Lord Mayor Cllr Anna Rothery visits new Lodge Lane “ground-breaking” retail development

A ‘transformational’ retail development on Lodge Lane in Toxteth has been given the Lord Mayor’s seal of approval following a site visit.

Cllr Anna Rothery, in whose ward the development sits, visited the ground-breaking shipping container development to view progress ahead of its official opening at the end of summer.  Commenting on the project, by developer CanCo, the Lord Mayor said:

“This is an exciting scheme that provides space for local people to try out new ideas or launch their new business. By giving more people reasons to shop locally it can only help the Toxteth economy. It will also attract additional visitors to the area to spend money with the wide range of retailers, cafes and restaurants that occupy the length of Lodge Lane.  We have a diverse and exciting cultural offer and this scheme will help showcase it further.”

Local property specialist Yas Alawi of Lodge Lane-based New Era Property has been retained by the developer as letting agent and he says interest in the units is ‘incredibly high’.

“We’re offering easy in, easy out licences to help reduce the risk for local people who want to try new formats or launch new product ranges or even make the first step on the road to business success,” said Mr Alawi.

“I’ve been inundated with enquiries from local residents and we’re looking forward to announcing our tenant mix in due course.  In the meantime, there’s some final elements of construction to conclude, such as hooking up the utilities so if people hear building work going on behind the hoardings, that’s what’s happening.”

As part of plans to widen the community’s involvement famous local poet and story-teller Levi Tafari has hosted a series of workshops with local people, with excerpts from their stories and poems set to adorn the side of the most prominent containers.

Fourteen insulated containers of 150 square feet each will be available with glazed frontages facing Lodge Lane at its junction with Grierson Street.  The brightly-painted containers, some stacked two high, will offer a striking, modern frontage.  The scheme is being built by Merseyside-based contractor Larnook.

Interested occupiers are asked to contact Yas Alawi directly 07500 900 830 or yas@newerapm.co.uk

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