Eastern Gateway
The Edge Lane corridor around which the strategic investment area is based is probably the most important gateway to Liverpool City Centre - the greatest generator of jobs and economic activity for Merseyside. The route provides direct access from the M62 motorway into the City Centre, and its quality and branding are fundamental to the promotion and the actuality of Liverpool as a competitive, business friendly city. Some 16,000 people currently work within the Eastern Gateway area in over 750 firms.
At its core is the successful Wavertree Technology Park, developed since the early 1980s on former railway sidings behind sites previously occupied by Marconi and an MTL bus depot. The park, connected to the Merseyrail network with a new station built in 2002, is home to Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Barclaycard, Royal Bank of Scotland, Brainboxes, Gardner Systems and the Mando Group. Since Marconi reduced its operations in Liverpool and the MTL depot was vacated, the opportunity arose to extend the Technology Park to give it a prime frontage on Edge Lane itself, a feature which - until now - it has lacked. The project has been rebranded Liverpool Innovation Park, and the £10million infrastructure works to enable development to commence were completed in 2008.
Nearby, Liverpool Digital provides a home to business and incubation activities, together with university research facilities and conferencing space all focused on the Creative and Digital industries. It was developed in 2003 in a joint venture between Marconi, Liverpool John Moores University and the North West Development Agency.
Wavertree Business Village was completed in 2005 by Development Partnership Merseyside Ltd. It was developed as 2-storey self-contained prestige office units located within a secure landscaped environment with ample private car parking. New business that moved into its 20 units included Cupera International Ltd and the Liverpool Primary Care Trust.
Edge Lane, the main road corridor itself, has been undergoing a £65million improvement programme to enhance its environment as a welcome to the city for visitors passing through fromt he end of the M62 to the city centre. Substantial elements of the scheme were completed in 2007/8, whilst the final section, Edge Lane West is due to get underway by the end of 2009.
Key schemes in the pipeline include:
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Further development will take place on the Liverpool Innovation Park, where emphasis will be placed on encouraging investment by the digital and ICT sectors, attracting high-quality new inward investors and enabling SME expansion.
The site will be managed by the Liverpool Science Partnership (LSP), a separate company formed between Liverpool City Council, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool University and the Northwest Development Agency.
The primary objective of LSP is to encourage the creation of, and offer support to, emerging knowledge-based businesses. This support will enable new businesses (such as start-up and spin-off companies) to establish and develop in a supportive environment that will benefit both the local and regional economy by creating sustainable employment opportunities.
Emerging and established knowledge based businesses will be offered the opportunity to become members of the LSP and will be able to benefit from access to centralised support systems, including business networking systems, research and development facilities, and important links to the two Liverpool Universities, to contribute to their companies' growth; -
Regeneration of the iconic art deco former Littlewoods building. Outline planning permission was recently approved for its £45million conversion to two schools, allowing links between education and the adjoining hi-tech businesses;
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Regenerating the Edge Lane Retail Park.
Help and advice:
Within the area, JET Eastern Link offers help to local people trying to find jobs or skills training courses. You can visit the JET Eastern Link website or find out more about JETs (Jobs Education Training).
Liverpool Vision is working to make a number of important large sites and buildings available within Eastern Approaches. You can ask us about what buildings or development sites are available, or for more help with setting up your business in the area.
Find out more about the Edge Lane Project.
Contact us
5th Floor, The Capital, 39 Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9PP
Tel: +00 44 (0)151 600 2900
Website: www.liverpoolvision.co.uk
Email: info@liverpoolvision.co.uk