Stop talking and start acting to rebuild city
CITY centre developer Grosvenor last night accused Liverpool City Council of delaying a critical part of its £920m transformation of the Paradise Street area.
The Duke of Westminster's company appears to be losing patience with the council as it continues to await approval for a four-star hotel operator for the scheme.
A flagship hotel chain was due to be announced by Grosvenor's project director Rod Holmes at a public meeting three weeks ago.
That never materialised and last night Mr Holmes said the paperwork over the hotel operator was "stuck with the council and its solicitors".
He made it clear that Grosvenor is beginning to lose patience with senior council officers and their advisors as they continue to hold up aspects of the scheme.
He urged the council to stop talking - and start taking action instead.
He said: "After years of the 'Big Talk' everybody has to get up to speed with the 'Big Dig'.
"We are now pushing more than paper."
The project director also suggested a previous hotel developer had been lost because of problems in securing agreement with the authority.
His words represent the first signs of tension in the relationship between the council and its development partner in what is probably the single most important regeneration project on Merseyside since the Albert Dock.
So far, it has been mercifully free from the problems which have beset other projects such as the Fourth Grace, Merseytram and the first Kings Dock scheme.
Mr Holmes said: "For the second time in a year, we have had an offer from a development partner and a leading international hotel operator.
"Another opportunity could be lost if the prevarication continues any longer.
"The delay is holding up a critical part of the project around the law courts."
Grosvenor's Paradise Street development is intended to transform Liverpool's shopping facilities over a 43-acre site.
The company is already anxiously awaiting news on Merseytram, due to run through the heart of its development, but which is now battling for survival after the Government limited its Line One support to £170m.
Grosvenor is due to open in 2008 and is battling a tight construction timetable so any delays take on added significance.
Council chief executive Sir David Henshaw has made it clear "the table will be set for 2008" with all major construction projects - now branded under the Big Dig banner - being temporarily halted for Capital of Culture year.
Last night, a council spokesman insisted there had been no delay and the authority had a duty to scrutinise the project fully.
He said: "The Paradise Project has gone from conception to construction within four years which must be a record for this scale of development.
"It has been achieved because of the excellent relationship between the city council and Grosvenor, a relationship which continues as the development progresses.
"With regard to the hotel operator, the city council has a duty to ensure that the deal meets the aspirations of the city to provide the highest quality development fitting for a premier city centre.
"We do not believe there has been undue delay in doing this and we will be in a position to sign off this deal in the near future when we are assured that it is the best one possible for Liverpool.
"Developments of this magnitude and scale will always be looked at from different perspectives. But it is a sign of the strength of the relationship between the council and Grosvenor that we are able to work together so that we are on course to deliver a world-quality project."
The Paradise Project is the biggest of its kind in Europe.
Although Liverpool is one of the UK's top eight core cities, it is currently ranked only 13th in the retail destinations by the survey company, Experian.
A study of prime retail areas by surveyors Gerald Eve, concentrating on the UK's top 30 high street destinations, says Liverpool has the sixth largest shopper catchment area, but ranks only 17th in the market share league table.
John Lewis and Debenhams are already signed up for department stores in the Grosvenor development which will also include a hotel, cinema, apartments and 1.5m sq ft of retail and leisure space.
andykelly@dailypost.co.uk
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