Exclusive: Morrisons supermarket sweeps into Clayton Square

SUPERMARKET giant Morrisons is to move into the former Disney store in Clayton Square as part of a massive revamp of the centre.

 And in a second development Tesco is planning its first housing scheme in Liverpool (details below)

Owners InfraRed Capital (they also own St John’s) have announced massive improvements for both centres, though so far they have not officially revealed Morrisons as a new occupier of the Church Street end of the complex.

The arcade entrance to Clayton Square from Church Street is being removed as part of the scheme.

The complex, this year celebrates its 25^th birthday, however people still mourn the loss of what was one of the city centre’s last remaining squares, with its Georgian and early Victoria architecture and cobbled streets.

Clayton Square In 1970

Morrisons is going before the council’s licensing committee next Tuesday to seek a 6am to midnight alcohol licence for its new store.

 Merseyside Police is resisting the application, citing the issue of street drinking in the city centre, anti-social behaviour and incidents of violence. The police want a ban on alcohol sales before 8am, and a ban on stronger beers, lager and cider.

Liverpool Trading Standards has also made similar representations, saying street beggars cause problems, using begged money to buy super strong booze.

Boots is moving from a two-level configuration to a single floor space, creating a bigger flagship store for the group, spanning 60,000 sq ft.

Commenting on its plans for Clayton Square, InfraRed say: The regeneration of this previously struggling shopping centre will transform it into a successful institutional investment in the heart of Liverpool city centre, with support from key retailers including Boots UK and Clas Ohlson.

The new look Clayton Square

“World renowned architects Benoy have designed the new scheme, transforming a cluttered two-floor mall scheme with a new triple height single trading mall.  Removal of the internal escalators will provide clear views from Central Station to St Johns Shopping Centre.

InfraRed is an independent investment firm, managing property and real estate worth more than $7bn, with offices in  London, Hong Kong, New York, Paris and Sydney. 

MEANWHILE Tesco is planning its first housing estate in Liverpool with a proposed development of two and three story homes in Aigburth.

The company’s property-owning offshoot, Spenhill Developments, has applied for outline permission for 37 homes on a site at the junction of Aigburth Road and Tramway Road, once occupied by St Augustine’s House.

Tesco announced a few days ago it was releasing more than 300 sites across the UK from its landbank, capable of producing more than 4,000 homes. The Aigburth site is thought to be the first site in Liverpool earmarked by Tesco for residential development.

St Michael’s Councillor and Green Party leader Cllr John Coyne said he would welcome housing development on the currently vacant site.

“We are aware Tesco has owned at least part of this site for some years and there have been stories flying around for ages about all kinds of retail schemes. I would welcome a thoughtful housing scheme on this land.”