Liverpool retail park plans set for green light

Plans to expand a retail park in Liverpool by building a further 16 retail outlets – which would have the capacity to support hundreds of jobs – look set to get the green light.The Derwent Group’s application concerns a plot at Liverpool Shopping Park.Proposed are 16 units and two restaurants with associated servicing, access and car parking. This set-up would also include an anchor tenant.The application comes on the back of an already backed scheme for four retail units, three leisure units, an exhibition space and nine food and drink units. The new submission has been described as a “reordering of the retail and leisure floor space which has already been approved” as part of efforts to “meet the needs of intended retail occupiers and to allow this section of the site to be delivered as a distinct phase of development”.The Derwent Group unveiled the £30m plans late last year, which it said could support more than 800 jobs.The key change from the approved scheme is the decision to progress the project with an anchor, general merchandise retailer and to introduce the parade of smaller retail units.Approval has been recommended, subject to secretary of state James Brokenshire not wanting to call the application in.The first phase of Liverpool Shopping Park opened in October 2017 and has attracted high profile brands including Next, M&S Food Hall, River Island, H&M, Chiquito, TK Maxx and Smyths Toys.Construction on the second phase would be expected to start in the summer of 2019 ahead of opening the following year. McMullen Wilson and CSP are the letting agents. AEW is the architect.