Major Copperas Hill development gets green light
Liverpool John Moores University’s ambitious plans to transform a disused city centre site into state-of-the-art student facilities have been given the go-ahead.
Liverpool City Council’s Planning Committee today (Tuesday 9 October) approved the plans for the former Royal Mail site on Copperas Hill.
The three and a half acre development will provide high quality new buildings and open spaces, as well as regenerating a key gateway site in the heart of the city centre.
The plans will see two new buildings, designed by architects Sheppard Robson, become a focal point for student life:
- The Student Life Building
A five-storey building providing a range of student-facing services, including advice and wellbeing services, careers advice, international exchanges, an area for individual and group study, and the Students’ Union (JMSU).
- The Sports Building
A two-storey building which will include outstanding facilities such as an eight court sports hall, three multi-purpose halls, a state-of-the-art gym and staff facilities.
The development will also create attractive public open spaces, which will benefit the local community as well as students and staff.
LJMU has appointed Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure as the contractor to carry out the development. Work is scheduled to commence on site later this year, with completion scheduled for 2020.
The Copperas Hill project is part of a wider LJMU redevelopment programme, which will see a number of new facilities built by the university.
Professor Phil Vickerman, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Initiatives) at LJMU, said: “I’m delighted that we have taken another significant step forward with this exciting development on the Copperas Hill site.
“These new facilities will really enhance the university experience for our students and will help to link the different areas of our campus. Alongside Sensor City it will also strengthen the Knowledge Quarter, which is rightly regarded as one of the UK’s primary sites for research and innovation.
“The work will drive forward the regeneration of this key gateway site and completely transform the public realm and open spaces. This commitment to our community, the city and the wider city region perfectly reflects and supports our vision of LJMU as a pioneering modern civic university.”
