Liverpool to get a new Chinatown

The archway at Liverpool's chinatown is the largest of its kind in Europe. — Photography: John Allen

The year of the monkey is set for a strong start in Liverpool after planning permission was granted for the £200m New Chinatown scheme.

City planners approved the mixed-use development yesterday, which will expand the existing Chinatown with 850 new homes, a hotel and 120,000 sq ft Chinese retail bazaar.

‘From the beginning we have had a vision for an essentially Chinese development that will breathe new life and vibrancy into an historic but recently declining area,’ said Antonio Garcia, lead architect at BLOK Architecture. The practice master-planned the scheme on behalf of North Point Global.

A render of New Chinatown. Courtesy of BLOK Architecture — Courtesy of BLOK Architecture

‘The Chinese theme has informed our design philosophy, the mix of uses and in particular the new retail and commercial core that will become a major new destination within the city,’ Garcia explained.

Northpoint say the scheme is fully funded and has backing from Chinese investment partners, as well as the UK Trade and Investment department’s Regeneration Investment Organisation. The scheme has been identified as a key project in the Northern Powerhouse initiative.

Work will begin on site in early 2016, and the first phase is expected to be completed by mid-2017.

Liverpool is home to the oldest Chinese community in Europe. New Chinatown will cover the stretch of land running along Great George Street from The Wedding House up to the Black-E community centre.