Merseyside Police’s historic former headquarters goes up for sale

Canning Place, which served as the force’s landmark station for more than 40 years, has been described as “the best regeneration opportunity in the entire country”.

The 2.64-acre site is positioned in a prime location just a stone’s throw from the city’s famous waterfront, facing the Albert Dock, and next to Paradise Street bus station and the Liverpool ONE shopping and leisure complex and Liverpool’s creative quarter, the Baltic Triangle.

The sale part of the police and crime commissioner’s (PCC) 12-year plan focused on modernising and updating Merseyside Police’s stations and buildings to ensure officers and staff are in the right places and best equipped to serve communities across the region.

PCC Emily Spurrell has appointed the consultancy and construction firm Mace Consult Ltd and leading commercial property estate agents Colliers, to assist with the marketing and disposal of the site and to attract the broadest and highest calibre of potential developers.

Earlier this year, as part of the two-stage process of putting the site on the market and in line with the PCC’s commitment to social value, a public consultation was held to find out how the public and local stakeholders would like the land to be developed.

The results of that consultation have been used to shape the production of a Planning and Development brief, which is being used to advertise the site and guide potential bidders.

Ms Spurrell said: “Our iconic waterfront boasting the Three Graces and the Royal Albert Dock and Kings Dock is known and loved by people across the region, the country and indeed the world.

“Canning Place occupies a prime location along that skyline, so the sale of this key site provides a unique opportunity to create something special.

“We want this pivotal plot of land to be used for a bold, ambitious, high-quality development which will enhance the city’s vibrant spirit, attract visitors and businesses, and benefit local people.

“Moving Merseyside Police’s headquarters from Canning Place to Rose Hill is already saving the organisation approximately £550,000 each year – money which we are investing in the front line.

“By selling this landmark site, we will generate money which will be used to continue to transform the police estate, making sure our stations are fit to serve our officers and staff, so they are fit to fight crime now and into the future.”

Merseyside Police began the process of vacating Canning Place and relocating to Rose Hill in October 2021 bringing more than 1,100 officers and staff together under one roof. The state-of-the-art new headquarters, just off St Anne Street, was officially opened by HRH The Earl of Wessex in March 2022.

Since then, Canning Place, which first opened its doors in 1977, has been used to house various police teams, while refurbishments to other stations have taken place and has been a base for significant policing operations, including Eurovision.

The site encompasses the former seven floor station, which is more than 135,000 square feet, an annex, car park and a gatehouse.

Now the site has been fully decommissioned, the PCC is inviting bids from developers with a track record of transforming high profile sites. The closing date for applications is October 24, 2024.

The PCC’s 12-year Estate Strategy includes major new police hubs in St Helens, Wirral, Knowsley and new police stations in Southport and Newton-le-Willows, all of which are due to be completed in the next five years.

During the life of the plan, more than £21.6 million is expected to be recouped from the sale of 11 old and unused stations, including Canning Place, Bromborough, Maghull and Ainsdale.

Ms Spurrell said by selling outdated buildings that are no longer fit for purpose and replacing them with state-of-the-art new stations, it is anticipated that a further £2.4 million will be saved on the annual cost of running the police estate – helping to protect police officer posts.