Canning Place
Merseyside Police relocated to its new headquarters Rose Hill in October 2021, and this has enabled more than 1,100 officers and police staff to operate under one roof within a flagship base. This relocation has resulted in the former HQ building at Canning Place becoming vacant. To explore what is possible and needed in the current climate for this key development location, Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner and Merseyside Police commissioned a project team led by MACE, with support from Colliers and PLACED.
The role of this project team was to explore what options were available for the future of the Canning Place site, what local people and stakeholders wanted to see, and how the site could look and feel in the future.
As part of this project team, PLACED delivered public engagement and Colliers conducted direct stakeholder engagement and soft market testing. The purpose of these processes was to inform and shape the production of a memorandum of understanding. This would provide guidance and parameters for how Canning Place should be redeveloped in the future and used to advertise the site for disposal on the open market. The process provided crucial insight into the best possible solution for the site and how to achieve the best social, economic, and environmental benefits for the Merseyside community, whilst helping to align the interests and proposals of developers with the needs of local people.
What we did
PLACED delivered engagement during February and March 2024 and this included pop-up events in Liverpool One, school workshops, an interactive website (www.placed-engagement.org.uk/canningplace) where local people and stakeholders could share their views and complete a survey.
Outcomes
Findings from our public engagement informed and shaped the production of a memorandum of understanding. This would provide guidance and parameters for how Canning Place should be redeveloped in the future.
Throughout all of the engagement activity delivered, there was a clear desire to see a landmark destination that attracts visitors and businesses to the city but that also benefits local people, creating employment opportunities. Similarly, engagement participants in-person and online expressed desires for an ambitious development with economic impact that reflects Liverpool’s vibrant spirit, enhancing its appeal to businesses, tourists, and residents alike.
