Members of the public are being asked for their views on a future masterplan for Liverpool's famous Baltic Triangle district.
A Liverpool City Council's cabinet meeting next week is expected to see a public consultation launched on the Baltic Triangle's draft Spatial Regeneration Framework (SRF).
If approved, a five-week consultation will begin led by LDA Design that will include creating more green corridors, encouraging a "balanced mix" of housing types, and support for the new railway station - St James.
And the director of the Baltic Triangle Area Community Interest Company has said it's in a bid to prevent the area from falling into the same traps seen in East London creative districts such as Shoreditch and Hackney.
The draft SRF identifies four 'Areas of Change', setting design guidelines for each that deal with considerations like scale, design, connectivity, heritage and green infrastructure.
Those four areas are the police HQ and Heaps Mill, Wapping Goods Terminal, Flint Street South and the Cains Brewery Village.
Paul Hogan, director of the Baltic Triangle Area CIC, said: “The Baltic Triangle must not suffer the same fate of the creative sector in east London where people and organisations are being forced out because they can no longer afford to live or work in the very areas that they were instrumental in helping to regenerate.
"In this context, we see the development of the SRF as very timely and important.
“We applaud the council for taking this bold step as it will support our long term vision to preserve and grow the Baltic Triangle as a place where genuinely affordable and flexible live/work space sit side by side with spaces for social, recreational and creative enterprise.”
Mark Graham, director at LDA Design, said: “Our focus on the amazing network of existing and historic streets, using a place-led approach, ensures that development and emerging uses, will be focussed on delivering positive street environments which embrace the character and vibrancy of this amazing place.
"Importantly this SRF is about ensuring the longevity of the Baltic Triangle as a digital and creative hub, whilst also making it a great place to live – delivering a place where both businesses and residential communities can grow.”
The Baltic Triangle covers 37.6 ha of mixed-use land on the southern fringe of the city centre and is home to many digital and creative industries as well as popular night-time economy venues.
The area has boomed in the past decade, fuelled by a blossoming creative and digital sector overseen by the Baltic Creative and Baltic Triangle Area CICs – and has attracted significant levels of development.
Since January 2012, £128m has been invested in new developments with a further £62m currently on site.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “The development of the Baltic Triangle is one of Liverpool’s great success stories of the past decade and this new masterplan will help guide and ensure this growth continues for the decades to come.
“Consultation with businesses and residents will be crucial to how this draft plan is shaped.
"The area’s position as one of Britain’s fastest-growing digital and creative hubs is something the city takes great pride in and we want to nurture this to ensure its future as a major engine in the Liverpool Powerhouse.”
