A year in review

2024 was a landmark year for Peel Waters. 

As the calendar year draws to a close, take a look at some of the key highlights from Liverpool Waters including us securing £56million for Central Docks from Homes England, the completion of the Isle of Man Ferry Terminal, opening the UK’s first public floating sauna, as well as what announcements and milestones to look out for in 2025.

We unveiled a new vision for Liverpool Waters

In July we submitted a revised Liverpool Waters masterplan to Liverpool City Council. The new masterplan now incorporates the emerging destination at Everton’s new stadium and includes more public green spaces and dockside open space to celebrate and preserve the area’s maritime heritage and unique elements of the docks.

The new masterplan also includes a more diverse and affordable housing offer, and will put sustainability, community, and accessibility at its heart, bringing people together, reducing the impact of climate change, and minimising the need for car travel. Through enhanced infrastructure to support cycling, and better integration with public transport, the updated Liverpool Waters Masterplan will support our wider strategy on environmental and economic sustainability.

Read more about the revised Liverpool Waters masterplan and find updated CGIS here.

Planning approved and official opening of the UK’s first public floating sauna – WYLD Sauna

2024 was a brilliant year for our first partnership with WYLD sauna, with their plans for their first floating sauna being approved, submitted and developed within the year.

The WYLD Sauna experience at Liverpool Waters consists of a new floating pontoon containing a 30-person sauna, complete with two ice baths, two cold waterfall showers, four heated outdoor showers with salt rub, outdoor seating, changing rooms equipped with hair dryers, lockers, changing mirror and swimsuit dryers and, most importantly, access to enter into Princes Docks water directly from the sauna.

Reflection from Tom Berendsen, Co-Founder of Wyld Sauna 

“Liverpool is an incredible city and we couldn’t have chosen a more perfect location for Wyld Sauna than at Princes Dock. Guests will have the opportunity to soak up Liverpool’s famous skyline whilst enjoying the heat of the sauna, a refreshing cold water swim or a calming ice bath. We hope that our guests find their calm with us at Wyld and can enjoy the plethora of benefits that saunas and cold water therapy can create.”

Find out more about Wyld Sauna at Liverpool Waters and book your visit here.

Treasury approves £56m to accelerate delivery of Central Docks Liverpool Waters

In October, a £56m investment by Homes England into Central Docks, Liverpool Waters was given final approval by HM Treasury. The funding will support the creation of a new public park and vital infrastructure that will accommodate approximately 2,350 new homes and is all part of the government’s plans to build 1.5 million new homes across the UK in the next five years.

Reflection from Chris Capes, Development Director of Liverpool Waters 

“The challenges faced when regenerating brownfield sites means collaboration and partnerships like this are vital. This is a great example of central, regional and local government working alongside the private sector to kick start regeneration, attract inward investment, and deliver much needed new homes.

“Investment by Homes England in this infrastructure will help lever in at least ten times the amount from the private sector, leading to the complete transformation of the Central Docks neighbourhood and the creation of an inclusive, distinctive and healthy new community.

“Work will start immediately on final stage designs, surveys and site preparation, with the main works starting next spring.”

Find out more about Central Docks, Liverpool Waters here.

Improved waterside connectivity – Completion of the Isle of Man Ferry Terminal and new pedestrian link bridge and new vision for Liverpool Cruise Port

In June this year, we completed a new pedestrian link bridge connecting Princes Dock with Central Docks. As part of the new £340,000 bridge and refurbishment project, we preserved and retained the historic lock gates, which sit on either side of the dock. The bride is a key piece of infrastructure in delivering a long-term vision to eventually open up access along the entire Liverpool waterfront from Aigburth right through to Bramley-Moore Dock. The bridge is also a vital connection for the Isle of Man Ferry Terminal which opened in June this year.

This new terminal marks a clear commitment from the Isle of Man Government to maintain a strategic passenger route to Liverpool. The new terminal at Liverpool Waters now has the capacity to accommodate 1,000 passengers and has over a kilometre of vehicle lanes. Inside the terminal has been fitted with state of art baggage systems, a café and incredible views across the Mersey.

Reflection from Tim Crookall, Minister for Infrastructure, Isle of Man Government on the day of the opening 

 “Today’s tour was about acknowledging the role played by both Liverpool City Council and Peel Waters in helping us in many different ways to deliver the new ferry terminal and cement links with the city for generations to come. 

“Tangible examples of this support will be seen by passengers each time they use the new facility: through the council’s investment in Triskelion Way, the road leading to the terminal, and a pedestrian footbridge funded by Peel Waters, which helps to connect the riverside route for walkers, runners and cyclists.” 

Read more from the day the terminal officially opened and find out more about the Isle of Man Ferry Terminal here.

In April this year, Global Ports Holding (GPH) signed a 50-year agreement which will see up to £25m investment, including the construction of a new terminal building at Liverpool Waters. The investment, which is subject to the granting of appropriate permits and licenses, will include the addition of a new floating pontoon that would increase capacity and allow for the simultaneous berthing of two 300-metre ships and up to 7,000 passengers a day.

T.J. Morris and Beetham take over King Edward Triangle

This year, we confirmed KEIE Limited (a group company of T.J. Morris Limited, who trade as Home Bargains) were to acquire The King Edward Triangle neighbourhood within Liverpool Waters.

T.J. Morris has partnered with Hugh Frost, the founder of Beetham Organization Ltd, to bring the prime city development site forward. Frost is best known for redefining the skylines of Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham and demonstrating that high-quality residential and mixed-use towers could thrive in key provincial cities.

More plans about the future vision for King Edward Triangle will be announced next year.

Reflection from Chris Capes, Director of Development at Liverpool Waters

“The King Edward Triangle neighbourhood is a pivotal link between Liverpool Waters, the Business District, and the city centre. Securing partners with such ambitions for this key site is fantastic news for Liverpool Waters and the city of Liverpool. 

Bringing in other developers and investors to work in partnership with us to accelerate the regeneration of Liverpool Waters has always been part of the strategy for the scheme, and we look forward to seeing Hugh Frost and his team transform the site, bringing new jobs and new homes to the area.”

Sunrise to sunset: Liverpool Waters community and cultural offerings continue to grow in 2024

2024 saw us welcome a host of new businesses who chose Liverpool Waters as a base to set up their offices. E-Sign, Lambert Smith Hampton and games developer, Abracadabra Studio, known for the highly popular SharkBite series on the Roblox platform, are among the exciting new additions to our business community.

In a year which saw many businesses relocate, set-up and grow in Liverpool Waters, we also grew our cultural and events offering. We partnered with Liverpool BID Company, Royal Albert Dock and Culture Liverpool for ‘The Last Day of Summer Family Festival’. Families enjoyed free outdoor yoga and sound bath classes, open water swimming, meditation classes, art workshops and even had the chance to meet mermaids at Princes Dock.

In September, we hosted our annual Dragon Boat Race which saw over 22 different businesses come together and compete, whilst raising vital funds for Claire House Children’s Hospice. Since the race’s return in 2022, over £105,000 has now been raised for the charity through our event and support from the businesses who have taken part.

Reflection from Dan Halliday, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Claire House Children’s Hospice 

“It’s wonderful to return to Princes Dock once again for this event. The £105,000 raised over the last three years is a tremendous achievement and will make a real difference to the children and families we support. We’re so grateful to all the businesses involved, Peel Waters for organising, and Anchor Group Services for sponsoring the events. The Claire House team had a fantastic day, and we couldn’t have asked for better company.”

What to look out for in 2025

Start on site – Central Docks at Liverpool Waters

Work will officially start in spring 2025 on creating the new public park and vital infrastructure that will accommodate approximately 2,350 new homes at Central Docks, Liverpool Waters.

Everton’s first Premier League match at their new stadium in Liverpool Waters – Summer 2025

As one of the most eagerly anticipated stadium development projects in the world, all eyes will be on Everton as they open the doors to their new 52,888 capacity stadium at Bramley Moore Dock, Liverpool Waters.

Hundreds of new homes to reach practical completion

In 2025, we expect to see X1’s 278 apartment development at Liverpool Waters and Romal Capital’s 128-apartment ‘Mauretania’ development both reach practical completion.