Multi-million court battle over key Liverpool waterfront development
A developer is seeking multi-million pound damages
A multi-million pound High Court battle is underway as a developer seeks damages in a dispute over construction projects on the Liverpool Waterfront. Property developer Romal Capital has built hundreds of residential properties at Central Docks - one of the neighbourhoods which makes up Peel's Liverpool Waters regeneration project.
It is now seeking multi-million-pound damages in a case which concerns alleged breaches of an agreement for lease of land at Central Docks. It is Romal’s case that Peel breached the contract between them by making a series of planning applications which conflicted with Romal’s proposed development, making it significantly more difficult for Romal to obtain its own planning permission.
Peel denies wrongdoing and is defending the claim in full. The hearing began on May 12 in the High Court Business and Property Courts, Liverpool District Registry. It is expected to run for three weeks.
A spokesperson for Romal Capital said: "Our commitment to the Liverpool Waters regeneration scheme is unwavering and we regret that this dispute has reached the courts.
"We have always remained focused on delivering homes of quality and distinction, rooted in place-making and community for Liverpool."
Romal will not be providing further comment while the case is ongoing. Peel told the ECHO it would not be commenting at the moment.
What is Central Docks?
Described as an "ambitious 30-year vision to completely transform the city’s northern docks", the £5bn Liverpool Waters scheme is being delivered by property giants Peel and spans 2.3km along the banks of the River Mersey.
The project is split into five neighbourhoods - Central Docks, Clarence Docks, King Edward Triangle, Princes Dock and Northern Docks.
The full site stretches from the northern edge of Liverpool city centre to Bramley-Moore Dock, where Everton FC's new stadium has been built.
Last year, it was confirmed Homes England will pump £55m into a major housing scheme at Central Docks, the largest neighbourhood within Liverpool Waters and the city's largest brownfield site. It is found around 1km north of the city centre, to the west of Regent and Waterloo Road and the north of Jesse Hartley Way.
The plans, cited by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her first speech in the role, will see around 2,350 new homes created. It will also include the creation of a new public park.
Full planning permission has already been granted, with comprehensive plans for Central Docks including the creation of an interconnected network of public spaces.
The proposed new landscape will be enriched with the planting of hundreds of trees, with the centrepiece being 'Central Park,' a sprawling 2.1-hectare 'oasis', set to become one of the city’s largest urban green spaces.
Regarding the timeline of the park's delivery, a planning document says: "All infrastructure and parks are planned to be completed by December 2027, subject to GRAHAM (contractor) and Peel agreeing T&Cs, and obtaining final grant approval. Following this, the Central Docks neighbourhood will be made publicly available.