Full project details
Exemplar retail regeneration transforms Liverpool city centre – European City of Culture and beyond.
Laing O'Rourke was the developer's construction partner on one of Europe's largest city centre regeneration projects - responsible for site-wide management of project, programme, design and site operations. This first phase of the Paradise Project masterplan required coordinated management of over 40 separate projects - 30 new buildings together with refurbished buildings, all carefully integrated into the fabric and life of the city.
Laing O'Rourke designed and constructed the most complex building structures, including the anchor stores for John Lewis and Debenhams with associated retail district; new BBC broadcasting facility; high-rise luxury apartments; a 2,400 space four-storey underground car park with major new public green space (Chavasse Park); above ground transport interchange with multistorey car park; tram future-proofing and extensive highway/infrastructure works.
Construction and management capabilities
Given the project's size and scope it benefited considerably from our Group-wide capabilities, skills and resources in relation to concrete frames and civil engineering, and experience with retail, hotel, residential and commercial developments. In-house companies Expanded Group, Infrastructure, Crown House Technologies, Select Plant, Malling and Vetter were all involved extensively offering a full service, integrated solution. Our component-led, offsite manufacturing strategy recognised and minimised the effects of a skills-constrained environment on such a large project.
Local employment initiatives
Relationship building was integral to our delivery: we established strong links between our project team, client, Liverpool City Council and the Merseyside Construction Initiative. At peak, Merseyside residents made up 70% of all direct or supply chain operatives.