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Liverpool Canal Link wins prestigious regeneration award

20th Oct 2009

The Liverpool Canal Link team was announced as the winner of the Regeneration Award at the British Construction Industry Awards (BCIA).

The £22m project, which was led by British Waterways and delivered by Arup, Balfour Beatty and BAM Nuttall, was recognised for the significant impact and regeneration of derelict land in North Liverpool and creating a world class waterfront facility for all to enjoy.

Re-establishing an historic connection between the city’s currently underused South Docks and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, the canal link opens up the city’s waterfront to the previously untapped leisure and tourism industry already thriving on Britain’s canal system – echoing a time past when waterways brought economic prosperity to Liverpool.

For the first time in over a century the 30,000 boats on Britain’s inland waterways will be able to navigate the current 127 mile Leeds & Liverpool Canal straight into the heart of Liverpool. Cutting a course through the World Heritage Site in front of the famous Three Graces – the Liver, Cunard and Port of Liverpool buildings – the new 1½ mile canal link is estimated to generate 200,000 extra visitors annually to Liverpool’s waterfront with an additional tourism spend of £1.9million.

Richard Longton, project manager for British Waterways comments: “The BCIA awards are the longest standing, most rigorously judged and highly prized in the UK construction sector. It is a great achievement to win the Regeneration Award and for the project to be acknowledged as a superb example of what can be accomplished by a dedicated and professional team. The canal link is a true catalyst for the regeneration of the River Mersey waterfront and it will help enhance the canal corridor through north Liverpool and Sefton. The new look Pier Head is world class.”

Councillor Peter Millea, executive member for assets and development at Liverpool City Council, said: "This is the latest in a long list of prestigious awards for the Pier Head regeneration and canal link. It is recognition of how our waterfront is being transformed into a world–class destination with work of the highest quality. It is creating a waterfront which is the envy of many cities.”

Jim Gill, chief executive of Liverpool Vision added: “The canal link is one of a number of major interventions that are transforming the city centre waterfront into a visitor destination of international quality, and we are delighted that the BCI has recognised its contribution to the overall regeneration programme.”

The Liverpool Canal Link was funded by Objective 1 (European Regional Development Fund), Northwest Regional Development Agency, Homes and Communities Agency (previously English Partnerships), Peel Holdings and British Waterways.

Last updated: 22/10/2009