A GRASSY park in the sky and a massive, single site university village are set to dominate the area behind Lime Street Station in a 10-year vision mapped out in pictures today by Liverpool John Moores University.
New images show the former 30,000 sq ft Royal Mail sorting office in Copperas Hill transformed into JMU’s new "beating heart". They accompany plans, just submitted to the city council, now open for public comment.
The Copperas Hill project utilises the existing sorting office’s structural frame, floors and cores in a blueprint described by the university as a "once in a lifetime" opportunity. It will become the focal point of a huge campus surrounded by landscaped grounds, with rooftop sports pitches.
The central hub building will house LJMU’s only library, plus teaching space, the student union, student services, sport and wellbeing, food, retail and exhibition space.
The new campus will dominate a run down part of the city centre behind Lime Street. LMJU bought the sorting office in 2011
It would allow LJMU to deliver all academic programmes from the city centre. The remote IM Marsh campus in Aigburth would relocate there.
The plans also promises public realm improvements to site associated with Copperas Hill including a new city park.
Also on the table is the creation of an adjacent University Enterprise Zone, to be known as Sensor City. There would be a refurbishment of the Aldham Robarts building to allow use by other academic and administrative functions as the library moves out,
The plan, which LJMU says will enhance its international profile, also envisages a new civic City Piazza and a "Knowledge Axis" linking other JMU buildings close by, as well as a Living Wall, an interactive and a sculptural structure providing screening to the Adelphi car park.
Where and what now
The IM Marsh campus in Barkhill Road, Aigburth, would close, perhaps making a nice boutique hotel or wedding venue for those in that game LJMU currently operates out of three main campuses: City Campus, located close to the William Brown Street area, near to St Georges Hall, the Walker Art Gallery, the Liverpool Museum and Central Library.
Mount Pleasant Campus located mainly between the city's two cathedrals. Most of this area is covered by designated conservation areas and several university buildings are statutorily listed as being of architectural or historic interest.
The IM Marsh Campus, located approximately four miles away from the city centre, in Aigburth.
The LJMU estate also includes Lairdside Maritime Centre in Birkenhead.
