Contractor appointed for £1bn Liverpool Kings scheme first tower
Contractor appointed for £1bn Liverpool Kings tower

A contractor has been appointed to deliver the first stage of a £1bn development on the edge of Liverpool city centre. After securing planning permission from Liverpool Council in February, Davos Property Developments Limited has confirmed GRAHAM will be appointed to construct the 28-storey tower as part of the Kings waterfront scheme.

The block, one of the tallest in the city, will include 255 one and two-bedroom apartments for rent. Ground floor retail space and resident amenities on the first floor will also be included.

Part of the Liverpool Waters scheme

Part of the Liverpool Waters scheme, a long-term project from Peel Waters to transform the city’s post-industrial northern docklands, the Kings will be a high-rise residential development comprising more than 1,000 apartments. Metropolitan Demolition has now cleared the site, which sits at the northern boundary of the eight-acre development zone.

Davos Property Developments Limited is bringing about the project in conjunction with Beetham Davos Ltd. Beetham joined forces with KEIE – part of the TJ Morris group which owns Home Bargains – to buy the former King Edward industrial estate on Gibraltar Row on the edge of Liverpool city centre.

Developer and contractor comments

Hugh Frost, chairman of Beetham Davos Limited, said: “We’ve fired the starting gun and continue to push on with the Kings development in the background. The tower is fully-funded by the project’s shareholders, so the market can see confidence in the vision.

“No.1 Kings will raise the bar as far as design, fit-out and amenities go. Its delivery will underpin our discussions with end-users for the Kings development and be a catalyst for wider redevelopment.

“Our vision has captured the city’s imagination, with our political leaders very supportive of the ambition.

“We’re working hard on the detail now for the Kings masterplan. In the meantime, it’s great to have the GRAHAM team on board, who impressed us with their commitment and their enthusiasm to be part of the transformational redevelopment Kings represents.”

Peter Reavey, regional director for GRAHAM, said: “Kings is the largest single regeneration project outside London and there’s no doubt it will be a game-changer for Liverpool’s economy. We’re delighted to once again have the opportunity to demonstrate our high rise, build to rent capabilities in the city and are now busy mobilising to meet the client’s timescales.”

Wider Kings project plans

The wider Kings project will include nine buildings, ranging in height from 28 storeys at No.1 Kings to the five-star hotel and residences, which will reach 70 storeys, subject to planning consent.

A masterplan hybrid planning application is to be submitted to Liverpool Council early next year. The application will include five residential towers, the five-star hotel with branded residences, a four-star hotel, Grade A offices, plus shared workspace for start-ups and tech businesses, along with a range of food, beverage and leisure outlets.