Council drops plans for £100m complex

Exclusive by Michael Gordon



A £100 million plan for a retail scheme in Liverpool suffered a major blow last week when it was shelved in a dramatic U-turn by the council.

Liverpool City Council's Liberal Democrat leaders rejected proposals for the King's Dock retail scheme only weeks before a public inquiry ordered by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. The Government is said to be concerned over the scale of the plans, which include a shopping and leisure complex.

The housing project had won support from the Merseyside Development Corporation.

Labour leaders of the council had supported the scheme for more than two years but then last week the council's planning and transportation committee blocked any further development of the project.

The move came after preliminary findings from studies into competition with neighbouring cities.

The council does not have the overall say on the scheme but its support is vital.

Councillor Doreen Jones, chairman of the planning, transportation and licensing committee, said that a consultant with expertise on commercial aspects of retail development had called in Healey and Baker. It advised the council on a long-term strategy to counter competition from other cities, such as Chester and Cheshire Oaks.

Cllr Jones said: "Although the study is not yet complete, it's clear that there are major concerns over significant retail development on the King's Dock suite and it would be irresponsible of the council to ignore these concerns.

"If the current proposal for King's Dock is not permitted, we will talk to the developer, The Stadium Group, to see if its proposals can be accommodated on other sites nearer to the main retail area."