Tier one contractor Graham has been appointed to deliver phase one of a £5bn brownfield development in Liverpool.
The firm was selected for the design-and-build work at Liverpool Waters by developer Peel Group, following a competitive tender via Pagabo’s Civil Engineering and Infrastructure Framework.
Last month, ministers approved investment of £56m via Homes England to unlock works on Liverpool Waters, and the Treasury later gave the green light for the spending to support creation of vital infrastructure for the next phase of the scheme.
Alastair Lewis, contracts director for the firm, said: “Graham has a proven history of successful collaboration with Liverpool City Council and Peel Waters, and we are excited to bring our early contractor involvement experience to this landmark development.”
In 2022, Peel Group awarded Graham a £130m job to deliver 500 apartments at the Wirral Waters development (a sister scheme to Liverpool Waters).
The contractor was ranked 21st in this year’s CN100 table of top contractors, with turnover of £1.12bn and pre-tax profit of £14.8m.
Peel Group is developing five neighbourhoods along a 2km stretch of the River Mersey. The mammoth project is expected to provide 2 million square metres of residential, commercial and leisure space.
The latest Homes England funding will support the creation of a 2.1 hectare public park as well as paving the way for 2,350 new homes in the Central Docks neighbourhood.
Liverpool City Council this summer agreed to accept Brownfield Infrastructure Land grant funding and act as the accountable body to deliver site infrastructure.
In the Liverpool Waters scheme, infrastructure including underground utilities, roads and public amenities will lay the groundwork for future investment and the development of a diverse mix of housing, commercial, community, retail and leisure facilities.
The scheme is also set to enhance connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists, Peel Group added.
Work is already underway on final-stage designs, surveys and site preparation, with Graham scheduled to begin main works early next year.
Phase two of the project, to include the construction and completion of the additional infrastructure and new park, will be awarded following the completion of stage one.
Completion of the infrastructure works and central park at Central Docks Liverpool Waters is expected by winter 2027, according to Peel Group.
There are already £1bn of projects under construction across Liverpool Waters, including the new 52,888-seater Everton Stadium, the Mersey Heat district heating network and more than 600 homes.
Nearly 1,200 homes have already been built across the Princes Dock and Central Docks neighbourhoods, while John Sisk & Son completed a £70m ferry terminal in June.
