PROJECT JENNIFER MOVES TOWARDS DELIVERY – Council review concludes there is a Ì¢‰âÂèÏrobust case’ for £150M development

Liverpool City Council and its development partner St. Modwen have completed a thorough review of objections raised to the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) and concluded that there is a ‘robust case’ for Project Jennifer to progress.

The city council will now formally call for the government to bring forward an inquiry, which is likely to be held by summer 2012 whilst negotiations with all affected parties continue forthwith.

The partners behind the £150 million regeneration of Great Homer Street have also announced that they are confident the scheme will be successful at a Public Inquiry.

Project Jennifer is set to transform a 45-acre site in North Liverpool, creating new homes, employment opportunities, improved public areas, new community and leisure facilities and retail and employment space.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, said: “We have completed a thorough review into the objections raised to the CPO and believe that a robust case exists for Project Jennifer. We have listened to businesses and we remain committed to ensuring that fair compensation is agreed with all land and business owners, to allow businesses to relocate to suitable alternative premises and to enable this vital scheme to progress.

“A huge amount of work, dedication and effort has gone into bringing the plans to this stage. The partners are continuing to work together closely, to bring forward the transformational change needed in the area.”

Michelle Taylor, regional director at St. Modwen, said: “Project Jennifer will comprehensively regenerate the Great Homer Street area, providing much-needed new housing, community facilities and creating more than 1,000 jobs.

“This is the scheme that the local community wants and it will act as an important catalyst for future regeneration in North Liverpool. For these reasons, Liverpool City Council and St. Modwen are confident that the scheme will succeed.”

While the city council and St. Modwen cannot influence the timing of the Public Inquiry, it is likely that it will take place by summer 2012. If it rules in favour of the CPO, Project Jennifer will be delivered in phases, with the initial phase anchored by the 110,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s food store and featuring 80,000 sq ft of additional retail space, improved public spaces, a new open market, community facilities and a new public transport interchange.

Subsequent phases of the scheme, in the Marwood and Dryden Street areas, would follow the successful delivery of Phase One. The scheme partners anticipate that land outside of Phase One will not be required for at least two years, minimising disruption and allowing businesses to continue trading until the land is required for development.

Project Jennifer will deliver the largest food store to be built in Liverpool to date, 80,000 sq ft of additional retail units, 80,000 sq ft of light industrial units, 480 new homes, and 40,000 sq ft of community facilities, including a new market and community health centre.