Design team appointed for Liverpool Central station redevelopment
Liverpool City Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority have appointed architecture practice Hawkins\Brown to lead the design team developing plans to reimagine Liverpool Central station and its surrounding city centre area.
image: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
The commission will see Hawkins\Brown prepare a Strategic Regeneration Framework to guide long-term redevelopment of the station gateway, which is intended to improve transport links, public spaces and support wider regeneration in the city centre. The authority said the project forms part of a wider ambition to transform the area around Liverpool Central into a major arrival point for the city.
Liverpool Central is one of the busiest stations in the Liverpool City Region, handling millions of passengers each year and playing a key role in connecting the retail core, business districts and surrounding neighbourhoods. The proposed framework is expected to set out how land use, pedestrian routes, transport integration and development opportunities could be reshaped around the station.
The Combined Authority said the redevelopment could act as a catalyst for wider investment in the area, with the station already identified in long-term plans as a key location for growth and regeneration. Earlier technical work on the wider Liverpool Central area has suggested the project could form part of an 86-acre transformation zone aimed at improving connectivity and unlocking housing and commercial development.
Hawkins\Brown will work alongside transport and infrastructure partners, including Network Rail’s property arm and Platform4, to develop options for the site. The design work will feed into a wider masterplan process and future funding bids, although no construction timetable or final investment decision has yet been confirmed.
City region leaders have previously said the station area is under pressure from rising passenger demand and requires significant upgrades to manage future growth. Liverpool Central currently handles tens of thousands of journeys each day and is seen by planners as a key interchange within the wider rail network.
Cllr Nick Small, Cabinet Member for Growth and Economy at Liverpool City Council, said, “Liverpool Central is one of the most important gateways into our city, used by millions of people every year. This Strategic Regeneration Framework provides an exciting opportunity to provide a strong and transformational vision for how the wider area around the station can evolve over time – supporting growth, improving the quality of place and ensuring future investment comprehensive and brought forward in collaboration with partners.
“The SRF is about shaping the places around the station – the streets, spaces and development opportunities – and ensuring they work together. It will provide clarity for communities, partners and investors as we plan for the long-term future of this part of the city centre.”
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said, “Liverpool Central is one of the busiest and most important transport gateways in the country – and the area around it should match the ambition of the city it serves.
“This is a chance for us to think bigger about the future of one of the key front doors to Liverpool – creating a greener, safer and better connected gateway that works for residents, businesses and the millions of people who pass through it every year.
“Working with Liverpool City Council and partners, we can make sure this becomes more than a transport upgrade – but a catalyst for wider regeneration, investment and opportunity in the heart of the city.”
Andrew Ferguson, Acting CEO of Platform4, added, “A transformed Central Station area won’t just improve the experience of the millions of passengers who pass through it each year – it will help define Liverpool’s identity as a connected and ambitious city. By bringing together world-class design, long-term planning and genuine partnership, we can create a gateway that drives real economic growth and makes Liverpool an even more attractive place to live, work and invest.”
Katie Tonkinson, Partner and Head of Studio North at Hawkins\Brown, said, “We are delighted to have been appointed, alongside a word-class team of collaborators, to prepare the Liverpool Central Station Strategic Regeneration Framework.
“It is a fantastic opportunity to work with Liverpool City Council and partners to develop a creative, long-term vision for the city. We are truly excited to be embarking on this journey of discovery with stakeholders and local communities.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to seek transformational change at this original locus; to connect with people and initiatives across the city region, taking inspiration from around the world and raising world profile, whilst driving local aspiration and rooting our thinking in Liverpool.”