Liverpool’s Busiest Road May Move Underground in Ambitious £1 Billion Transformation Plan

In an ambitious move to enhance connectivity between Liverpool’s city center and its waterfront, plans are underway to potentially relocate The Strand, one of the city’s busiest roads, underground. This transformation is part of the extensive £1 billion King Edward Triangle development.

King Edward Triangle Development

The King Edward Triangle project aims to create a vibrant mixed-use area on Gibraltar Row, close to The Strand. Proposed features include:

• Nearly 3,000 new homes
• 400 hotel rooms
• A 25,000 square foot arena
• The city’s first AA five-star hotel
• Substantial commercial space

City Council’s Decision

The Liverpool City Council’s cabinet is expected to approve the sale of land at Great Howard Street, which is part of the King Edward Triangle development site. While the land sale is on the agenda, the reconfiguration of the road network to accommodate these plans will not be finalized in this meeting.

Transformational Plans for The Strand

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram addressed the initiative during the launch of the Liverpool City Region’s 10-year growth plan at the University of Liverpool. He proposed the idea of sinking The Strand underground, allowing for a seamless connection to the new development. Rotheram stated:

“What we can provide is the means for others to implement these changes. If we can take The Strand under and have it emerge elsewhere, that requires collaboration between strategic authorities and the city council.”

Previous Discussions

This proposal is not entirely new; discussions around relocating The Strand underground have been raised before. Samantha Campbell, Liverpool Council’s head of planning, referred to it as a “radical intervention” that would enhance public spaces above The Strand. This redesign aims to foster a continuous connection from the city center to the King Edward Triangle and the northern docks.

Moving Forward

The King Edward Triangle plans continue to progress rapidly. A planning application for a 28-storey building with 255 residential units was submitted in June. A decision on this application is anticipated this autumn. Additionally, plans were recently put forth to demolish several unlisted buildings within the eight-acre site boundary to facilitate development.

As the city embarks on this transformative journey, the combination of an ambitious infrastructure project and extensive residential and commercial offerings could significantly reshape Liverpool’s urban landscape.