Lucky 13 for Pier Head

THE Pier Head public realm and Liverpool Canal Link has scooped yet another prestigious accolade, bringing its total number of awards to 13.   The scheme, delivered by Liverpool City Council in partnership with British Waterways, has just been named a winner in the National Natural Stone Federation Awards - and last week received a prestigious national design award from the Landscape Institute.

Previous national accolades have included a RIBA, (Royal Institute of British Architects) prize, a national RIBA Cabe Space award, as well as Project of the Year in the North West Construction Awards and a British Construction Industry gong.

The area is proving extremely popular with residents and visitors to the city and a number of major events have already been held there. When the new Museum of Liverpool and the Mann Island development open, it is expected the area will attract even more visitors.

Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, said:- “The works at the Pier Head were carried out to an extremely high standard and this impressive list of awards is testament to the hard work of the team involved in completing these works. We are looking forward to even more people enjoying this great public area in the coming years.”

The Pier Head Public Realm works was a £9m scheme which complemented the £18.5m Canal Link extension, delivered by British Waterways. The contractor was Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd. The work was carefully designed to coordinate with the new Museum of Liverpool and the Mann Island development with high quality paving and seating areas which allow visitors to enjoy this location at the heart of the World Heritage Site. The project was completed in Summer 2009.

Nick Kavanagh, the city council’s Director of Regeneration, said:- “2 more awards for this excellent scheme reflects the commitment and ability of the Highways team responsible for these works. They have been involved in many schemes around our city centre, many of which have also won awards, and we would like to thank them for their dedication.”

World Heritage Site plans scoop awards

A DOCUMENT seeing out guidance on planning for conservation and regeneration in Liverpool’s World Heritage Site has landed 2 awards.

The Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City World Heritage Site Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) won the Royal Town Planning Institute North West Award for Best Planning Document

It has also won the Royal Town Planning Institute North West and Institute of Historic Building Conservation North West Award for Conservation.

The SPD provides detailed planning guidance for the World Heritage Site and its buffer zone. It addresses the relevant local planning issues, meets national statutory requirements and gives advice on good management of cultural heritage assets.

It is believed to be the most detailed planning document of its kind for any World Heritage Site in the UK.

Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said:- “I ‘m delighted that the excellent work of our Planning Service has been recognised by its own professional institute and by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation.

What makes this planning document so special is that it is comprehensive, was produced collaboratively with our partner organisations and took on board many of the comments received during the public consultation.

Equally important is that the document provides clear guidance on how Liverpool’s special character can be conserved and enhanced, while at the same time regenerating the economy and the environment of the city.”

The city council, consultants Atkins Heritage, Government Office North West, Liverpool Vision and CABE, were involved in the production of the document as well as English Heritage and NWDA who met most of its costs.