The first glimpse of John Lewis's new flagship store

THESE are the first images of Liverpool's new stunning John Lewis department store, destined for the Paradise Street redevelopment area.

The building, which will be the largest John Lewis shop outside London, will replace the partnership's home in Church Street.

Directors of the group and the developers, Grosvenor, last night signed on the dotted line for the multi-million pound store.

Work will start on the foundations before the end of this year, with major construction due to get under way early in the New Year.

The store is one of the key anchor developments in the £750m redevelopment scheme by Grosvenor.

Last night, the leader of Liverpool City Council, Cllr Mike Storey, said: "The plans for the John Lewis store are stunning and I am delighted that we are getting such a high calibre development in the heart of our city.

"It has been delivered in record time with private sector money. Grosvenor's development is unlike anything that has happened before. There will not be a glass covered mall, but a scheme that respects the existing architecture and mixes it with stunning new architecture that will be of a high quality.

"The start of this development will confound the cynics because this really is happening. Advance work has already started on the Paradise Street site and everything is on target."

On November 22nd the chairman of Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, will be in Liverpool for a formal ground-breaking ceremony to kick-start what will be Europe's biggest city centre redevelopment scheme.

By then workmen will already be on site. By Larry Neild, Daily Post

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