Virtual reality walkthrough brings £100m Liverpool Baltic Station scheme to life

A virtual reality (VR) walkthrough is bringing plans for the £100m Liverpool Baltic Station development to life. Mayor Steve Rotheram unveiled the walkthrough at a drop in event in the Baltic Triangle, which is part of an on going public consultation into the plans.

The Mayor was 1 of the 1st people to place himself in the:- 'virtual' new Station with the help of a VR headset, which gives a feel of how the Station may look when completed in late 2027.

Liverpool Baltic Station will be located in 1 of the City Region's fastest growing areas and is 1 of 4 new Stations planned by recently re-elected Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, who has committed to completing the project by the end of 2027; a year ahead of its previous schedule.

Mayor Rotheram has also pledged to build 3 new Stations at:- Daresbury in Halton, Woodchurch, on the Wirral and Carr Mill in St Helens, with work to develop all 3 underway by the end of the decade.

The move would mean that every borough of the City Region would have a brand new Station since Mayor Rotheram took office in 2017.

Speaking at the drop-in event, Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "Since I became Mayor in 2017, I have worked tirelessly to ensure we have the best connectivity possible for our residents across the City Region. It is important that people can enjoy a reliable, accessible, cheap and integrated public transport network that makes getting around an easy, untroubled experience. Our plans for Liverpool Baltic Station demonstrate our ambitions for the future of our network, with this virtual walkthrough showcasing the level of quality we want to build for our residents. This Station will be located in an area that is growing in popularity, and this holds massive potential in driving economic growth in and around the Baltic. Liverpool Baltic is the 1st of many new Stations part of my commitment to:- 'Merseyrail for All,' connecting communities not currently connected by the rail network to harness growth and opportunities in our area."

The drop in event is part of a public consultation on the Station scheme, which is running until:- Sunday, 4 August 2024.

The new Station, located on Merseyrail's Northern Line, will serve the UK's:- 'coolest neighbourhood' and the world's 11th coolest; according to Time Out magazine. The Station's name was chosen by the public in an online vote in 2022 which saw more than three-quarters opt for Liverpool Baltic.

The VR walkthrough is accessible from the project webpage and will also be used at the next drop in event at FireFit Youth and Community Hub, in Toxteth, on:- Tuesday, 23 July 2024, from:- 11am to 8pm.

People can have their say on the scheme at the drop-in event or via an online survey.

You can find out more about the consultation and the scheme on the project website.

Information gathered from the consultation will be used to finalise the design ahead of the planning application. Subject to approval, work is expected to begin on site in 2025, with the Station scheduled to open by the end of 2027.

Plans for Liverpool Baltic Station include:- step free access from street to train, passenger waiting facilities, fully accessible passenger toilets, secure monitored cycle parking and links to an enhanced local active travel network.

The new Station is part of Mayor Rotheram's:- "Merseyrail for All" commitment to reach communities that are currently not connected to the local rail network by utilising the Region's new pioneering battery powered technology, which has made it possible to extend the lines beyond current boundaries.

It is also hoped that by extending and improving services more people will be encouraged to travel by public transport instead of car, supporting the Mayor's ambitious target of reaching net zero by 2035.

Neil Grabham, Managing Director of Merseyrail, said:- "It's really exciting to be able to share the plans for the new Liverpool Baltic Station as part of these public consultation events, alongside colleagues from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Liverpool City Council and Network Rail. I'm sure that everyone taking part in this consultation will be impressed with the plans for the new Station. Our teams are available to speak to anyone who has questions or feedback as part of the consultation at these events. Once built, the new Station at Liverpool Baltic will have a hugely positive impact on the whole area. I know that people will have lots of opinions about the development. So please do take part in the survey or come and see us at the next drop in event."

Philippa Britton, Network Rail principal programme sponsor, said:- "The virtual reality walkthrough is a fantastic way to bring the exciting plans for Liverpool Baltic Station to life. It's been great to deliver the design of the new Station in this vibrant part of the Liverpool City Region and work alongside the combined authority and other partners."

Councillor Nick Small, Liverpool City Council's Cabinet member for Growth and Economy, said:- "The new Liverpool Baltic Station has huge potential to help drive the economic growth of this part of the City Centre and will act as a vital service for the long-standing residential community. Its development will also complement the Council's plans to improve the public realm in the area for both residents and visitors alike. The next few years should define the future of the Baltic Triangle for decades to come and these new images and the pending public consultation is an exciting chapter in this unfolding story."

Lynn Haime, Chief Executive of the Baltic Creative CIC, said:- "We are thrilled to see progress on the Liverpool Baltic Station and get a feel for what it will look like. We've campaigned for this for many years as an important addition to the area which will not only support the existing business community but also fuel further growth. The need for this Station reflects just how significant the Baltic Triangle has become as a location, and regular research with our creative and digital community consistently shows that it would be well used and warmly welcomed. The introduction of this Station also aligns perfectly with Baltic Creative's sustainability agenda, enhancing our efforts to create a greener, more connected future."

Chris Kirkland awarded honorary doctorate at Edge Hill University

FORMER Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has been awarded an honorary doctorate for his mental health work; and received a surprise invite to receive his forgotten England cap.

Kirkland, who lives in Ormskirk, Lancashire, was made an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy in a ceremony at Edge Hill University alongside hundreds of students collecting their degrees. And in a shock moment for the Leicester born shot stopper, he was presented with an invitation from the Football Association to receive an England cap as part of the ceremony.

University staff alerted FA bosses that Kirkland had never received the traditional international honour after playing for the 3 Lions in August 2006; his only appearance for his country.

The FA have invited him to be a guest of honour at the England v Greece Nations League match on:- 10 October, at Wembley, when he will receive an England Legacy Cap in recognition of his contribution.

Kirkland, 43, replaced Paul Robinson at half time in England's 4 to 0 win over Greece at Old Trafford, in August 2006.

The goalkeeper, then at Wigan Athletic, played 45 times for Liverpool, also turning out for:- Coventry City, West Bromwich Albion, Leicester City, Doncaster Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday and Preston North End. He said:- "It was an amazing day for me and my family and I'm extremely proud to have been invited to Edge Hill University to receive this doctorate. I'd like to dedicate it to the people who work hard for others but will never receive the recognition they deserve. I hope it opens doors so we can do more good."

Kirkland said he had:- "no idea" about the news of his England cap and added:- "It was an amazing touch. All of the staff at Edge Hill have been superb to me."

Pro Vice-Chancellor Liam Owens cited Kirkland as a:- "role model and an inspiration for the community in which he lives and works. The work Chris is doing, and the honesty and bravery with which he does it, is an inspiration to us all. He is changing futures and, for some of the people he works with, the impact he will make will sometimes make the difference between life and death."

In his acceptance speech Kirkland, who has worked with a range of organisations in mental health including:- the LFC Foundation, Edge Hill University, St Bede's Catholic High School, Walkings Brilliant, Positive Parcel and Wellness Onside, said talking about mental health and wellbeing should be on the national curriculum.

He has been open and honest about a battle with a long term addiction to painkillers, struggles with his mental health and coming close to taking his own life.

Kirkland said:- "I'm here today because I talked. Because I shared my problems. Because I discussed how I felt. I'm here because when I was at my lowest, when I considered ending everything, through accessing professional help I was able to push through. Mental health should be treated no differently to general health. We think about what we eat. We think about exercise and keeping in shape. In professional sport, too often, the focus has been on how fast or how far we can run. What weights we can lift. But what about keeping our brains in shape? What about exercising our brain? Looking after our brain? Normalising talking about how you feel should be part of the curriculum at every School. It should be in the thoughts of every teacher, every manager, every boss, and every coach. I talked. I got help. And my daughter said to me 1 day,:- 'As annoying as you are, I've got my real dad back now.' We all deserve to be our real selves."

Edge Hill's Academic Board awards honorary degrees in recognition of the highest levels of personal achievement in academic, professional or public life.

The other 2024 recipients are:-

• Dame Louise Ellman, former Leader of Lancashire County Council and former Member of Parliament for Liverpool Riverside.
   

• The Right Honourable Lord Justice Tim Holroyde, who has had an extensive legal career spanning several decades.
   

• The Lord Shuttleworth (Charles) KG KCVO, who served as Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire until 2023, and Lady Ann Shuttleworth, who was High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1999.
   

• Steve Igoe, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Edge Hill University who recently retired after 28 years service.

Previous recipients include:- BBC journalist Clive Myrie, comedian Michael Pennington, better known as:- Johnny Vegas, actor David Morrissey, screenwriter and playwright Heidi Thomas, and Wally Brown CBE, ex-College Principal and community leader in Liverpool.

Watch the University's interview with Chris about Liverpool, life and receiving an Honorary Doctorate:-