Huge step forward for Festival Park project

A series of enabling works which could make way for the £700m Festival Park scheme in Liverpool, including 500,000 sq ft of commercial and leisure space, a major water leisure destination and housing, have been given the go-ahead.Liverpool City Council’s cabinet has approved a £1m land survey to establish how the Festival Park scheme, which is earmarked for the former International Festival Gardens and Southern Grasslands sites, could be progressed.Earlier investigations have already established a remediation strategy on the northern development zone and the council is currently in talks with leisure and attraction operator Heritage Great Britain to develop a business case for an attraction.The set of land surveys and environmental assessments, which will take two months to complete, represent a “key stage” in the transformation of the site.The overall masterplan is for up to 2,500 homes, 350,000 sq ft of commercial and leisure space and a new ferry terminal. A major water leisure destination has also been proposed. It has been set out into distinct areas:Dingle Bank – The residential zone featuring a primary school, medical centre and community hub to facilitate the mixed-use housing.Jericho Wharf – Social heart of the residential zone with hotels, bars and restaurants.Jericho Shore – The beachfront neighbourhood with residential apartments, pavement cafes, restaurants and bars, designed around an Amsterdam-styled canal frontage.Festival Gardens – Retention, and enhancement, of the existing gardens.The Southern Grasslands – To be remodelled into a natural habitat for wildlife and leisure activities.K2 Architects is creating the strategic masterplan.