|
10,000 jobs to be created at
former school site
A flagship development scheme that
could create up to 10,000 jobs at the former Archbishop Blanch school site has
been unveiled by Liverpool's Mayor, Joe Anderson, at the launch of the
International Festival for Business. The proposed 1.8 million sq ft development
at Minshull Street on the outskirts of Liverpool City Centre will create a
scheme of national and international importance, specialising in cutting edge
life and medical sciences. The site will include Grade A office space along with
units focused on the life sciences sector. The scheme will form a key plank of
the Knowledge Quarter Mayoral Development Zone, with Phase 1 likely to begin on
site in 2017. The extension of the Knowledge Quarter will bring essential
additions to what is fast becoming 1 of Europe's leading innovation districts
and one of the UKs largest academic and clinical campuses. Also, in order to
meet the needs of local people, commuters, academics, students, patients and
Hospital visitors, the plans will also include a new Rail Station, with access
to the existing underground network and the national high speed rail network via
Lime Street Station. It is envisaged that the scheme will become a major
contribution to the Northern Powerhouse initiative, raising productivity,
improving skills and providing the infrastructure to develop the life sciences
sector in the City Region.
Announcing the plans, Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson said:- "The
extension of our Knowledge Quarter is a game changer in terms of the high
quality jobs we will be able to bring into the City in hi-tech, 21st century
industries. This will help us to develop our Knowledge Quarter as we work with
all our partners, including the University of Liverpool and the proposed health
campus at the Royal Hospital to make the City a beacon for investment in this
and similar sectors. We want to build on the success we are already achieving to
make Liverpool a leader in this field. We know there is a real North / South gap
in investment around life sciences that sees an overwhelming concentration of
jobs and investment head south. However this landmark scheme provides the basis
for Liverpool to now become a national and international destination for
investment in life and medical sciences, bringing with it thousands of new, high
skill, high wage jobs." |
