Port of Liverpool Expansion

Liverpool

Turley Associates undertook a strategic review of the potential land area for port expansion to assess the prospects, on a site by site basis, for securing a change of planning use and assembly of the land.

Location: Port of Liverpool, Liverpool
Status: Completed
Size: 30 hectares
Scale: City

This exercise resulted in a provisional boundary for the expansion area which was then subjected to a more detailed evaluation and assessment.

Once the final boundary had been agreed with the client we developed a master plan for the port expansion zone and used this to underpin an Environmental Assessment of the proposals and to secure an outline planning permission for the full site.

CPO and Land Assembly
Turley Associates provided full support and advice to The Mersey Docks & Harbour Company's in-house surveyors and solicitors in the preparation and submission of a CPO for c. 30 hectares of land. This CPO was promoted using powers available to the company under the Private Acts of Parliament by which the port was established. In particular we took the lead role in defining the scope of the Order to ensure that this would provide for all of MDHC's development and operational needs, preparing the Order Map and the Statement of Reasons and drafting the Statement of Case.

In parallel with this work we prepared and submitted an application under Sections 247 and 253 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1991 for the stopping up of a large number of roads and footways within the proposed expansion area including a substantial length of road which formed part of the strategic highway network in the Seaforth/ Bootle area. These closures were required both to provide for the construction of the port development and to provide the required level of security needed by HM Customs for the expansion land to be included within the designated Freeport Zone. We led discussions with the relevant utility companies to agree the measures needed to safeguard their interests and avoid any need for them to object to the Order. We also worked with MDHC's transport consultants to agree a package of mitigation works with the Local Highway Authority.

Business Relocation Strategy
In addition to providing ongoing planning and design advice in respect of the submission of reserved matters applications and discharge of conditions relating to the development proposals Turley Associates also supported MDHC in respect of its relocation strategy for businesses affected by the CPO. This included, for example, the relocation of a Tanker Cleaning Company whose business is dependant upon the road tankers delivering or collecting liquid or bulk products from the port, but which did not need to be within the access controlled Freeport zone.

Outcomes

• Approximately 30 hectares (74 acres) of land successfully acquired using Private Act of Parliament CPO powers;
• Extensive sections of public highway including part of the Strategic Highway Network stopped up under S247 and S253 powers;
• All land subsequently incorporated within the secure zone of Liverpool Freeport for Customs and Excise purposes;
• The £25M+ expansion of the port has allowed the development of a substantial area of new Freeport warehousing and storage - whilst "freeing up" previously congested dock side areas to maximise flexibility in ship and cargo handling within the main operational area of the port;
• A number of businesses within the CPO satisfactorily relocated within the local area to retain key services and jobs.