Flagship building announced for Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter

A major extension to Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter could see investments totalling almost £1bn according to the city’s Mayor Joe Anderson.

A 30-storey high office scheme on the former Archbishop Blanch school site will form an integral element of the proposed Knowledge Quarter development.

The area is part of Joe Anderson’s “Mayoral Development Zones” and work is expected to begin on site in 2017, according to the council.

Mayor Anderson said: “The plans are for high-end technology, as well as a hotel, and the new railway station will connect to the underground network.

“This will provide connectivity for people travelling from the Wirral, St Helens , and Knowsley – this is part of our city region’s transport plan, connecting up the city region.

“We have been working to acquire this land for two years, and 11 of the 13 hectares are now in our control.”

The Mayor said the train station is to be called Paddington Place, relating to a former nearby school.

Knowledge Quarter Chief Executive Colin Sinclair, said: “The extension of the Knowledge Quarter is vital to the city region’s growing science, health and education sectors.

“What’s more and in order to meet the needs of local people, commuters, academics, students, patients and hospital visitors alike as well as those attending the theatre or the Royal Philharmonic or eating out on Hope Street, we’re planning a new rail station in the Knowledge Quarter, with access to the existing underground network and the national high-speed rail network via Lime Street Station.

“These new developments being essential additions to what is becoming one of Europe’s leading innovation districts and one of the UK’s largest academic and clinical campuses.”