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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 25th 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.
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.
“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.”
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"A cluttered two-floor mall scheme with a new triple height single trading mall." - Er that's exactly how it was designed and trumpeted as a triumph by everyone at the time it was completed. Is this an admission that the demolition of the listed Clayton Square by the unholy pair Derek Hatton and Patrick Jenkin was wrong after all? Such a pity they never bothered to ask the people, just the rich profiteers.
Apart from Clas Ohlson there's nothing in Clayton Square worth bothering with. The Boots shop there went rotten years ago. It looks like there is going to be even less, with fewer premises that will be only affordable for the big chains anyway
Was St. Augustine House the Catholic Convent of the Poor Claires or the Little Sisters of the Poor on Aigburth Road? It’s been knocked down? And Tesco owns the site? Truly, Satan is marching in triumph in Tory Britain and Philistine Liverpool!
Soft Joe - I totally agree with you.
I trust that nobody who finds Tesco satanic does any shopping there.
"The arcade entrance to Clayton Square from Church Street is being removed as part of the scheme." Does this translate as "another once public street will disappear (rather than just being closed when the shops shut)"? I predict a big apostrophe problem for Infra Dig. They lost it from St John's; they may not be able to resist upsetting the Morrison family by reinstating it.
Boots is virtually on one level as it is. The first floor used to sell all manner of interesting and useful things: stationery, photographic goods, audio, kitchenware, home brew equipment etc. and it's all been replaced by babies' nappies.