Businesses in the Baltic Triangle District have voiced their support for the new development which was given the green light by the council last week, arguing it will be good for business, bringing more people to the area from around the city.
Toni who works at the Baltic Convenience said: “I was excited, we’ve been talking about it for a while. The area needs more transport into the Baltic and it must put a lot of people off knowing there’s no easy way to get here.”
Mia Fisher, who works at the Arts Bar in the Baltic Triangle said: “It would definitely help the business, it is quite quiet here especially during the day because it is just not in town.”
However, there have been concerns that the money could be better spent tackling more prominent issues in the city.
Ms Fisher added: “The money probably could [be better spent], I think you could put the money into things other than a train station like helping the youth.”
Liverpool City Council have approved plans to build a new £100m train station and transport system in the Baltic Triangle.
Work will begin later this year on the surrounding road system, while station construction is expected to begin early next year, with the station opening by 2027.
The green light for the new transport development followed signification public approval during the consultation last summer.
The station aims to connect Liverpool’s fastest growing and vibrant Baltic Triangle district to the rest of the city. Currently, it is a nearly twenty-minute walk from the city centre to the Baltic Triangle, and projects like this are seeking to make the rest of the city more accessible.
This is part of Mayor Steve Rotheram’s vision to improve the city’s transport system.
He said: “This is another step in our vision to build a fully integrated London-style transport system.”
The planned station in the Baltic Triangle is just the first of many new developments planned.
The mayor added: “We’re extending Merseyrail to more communities with future stations already planned in Daresbury, Woodchurch and Carr Mill. I believe good quality public transport is a right, not a privilege.”
Liverpool’s Combined Authority emphasised that the new station will encourage people to ‘get out of their cars and travel by more sustainable options’.
The Combined Authority have a net-zero target by 2035 for the whole city region, so they hope developments like this will be successful in reducing the city’s carbon output.
Mayor Steve Rotheram finished by saying: “Investing almost £100 million at the heart of one of the UK’s most vibrant areas, will help to make this part of the city more accessible to all while easing congestion and helping us achieve our net-zero targets.”
The station is being funded via the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), dedicated to major transport projects across the city region.
