Liverpool's Chinatown area is set to receive a significant financial boost as the city council has acquired a long-stalled site, with hundreds of thousands of pounds earmarked for its development. The council confirmed last week that it had completed the purchase of the long-abandoned 'New Chinatown' brownfield plot on Great George Street for £10m.
This site, which serves as the gateway to the city's historic Chinatown and is close to the Baltic Triangle and adjacent to the Anglican Cathedral, has been stalled since 2017 due to a series of complex legal challenges on leaseholds. New documents reveal that developer contributions will now be invested in upgrading the public realm around the site.
Over £300,000 from section 106 cash is being spent to improve the north side of Upper Pitt Street and ensure seamless connection with Great George Square. The Great George Street Project Limited, the company that previously owned the site, entered administration in February 2022.
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Since then, the city council has been working with the company's administrators, Cowgills Limited and Farleys Solicitors LLP, to finalise the acquisition. The proposed works also include the installation of two stone lions, gifts from the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester, aimed at boosting Chinatown's visitor economy.
Liverpool's Chinatown has been home to the Chinese community for over 200 years and is the oldest in Europe, reports .
Section 106 agreements, legal contracts between a planning authority and a developer to ensure additional works related to a development are carried out, have been utilised for upgrades in areas such as Liverpool's Chinatown. However, the council's own analysis reveals that Chinatown has been experiencing an economic downturn, with businesses on Nelson Street, the historic heart of Chinatown, fighting for survival.
Half of the businesses on this street have permanently shut their doors, and among those still operating, only two are open during daytime hours. The majority of flats above these restaurants remain unoccupied, some for several decades.
In response to these challenges, the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester has gifted Liverpool two large stone lions to mark the 25th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Liverpool and Shanghai. These gifts are expected to be formally received by the end of 2025.
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Future proposed developments include the installation of a pedestrian table at the end of Nelson Street, alterations to the current connection between footpaths on the north side of Upper Pitt Street and Great George Square, and the planting of a red maple tree near the lions to serve as a wishing tree where the community can hang notes of good wishes.
The design also includes a flower mat that complements the wishing tree, both of which provide a unique backdrop for the stone lions. The existing steel sheet metal canopy will be upgraded and the concrete bench beneath it removed to enhance access to the open space and play area.
Furthermore, a memorial garden will be established within George's Square to pay tribute to Liverpool's Chinese community history. Approximately £240,000 will be allocated for the project implementation, with an additional £30,000 set aside for design.
A contingency fee of 15% is also planned. City councillors are expected to approve the scheme on Wednesday, December 18.
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