LIVERPOOL'S Wolstenholme Square, birthplace of superclub Cream, is set for a multi-million pound redevelopment.
But the scheme wil signal the end of The Kazimier and Nation clubs.
The plans, which promise new apartments, shops and leisure facilities, will be seen by some as the further “Shoreditchification” of a quarter of the city centre which has so far escaped the cranes.
However developers will be told that nobody can move into the flats it plans to build until the square's two nationally renowned venues, Kazimier and Nation, and other nearby nightclubs, have gone for good.
Also set to disappear in the revamp will be the graffiti-strewn Tonnage Square which forms a pedestrian link between Duke Street and Wolstenholme Square.
David Mahoney, of Hope Street Properties Ltd, will be taking the ambitious scheme before Liverpool City Council’s planning committee on Tuesday when the application will focus simply on plans for Tonnage Square as well as the adjoining buildings.
A wider, indicative master plan for the whole area surrounding the square, including Mello Mello which shut down last month, has been submitted to city planners by Hope Street Properties Ltd, based in Wavertree Road.
Kazimier
Next week's application, recommended for approval by planners, will see the Georgian three-storey 11-13 Wolstenholme Square converted into two retail units with 15 apartments on the upper floors. This will include the infilling of Tonnage Square with a four or five storey building fronting onto Duke Street. This filled in space will create a further two retail units and seven residential units.
Planning officers say the scheme outlined is acceptable, subject to the phased redevelopment of the nearby buildings used as clubs, and also the provision of a robust package of sound-proofing.
Wolstenholme Square, says a report to councillors, is part of the vibrant heart of the Ropewalks area. The current nightclubs and vacant buildings around it mean there is little daytime activity.
Nothing can happen with residential occupany of Wolstenholme Square until Nation and The Kazimier have gone, say planners
“The development proposal provides the opportunity to bring the former merchant houses back into use, preserving the historic character of the buildings,” says the report adding the scheme will create active frontages to both Duke Street and the square itself.
“Delivering residential development in this location does not come without its challenges given the presence of the Pleasure Rooms, Nation and Kazimier nightclubs on Wolstenholme Sq and Le Bateau and Privilege nightclubs on Duke St,” say planning officers.
They want a condition imposed on any planning approval to stipulate any residential development is not brought into occupation until Nation, Kazimier and Pleasure Rooms nightclubs have ceased to operate, whether through redevelopment, revocation of planning consents or via a unilateral undertaking by the developers.
11-13-Wolstenholme Square
One of the challenges is to ensure increased residential schemes in the vicinity do not unduly inhibit the operations of night time venues through noise nuisance complaints.
The committee papers say the Indicative Masterplan submitted in support of the application indicates that the applicant (Hope Street Properties Ltd) either owns or has an interest in purchasing both Nation and Kazimier nightclubs which are earmarked for residential development with work to start on site by January 2017.
Planners say getting rid of the pedestrian route through Tonnage Square outweighs the anti social problems around the square, and as 11-13 Wolstenholme Square is mainly vacant apart from part use as an art studio and gallery, the scheme will help regenerate what is a problematic site.
The officers add that the "attractive and enhancing" scheme will enhance an area within the Duke Street Conservation Area and Liverpool’s World Heritage Site.
You can view the PDF of the masterplan for Wolstenholme Square HERE
Update: Battle for Wolstenholme Square backed by prominent city politiican
