Development of city centre landmark must be 'right fit for the area'

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell has given some clues over the kinds of developments that are being considered for the site of the old Merseyside Police Headquarters in Canning Place. With the site now officially on the market, we caught up with Ms Spurrell for a chat about what the future might hold for the area and what it means for the city.

Canning Place in the city centre was the force's base for more than 40 years before it moved to Rose Hill, its new site just off St Anne Street, which officially opened in March 2022. The former base is a 2.64-acre site and faces the Albert Dock, next to Paradise Street bus station and Liverpool ONE.

The sale of the site is part of Ms Spurrell's 12-year plan to modernise Merseyside Police’s stations and buildings. The PCC has appointed the consultancy and construction firm Mace Consult Ltd and commercial property estate agents Colliers to assist with the marketing and disposal of the site.

Speaking to the ECHO this afternoon outside the former police HQ, Ms Spurrell suggested the new development would likely be used for leisure and retail. She said: "I think what we're probably going to end up with is a mixed approach where you have mix of retail and leisure - of hotels and accommodation." She emphasised the importance of choosing the right kind of development for the area and making sure it complements the existing attractions and facilities in the city.

She said: "I think the priority for me is making sure that whatever takes over from this iconic site, right on the waterfront, has got to be right for the area, it's got to work for the public and for the community that lives round here and use the area.

"We've got to make sure that it fits," she continued, "so it flows from one side to the other - that it fits as you go through to the bus station, as you go through to Liverpool ONE, as you go up to the top at Chavasse Park - that it just fits as part of the city."

Earlier this year, as part of the two-stage process of putting the site on the market, a public consultation was held to find out how the public and local stakeholders would like the land to be developed. The results of that consultation have been used to shape the production of a Planning and Development brief which is being used to advertise the site and guide potential bidders.

According to the PCC, the public have expressed a range of views on the issue. She said: "There's been a real mix of views from the public, and that's why I think it's probably going to end up being a mixture of development. There's been a focus on it being something that's for the community and that public realm works in making sure the design feels right, that it feels like it fits and it's attractive. People like to see greenery. They just want to feel like it's a nice space for people to be able to move around."

She continued: "Ultimately, that will be a decision for the planning committee and Liverpool City Council, so it's not something I can decide, but I am keen that whoever comes in and takes over the space that they factor in how it's going to fit into the wider area.

"We've opened it up to bids now as part of the pack we've put together. While the primary consideration is obviously going to be the price, there are going to be other factors - so things like social value, an emphasis on how they're going to make it environmentally friendly and how they're going to create the right kind of development for the site that it is.

"We did a big public consultation exercise where we asked the public and partners and stakeholders: 'What would you like this to be? What do you think is missing from the city centre?' So all of that has fed into the pack, and we're really encouraging anybody who wants to put a bid in to consider that when they're putting their plans together because that is something I would factor in to my decision-making."

While recognising the historical value of the site and its significance to past and present police personnel, Ms Spurrell is keen to focus on the positives of moving away from the site to the more modern and stylish headquarters at Rose Hill.

She said: "I have spoken to a lot of people who've worked here for a long time and we were looking at photos of the Queen coming to visit years ago, so you can see it has got an incredible history and how long it's been here serving officers and serving the public of Merseyside.

"Although it's got a great history, I think it was the right time to make the move. When you look at the morale and wellbeing of officers and staff, obviously having a high quality building that is fit for purpose makes a big difference. It's right that they should have the right facilities to be able to their jobs to the best of their ability."

She added: "It also costs us a lot less to run - so compared to Canning Place, Rose Hill costs us half a million pounds less every year in running costs. And that's a significant amount that we can reinvest into the frontline and help us do a better job for Merseyside."

According to Ms Spurrell, money generated from the sale of the site will be used to invest in the police estate. She said: "Primarily, the money's going to go towards covering the Estates Strategy, which we recently refreshed, including Rose Hill and the upgrade we've done to St Anne's station as well.

"But we're also looking at investments we need to do in other parts of Merseyside - so places like St Helens, the Wirral and Southport. They all have outdated stations that need to be updated. So any money that we raise from this sale is going to help us deliver all of those improvements there as well."

Since the conclusion of its use as the force's headquarters, Canning Place has been used to house various police teams. Refurbishments to other stations have taken place and has been a base for significant policing operations, including Eurovision. The site encompasses the former seven floor station which is more than 135,000 square feet, an annex, car park and a gatehouse.