Ten years after it was first proposed, work has finally started on a £150m scheme to transform a northern Liverpool suburb.
Codenamed “Project Jennifer” by developer St Modwen the new district centre for the Great Homer Street area will include the city’s biggest food store after a 110,000 sq ft unit was pre-let to Sainsbury’s. A further 80,000 sq ft of retail space will be delivered by the scheme.
As part of the Liverpool City Council joint venture the neighbouring Dryden Street market — known locally as the “Greatie” — has already reopened with upgraded indoor and outdoor stalls and enhanced trader facilities. When complete the scheme will also offer a new 900 space car park and filling station.
“The commencement of main site works is a major landmark for the scheme and represents the substantial investment being made in the city,” commented St Modwen project director, Paul Batho, who hoped Project Jennifer would bring at least 1,000 jobs to the area.
“This significant milestone brings more than 10 years of work to fruition and is testament to the support for the project in the local area. We are now in a position to accelerate activity on site, with a view to delivering this major partnership regeneration project by summer 2016.” he added.
Arranged in four blocks, the retail units on the eastern side of the development have been designed to accommodate both local and national businesses. Sizes start at 500 sq ft and extend to more than 30,000 sq ft.
Sainsbury’s will begin fitting out its store next summer, with opening expected to take place mid-2016. “Our outlet, which will be the largest food superstore on Merseyside, is an important step forward with Project Jennifer and the regeneration of the Great Homer Street area,” said Andrew Sanderson, the retailer’s regional development manager.
In a second jobs boost for the city, one of the world’s largest offshore deep-water drilling companies has confirmed it is moving its global service centre to Liverpool.
Seadrill — which owns and operates 53 offshore drilling rigs and employs over 10,000 people on five continents — has leased the entire fifth floor of Number One Mann Island in the heart of Liverpool city centre to house its human resources, information technology and finance departments.
Per Wullf is Seadrill’s chief executive. “Liverpool and the North West of England have excellent national and international transport links and a large talent pool to draw from,” he explained.
“Add to these factors the city’s rich maritime heritage, which has made it famous around the world, and Liverpool adds up to the perfect location for us … We are delighted to be here and proud to add Liverpool to our list of global office locations.”
Wullf said the serviced office would open during the first quarter of 2015 and become fully operational by the summer. He also said his company was considering transferring more key administrative jobs to Merseyside, handling support services for its day-to-day worldwide operation.
“From a long list of different criteria, Seadrill has chosen Liverpool and chosen Liverpool on its merits,” commented the city’s mayor, Joe Anderson. “This is exactly the type of high-value inward investment we are working very hard to bring to the city.”
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