Police Canning Place HQ sold

In what has always been seen as one of Liverpool’s best development sites, Homes England, has been announced as the preferred bidder for Merseyside Police’s former HQ at Canning Place. The 2.6 acres site sits in a stunning location adjacent to Liverpool One, fronting The strand with wonderful views across Albert Dock and the rest of the docklands.

The government agency has been reported to have agreed to buy the site for £17m after spending nearly 12 months as the “frontrunner” in the race to purchase. It is rumoured that there were a total of 13 bids for the site in which Mace Consult, Colliers, and PLACED assisted the police on the deal.

Whilst the announcement has been welcomed in some quarters there are many commentors who will be dismayed that the site as has been bought by a public sector body rather than private developer or investor who would potentially progress the scheme with a more ambitious project and quicker timescale. The proposals are for a “a high-quality, mixed-use residential-led development scheme” that could potentially include a hotel, shops, and leisure facilities but timings remain uncertain.

The building was vacated in March 2022 when the police relocated to Rose Hill off Scotland Road.

Story courtesy of Place Northwest