Liverpool Approves £950,000 Study FOR PROPOSED New Cruise Terminal

Authorities in Liverpool today have approved a £950,000 feasibility study, which will look into a proposed new cruise terminal development for the city.

The city of Liverpool has long held ambitions to expand its cruise terminal facility, with the construction of a new purpose built cruise terminal, helping to attract additional turnaround calls from cruise ships and capable of handling up to 3,600 passengers.
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The city’s existing cruise berth originally opened in 2007, with the aim of securing transit calls from cruise ships.  A temporary passenger facility was added in 2012 and Liverpool is now attracting more turnaround calls from cruise ships as well as transit calls.

​A footprint for the new cruise terminal development has been identified, which would require the demolition of a timber landing stage, which up until the 1960’s handled passenger ships on transatlantic services. A platform in the river would also need to be constructed to accommodate the new cruise terminal. A two level building is envisaged to be built on reclaimed land.

A report has set out the next steps required in the development and the need for detailed investigations, impact assessments and surveys to be carried out. Councillors have given the go ahead to the work which will be led by groups of technical specialists including Ove Arup & Partners, Royal Haskoning DV, Tuner and Townsend and KKA Architects.

The Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: "I am determined that we find solutions to continue the growth we have seen in cruise business. What is holding us back at the moment is the limited space we have in the existing facility. To deliver on our ambitions, we would need to invest in a new terminal building which will bring bigger liners carrying more passengers, meaning a bigger boost for the local economy."

Approximately 76,000 passengers are to pass through the current facilities this year on the scheduled 61 cruise ship calls. The 2016 cruise season is estimated to generate an income of around £6.5 million for Liverpool’s economy.

Mayor Anderson added: "We have various options of funding the scheme which we will be exploring, but the figures speak for themselves in terms of jobs supported and created by passengers and crew spending money when they visit the city."
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Timescales for the phase of work approved today have not yet been set.