Master plan to grow Liverpool's Commercial District approved

A master plan to guide the development of Liverpool's historic commercial district into a world class business location has been approved, on Friday, 25 October 2019. Liverpool City Council's Cabinet has formally endorsed a Spatial Regeneration Framework (SRF) which could lead to the delivery of up to 2m sq ft of new commercial space in the City Centre over the next 15 years.

The Commercial Business District SRF has identified 12 key sites as areas for potential expansion in a bid to address the district's falling supply of Grade A office space and enable Liverpool to compete with other UK cities in attracting major companies. The CBD SRF, which went out to public consultation in the summer, also provides an overarching vision, design guidelines and development principles to direct future growth and enhance connectivity with neighbouring areas such as Peel's ₤5bn Liverpool Waters scheme and the emerging ten Streets in North Liverpool.

The document was developed by Arup, as project lead and Town Planning Consultants, Architects and master planners Shedkm, Heritage Consultant Rob Burns, and property consultant Worthington Owen.

Bill Addy, Chief Executive of Liverpool BID Company, which represents more than 800 businesses in the CBD, added:- "Liverpool BID Company's investment in the SRF demonstrates our ongoing commitment in safeguarding the future growth of CBD for the benefit of our levy paying businesses and the wider City economy. It is fantastic to see further progress being made.  As our City Region's commercial epicentre, the SRF is essential if we are to compete with other business districts not just in this country but around the world. Engagement during the public consultation period was very encouraging, and it was made clear by the business community that a new master plan for the area is needed."

The City Council, together with the Liverpool BID Company, and other public and private sector partners, jointly commissioned the SRF with a brief to enhance the vibrancy and attractiveness of the CBD. The overriding objective of the wider CDB to SRF is to facilitate business growth, inward investment and job creation, while successfully delivering place making with environmental enhancements, improved connections and complimentary retail and leisure uses, which make the CBD a desirable place to be, day and night. This is essential to grow the City's office market and facilitate a step change in Liverpool's office economy.

Steve Stuart, Chair of the Professional and Business Services Board for Liverpool City Region LEP, said:- "This is fantastic news for the City. The Spatial Regeneration Framework offers a clear vision to future proof the Commercial Business District and drive investor confidence in this mixed use heritage area. To retain and attract talent and businesses, the Professional and Business Services (PBS) Board have been working with Liverpool City Council, Liverpool BID Company and private sector stakeholder to ensure the future of the Commercial Business District and I look forward to continuing this collaboration to help realise the ambitions within the document."

Liverpool City Council is already involved in a ₤200m scheme in Pall Mall, with Kier Property and CTP, that will provide 400,000 sq ft of new Grade A office space, complimentary retail and leisure uses, and a new high quality public realm. It will potentially create more than 2,000 new and safeguarded jobs in the CBD.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said:- "To be a world class business location a City needs a commercial district that can offer opportunity, flexibility, connectivity and quality; in its buildings and its streets. The supply of Grade A office space is critical to attracting major investors and jobs and this Spatial Regeneration Framework will underpin our long term vision to deliver that. This SRF shows that Liverpool's potential is huge. All the ingredients are there to transform our ambitions into reality. We must now maximise every opportunity to ensure our commercial district fulfils its role as a major engine in the Liverpool Powerhouse and UK economy."

It is also investing ₤150m in new road infrastructure in and around the district and the City Council recently obtained planning consent to create a new cruise terminal at nearby Princes Dock.

Ormskirk mum who survived cancer twice opens new Cancer Research UK Shop

A Mum of 2, from Ormskirk; who had her whole eyeball removed, and nearly lost her leg in 2 separate instances of cancer, on Thursday, 24 October 2019, opened Cancer Research UK's new store in the Town in celebration of her survival. Kimberly Harrison, 38, cut the ribbon and officially opened the doors of the store on Burscough Street, Ormskirk, to customers. She was joined by sons Noah, 9, and Toby, 4.  Kimberly is supporting Cancer Research UK to raise awareness of the disease and to encourage people across the Town to support the new shop.

While Kimberly was pregnant with Noah in 2009, she noticed a large lump the size of an orange form on her left knee. Her GP initially put the swelling down to pregnancy-related fluid retention. But 2 months after giving birth, Kimberly's symptoms persisted and she was diagnosed with sarcoma in June 2010; a rare form of cancer that affected her connective tissue. Kimberly said:- "I was absolutely gobsmacked. Cancer just isn't something you expect will happen to you. My 1st thought was Noah, and the thought of him growing up without me. I had only just given birth and felt like I was being robbed of what was supposed to be a lovely, happy time as a new mum."

A week later, Kimberly was told that her leg would need to be amputated and was referred for surgery at Broadgreen Hospital in Liverpool. She said:- "My world came crashing down. Here I was age 29, with a newborn baby, being told my leg needed to come off. It's not what you expect in a million years."

However, the evening before surgery doctors discovered they might be able to operate without removing the entire leg; thanks to a 1 millimetre gap they had identified between the tumour and her bone. The surgery went ahead and, although surgeons removed a large part of Kimberly's leg including her kneecap and surrounding muscles, they were able to save the limb. Kimberly was fitted with a leg brace and referred for radiotherapy treatment at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Wirral. Kimberly said:- "I wouldn't have been able to get through it all without my amazing family. My husband Dan was incredibly strong, and quickly became carer to both me and the baby. He was changing nappies 1 minute and running around after me the next."

Determined to get back to normality, she returned to her job as 6th Form administration manager at Alsop High School in Walton, Liverpool, a month after finishing treatment. But just when Kimberly thought her cancer journey was over, she was dealt another blow.  Only weeks after returning to work, she felt her vision becoming blurry while watching television and decided to book a routine eye test. Kimberly went to her optician, but staff immediately referred her to Hospital. The next day, ophthalmic doctors at St Paul's Eye Hospital in Liverpool told Kimberly she had an aggressive form of cancer in her eye, called a choroidol melanoma. And the best option for treatment was to remove her left eyeball. Kimberly said:- "When they told me the news, I ran to the toilet and threw up. It was the darkest day of my life. Just when I thought things were looking up I couldn't believe I was being told I had cancer again, and that I was going to lose my eye."

A week later, Kimberly had surgery to remove her whole eyeball. She went back to work 2 weeks later, wearing a special pair of glasses with 1 black lens and 1 clear lens, specially made by her father in law, who is an optician. She now uses a prosthetic eye which is matched to her natural colour.

Following her recovery, Kimberly is determined to raise awareness of the life saving research carried out by Cancer Research UK and the need to continue to develop better and kinder treatments for people with cancer.  She said:- "I am living proof of why research into cancer is so important. Without advances in science, I might not be here today."

In the North West, around 5 people are diagnosed with cancer every hour. Now she is spreading her message by opening Ormskirk's new Cancer Research UK shop this week. The shop is the charity's 598th store and is packed with hundreds of items of pre loved clothing as well as a selection of homeware, books and children's toys. Kimberly said:- "I am really proud to be guest of honour and open Cancer Research UK's new shop right here in Ormskirk. My story is a story of survival, and I'm delighted that so many people have come along and joined in the celebrations with us."

Along with items donated by the public and by high street corporate supporters of the charity, the Ormskirk store will also be selling a range of new Christmas cards and gifts. All profit from the shop supports the charity's life saving research.  Sarah Loughran, Area Manager for Trading at Cancer Research UK, said:- "We are delighted to have opened our new shop in Orsmkirk. We have a mix of quality items at bargain prices that I am confident shoppers in the Town will love. Our shops and superstores up and down the country continue to prove a real hit with customers and we are really proud to be adding Ormskirk to the collection. I hope that people come along to the store to have a look around; and take the opportunity to grab a bargain while they are there."

The shop is open from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday.  Volunteers are also being sought who have an interest in retail and who can spare a few hours every week. Anyone interested can call in to the Burscough Street shop and speak to manager Suzy Duke.  For more information about Cancer Research UK visit:- CRUK.Org.