the docks boundary wall except from the south of Princes Dock and around King Edward Industrial Estate. Within the major part of the site there is no signiﬁcant movement network (other than by water) and, indeed, vehicular and pedestrian movement is inhibited by the water bodies comprising the docks.

7.3.7

Within an overall context of planning for primarily commercial land uses in the south of the site, close to the city core and primarily residential development further north, the Liverpool Waters spatial masterplan has been conceived on the basis of creating walkable residential neighbourhoods with corner shops within about 400 metres, other local shops and services within perhaps 800 metres.

7.3.8

An overall street network was then established within that context. This has been designed to connect with the existing network in a direct and attractive way which, within the site, is

Figs. 23a-c Masterplan and Urban Design Publications

7.3.2

7.3.3

heritage-led. In the latter respect, use is made almost entirely of existing openings within the historic docks boundary wall and only one new opening is proposed following consultation and agreement with English Heritage on the principles involved, that being to the west of Dublin Street. (To improve pedestrian circulation, a proposal has also been made to widen and enhance an existing pedestrian access in the wall west of Bath Street). Similarly to the existing wall openings, the shape and location of the docks dictate the approximate locations where new streets may be possible. The streets around Princes Dock are already established. Those in King Edward Industrial Estate serve current short term needs and will then need to be integrated within the overall structure of Liverpool Waters. (Access proposals and principles are considered in more detail in Section 8 of this statement).

density, facilities and form; energy and resource efﬁciency landscape; landmarks, vistas and focal points; blocks; parcels and plots

The need to create an entirely new urban structure for Liverpool Waters stems from the fact that the urban cycle in which the site operated as internationally-important docks has reached its end. Much of the site has been cleared or is derelict and the site was substantially separated from the rest of the city by the docks boundary wall. A new urban structure relevant to new land uses needs to be put in place for the next urban cycle meeting the requirements of Liverpool in the long term, perhaps 200 years or more. On the lines advocated, it is helpful to conceive of the creation of the new urban structure at Liverpool Waters as shown on the indicative layout plan in terms of the sequence referred to in the Urban Design Compendium as follows: • •

establishment of the movement framework; mixing land uses;

A broad grid was worked up on the above basis to provide a simple structure allowing access throughout the Liverpool Waters site. This takes an orthogonal form reflecting the general form of the docks and, where these have been filled in at Clarence Dock, the shapes of former docks are reflected.

Fig. 24 Built form diagram showing a grid layout across Central Docks

Mixed Use Development

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

7.3.10 The masterplan seeks to minimize the need to travel by creating mixed use development in which people generally can walk to the services and facilities they require on a day-to-day basis. Within such a framework it is possible later in the design process to promote diversity in terms of development forms, land use, density, tenure and market types. 7.3.11 Mixed use development is promoted within Liverpool Waters by creating through the masterplan walkable neighbourhoods. On the lines previously mentioned, mixed development neighbourhoods with a radius of about 400 metres (5 minutes’ walk) are planned throughout the Liverpool Waters site, each focusing on a neighbourhood centre. Some ﬁve neighbourhoods are proposed, as mentioned, each with a distinct identity based on the appearance and history of the particular group of docks concerned and, in the case of King Edward, a new identity complementary to adjoining neighbourhoods: • • • • •

7.3.13 The structure of land uses envisaged in the indicative masterplan proposals seek to maximise synergy between land uses and to minimise conﬂict. These are initial ideas to demonstrate that the proposals are feasible. 7.3.14 Neighbourhood centres are planned which will be located at the convergence of major routes at the heart of each neighbourhood. A broad mix of land uses is proposed within each and, on an indicative basis, the amount of each land use envisaged within each neighbourhood is speciﬁed in the Masterplan Report supporting the Liverpool Waters planning application. It is intended that each will contain local shops serving day-to-day needs; local services such as opticians and estate agents, cafes and restaurants, local health facilities and community leisure and spiritual facilities. The public realm within such centres will be particularly important and this is covered later in this statement.

Princes Dock; King Edward; Central Docks; Collingwood Docks; and Northern Docks

The radii for these neighbourhoods extend beyond the Liverpool Waters site boundary to the east and are particularly important in promoting integration with the adjoining areas where the major Northshore regeneration initiative is being promoted by the Council. 7.3.12 As indicated, the principal “neighbourhood character areas” are essentially based on the distinctive characteristics of each of the docks. A new commercial core character is planned for the present King Edward Industrial Estate area. Within this overall structure, smaller sub-areas of distinct character are also planned. Fig. 25 Pictorial Representation of Use, Distribution and quantum

7.3.15 The precise mix of land uses will be considered in detail and then agreed with the Council prior to development at the reserved matters stage in conjunction with detailed masterplans for each phase of development and detailed infrastructure plans for each phase. Such arrangements are considered more fully in Part 3 of this statement.

Density, Facilities and Form 7.3.16 National planning policies seek development at increased density in the context of sustainable development objectives. In practical terms, the aim is to create a critical mass of people (residential/employment) which is able to support urban services such as local shops and public transport. The residential and employment density of the proposals is therefore a product of their design. 7.3.17 In urban design terms, the starting point as regard density is the city centre location of the Liverpool Waters Site. Thus, in extending the commercial core of the city westwards towards the River Mersey, the density of commercial development is based on that already being achieved in the areas adjoining the site. However, with the increasing commercial attractiveness of Liverpool – something which Liverpool Waters itself can be expected to stimulate further in the future – it is anticipated that higher density development will be sought. It is proposed that this will be achieved by a number of additional tall buildings in an expansion of the existing commercial area, as envisaged by the Council in its planning guidance for the World Heritage Site. 7.3.18 On the basis of commercial research, this form of development with tall buildings is considered by Peel to be particularly important in order to attract international investment and also footloose investment which might otherwise go to other parts of the UK. The Liverpool Waters proposals therefore reinforce the existing “cluster” of tall buildings in the commercial core of Liverpool. A secondary commercial area is also proposed in the Central Docks part of the site with a secondary cluster of tall buildings associated with it accommodated in the vicinity of the former Clarence Dock power station. 7.3.19 Both tall building clusters outlined above reﬂect and respond to the opportunities for such buildings identiﬁed by the Council in the WHS Supplementary Planning Document. Seen in terms of the skyline as viewed from the west, the secondary cluster

will mark a northern gateway to the city centre and this will be balanced by a further secondary cluster marking the southern gateway to the city centre located in the vicinity of Parliament Street/Chaloner Street (less than 1km south-east of Albert Dock). 7.3.20 The design principles that Peel is committed to within Liverpool Waters for tall buildings in the planned extension to the existing commercial district, reﬂect those set out in the Council’s WHS Supplementary Planning Document. In summary: •

new buildings will relate physically and visually to the existing commercial core of the city;

•

New buildings will form part of a key landmark cluster standing separate, in visual terms, from the Pier Head complex;

•

The cluster will be designed to evolve, reﬂecting design precedents established by earlier development with a view to maintaining cohesion and a balanced form of development;

•

Development at Princes Dock will generally provide a context for tall building proposals in Liverpool Waters.

•

Long distance views northwards towards the Stanley Dock Complex will be protected from the junction of Great Howard Street and King Edward Street;

•

Whilst the cluster will evolve, a balance will be sought in the mix of heights and designs within it; and

•

For the main buildings within this cluster Peel intend that different leading architects will be appointed for each building.

Fig. 26 Aerial view across the Pier Head of Central Business District and associated Tall Buildings

7.3.21 As regards the secondary cluster of tall buildings within the Liverpool Waters Site, the main principles will, again, be those set out in the Council’s WHS Supplementary Planning Document, namely:

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

•

They will be an integral part of a long term phased masterplan for the site as a whole;

The principles established in the Design and Access Statement in such cases need to be able to deliver excellent urban design and architecture. In the present instance, those principles are set out in this statement and a clear indication of the character of such buildings is given in Part 3 below and the full Building Characterisation & Precedents Study on which it is based. 7.3.24 It is helpful that, in pre-application consultations, CABE accepted in principle the disposition and the height of the buildings within the masterplan together with the resulting skyline composition in relation to the World Heritage Site.

•

They will be part of an overall waterfront regeneration strategy to reinforce Liverpool’s image as an international gateway;

•

They will capitalise on the dockland heritage of the site;

•

They will be designed to ensure that key views are respected of the deﬁning buildings of the World Heritage Site and Liverpool city centre;

•

The integrity of dock waters spaces will be respected;

•

The group will be visually and numerically subservient to and separate from the commercial district cluster, appearing as smaller in terms of scale and height than the commercial district cluster.

7.3.25 Turning to residential densities, the overall design principle is to create a stunning residential environment based firmly on the heritage assets of the site at city centre densities. The residential upper floors of the tall buildings referred to in the previous paragraphs offer particular opportunities for stunning views across the city centre, the docks and the River Mersey to the Wirral peninsula and to the Irish Sea. It is important to accommodate much needed residential growth in Liverpool in a sustainable manner, close to the city centre. Liverpool Waters offers a real opportunity to attract significant investment to achieve this based on the high quality new residential environment being created.

7.3.22 In additional to the matters outlined in the preceding paragraphs, the Council’s WHS Supplementary Planning Document contains further speciﬁc design criteria for high rise buildings. Peel is also committed to meeting these criteria in the detailed design of the Liverpool Waters proposals.

7.3.26 The form of development in the Northern Docks and Clarence Docks neighbourhoods on the above basis will be “mid-rise” buildings as defined in Council’s WHS Supplementary Planning Document, this being 7-15 storeys based on 3 metre floor-tofloor heights.

7.3.23 The guidance on tall buildings published by CABE and English Heritage (2007) recognises that outline planning applications for tall buildings may be appropriate where the applicant is seeking to establish the principle of a tall building as an important element within a robust and credible masterplan for an area to be developed over a long period of time - exactly as in the present case. In such circumstance the parameters for any such tall buildings need to be set out in the planning application. Fig. 27 Proposed Skyline sketch (as presented to CABE in January 2011)

7.3.27 Within later detailed design work densities will be varied in each area according to location. For example, it is likely that the residential density around neighbourhood centres, public transport access points, parks and the river front will be rather higher in relative terms. It is planned that gradations in density will be designed to ensure that buildings, streets and places remain of a human scale, heights generally will vary gradually to step up or down to neighbouring buildings and high quality landscaping will soften the feel of the development. The two areas of high-rise buildings generally involve towers rising from podia to achieve these objectives.

Energy and Resource Efficiency 7.3.28 Whilst energy and resource efďŹ ciency will be considered in much greater detail at a later stage of the planning process, the principles involved have been considered carefully when working up the masterplan layout. (The broader considerations involved in energy and sustainability are addressed in separate documents supporting the Liverpool Waters planning application.) In the context of renewable energy resources, the sun, rainwater, the ground and wind have all been examined with a view to maximising the contribution of these resources and minimising environmental demands.

the development. In the context of waste consideration has been given to the possibility of including a combined heat and power plant as part of the development in the north-east of Liverpool Waters in the vicinity of the Hydraulic Engine House. However, this is not part of the current proposals and will be subject to discussion with the planning authority at a later stage.

7.3.29 In terms of solar design, the buildings in Liverpool Waters will generally look towards the sun with buildings orientated broadly to the south. Care has been taken to let the light in to the development and the aim is to achieve high levels of natural light penetration. 7.3.30 As regards water, at the detail stage the developments will be designed to collect and store rainwater, retaining surface water within the site for re-use as far as possible. 7.3.31 The opportunities of the ground will be explored in greater detail at a later stage with a view to potentially using heat pumps both for heating and cooling purposes and potentially bore holes to aquifers for cooling purposes. 7.3.32 In working up the layout, care has been taken to work with the wind, buildings have been positioned to minimise funnelling and the creation of potentially uncomfortable micro-climates following detailed technical studies. 7.3.33 Finally, as regards waste, the principles of waste management have been considered carefully in working up the Liverpool Waters proposals including the encouragement of recycling as much as possible. A detailed report on waste has been submitted as part of the planning application. The design of such facilities will take place as part of the detailed planning for each phase of Fig. 28 The Hydraulic Engine House nr Bramley Moore Dock

7.4

Landscape

7.4.1

Landscaping is the treatment of private and public spaces to protect the amenities of the site and the area in which it is situated through hard and soft landscaping measures. In the Liverpool Waters proposals the landscape has been considered in its widest context and the principles proposed are set out below as a framework for detailed landscape proposals to be made later in the planning process.

7.4.2

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

7.4.3

7.4.4

Alongside the development block and movement framework, the landscape is one of the three main design elements of the proposals. The landscape involves all the space in the site defined by the proposed buildings. It therefore includes open spaces, water, movement corridors, parks, squares and streets. It includes hard and soft landscape. In Liverpool Waters, the fundamental landscape character of the site is dominated by the water spaces comprising the historic docks and the canal extension running north to south through the site. However, within that overall context, the closure of the docks and the proposed land uses mean that is necessary to create a new landscape structure for the site as a whole which will complement the overall dockland character whilst serving the functional and environmental needs of the new land uses. It has been a design aim that each of the five neighbourhoods within Liverpool Waters will have a distinct character reflecting the particular docks associated with each.

•

To locate parks within walking distance of those living and working in Liverpool Waters. The aim will be to have space for children’s play, nature conservation or smallscale sports within 3-5 minutes walk of the majority of homes.

•

To connect spaces within Liverpool Waters and connect with adjoining areas beyond the site. This will add to the value of open space for visual amenity and recreational purposes as well for wildlife value.

•

To balance human access and wildlife shelter. Within Liverpool Waters, wildlife and ecology focus on the water but, in detailed planning, opportunities will be exploited to create some space within the landscape network with limited access for people so that they can provide rich habitats for wildlife.

•

To consider the influence of the elements in detailed landscape planning. On the basis of an assessment of microclimate, detailed landscape proposals can seek to avoid excessive overshadowing of buildings and provide shelter from uncomfortable cold drafts from prevailing winds.

•

To complement the distinctive heritage features of the site. It will be important to ensure that the new landscape being created within the site does not detract from the inherent dockland character. Underground features of archaeological heritage importance also need to be considered carefully, for example trees should not be planted where they might have an adverse effect on important buried features such as former dock facilities.

•

To establish an overall landscape management structure. It is planned that Peel will maintain responsibility for the main areas of landscape and public realm within Liverpool Waters.

The landscape principles to be adopted in Liverpool Waters are indicated on the masterplan layout drawing and summarised below: •

To provide a variety of open space types. The proposals include greenways alongside new cycle and footpath routes and adjoining the docks boundary wall, waterways comprising the docks and canal, parks, formal public squares located at focal points adjoining key buildings, plazas associated with commercial ofﬁces, communal and private gardens, small playgrounds dedicated for children’s play.

7.4.5

Within the above framework a considerable amount of further work has been undertaken to characterise the landscape and public realm principles proposed. This work is summarised in Part C of this statement and set out in a separate report entitled “Liverpool Waters Landscape & Public Realm Characterisation Study” to provide the basis for detailed planning in due course.

Fig. 29 Space Typologies Plan 30

Landmarks, Vistas and Focal Points 7.4.6

The advice is given in The Urban Compendium that the design of streets, the concentration of commercial, community and civic uses in centres and the use of distinctive landscaping and building forms will all help create a place that is easy to read. This is crucial if users are to orientate themselves within a place and between different places. Such matters have been given careful attention in working out the indicative layout and will continue to be a focus of attention in more detailed work.

7.4.7

To make it easy to ﬁnd the way around Liverpool Waters and to understand its World Heritage Site context, the proposed development has been designed to safeguard important views, create new ones and to introduce new landmarks.

7.4.8

As regards heritage views, there is currently only one key landmark building (as identiﬁed by the Council in the WHS Supplementary Planning Document) on the site, namely Victoria Clock Tower. However, key landmarks buildings adjoining the site include the Stanley Dock Tobacco Warehouse, Waterloo Warehouse and the Pier Head complex. Other key landmark buildings are visible from parts of the site such as the Anglican Cathedral and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Furthermore, a number of distant views to the World Heritage Site and its landmark features are important - views from the Magazine Promenade in Wallasey, Wallasey Town Hall, Woodside Ferry Terminal, Bidston Hill and Everton Park, for example, being identiﬁed in the Council’s WHS Supplementary Planning Document.

7.4.9

In placing buildings and in aligning routes in the masterplan layout, great care has been taken to maintain the above key views mentioned above and to ensure that they will be important features of Liverpool Waters. Indeed, the distant views/river prospects, general views, panoramas, general views with focal point and deﬁned vistas identiﬁed in the WHS Supplementary Planning Document have been analysed in great detail from both a heritage perspective and a landscape one as set out in

the Environmental Statement accompanying the Liverpool Waters planning application. 7.4.10 Other important landmarks in Liverpool which makes it easy to find the way around include Beetham Tower West and the St John’s Radio Tower. Views of such landmarks are also respected in the indicative masterplan layout. 7.4.11 New landmarks will be created within the Liverpool Waters development. In the southern part of the site the proposed high-rise buildings extending the city centre commercial core, in particular Shanghai Tower, will together form a cluster of citywide importance - an integral part of the composed waterfront skyline as viewed from the Wirral peninsular. The secondary tall building cluster in the Central Docks will serve a similar function. Within the site these high-rise buildings will become important landmarks and focal points. The proposed cultural building will similarly be an important focal point in the vicinity of Princes Half Tide Dock. 7.4.12 Landmarks and focal points will help to emphasise the hierarchy of Liverpool Waters and will operate at various different levels. Within the site, the five neighbourhood centres will each act as a focus at a point at which several routes converge. Whilst these lower order foci will be important in helping people to navigate the site and add to its visual interest, great care has been taken to retain the emphasis on key buildings of the World Heritage Site with nearby and adjoining development being significantly lower and smaller in scale. 7.4.13 The concept for the skyline of Liverpool Waters as seen from the west has been taken from the Council’s WHS Supplementary Planning Document. It addresses the city centre as a whole, respecting a clear focus on the Pier Head buildings. It will be visually stunning whilst providing a clear, strong and exciting structure viewed from within the site and from other parts of the city centre.

Fig. 30 Key Views as defined in WHS SPD

7.5

Scale

7.5.1

Scale is concerned with the height, width and length of buildings in relation to their surroundings. Details of scale are not included in the Liverpool Waters outline planning application but they will need to be submitted to and approved by the Council later in the planning process. At this stage the principles involved in scale are set out in this statement. The submitted drawings indicate the height, width and length of the buildings envisaged, thereby establishing a three dimensional building envelope applicable to detailed design work and the parameters within which detailed designs can later be developed.

7.5.3

There is considerable variety in building heights within each neighbourhood and between the ﬁve neighbourhoods. This may be summarised as follow: •

Northern Docks: Buildings are planned to vary between 19 - 37 metres height in the south of the development to 39 metres on the River Mersey frontage.

•

Clarence Docks: Buildings will be generally lower in this part of the site in order to maintain the prominence of the Stanley Dock Tobacco Warehouse (adjoining the site) as seen in views of the area. Adjoining Regent Road the proposed buildings are planned to be between 21 and 30 metres maximum height. The highest building in this neighbourhood will be a maximum of 34 metres, located in the south-west of the neighbourhood. Central Docks: In this neighbourhood a greater variety

Building Heights Within the above framework the Liverpool Waters planning application speciﬁes maximum building heights for each part of the proposed development and for each building shown on the indicative layout plan. These are shown on the Indicative Building Heights Plan, a copy of which is reproduced as Plan

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

7.5.2

Fig. 31 Liverpool Waters Skyline

of maximum building heights is planned. Buildings adjoining Regent Road will have maximum heights in the range of 21 to 43 metres. On the waterfront the maximum building heights will be 44 metres. Seven highrise buildings are planned in the Central Docks area, each constructed on a podium. The tallest of these will extend up to 149 metres, the lowest being 65 metres maximum height. Further to the south in the Central Docks area the cultural building will have a maximum height similar to that of other buildings on the waterfront – up to 41 metres. To the south of this, west of West Waterloo Dock, two hotels are proposed of 31 and 45 metres maximum height located here to serve the cruise liner terminal. The terminal building itself will be up to 12 metres in height.

006 in Appendix 2.

•

In the King Edward Triangle, three of the four highrise buildings forming an extension to the existing commercial area cluster will be located. The tallest of

these will be some 174 metres maximum height and the shortest about 148 metres maximum. The major part of the development in this location will have a maximum height of about 49 metres. •

In Princes Dock neighbourhood the Liverpool Waters proposals involve completing the gaps within the present masterplan layout for that site. Some ﬁ fteen buildings are proposed, the tallest of which will be in the north, immediately adjoining King Edward Triangle. Shanghai Tower will be the tallest at 196 metres maximum height, a landmark building fronting Princes Dock which will mark the western limit of the city’s expanded commercial core. The majority of the new buildings within the nieghbourhood are planned as mid-rise, between 28 and 45 metres - signiﬁcantly smaller in height and bulk than the Three Graces a short distance further to the south. Two other taller buildings at 60m and 127m mark key locations in Princes Dock Neighbourhood.

comfortable, human scale. This may be of particular importance in the podium areas beneath high-rise buildings.

Development Blocks 7.5.4

7.5.5

Development blocks are those areas deﬁned by the overall circulation grid shown on the masterplan layout drawing. Generally, in urban planning the aim is to create perimeter blocks to make a clear distinction between public fronts and private backs to buildings. Within Liverpool Waters this principle has been modiﬁed in places in view of the need to restrict building to the existing docksides which are often narrow with limited space both for circulation and private access. A variety of solutions has therefore been found within the site to make a clear distinction, so far as possible, between the public front of buildings and private space at the rear. For example, in the Northern Docks the main private space are planned to be the docks themselves. In the Central Docks, a more conventional structure is possible.

7.5.6

Block size and block shape are planned to vary considerably throughout the site. As outlined earlier in this statement, this reﬂects a response to respecting the heritage of the site, the shape of each dock (and of former docks) whilst maintaining ready pedestrian access to local centres in each of the ﬁve neighbourhoods of Liverpool Waters.

In detailed planning, care will be given to maintaining visual interest at ground ﬂoor level and an environment which is of a

7.5.7

Within the Liverpool Waters development, individual parcels of land have been identified with reference to five phases of development. Each phase is planned to correspond to one of the defined neighbourhood character areas. These are shown on the plan submitted with the planning application entitled “Liverpool Waters Development Parcels” - a copy of which is reproduced in Appendix 2 to this statement as Plan 004. Some parcels of land will involve individual buildings whereas others are planned to include several.

7.5.8

It is likely that individual parcels will be apportioned to different developers under arrangements agreed in detail with Peel and this will ensure a rich mix of buildings. Similarly, individual building plots may be let. In all cases the design principles will need to accord with those set out in this statement and more detailed design code guidance agreed at the detailed “reserved matters” stage. Further details of such arrangements are referred to in Part C of this statement.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

Parcels and Plots

Fig. 32 Phasing Plan

8.0 Access: Making Connections 8.1

Means of Access to Liverpool Waters

8.1.1

As noted, details relating to access are not included in the Liverpool Waters outline planning application and have been reserved for the later approval of Liverpool City Council. However, the location of access points to the development and key water crossings are shown on the Liverpool Waters masterplan on an indicative basis and this statement sets out the principles proposed for access and circulation.

•

Sustainable Movement - Overall Principles 8.1.2

The overall approach to sustainable transport across the Liverpool Waters development is set out in the updated ‘Transport Assessment and Travel Plan’ (JMP, November 2011) supporting the updated planning application. This complements the principles of establishing a movement framework for the Liverpool Waters masterplan as outlined in Section 7 of this statement. The key transport features of the spatial masterplan can be summarised as follows: •

•

8.1.3

The spatial masterplan has been developed to ensure a permeable, connected, coherent and legible network of streets and pedestrian areas that respect the heritage of the site but that also allow for the movement of people and goods; The design of the streets within each neighbourhood is based on the movement and place function of the street as well as physical factors such as strategic and city views, aspect and typology; Streets have been designed in accordance with the user hierarchy set out in the government publications “Manual for Streets” (2007) and “Manual for Streets 2” (2010). They encourage pedestrian and cycle priority and have been orientated to respond to the baseline microclimate ﬁndings mentioned earlier; Streets have been designed to accommodate the necessary vehicle movements and necessary and

8.1.4

inclusive access are set out in correspondence with the Council supporting the planning application.

desirable pedestrian movements; A movement hierarchy has been developed for the site to identify the key higher capacity vehicular routes in the site as well as local and neighbourhood routes; and The development will be permeable by public transport modes and thereby encourage public transport use. The internal layout of the development includes a ‘protected’ public transport route which may be used by a mass transit system in the future.

8.2

Walking

8.2.1

The needs of people on foot have been considered carefully and are paramount in the Liverpool Waters indicative masterplan layout. The aim has been, in principle: • To connect the places people will wish to go with good pedestrian routes; • To create direct routes; • To ensure that they will be attractive, interesting, well-lit and safe; • To ensure that they will be of high quality; and • To ensure that they will be easy to ﬁnd and follow.

8.2.2

On the above basis, the pedestrian routes shown on the masterplan layout plan and accompanying movement plans have also taken into account key considerations such as inclusive design principles, the ability for pedestrians to be seen by other pedestrians, by residents and by those working at the site, and the potential scope for using shared surfaces.

The overall approach to access is planned to be one of inclusive design which will provide an “access for all” environment. Representative disabled groups have been consulted in preparing the proposals (see Statement of Community Involvement - November 2011) and will be closely involved in detailed planning in relation to access. The work will need to cover matters such as: •

levels and falls in the public realm, for example in the King Edward Triangle area generally and, more speciﬁcally, at access points to buildings;

•

surface treatments, for example the potential need for smooth surfaces for primary circulation routes and building access points;

•

vehicular and pedestrian environments where surfaces and vision are important and where matters that need to be considered include strong tonal contrasts in surface materials and street furniture;

•

water access and safety, for example, the use of railings around water bodies; and

•

lighting, for which the intention is to design to Liverpool City Council adoptable standards or similar.

Further details of the applicant’s intentions as regards

Footway

Carriageway

Parking

Footway

various width

4.5m - 7.5m

2.4m

various width

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

Building

Fig. 33 Proposed ‘Traditional’ Street Section

8.3

Cycling

8.4

Public Transport

8.3.1

Cycling can be expected to be important for residents of Liverpool Waters as it has the potential to substitute for short car trips of under 5 km. The principles to be taken into account in planning for cycling are similar to those relevant for pedestrian routes - especially clear, direct routes to shops, schools and work. In more detail, obstacles which might cause cyclists to stop quickly need to be avoided.

8.4.1

8.3.2

In the indicative layout, a substantial network of shared cycle and footpaths has been provided. The grid system involved will allow for very easy movement both north-south and west-east.

As a dense, urban environment containing a substantial residential population of about 14,000 people and a workforce of more than 17,500 and with nearby strategic transport corridors serving the city centre, Liverpool Waters will be an ideal area to service by public transport to a substantial extent. Whilst the arrangements have not been planned in detail with MerseyTravel at this outline stage, the masterplan layout makes provision for public transport corridors and high quality provision of bus stops is anticipated to encourage public transport use.

8.4.2

In the Central Docks neighbourhood, provision is made in the masterplan within the proposed ‘Prospect Park’ for a public transport corridor and within the proposed Central Park for a public transport stop/station. The operation of such transport facilities will primarily be a matter for MerseyTravel.

Building

8.5

Streets and Traffic Access and Egress

8.5.1

Those aspects of movement and access taken to be relatively ďŹ xed are indicated on the Parameter Plan - 007 - Liverpool Waters Access & Movement Plan, which is included in the Appendix.

8.5.2

Taking into account the matters summarised in the preceding paragraphs, the overall aims are to maximise the accessibility of the site by foot, cycle, public transport and other vehicles and to facilitate a high level of interaction with neighbouring areas. In practical terms, having regard to the heritage importance of the docks boundary wall, ďŹ xed points of access/egress on the eastern boundary of the Liverpool Waters site are set by the existing openings in the wall and the intention is to use all of these.

Fig. 34 Access Plan

8.5.3

Four of the existing openings in the docks boundary wall are planned to be the main/strategic vehicular access/egress points for the site from Regent Road/Waterloo Road/Bath Street/New Quay to the east. In addition, a single new opening for main vehicular access is planned on this frontage, that being opposite Dublin Street - “Dublin Gate”. From north to south, these main vehicular gateways will be: • • • • •

Dublin Gate; Trafalgar Gate; Victoria Gate Princes Gate; and St. Nicholas Gate.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

The arrangement for Princes Dock will remain unchanged, Princes Gate serving its north and St. Nicholas Gate providing access to and from the south of the site.

Fig. 36 Proposed Dublin Street Elevation

8.5.4

Secondary vehicular access/egress points are planned to the east of the site as follows: • • • • •

8.5.5

Bramley Moore North Gate; Bramley Moore Gate; Nelson Gate; Collingwood Gate; and Clarence Gate

All other existing gates will be used for pedestrians and cycles - the Clarence Graving Dock North and South Gates, Clarence South Gate, Trafalgar South Gate, Bath Gate and New Quay Gate. Fig. 35 Existing Gate with Original Gateway Piers

Key Fixed Features of Vehicular and Pedestrian Infrastructure 8.5.6

8.5.7

8.5.8

8.5.9

In providing an accessibility network within the site, the primary aim will be to ensure that all users will have equal and convenient access to buildings, public spaces and the public transport network serving Liverpool Waters. In addition, it is necessary to provide for servicing and for emergency vehicles. The absence of an existing overall accessibility structure reflects the site’s background, as noted earlier. In creating a structure it has been vital to ensure that the integrity of the heritage of the site is maintained. The indicative highway designs produced as part of the planning application provide for adoptable road widths, the appropriate number of lanes and associated infrastructure. Similarly, pedestrian and cycle routes assume a high quality of provision in accord with relevant standards. Within each neighbourhood, it is planned that there will be a number of key fixed features of vehicular and pedestrian infrastructure. These features are shown on Parameter 007 and summarised in the following paragraphs. Mersey View Esplanade The Mersey View Esplanade will provide a continuous pedestrian and cycle route running the entire length of the Liverpool Waters site south to north fronting onto the River Mersey for almost its entire length. There will however be a deviation away from the river around the proposed cruise liner terminal to accommodate the operational requirements of the cruise liner terminal. The delivery of a continuous route southnorth will require two new crossing points across existing dock gates. The first will be at Alexander Tower on the junction of Princes Dock and Central Docks Neighbourhoods, with the second crossing point across the dock gates at Victoria Clock Tower in Clarence Docks Neighbourhood

Canal Way Promenade 8.5.10 The Canal Way Promenade will provide a continuous pedestrian and cycle link running south-north on both sides of the new section of the Leeds-Liverpool canal as it passes through the Central Dock Neighbourhood. It will also provide for three new crossing points over the canal link, in addition to the existing

crossing constructed in 2009 – 2010. Inland Promenade 8.5.11 The Inland Promenade will provide a south-north link running from Central Docks Neighbourhood, through Clarence Docks Neighbourhood and terminating in the Northern Docks Neighbourhood. It will run out of Prospect Park and northwards alongside Central Park. This Promenade will provide for improved connections across the mouth of the Graving Docks in the Clarence Docks Neighbourhood and a connection between Salisbury and Collingwood Docks. In addition to the improved crossings outlined above the Inland Promenade will introduce two new links across Nelson Docks and Bramely Moore Docks. Dock Boundary Wall Promenade 8.5.12 The Dock Boundary Wall Promenade will run the entire length of the retained dock boundary wall on the east of the site. The width of the promenade will be consistent along its length. The Dock Boundary Wall Promenade will interact with the existing openings and will connect with a number of the east-west links. King Edward Triangle Link 8.5.13 The King Edward Triangle Neighbourhood will provide a transition between the existing commercial core of Liverpool centred around Old Hall Street, and the new commercial activity at Princes Dock and Central Docks. The King Edward Triangle Link will provide for improved pedestrian movements from Old Hall Street and Brook Street across to King Edward Street. In it will link the King Edward Neighbourhood with Bath Street and Willam Jessop Way through the proposed new pedestrian opening in the Dock Boundary Way at Princes Dock. The new opening will also provide for improved pedestrian and cyclist connectivity with the heart of Liverpool city centre.

•

Trafalgar Bridge – a new bridge will be provided to allow pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles to cross from Clarence Graving Dock to the Victoria Clock Tower. Trafalgar Bridge will need to be capable of ‘lifting’ and/or ‘swinging’ to allow canal boats to pass through the Leeds-Liverpool Canal Link. Salisbury Dock Swing Bridge – the existing swing bridge (currently in an ‘open’ position) will be retained and will be used by pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, providing access across the dock space. Given the height of the bridge from water level, the bridge will need to be able to be swung to allow boat trafﬁc access to Nelson Dock. Isolation Structure - The existing isolation structure, which regulates water levels in the main Liverpool Waters dock system will remain. The isolation structure design prevents the movement of vessels between Nelson Dock and Bramley Moore Dock. It will therefore continue to provide an east-west link. Bramley Moore Bridge – This will provide pedestrian, cyclist and vehicular access across the entrance to Bramley Moore Dock from Sandon Half Tide Dock. The Pontoon – the Pontoon will provide a new link for pedestrian and cyclists across Princes Dock to the proposed Shanghai Tower. It will form a series of spaces and activities across the water space, but will be designed to allow for the uninterrupted passage of canal trafﬁc.

Dock Crossings 8.5.14 in addition to the crossings of water bodies outlined above to accommodate the south-north routes, the Liverpool Waters scheme also includes a number of crossing points to improve east-west movements around the site. These are positioned to correspond with historic crossing points and dock gates, utilising such alignments where practical. They include: 39

Parking & Servicing

8.6.1

The Liverpool Waters proposal includes provision for up to 13,100 car parking spaces, which includes provision for over 800 dedicated disabled parking spaces. Whilst overall car parking ﬁgures are below LCC standards, the car parking provision is intended to contribute to the sustainability of the Liverpool Waters proposal as part of the strategy to encourage the use of sustainable modes and importantly to deliver the mode share targets as set out in the ‘Liverpool Waters Transport Statement’ (November 2011) which accompanies the planning application. In addition to providing in excess of 13,000 car parking spaces, the Liverpool Waters proposal provides sufﬁcient secure cycle parking for both workers and residents, as well as secure parking for motorcycles.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

8.6

Fig. 38 Parking Strategy Plan

8.7

Transport/Highway Improvements

8.8

Utilities and Infrastructure

8.7.1

Outside of the Liverpool Waters planning application boundary, a range of improvements are envisaged to enhance the connectivity of the site with the wider area for pedestrians and cyclists, to provide for trafﬁc growth and improved public transport access.

8.8.1

8.7.2

An indicative programme of improvements has been identified based upon a scenario in which current transport policy and economic/population growth projections remain in force. The schemes identified are not intended to imply that the infrastructure programme for a 30 year development has been identified at this stage but they provide an indication of the locations and form of improvements which are potentially appropriate.

Services conventionally follow the routes taken by roads and footpaths. Unless planned carefully maintenance in the future can be disruptive. In the particular circumstances of Liverpool Waters where there are surviving buried features of former docks in places which may be of heritage interest, it is particularly important that the principles involved can be considered at an early stage to ensure no harm.

8.8.2

In general terms it is planned that services will be grouped and that they will run in 2m wide shared strips under footpaths.

8.8.3

The detailed planning of utilities and infrastructure will develop the consultations undertaken to date with the utility and service providers on the principles involved and will cover matters such as routes, requirements and programming. Provisional plans will be the subject of archaeological consideration in locations of known heritage interest.

8.7.3

Much of the improvement works are planned to be located on the immediate eastern boundary of the site incorporating Regent Road, Waterloo Road, Bath Street, New Quay and the Strand. The primary purpose of these is to provide convenient pedestrian, cycle, public transport and vehicular access to the development site. Improvements are envisaged at nine strategic access points and several lower capacity access points, some of which will provide cycle / pedestrian access only. These are referred to more fully in the Transport Assessment supporting the planning application.

8.7.4

Further aﬁeld from the development boundary, improvements are envisaged on Leeds Street, Great Howard Street, Scotland Road, Byrom Street, New Islington and Norton Street to improve highway network performance and accessibility to the site by all modes in conjunction with the Liverpool Waters development.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

C PRINCIPLES FOR DETAILING THE PLACE, APPEARANCE & CONTROLS

Part C: Principles for Detailing the Place, Appearance & Controls 9.0 Appearance: Principles 9.1

The Appearance of Liverpool Waters

9.2

Positive Outdoor Space

9.3

Animating the Edges

9.1.1

Appearance is the aspect of a place or building that determines the visual impression it makes, including the external built form of the development, its architecture, materials, decoration, lighting, colour and texture. The appearance of Liverpool Waters is a matter reserved for later submission to and approval by the Council. However, this statement sets out the principles behind the intended appearance and the arrangements ensuring that these can inform the ﬁnal design of Liverpool Waters.

9.2.1

The Urban Design Compendium guidance emphasises how the detailed design of urban space means attending to the building line and three-dimensional mass that helps create the character of streets and squares, later brought to life with planting, with street furniture, public art and the other ingredients which give such spaces warmth and vitality.

9.3.1

It is recognised that buildings and spaces are complementary. Buildings will be designed to make a positive contribution to the public realm, facing streets and animating them.

9.3.2

Active frontages will be created to add interest, life and vitality to the public realm. Blank walls will be avoided. Visual interest will be achieved by animating facades.

9.1.2

“One of the most important tenets of good urbanism is for buildings to give positive deﬁnition to the shape and function of outdoor space, and for this outdoor space to be designed to encourage a range of activities to take place” (The Urban Design Compendium (2000)).

The applicant, Peel, has an enviable record of implementing successful, award-winning developments with a strong identity and quality which have been well-designed with good materials. Peel has a strong reputation for maintaining its developments to the highest of standards on a long-term basis.

This approach to appearance gives pre-eminence to the quality of urban spaces. It will be a fundamental principle in detailed work on the appearance of Liverpool Waters. 9.2.2

9.2.3

Open spaces in Liverpool Waters will be designed positively with clear deﬁnition and enclosure as appropriate to the primary function of each space, its role in the hierarchy of spaces, the characteristics of surrounding land uses and circulation patterns. Building elevations and cross-sections of public spaces will be scaled to foster a sense of urbanism.

Fig. 40. Williamson Square, Liverpool

9.3.3

Successive buildings will need to respect their context having regard to building lines, street rhythms, the morphology of the locality, adjacent building heights, the palette of building materials in the neighbourhood and quality of architecture. Particular attention will be given to the number and composition of elements on the façade of each building to bring visual quality and interest.

9.3.4

Just as other parts of Liverpool each have a strong character and identity, Liverpool Waters will be given a strong identity and each neighbourhood within it will be designed to have a strong, distinctive identity on the following basis:

Fig. 39 Gloucester Quays, developed out by Peel Holdings

9.1.3

The approach to detailing advocated in The Urban Design Compendium involves the following considerations: • • • • • •

Positive Outdoor Space Animating the Edges Building Size and Scale Building for Change A Thriving Public Realm Safety - and Sense of Safety

• The principles proposed in the Liverpool Waters development in relation to each of these elements is summarised in the following paragraphs.

The starting point for creating a distinctive entity within Liverpool Waters will be the particular heritage assets of the site as whole and those within each neighbourhood within it, with particular emphasis on those assets in the 43

•

There will be a strong emphasis on the distinctive qualities of Liverpool referred to in Part 1 of this statement;

•

There will be a diversity of design signatures, some specific to Liverpool Waters and some specific to each of its five neighbourhoods;

•

Local traditions of built form will be acknowledged and reﬂected in modern forms (such as masonry and ironwork);

•

A materials strategy will be adopted for Liverpool Waters in consultation with the Council. Sub-strategies will be adopted on a similar basis for each neighbourhood. There will be a strong emphasis on quality and the use of materials that look good in all conditions.

Building Size and Scale

9.5

Building for Change

9.4.1

Building size and scale has already been considered in section 7 of this statement in terms of blocks, parcels and plots in the indicative masterplan layout. This included consideration of the height of key buildings. It is also relevant to consider size and scale in the context of detailing.

9.5.1

Many buildings in Liverpool Waters will be designed to provide for change over time in order to be able to accommodate other land uses (subject to the Council’s permission when necessary) and the different needs of occupants. In the context of the latter, accessibility for all users will need to be considered in detail.

9.4.2

The tall buildings included in the proposals will have an important urban design role in marking locations of commercial and civic importance and in providing a strong visual stimulus - the “wow factor” associated with a successful modern urban environment. Different scale juxtapositions within the detailed layout for each neighbourhood will be resolved by means such as wrapping small spaces with buildings, stepping down taller buildings to their neighbours and ensuring a visually interesting pedestrian environment at ground ﬂoor level.

9.5.2

Many of the planned buildings are intended for mixed uses, especially in the Central Docks, King Edward Triangle and Princes Dock neighbourhood. In the more detailed design work it will often be necessary to plan for separate entrances from street level to upper ﬂoors, shared use of some car parking and careful positioning of service and waste centres at the rear of buildings. Consideration may need to be given to sound insulation and ventilation in the context of some land use mixes.

9.4.3

In detailed design work further attention will be given to building depth in the context of natural ventilation and artiﬁcial lighting. Similarly, building width will be considered further in the context of ﬂexibility of use and the ability to personalise space. Attention will be given to corners as visually prominent parts of the development which can help in expressing size and scale of buildings.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

WHS parts of the site which justiﬁed its inscription;

9.4

Fig. 41. Central Docks Showing Secondary Tall Buildings Cluster

9.6

A Thriving Public Realm

9.7

Safety - and Sense of Safety

9.6.1

The public realm in Liverpool Waters will be designed to be comfortable and stimulating and to encourage social interaction. This will require detailed attention to the structure of the spaces and the elements they contain. In Section 10 of this statement the public realm planned for Liverpool Waters is characterised. This includes consideration of the overall structure and type of public realm, matters such as hard and soft surfaces and different surfaces for vehicles and pedestrians. It also refers to matters such as security, public art, street furniture, lighting and signage.

9.7.1

In the detailed design of Liverpool Waters careful attention will be given to creating a strong sense of safety and security where residents, those working in the area and tourists will feel conﬁdent using areas with good visibility and effective lighting. It will be a lively, lived-in place in which public space is easy to overlook and to oversee.

9.7.2

Safety will be built into the detailed design by: •

• •

9.7.3

Ensuring natural surveillance and human presence, for example, by making buildings front onto the public realm; Minimizing conﬂicts on walking and cycling routes; and Designing-in territoriality and community involvement to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility.

Safety and security fencing, where required, will be sensitively designed to avoid visual intrusion. Particular attention will be necessary around water features in this respect and arrangements will be worked up carefully in consultation with the Council, police, emergency services and safety agencies.

Fig. 42. Chavasse Park, Liverpool One

10.0 Characterisation: Landscape & Public Realm 10.1 Introduction - Landscape and Public Realm Characterisation

10.2 Public Realm Ambition and Context

10.1.1 Whilst the appearance of Liverpool Waters is a detailed matter which does not form part of the current outline planning application proposals and whilst such details will require the Council’s later approval, a considerable amount of work has been undertaken on behalf of the Applicant in order to indicate the principles which it is planned will underlie those details.

10.2.1 The objectives for public realm are:

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

10.1.2 The planned character of the landscape and public realm has been considered with care in some detail. A separate document entitled “Liverpool Waters Public Realm Characterisation Study” (November 2011) sets out the principles more fully and has been included in the documents submitted to the Council in support of the outline planning application. The main points are summarised in this section of this statement. 10.1.3 The aim of the “Liverpool Waters Public Realm Characterisation Study” is to define the overarching principles for the public realm and open space network for Liverpool Waters in respect of pedestrian street hierarchy, typology of spaces, materiality and the use of art and retained historic features within the five neighbourhoods that have been identified across the masterplan. 10.1.4 The work undertaken demonstrates how public realm will enrich the Liverpool Waters development with a fabric of parks, gardens, squares and boulevards making a significant contribution to the creation of a world-class development. It also shows how Liverpool Waters will enhance the public realm fabric of Liverpool, drawing people into and through the development to explore the sequence of spaces and the narratives that will be told through them. The parks, streets and open spaces introduced through Liverpool Waters will become vital extensions to the public realm fabric of north Liverpool and the main device to connect people with their waterfront heritage.

•

To create a network of parks, gardens, streets, squares and promenades that will provide a legible structure to the public realm across Liverpool Waters; and To develop the destination into a world-class exemplar of public realm design

10.2.2 On the basis of the body of work summarised earlier in this statement and concept design work, precedents have been carefully selected that will enable a clear understanding to be gained of the scale, character, function and quality of the places which it is proposed will deﬁne Liverpool Waters. 10.2.3 As regards context, the key challenge is to connect the Liverpool Waters site back into the urban fabric along its eastern edge, something made all the more difﬁcult by the retention of the dramatic docks boundary wall in view of its historic importance. An analysis of public realm in the wider context of north Liverpool has highlighted how poor and unbalanced it is and how it is disconnected from the River Mersey. The development of Liverpool Waters will help redress some of the issues in respect of provision, quality, choice and use of the public realm in the north of the city. Key points in the present provision are as follows: •

North Liverpool’s major green space assets are Stanley Park, Anﬁeld Cemetery and Everton Park. There is a lack of green space fabric of all types and scales.

•

At present strong vehicular corridors run north - south through north Liverpool with lateral movement being more difﬁcult and convoluted. This has resulted in linear communities that tend to be cut off from each other.

•

The pedestrian movement framework is very poor, particularly when trying to travel from west to east.

10.2.4 Notwithstanding the above difﬁculties there are opportunities

to improve the public realm through a co-ordinated approach across the district, using public realm to link together the projects with the greatest ‘gravity’ - the new Anﬁeld Stadium, Project Jennifer, Stanley Corridor Masterplan and Liverpool Waters.

Fig. 43 Green Open Space across North Liverpool

10.3 Character Areas and Public Realm Typologies

10.3.1 It will be recalled from earlier in this statement that the Liverpool Waters scheme has been broken down into ﬁve neighbourhood character areas, each (except King Edward Triangle) focused around the historic docks which deﬁne them. These neighbourhoods are: • • • • •

Princes Dock (Neighbourhood A) King Edward Triangle (Neighbourhood B) Central Docks (Neighbourhood C) Clarence Docks (Neighbourhood D); and Northern Docks (Neighbourhood E).

10.3.2 In order to define the open space and public realm framework across Liverpool Waters, a series of typologies of spaces has been identified that will link the neighbourhoods, sit within them, or define gateways to them. Five public realm typologies have been identified: • • •

• •

Parks and gardens - predominantly green, soft spaces; Squares - mainly hard spaces but balanced by treeplanting and soft areas in appropriate locations; Promenades - key sequential pedestrian routes traversing the neighbourhoods, each having a distinctive character and function; Water spaces - focussed around the retained docks; and Streets - in the main running east/west and deﬁned as vehicular, shared space or pedestrian streets.

Fig. 44 Public Realm Typologies - Precedent Images 47

10.4 Parks and Gardens

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

10.4.1 At the heart of Liverpool Waters will be two major public green spaces. One will run perpendicular to the River Mersey and the other parallel to it but enclosed within the Central Docks cluster of commercial buildings. These have been named Prospect Park and Central Park respectively. They will become the major focus for formal and informal outdoor recreation. In contrast, private courtyards and roof gardens will permeate the mixed-use heart of Liverpool Waters. The full characterisation report refers to the deﬁning characteristics, presentation of heritage features and the microclimate in relation to each of these spaces in the masterplan. In addition, scale comparison and precedents are outlined in indicating the intended character and function.

for people and nature with a strong emphasis on increasing biodiversity across Liverpool Waters. Defining characteristics will be: enclosure, privacy, human scale, ornamental planting and opportunities for growing. 10.4.5 Rooftop gardens will strive to exploit the roof spaces within Liverpool Waters to the maximum benefit of the residents and occupiers of the buildings. They will provide a variety of textures and uses. Defining characteristics will be their semiprivate space function, the views they offer, their potential role as communal gardens and green spaces for residents and opportunities for growing. They may be green or brown, intensive or extensive in nature.

10.4.2 Prospect Park will define the scheme in landscape terms. It will have a number of defining characteristics relating to its role as a city park, its aspect framing views across the Mersey, its active space function, its flexibility and its potential role in relation to public art. In addition it will benefit from interfaces with water - the river Mersey and Clarence Canal. Scale comparison and precedents are: Chavasse Park in Liverpool, Thames Barrier Park in London and Millennium Park in Chicago. 10.4.3 Central Park will be sheltered from the River Mersey. It will be divided into a series of outdoor ‘rooms’ along its length, each providing a different use or focus to create a sequence of experiences. Its defining characteristics will be its role as a community park, its enclosure, its subdivision into ‘garden rooms’, its more formal character and verticality of structures and planting to provide a human scale. Scale comparison and precedents are: the Pier Head square recently renovated in Liverpool, Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester and Park Citroen in Paris. 10.4.4 Courtyard gardens will, in the main, be private spaces accessible by either residents or office workers/visitors depending on the use of the buildings. They will make a valuable contribution to the public realm, providing a visual connection with verdant landscape typically beyond glass or railings. They will be habitats

Fig. 45 Parks & Gardens

10.5 Squares 10.5.1 Liverpool Waters will be enlivened with a variety of public open spaces or squares. For ease of description these have been termed city squares, monumental squares or recreational squares. 10.5.2 A city square is envisaged creating the setting for the most significant building within Liverpool Waters, Shanghai Tower, and it occupies the space on all four sides of the building plus the floating pontoon plaza that will bridge Princes Dock. The square has been termed Shanghai Plaza. Its defining characteristics will stem from movement as a sinuous, flowing form, scale and drama as a plinth for the tallest tower outside London, and its nature as a destination, recognisable worldwide with its accompanying tower. In addition, the proposed pontoon will be a unique vantage point offering stunning views and it will provide a stage for public events. Scale and character precedents are: Williamson Square in Liverpool, Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir in Paris and the Rambla del Mar in Barcelona. 10.5.3 A restored Princes Pier will provide the basis for a monumental square within Liverpool Waters. There will be a number of defining characteristics. Exposure is the first of these, Princes Pier occupying the most exposed location within the masterplan one that can be exploited by limiting built interventions. In terms of views, Princes Pier is planned to offer some of the best views up and down the River Mersey. Drama will also be a defining characteristic, perhaps with glass floors revealing structural components and the rise and fall of the river. Illumination will enhance the drama during hours of darkness. The narrative will embody the story of the pier and its construction. Scale and character precedents are: Williamson Square, Liverpool, Placa Reial in Barcelona and Grand Canal Square in Dublin. 10.5.4 Two further monumental squares are planned at Clarence Graving Docks and the Dock Master’s Square respectively. The Clarence Graving Docks are 150m long, 70m wide and 9m deep at their maximum, a truly monumental space providing a stunning basis for a square. Its defining characteristics will be activity, drama, scale, views and its historic fabric. In contrast

Dock Master’s Square is monumental not for its scale but for the composition of its setting, being located between the Dock Master’s office and the Victoria Clock Tower at the entrance to Salisbury Dock. It will provide some of the most dramatic views of the Stanley Dock tobacco warehouse and along the waterfront. 10.5.5 The recreational squares envisaged include ‘Culture Square’, to be located at the waterfront terminus of Prospect Park, and local squares. The actual design will be influenced by the architecture of the building and vocabulary of Prospect Park but defining characteristics will be world-class architecture and landscape in equal measure, prospect (with dramatic vantage points), its role as a terminus and dramatic topography. 10.5.6 Scale and character precedents are: the Museum of Liverpool Life, Oslo Opera House in Norway and Delft University Library in The Netherlands. As regards local squares, unlike the gardens punctuating the development, the majority will be in the public realm and their overarching character will be harder and less reliant on planting. Trees will be used to provide shelter and break up scale. Their functions will be defined by the ground floor uses surrounding them. Overall defining characteristics will be a blend of active and passive, a role as key orientation points through the neighbourhoods and an ability to be owned by the people around them. A local scale precedent is Campbell Square, Liverpool.

Fig. 46 Squares

10.6 Promenades 10.6.1 The Liverpool Waters masterplan provides the opportunity for promenades of differing scales, functions and character, some open to the River Mersey, others totally embedded within the development. Each will be deﬁned by the spatial sequences along their length, often intersecting the squares, parks, streets and water spaces. Six promenade opportunities have been identiﬁed.

the character of a city space rather than that of a dockside or waterfront space. This boulevard will be a busy and dynamic space, deﬁned by the buildings that ﬂank it. It will be a ‘low friction’ route in that people will pass through it relatively quickly compared to others where pedestrians will be inclined to linger.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

10.6.2 Ferry Terminal Promenade will be constructed almost entirely of timber and will undulate along the western edge of Princes Half Tide and Waterloo Docks, providing a key linking element for pedestrians from the south to access Liverpool Waters. It will run the length of the international cruise-liner terminal.

10.6.3 Mersey View Esplanade will link the Culture Square with the entrance to Bramley Moore Dock, also running south from the Ferry Terminal Promenade to the Pier Head. The character for this esplanade walk has been established elsewhere within the World Heritage Site at Albert Dock. 10.6.4 In contrast to the Esplanade, the Inland Promenade will be a ‘light touch’ route through the fabric of Liverpool Waters, floating along most of its length across the Bramley Moore and Nelson Docks. This will create a vital north/south pedestrian link across the Northern Docks. 10.6.5 Dock Boundary Wall Promenade will run the length of the retained docks boundary wall. Defining characteristics will be a 9m width between the wall and any adjacent buildings, heritage features, the spatial sequence involved walking north/ south and materiality which respects the heritage. 10.6.6 Canal Way Promenade, in contrast to the others, will have a character defined by the buildings flanking it to the east and west running through the heart of a commercial neighbourhood. 10.6.7 King Edward Triangle Link will be a terraced route linking the adjoining Pall Mall district with Liverpool Waters. It will traverse an 8m change in level across its length and will have

Fig. 47 Promenades

10.7 Water Spaces 10.7.1 Water bodies will deďŹ ne the fabric and pattern of Liverpool Waters. The importance of retaining the expression of dock forms has been a key driver in the development of the masterplan. 10.7.2 As noted elsewhere in this statement, ten water bodies exist within Liverpool Waters. These historic water spaces are a major feature of the site. Whilst they can be seen as key elements of public realm without animation, they contribute little to the creation of an active and vibrant neighbourhood. Each of the ten water bodies will be deďŹ ned by the narrative of its heritage assets. At the same time there is an opportunity to highlight particular and distinctive characteristics for each of the docks.

Fig. 48 Water Spaces

10.8 Streets

10.9 Connecting the Neighbourhoods and Character Areas

10.8.1 Streets within Liverpool Waters will run predominantly in an east/west direction. They will have a hierarchy comprising vehicular streets, shared streets and pedestrian-only streets. It will be vital to the future success of Liverpool Waters that the pedestrians and cyclists are seen as the key stakeholders within the public realm. The integration of public and private transport infrastructure must be considered a key challenge.

10.9.1 The masterplan demonstrates that Liverpool Waters will be a well-connected, legible and diverse environment. However, it will be enriched through the integration of art in the public realm. Art carefully integrated into the landscape setting will play a signiﬁcant role in enhancing the identity and distinctiveness of Liverpool Waters through permanent additions, re-use of historic artefacts and temporary installations. Meaningful visual connections will be made with the viewer through carefully-selected themes that enlarge, enliven and enlighten visitors, residents and those working in the area.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

10.8.2 Traditional streets will serve as the main vehicular thoroughfares within Liverpool Waters. Although termed ‘traditional’ streets, they will differ from the common perception. An integrated movement approach will be adopted with courtesy crossings and generous footways. The aim will be to create a feeling of pedestrian priority whilst maintaining optimum vehicular flow. Traditional streets will also be defined by use of a full height kerb. 10.8.3 Shared streets, or pedestrian priority streets, will be created where vehicle access is necessary but pedestrian movement will take precedence. There will be clear demarcation of the carriageway but flush kerbs will allow free pedestrian movement through the space. Defining characteristics will be flush kerbs and pedestrian priority. 10.8.4 Pedestrian streets will be environments where those on foot or bicycle take precedence. Places for people, they will be lively and vibrant thoroughfares linking the key squares and parks across Liverpool Waters. These streets will have provision for emergency and limited service vehicle movement only. On this basis there will be no carriageway to demarcate although a ‘clear zone’ for service vehicles will be provided. Defining characteristics will be the role of pedestrian streets as linear spaces and the opportunity they provide for activity and gathering.

Fig. 49 Streets

10.10 Materiality and Softworks Palette 10.10.1 As regards hardworks, Liverpool has developed a co-ordinated, restrained and rigorous palette of hard landscape materials through its streets and squares over the past decade driven by City Council guidance. This has bound together the distinctive character areas that now deďŹ ne Liverpool city centre. Across Liverpool Waters a similar palette will be employed - perhaps no more than six materials to be used across the entire masterplan area. However, deďŹ nition between character areas, typologies of spaces and vehicular/pedestrian streets will be reinforced by ďŹ ner changes in texture, unit size, colour mix and pattern. 10.10.2 In the latter context there are large areas of existing granite and sandstone setts, kerbs and copings across the masterplan area and it is intended to re-use and recycle this in preserving the historic patina of the dock areas, providing further contrast in materials. 10.10.3 Turning to softworks, given the history and location of the site, trees have not formed a major component of the landscape fabric. Opportunities will arise to increase the presence of trees within the public realm, predominantly within the inland promenades and the two major parks. In all cases this will be subject to archaeological considerations. In addition, given the constraints of wind and salt spray, potential overshadowing and tall buildings, a series of rules has been compiled to provide the basis of decisions on planting. For example, all plant species will be selected based on their tolerance to an exposed seafront environment, their low maintenance and longevity. All trees within hard paved areas will have a minimum 2.5m clear stem to create clear lines of sight

Fig. 50 Materiality & Softworks Precedent Images

11.0 Characterisation: Buildings 11.1 Introduction - Building Characterisation & Precedents Study

11.2 Scope & Purpose of BCPS

11.1.1 As in the case of landscape and public realm, just described, the design and appearance of buildings in Liverpool Waters are detailed matters which do not form part of the current outline planning application proposals. Such details will require the Council’s later approval. Nevertheless, a considerable amount of work has been undertaken on behalf of the applicant in order to indicate the principles which, it is planned, will underlie such details.

11.2.1 The purpose of the BCPS is to indicate how it is planned that the buildings (grouped and individual) will deﬁne the character of the neighbourhoods, urban blocks and streets within Liverpool Waters.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

11.1.2 The planned building character has been considered in some depth. A separate document entitled “Liverpool Waters Building Characterisation and Precedents Study” (“BCPS”) (November 2011) sets out the principles more fully and it has been included in the documents submitted to the Council in support of the outline planning application. Key elements of the BCPS are summarised in the following paragraphs.

1. 2. 3.

11.2.2 The BCPS involves establishment of a set of guidelines to explain how the proposals for Liverpool Waters provide a robust framework within which both architectural diversity and quality can thrive, whilst responding to the public realm and an integrated urban grain, with continuity and with respect for human scale. 11.2.3 The intention is that the BCPS will be used alongside the present Design and Access Statement as reference documents throughout the design of more detailed proposals at Liverpool Waters, assisting in their evaluation and providing a basis to develop high-quality designs on a long-term basis to ensure that the original joint Peel/Liverpool City Council vision is realised. The BCPS involves the establishment of: • •

Principles – to be taken into account when designing buildings within Liverpool Waters; and Rules – which should be followed in designing the buildings unless there are sound reasons not to do so.

11.2.4 In the BCPS, guidelines are indicated in relation to the following topics: • • • • • • •

Views/spatial sequences; Enclosure; Scale; Context; Blocks; Frontage; Building Typology

11.2.5 Five “golden rules” have been adopted in BCPS in relation to buildings. These are as follows:

Buildings should assist in protecting, conserving and presenting the Outstanding Universal Value of the WHS; Buildings should make a positive contribution to the public realm – its character, hierarchy and scale; Buildings should relate positively to the neighbouring structures to create a harmonious whole; Building developments should not limit the future ﬂexibility of neighbouring plots beyond the constraints already imposed; Neighbourhoods, blocks or buildings should embody deﬁned characteristics of “Liverpoolness”.

11.2.6 In the BCPS building character and precedents are considered first in relation to the overall Liverpool Waters masterplan and then in relation to the five neighbourhoods of Liverpool Waters defined earlier in the present report: • • • • •

The Northern Docks Clarence Docks Central Docks Princes Dock King Edward Triangle

11.2.7 Each neighbourhood is considered at three different scales, unveiling progressively more detail: neighbourhood scale; street & block scale; and key building scale.

11.3 Liverpool Waters Master Plan – Overall Site Level Scale 11.3.1 The starting point for building characterisation in the BCPS is the masterplan considerations discussed earlier in the present report, distilling the key drivers and design principles, in particular: • • •

•

The joint Peel/Liverpool City Council vision for Liverpool Waters; Heritage as the key driving element behind the design proposals; Public realm, with a well-connected and vibrant public realm being a fundamental structuring element of the Liverpool Waters masterplan; Land use – well-balanced neighbourhoods with the right mix of facilities and public spaces, all within easy walking distance; Movement – with the key principles of a connected network of streets and spaces; integration with the existing city; and connecting heritage features.

11.3.2 In distilling such key drivers and design principles, careful consideration is also given in the BCPS to tall building clusters and the effects of the development on the skyline and historic buildings. 11.3.3 In the context of design quality, building form and building character precedents are considered in the BCPS at citywide scale drawn from Liverpool, other parts of the UK and international examples (notably in the latter respect, Hafencity (Hamburg) and Hammarby Sjostad (Stockholm)).

Fig. 51 Axonometric Sketch of Liverpool Waters

11.4 Northern Docks Neighbourhood 11.4.1 Deﬁned by the geometry of the dock basins and walls, the Northern Docks form a medium-rise residential neighbourhood with strong visual connections in all directions to the waterfront setting.

11.4.3 The character of the neighbourhood and the buildings that define it are intended to be very intimate and fine grained, with key views and vistas marked by a number of key buildings that will be defined not by their height but through their shape, detailing or relationship with the dock edges. Whilst they are key buildings within Liverpool Waters, they are not “shout out loud” - as others may be. Rather, these buildings will act as key visual markers within the overall waterfront master plan.

Fig. 52 Northern Docks Location within Site

11.4.4 Diversity across the neighbourhood will be created through a subtle mix of building typologies. In the main, these will take their influences from the dock and warehouse influences of Liverpool and they will vary in elevation and roofscape, unified in appearance through extensive use of solid façade materials such as brick and sandstone. 11.4.5 Of the five proposed neighbourhoods, the Northern Docks will undoubtedly be the most “in and of” Liverpool, carrying on the architectural traditions that have made the city’s waterfront internationally revered whilst moving the aesthetics forward.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

11.4.2 In Liverpool Waters, the intention is that the plan arrangement, scale and character of buildings within the Northern Docks will be inﬂuenced signiﬁcantly both by the retained heritage assets (in particular, the layout of the dock basins and the Hydraulic Engine House) and by precedents elsewhere along the Liverpool waterfront, in particular the Albert Dock complex.

Fig. 53 Axonometric Sketch of Northern Docks

11.5 Clarence Docks Neighbourhood 11.5.1 Similarly to the Northern Docks, the character of Clarence Docks is inﬂuenced strongly by the wet and dry basins of Salisbury, Collingwood and Clarence docks. Clarence Graving Dock forms a key public space focal point. Whilst still a residential neighbourhood, there are signiﬁcantly more visitors and night-time activities. The area steps up in scale towards Central Docks.

11.5.6 The three key buildings within n Clarence Docks will be diminutive in scale but vital in the framing of views towards the Stanley Tobacco warehouse looking ng inland, and conversely for the framing of the Clarence Graving ng Docks and Victoria Clock Tower - in conjunction with thosee key buildings deﬁning the southern limit of the northern docks. cks.

11.5.2 As the linking neighbourhood between the tight grain, mannered Northern Docks and the secondary tall buildings cluster and major public spaces of Central Docks, Clarence Docks and the blocks and buildings that will populate it will express a variety of architectural scales and characters. 11.5.3 The retention of three of the most signiﬁcant heritage assets within the entire World Heritage Site (Clarence Graving Docks and the Victoria Clock Tower) will further drive variety in scale and form of the proposed buildings, creating a diverse and visually stimulating neighbourhood.

Fig. 54 Clarence Docks Location within Site

11.5.4 The character of buildings across the Clarence Dock neighbourhood will vary from further Warehouse Backcloth buildings surrounding the graving docks, through a tight mixture of Merchant Villa and Townhouse blocks between the boundary wall and the waterfront. The footprints and scale of buildings will increase towards the southern limit, creating a legible transition between this neighbourhood and the drama of Central Docks. 11.5.5 As with the Northern Docks, many of the blocks and buildings draw inspiration for their plan and rhythm from the historic fabric of the City, but with considerable variety in roof form and ﬁnish, with a number of green roofs and roof terraces stepping up towards the Central Docks.

Fig. 55 Axonometric Sketch of Clarence Docks

11.6 Central Docks Neighbourhood 11.6.1 This secondary tall building cluster provides a new dynamic urban focus around signiﬁcant parkland open space and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal extension. It will be very much the business, entertainment and leisure fulcrum of Liverpool Waters. There are changes to the south around West Waterloo Dock, with key landmarks such as the cruise-liner and cultural buildings. 11.6.2 In line with the World Heritage Site SPD, the Central Docks neighbourhood is the location of the secondary tall buildings cluster. Whilst tall buildings will play a major role in deﬁning the character of the neighbourhood, so too will the two major new public spaces - Central Park and Prospect Park. As the commercial heart of Liverpool Waters, the Central Docks looks to the rest of the world for its inspiration, as the neighbourhood will (in the main) be unlike any other part of Liverpool.

open spaces. 11.6.6 However, given the expansive nature of the Central Docks neighbourhood, there will be considerable variety in building height, footprint, scale and typology across its length. In the north, adjacent to Clarence Dock, the scale and grain of the streets and buildings draws considerable reference from the Ropewalks district of the City, whilst to the south, the building character and form will be more driven by function and their relationship with the River Mersey.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

Fig. 56 Central Docks Location within Site

11.6.3 The tall buildings that will deﬁne the edges of Central Park will vary from thin, slender blocks that meet the ground to podium buildings with taller elements set back, thus having a very different relationship with the public realm and neighbouring buildings. The variety in height and form of the taller buildings will create a continued diversity to the Liverpool waterfront skyline. 11.6.4 Those buildings that will deﬁne Prospect Park will be smaller in scale, on the one hand marking the transition down to the scale of Waterloo Docks, on the other enabling long views from the existing fabric of North Liverpool to the key Cultural building that will sit on the waterfront. Drawing its plan form from the historic grid of Liverpool, but its architectural language from great waterfront interventions such as Oslo’s Opera House (or closer to home the recently completed Museum of Liverpool), the building will be the cultural heart of Liverpool Waters. 11.6.5 In parallel with Rotterdam, another of the world’s great port cities, Central Docks will strive for the successful integration of tall and bold buildings along the waterfront in close proximity to retained historic buildings and structures, and substantial

Fig. 57 Axonometric Sketch of Central Docks

11.7 Princes Dock Neighbourhood 11.7.1 The character of Princes Dock neighbourhood is already established by an existing hotel, ofﬁce and parking land uses focused around the existing dock basin. The proposals will further activate this location with additional residential and hotel land uses, cafés and restaurants and new pontoon spaces.

to ensure an orderly transition towards wards the Pier Head and the splendour of the Three Graces.

11.7.2 The buildings within Princes Dock will complete the picture that has developed progressively over the last ten or so years, following the rigid plot structure, building on the best of what has gone before but avoiding the mistakes of the past. 11.7.3 As with the Northern and Clarence Dock neighbourhoods, the plan form of the blocks and buildings will be governed by the dock basin and retained boundary wall, but also by ensuring that views and glimpses of the Three Graces are retained and enhanced. Princes Dock will continue to be very much ‘in and of’ Liverpool in its plan, grid, use of materials and the important relationships between the proposed buildings and their waterside location.

Fig. 58 Princes Dock Location within Site

11.7.4 Again in line with the WHS SPD, tall buildings are proposed, set back close to the retained boundary dock wall, to be read as part of the primary cluster spread across the adjoining King Edward Triangle, and those existing buildings on Old Hall Street that have so emblematically signalled the regeneration of Liverpool over the past decade. 11.7.5 The Shanghai Tower and its associated linking plaza across the dock basin, will be the most striking additions to Princes Dock, drawing their inspiration from the neighbouring Beetham Tower and other dynamic tall buildings from across the globe – continuing the City’s tradition of internationalism and innovation in its architecture. 11.7.6 To ensure balance and a focus across the neighbourhood, other blocks and buildings within Princes Dock will be lower and of more simple backcloth typologies, drawing their inspiration from successful examples elsewhere across the City, with care and attention paid to their materiality and roofscape, in order

Fig. 59 Axonometric Sketch of Princes Dock

11.8 King Edward Triangle Neighbourhood 11.8.1 The primary tall buildings cluster – an extension of the existing city centre core – provides a transition between the city centre and Liverpool Waters, dominated by the key landmark: Shanghai Tower.

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

11.8.2 The site lies outside the Outside of the WHS boundary, within the Buffer Zone. The proposed development takes reference from the existing commercial core of the city, in particular the Beetham Towers and St. Pauls development, both in terms of the siting and location of the buildings, which ensure that the proposals - and particularly the taller buildings proposed visually relate to the existing cluster, as well as framing views down from the City to the waterfront. 11.8.3 Moreover, the character of the proposed buildings are sympathetic to many of the townscape characteristics of the adjoining streets and spaces, particularly around Old Hall Street and Pall Mall. In terms of the townscape character this includes: -

Fig. 60 King Edwards Triangle Location within Site

• the spatial sequences; • enclosure ratios; and • proportions and rhythms of the buildings. 11.8.4 The layout and shape of the buildings reﬂects the requirement to open up three dynamic routes between the City and the dock, each with varying characteristics: • the steps; • the arcade; and • the Plaza (detailed within the Landscape & Public Realm Characterisation Study). 11.8.5 Changes in level are a key consideration, and the buildings step with the changes in level to animate the public realm.

Fig. 61 Axonometric Sketch of King Edwards Triangle

12.0 Proposed Controls & Conclusions 12.1 Overall Controls 12.1.1 When outline planning permission is to be granted it is always subject to the conditions that: (a) approval of the details of the “reserved matters” (in the present case, layout, scale, appearance, access and landscaping) shall be obtained prior to the commencement of development; (b) that applications for approval of the reserved matters shall be made within a speciﬁed period; and (c) that the development must be begun within 2 years of the approval of the last reserved matters. 12.1.2 Similar conditions will be imposed on any planning permission granted for the Liverpool Waters development.

12.2 Linking the Principles in the Design & Access Statement to Detailed Proposals 12.2.1 As noted at the outset, this Design and Access Statement is designed to fulfil a particular role in linking the general development principles of the proposals to final detailed designs at later stages of the development process. Three conditions on any planning permission are anticipated to ensure this, as summarised below. 12.2.2 It is expected that the first such condition will require a detailed master plan to be submitted for each geographic phase of the scheme in a manner which applies the principles in this Design and Access Statement on the following lines: Unless otherwise agreed in writing with the local planning authority, no development, except that associated with exempt infrastructure works, shall take place in any of the geographical phases identified in an approved phasing plan until there has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority a detailed master plan and a design code for the geographical phase in question. The detailed master plan and design code shall be so approved before the submission of applications for the approval of the reserved matters within that geographical phase (excluding applications relating to exempt

infrastructure works). The detailed master plans and design codes for the various geographical phases shall be in accordance with the principles and parameters described and illustrated in the Liverpool Waters Design and Access Statement unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority 12.2.3 It is planned that such a detailed masterplan will be prepared for each of the neighbourhood character areas of Liverpool Waters referred to earlier in this statement. It is envisaged that they will indicate detailed intentions as regards: • • • • • • •

Retention of historic features; Block, plot and building arrangement; Density and mix; Public realm, routes and spaces, Massing; Structural planning; and Ground levels.

12.2.4 It is envisaged that the design codes required by such a condition would set out rules and instructions to ensure design quality with detailed codes for relevant matters under the following headings: • • • • • •

Built form and townscape; Sustainability; Open space and landscape; Architecture - aesthetic principles; Streets and enclosures; and Car and cycle parking;

include detailed codes for all of the matters listed in the approved Liverpool Waters Design and Access Statement as well as details of code testing undertaken prior to ﬁnalization, and proposals for monitoring and review. 12.2.6 It is expected that the third condition will require applications for the approval of the reserved matters details to accord with this Design and Access Statement, the detailed masterplan for the relevant phase and the design code relating to that detailed masterplan on the following lines, explaining and justifying variations if relevant.: Applications for the approval of the reserved matters shall be in accordance with the principles and parameters described and illustrated in the Liverpool Waters Design and Access Statement and with the approved detailed master plan and design code for the geographical phase as shown in the approved phasing plan to which the reserved matters application relates, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority. A statement shall be submitted with each reserved matters application, which demonstrates that the application proposals are in reasonable compliance with the Liverpool Waters Design and Access Statement and with the relevant detailed master plan and design code, or (where relevant) explaining why they do not.

12.2.5 It is expected that the second condition will specify the design code arrangements on the following lines: The detailed master plan for each geographical phase, as shown in the approved phasing plan shall contain the information required as set out in the approved Liverpool Waters Design and Access Statement and shall be the regulating plan for the associated design code. The design code for each geographical phase shall

12.3 Conclusion

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

12.3.1 This Design and Access Statement has explained and justiﬁed at some length the design and access principles that will be used to develop future details of the Liverpool Waters scheme. It provides a sound basis for ensuring that Liverpool Waters will have the world class design quality which will attract international and UK investment to make heritage-led regeneration of this internationally important site a reality. In line with Peel and the Council’s joint vision, Liverpool Waters will indeed symbolize the city’s 21st century renaissance alongside its 19th and 20th century heritage on the world stage.

Fig. 62 Axonometric Visualisation of Liverpool Waters

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

September 2011

APPENDICES

Appendix: Application Plans Parameter Plans The following Plans are included overleaf: • • • • • • • • • •

Parameter Plan 001 Parameter Plan 002 Parameter Plan 003 Parameter Plan 004 Parameter Plan 005 Parameter Plan 006 Parameter Plan 007 Parameter Plan 008 Parameter Plan 009 Parameter Plan 010

Site Location Plan Neighbourhood Plan Phasing Plan Development Parcels Development Plots Building Height Plan Access & Movement Plan Car Parking Plan Buildings to be Demolished Areas of High Potential for Underground Archaeology’

• • • • •

Indicative Masterplan Indicative Masterplan - Northern Docks Extract Indicative Masterplan - Clarence Docks Extract Indicative Masterplan - Central Docks Extract Indicative Masterplan - Princes Docks and King Edward Triangle Extract

BOUNDARY STREET

WELLINGTON DOCK

FULT ON STRE ET

REG ENT R OA D

BRAMLEY MOORE DOCK

BLACKSTONE STREET

FULTO N ST

BEACON STREET

NELSON DOCK DENBIGH STREET

BENTINCK STREET

BIRCH STREET

GREAT HOWARD STREET

REGENT ROAD

LIGHTBODY STREET

WALTER STREET

Leeds and Liverpool Canal Liverpool Locks

Lock

SALISBURY DOCK

STANLEY DOCK

COLLINGWOOD DOCK

G DOCKS

CLARENCE GRAVIN

TRAFALGAR DOCK

SHERWOOD STREET

SALTNEY STREET

CLARENCE GRAVING

DOCKS MADDRELL STREET

LOVE LANE

DUBLIN STREET

GLEGG STREET

REGENT ROAD

STONE STREET

DICKSON STREET

UPPER WILLIAM STREET COTTON STREET

STREET

LOVE LANE

GREAT HOWARD STREET

CARLTON

WHITLEY STREET

REGENT STREET

PORTER

WATERLOO

STREET

SPRAINGE

R STRE

VULCAN

STREET

ROAD

LOVE LANE

RIVER MERSEY

VANDRIES

STREET

HOWARD STREET

OIL STRE

CHADWICK STREET

KINGSWAY (Tunnel)

Ventilating Station KINGSWAY (Tunnel)

EAST STREET HOWARD GREAT

DOCK

PALL MA

RLOO

WATERLOO ROAD

WATE

LOO

R WATE WEST

LANYOR D

K ROA

GLASGOW STREET

GALTON STREET

PAISLEY STREET

GREENOCK STREET

PRINCES HALF TIDE DOCK

T EE

STR

R BE

LEEDS

STREET

E RE

JESS

KING EDWARD

STREET

L AL

LIAM

WIL W OP AY

OL L HA T EE

PRINCES DOCK

S PA

INCE

PR DE

TIT

LL HA

D OL

UA WQ

T EE

TR ES

L DA

EET

RD FO

STR

L APE

E RE

LE DA

E RG

O GE Bank

'S K

L ST CA

C DO

NW FE

EE TR

S TE

GA T EE TR RS

.N ST

TH GO RE

ND RA

TR RS

S ICK SW UN BR

EE TR

LORD STREET

ST. NICH

KEY:

S OLA

S ICK SW

PLAC

Liverpool Waters Outline Application Redline Boundary

Parameter Plan 001 - Liverpool Waters Site Plan

ET RE ST ET RE ST

Title:

October 2011 1:7500 @A3

ND RA ST

Date: Scale:

RA ST

ND ISLA NN

Other land in the ownership of the Applicant

Chapman Taylor Chapman Taylor LLP Architects Masterplanners Designers

100m

500m

KEY: Liverpool Waters Outline Application Redline Boundary PRINCES DOCK

(neighbourhood A)

KING EDWARD TRIANGLE CENTRAL DOCKS

(neighbourhood B)

(neighbourhood C)

CLARENCE DOCKS

(neighbourhood D)

NORTHERN DOCKS

(neighbourhood E)

Date: Scale:

October 2011 1:7500 @A3

Title:

Parameter Plan 002 - Liverpool Waters Neighbourhood Plan

Chapman Taylor Chapman Taylor LLP Architects Masterplanners Designers

100m

500m

NORTHERN DOCKS (neighbourhood E)

Phase FIVE 5 years (2036-2041)

CLARENCE DOCKS (neighbourhood D)

Phase FOUR 5 years (2031-2036)

CENTRAL DOCKS (neighbourhood C)

Phase THREE 15 years (2021-2036)

KING EDWARD TRIANGLE (neighbourhood B)

Phase TWO 13 years (2016-2029)

PRINCES DOCK (neighbourhood A)

Phase ONE 5 years (2012-2016)

KEY: Liverpool Waters Outline Application Redline Boundary PRINCES DOCK

(neighbourhood A)

KING EDWARD TRIANGLE CENTRAL DOCKS

(neighbourhood B)

(neighbourhood C)

CLARENCE DOCKS

(neighbourhood D)

NORTHERN DOCKS

(neighbourhood E)

Date: Scale:

October 2011 1:7500 @A3

Title:

Parameter Plan 003 - Liverpool Waters Phasing Plan

Chapman Taylor Chapman Taylor LLP Architects Masterplanners Designers

100m

500m

Development Parcel

KEY: Liverpool Waters Outline Application Redline Boundary Development Parcel Boundary PRINCES DOCK

(neighbourhood A)

KING EDWARD TRIANGLE CENTRAL DOCKS

(neighbourhood B)

(neighbourhood C)

CLARENCE DOCKS

(neighbourhood D)

NORTHERN DOCKS

(neighbourhood E)

Date: Scale:

October 2011 1:7500 @A3

Title:

Parameter Plan 004 - Liverpool Waters Development Parcels

Chapman Taylor Chapman Taylor LLP Architects Masterplanners Designers

100m

500m

BOUNDARY STREET

WELLINGTON DOCK

FULT ON STRE ET

E-17

E-14 E-13

BLACKSTONE STREET

BEACON STREET

FULTO N ST

E-18

REG ENT R OA D

E-16

E-15

BRAMLEY MOORE DOCK

E-12

E-11

E-09

E-10

NELSON DOCK E-19

DENBIGH STREET

E-20 E-08

BENTINCK STREET

E-02b

BIRCH STREET

E-02

E-01

E-05

E-04

REGENT ROAD

E-03

E-06

GREAT HOWARD STREET

E-07

LIGHTBODY STREET

WALTER STREET

Leeds and Liverpool Canal Liverpool Locks

Lock

STANLEY DOCK

COLLINGWOOD DOCK

SALISBURY DOCK

D-23

D-22 D-19

D-18

G DOCKS

CLARENCE GRAVIN

D-21

TRAFALGAR DOCK

SHERWOOD STREET

D-17

SALTNEY STREET

CLARENCE GRAVING

DOCKS MADDRELL STREET

LOVE LANE

D-16

D-15

D-13

DUBLIN STREET

D-20

D-14

GLEGG STREET

D-08

D-07

D-04

D-02

D-01

D-11

D-10

D-09

D-06

D-05

REGENT ROAD

D-12

STONE STREET

DICKSON STREET

D-03

UPPER WILLIAM STREET COTTON STREET

C-22 CARLTON

STREET

C-21

C-26

LOVE LANE

GREAT HOWARD STREET

C-23 C-24 C-25

WHITLEY STREET

C-20

C-21

REGENT STREET

C-18 C-10

PORTER

C-19

C-15

R STRE

STREET

ROAD

C-16

C-09

STREET

SPRAINGE

VULCAN

LOVE LANE

C-14

WATERLOO

C-17

RIVER MERSEY

VANDRIES

C-13

C-12

STREET

HOWARD STREET

C-11 C-08 OIL STRE

CHADWICK STREET

KINGSWAY (Tunnel)

C-06 C-04

Ventilating Station KINGSWAY (Tunnel)

C-03

EAST STREET GREAT

HOWARD

PALL MA

DOCK

LOO

RLOO

WATERLOO ROAD

WATE

R WATE WEST

C-02

LANYOR D

K ROA

GLASGOW STREET

GALTON STREET

C-01

PAISLEY STREET

GREENOCK STREET

PRINCES HALF TIDE DOCK

T EE

STR

R BE

LEEDS

STREET

B-06 B-05

B-04 B-03

KING EDWARD

E RE

LIAM

WIL JESS

A-07

STREET

B-02

A-06

L AL

A-08

W OP AY

A-05 D

B-01

L HA

A-04

T EE

PRINCES DOCK

A-03

S PA

INCE

PR DE

TIT

LL HA

D OL

UA WQ

A-02

T EE

TR ES

L DA

EET

RD FO

STR

L APE

E RE

LE DA

A-01 E RG

O GE Bank

'S K

L ST CA

C DO

NW FE

EE TR

S TE

GA T EE TR RS

.N ST

TH GO

KEY:

ND RA

TR RS

S ICK SW UN BR

EE TR

LORD STREET

ST. NICH S OLA

Liverpool Waters Outline Application Redline Boundary

S ICK SW

PLAC

PRINCES DOCK

(neighbourhood A) ND

ET RE ST ET RE ST

ND RA ST

CENTRAL DOCKS

ND ISLA NN

(neighbourhood B)

RA ST

KING EDWARD TRIANGLE

(neighbourhood C)

CLARENCE DOCKS

(neighbourhood D)

NORTHERN DOCKS

(neighbourhood E)

Development plots Date: Scale:

October 2011 1:7500 @A3

Title:

Parameter Plan 005 - Liverpool Waters Development Plots

Chapman Taylor Chapman Taylor LLP Architects Masterplanners Designers

100m

500m

24.5

27.6

30.7

26.7

8.5

28.8

38.5 33.8

30.7

33.8

27.6 31.7

33.8

27.6

33.8

27.6

28.9 6.6

7.8 14.4

38.5

24.5

27.6

19.95

19.0

36.9

33.8

19.95

9.0 19.95

29.7

21.4 8.5

24.5 16.3 24.5

16.3

30.7

21.4

30.7 33.8

24.5 21.4 24.5 24.5

30.7 27.6

21.4

27.6

21.4

21.4 27.6

27.6

65.0 27.3 109.5

43.1

33.8 30.7

119.35

27.6

41.85

41.0

30.9

148.5

141.95

41.85

41.0

20.7 42.6

117.7

134.85 41.0

29.2

44.8 41.0

30.7

12.0

44.5 38.2

170.2

174.05

45.5 88m

68m

90m

30.9 44.5 30.0 44.5

63m

49.15

195.65 34.0

147.8 126.8

134m 73m

34.0

34.0 76m 27.6 27.6

86m 64m 59.5 38.7 42.7 38.7

KEY: Liverpool Waters Outline Application Redline Boundary PRINCES DOCK

90m

(neighbourhood A)

KING EDWARD TRIANGLE CENTRAL DOCKS

(neighbourhood B)

(neighbourhood C)

CLARENCE DOCKS

(neighbourhood D)

NORTHERN DOCKS

(neighbourhood E)

Low -rise Building - any building below 21m Medium-rise Building - any building over 21m and under 45m High-rise Building - any building over 45m

Date: Scale:

October 2011 1:7500 @A3

Title:

Parameter Plan 006 - Liverpool Waters Building Heights

Chapman Taylor Chapman Taylor LLP Architects Masterplanners Designers

100m

500m

BRAMLEY MOORE BRIDGE BRAMLEY NORTH GATE

INLAND PROMENADE MERSEY VIEW ESPLANADE

BRAMLEY MOORE GATE

Isolation Structure DOCK BOUNDARY WALL PROMENADE

SALISBURY DOCK SWING BRIDGE

NELSON NORTH GATE NELSON GATE COLLINGWOOD NORTH GATE

Crossing Point

VICTORIA CLOCK TOWER

Crossing Point

Crossing Point DOCK MASTERS SQUARE COLLINGWOOD GATE GRAVING NORTH GATE CLARENCE GRAVING DOCK

TRAFALGAR BRIDGE

GRAVING SOUTH GATE

Crossing Point

DUBLIN GATE

CLARENCE GATE Crossing Point CLARENCE SOUTH GATE

TRAFALGAR GATE

MERSEY VIEW ESPLANADE

Crossing Point

CENTRAL PARK

CANAL WAY PROMENADE

TRAFALGAR SOUTH GATE PROSPECT PARK

CANAL WAY PROMENADE

VICTORIA GATE

CULTURE SQUARE

ALEXANDER TOWER CROSSING PRINCES GATE

ALEXANDER TOWER CROSSING

SHANGHAI PLAZA

BATH GATE

THE PONTOON

PRINCES JETTY

KEY: MALMAISON GATE

Liverpool Waters Outline Application Redline Boundary PRINCES DOCK

(neighbourhood A)

KING EDWARD TRIANGLE CENTRAL DOCKS

(neighbourhood B)

MERSEY VIEW ESPLANADE

St. NICHOLAS GATE

(neighbourhood C)

CLARENCE DOCKS

(neighbourhood D)

NORTHERN DOCKS

(neighbourhood E)

MAIN GREEN SPACES MAIN PUBLIC SPACES WALKWAYS CROSSING POINT OPENINGS IN BOUNDARY WALL: Vehicular Access/Egress Pedestrian Access/Egress

Date: Scale:

October 2011 1:7500 @A3

Title:

Parameter Plan 007 - Liverpool Waters Access and Movement Plan

Chapman Taylor Chapman Taylor LLP Architects Masterplanners Designers

100m

500m

E: 8.0 1 level

E: 9.0 8 levels

E: 6.0

E: 7.0

2 levels

E: 5.0 2 levels

E: 10.0 9 levels

E: 3.0 2 levels

E: 4.0 2 levels

E: 2.0

E: 1.0

2 levels

D: 5.0 6 levels

D: 2.0

D: 4.0 D: 1.0

2 levels

4 levels

C: 11.0 9 levels

C: 10.0 4 levels

C: 8.0 3 levels

C: 7.0 2 levels

C: 5.0 3 levels

C: 4.0 2 levels

C: 3.0 3 levels

C: 2.0 2 levels

C: 12.0 1 levels

C: 13.0 1 levels

B: 1.0 1 level

B: 2.0 2 levels

B: 3.0 6 levels

A: 3.0 2 levels

A: 2.0 2 levels

A: 4.0 2 levels

A: 1.0 3 levels

KEY: Liverpool Waters Outline Application Redline Boundary PRINCES DOCK

(neighbourhood A)

KING EDWARD TRIANGLE CENTRAL DOCKS

(neighbourhood B)

(neighbourhood C)

CLARENCE DOCKS

(neighbourhood D)

NORTHERN DOCKS

(neighbourhood E)

Underground Car Parking Podium Car Parking Multi Storey Car Parking Date: Scale:

October 2011 1:7500 @A3

Title:

Parameter Plan 008 - Liverpool Waters Parking Plan

Chapman Taylor Chapman Taylor LLP Architects Masterplanners Designers

100m

500m

Brick shed

Transit Shed Brick shed

Substation

19m wide vehicular opening in Dock Boundary Wall at the end of Dublin Street.

STL Transport warehouse

Gatehouse (hut)

King Edward Estate (Industrial)

6m wide pedestrian opening in Dock Boundary Wall Widening of the existing opening

Bank

KEY: Liverpool Waters Outline Application Redline Boundary PRINCES DOCK

(neighbourhood A)

KING EDWARD TRIANGLE CENTRAL DOCKS

(neighbourhood B)

(neighbourhood C)

CLARENCE DOCKS

(neighbourhood D)

NORTHERN DOCKS

(neighbourhood E)

BUILDINGS TO BE DEMOLISHED Date: Scale:

October 2011 1:7500 @A3

Title:

Parameter Plan 009 - Liverpool Waters - Buildings to be demolished

Chapman Taylor Chapman Taylor LLP Architects Masterplanners Designers

100m

500m

KEY: Liverpool Waters Outline Application Redline Boundary Liverpool Waters Areas of High Potential for Underground Archaeology PRINCES DOCK Date: Scale:

October 2011 1:7500 @A3

Title:

Parameter Plan 010

Chapman Taylor Chapman Taylor LLP Architects Masterplanners Designers

100m

500m

Date: Scale:

October 2011 1:7500 @A3

Title:

Liverpool Waters Indicative Masterplan

Chapman Taylor Chapman Taylor LLP Architects Masterplanners Designers

100m

500m

Date: Scale:

October 2011 1:2000 @A3

Title:

Liverpool Waters Indicative Masterplan - Northern Docks Extract

Chapman Taylor Chapman Taylor LLP Architects Masterplanners Designers

Date: Scale:

October 2011 1:2000 @A3

Title:

Liverpool Waters Indicative Masterplan - Clarence Docks Extract

Chapman Taylor Chapman Taylor LLP Architects Masterplanners Designers

10m

50m

Date: Scale:

October 2011 1:2500 @A3

Title:

Liverpool Waters Indicative Masterplan - Central Docks Extract

Chapman Taylor Chapman Taylor LLP Architects Masterplanners Designers

10m

50m

Date: Scale:

October 2011 1:2000 @A3

Title: Liverpool Waters Indicative Masterplan - Princes Dock and King Edward Triangle Extract Chapman Taylor Chapman Taylor LLP Architects Masterplanners Designers

10m

50m

200m 100m 50m 0m

Li v er pool Wat er s-Ax onomet r i cofI ndi c at i v eMas t er pl anLay out

Liverpool Waters

Design & Access Statement

October 2011