City bids to boost “Beatles Quarter”

Liverpool City Council is to produce a masterplan to boost the city’s “Beatles Quarter” and develop its global tourism appeal.A report to the council Cabinet next Friday (April 20) is recommending the city creates a Spatial Regeneration Framework (SRF) for the area around Mathew Street, home of the world famous Cavern Club, that will enable to council to control future use of buildings and attract new investment.The Cavern Quarter SRF, which will be tendered following cabinet approval, will be accompanied by a new vision which will aim to enhance the quality of attractions and build on the city’s £90m a year Beatles Heritage industry which currently supports 2,335 jobs.The masterplan, which is expected to go out to public consultation in the Autumn and would include giving the city council Compulsory Purchase powers, will be guided by the findings of a scrutiny panel established in 2016 which carried out an independent review of the area and recommended:- A more diverse mix of complimentary uses of buildings that operate 24-hours a day- An enhanced and more coordinated Beatles tourism offer with new visitor attractions and information/interpretation points- The redevelopment of derelict, under-used and undesirable sites- A comprehensive public art strategy for the ‘Cavern Quarter’- A way-finding strategy to make the ‘Cavern Quarter’ more legible and permeable- Active ground floor uses to create a more vibrant and inviting environment- Create a more defined and useable public open spaceThe report comes as figures show Liverpool’s hotel sector is also booming, with occupancy levels now at a record breaking levels, and the number of hotel rooms across the city set to grow by 14% to more than 9,300 over the next two years.A recent economic impact report found that the city’s Beatles related industry has been growing at 5-15% a year following the city’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2008 with Cavern City Tours and the Cavern Club now attracting 800,000 visitors per annum and 80% of the Hard Day’s Night Hotel guests classed as international.But the Cabinet report also states visitors are increasingly looking for a quality experiential visit and there is a clear need to curate a Beatles Heritage offer to cater for this growing demand.