The Secretive Scouser Shaping Liverpool's Future Skyline
One of Britain's most intensely private billionaires is quietly financing an ambitious Dubai-inspired transformation of his hometown docklands in Liverpool. Tom Morris, founder of the discount retail giant Home Bargains and frequently described as the 'richest scouser ever to have lived', is personally bankrolling the construction of ten distinctive waterfront towers through his billion-pound Kings development project.
A Towering Vision for the Waterfront
At the heart of this dramatic regeneration scheme stands a proposed 727-foot, 70-storey skyscraper that would become Liverpool's tallest building and the seventh tallest in the entire United Kingdom. This architectural centrepiece would house 563 luxury apartments alongside a 212-room five-star hotel spanning 23 floors. The complete development, featuring ten uniquely designed towers, aims to create a striking gateway between Liverpool's business district and the historic River Mersey waterfront.
Plans for the plot, situated between Bath Street and King Edward Street near Princes Dock, were formally unveiled at the prestigious MIPIM property conference in Cannes this week. Ian Simpson, co-founding partner of SimpsonHaugh architects responsible for the landmark tower, described it as "a landmark intervention for Britain's most dramatic waterfront skyline" that blends Liverpool's maritime heritage with contemporary architectural expression.
The £7 Billion Recluse
What makes this development particularly remarkable is its financier's extraordinary aversion to publicity. Despite building a £7 billion retail empire that employs more people in Liverpool than any other business, Morris has meticulously avoided the public eye throughout his five-decade career. The billionaire has never granted an interview, makes no public appearances, and dispatches family members—usually his brother and business partner Joe Morris—when ceremonial duties prove unavoidable.
Only one photograph of Morris exists in the public domain—an awkward 2001 snapshot showing him with hands in pockets alongside his brother and two business associates. When his company donated a minibus to a Wigan primary school for children with special needs in 2024, Morris sent his wife Kristina to handle the presentation rather than attend himself.
From Overdraft to Empire
Morris's astonishing rags-to-riches journey began in 1976 when, at just 21 years old, he secured a bank overdraft to open his first discount store in Liverpool's Old Swan neighbourhood. Originally called Home & Bargain, the shop attracted customers by selling toiletries cheaper than competitors—a business model that has remained fundamentally unchanged as the chain expanded nationwide.
Today, TJ Morris Group Limited—trading as Home Bargains—generated £4.5 billion in turnover last year, distributing £66 million in dividends to the Morris family. The discount retailer now operates over 600 stores with 28,000 employees and plans to expand to 1,000 locations in coming years. Alongside competitors like Aldi and Lidl, Home Bargains thrived during both the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis as consumers prioritised economical shopping options.
Private Wealth, Public Projects
Despite his reclusive nature, Morris hasn't shied from luxury acquisitions, owning a £38 million Bombardier Global 5000 jet with "M-ORIS" on the tail, the £34 million superyacht Moskito, and a £7.5 million VIP helicopter kept at Blackpool Airport. His yacht was recently spotted moored off St Barths alongside vessels owned by Jeff Bezos and Leonardo DiCaprio during New Year celebrations.
Now, Morris appears to be redirecting his financial focus toward transformative real estate projects. The Kings development represents his most ambitious property venture yet, following his 2021 purchase of approximately 5,000 acres in West Lancashire through The Halsall Estate holding company—a deal valued up to £50 million aimed at promoting British agricultural produce.
Regenerating Historic Docks
The docklands area, once a post-industrial landscape of derelict warehouses and neglected waterways, has experienced significant regeneration in recent years. Morris's billion-pound investment would dramatically accelerate this transformation, creating what developers describe as a world-class waterfront destination.
Planning consent has already been secured for one of the ten towers—No. 1 Kings—with an environmental impact report submitted. The complete masterplan will be presented to Liverpool City Council this summer, potentially heralding a new era for the city's architectural landscape.
Beyond property development, Morris's business has engaged in modest political donations, including £5,000 to Health Secretary Wes Streeting in 2023 and £10,000 supporting Steve Rotheram's successful 2017 mayoral campaign. The company also made a £2.5 million charitable donation last year that saved baby hospice Zoe's Place from closure.
As Liverpool awaits this potential waterfront transformation, the project offers a rare window into the activities of a billionaire who has spent half a century avoiding public scrutiny while building one of Britain's most successful retail empires from a single Liverpool shop.
