07 Jul Discovering Liverpool’s Baltic neighbourhood
As part of the Placed Better Together conference (write-up), there was a fringe event in Liverpool where Real Worth and Baltic Creative CIC hosted a walk around the district.
Social value in the Baltic
Baltic CIC was set-up 15 years ago to support the growth of an area that, while being on the edge of the city centre, didn’t attract visitors due to it being comprised of industrial and derelict units and little residential.
We heard how the CIC developed a lettings policy that means they can only let (their) buildings to creative and digital businesses, there is a strong community ethos amongst the businesses with the CIC supporting them with challenges around growth and developing a series of social and networking opportunities to bring them together.
Meanwhile, Real Worth shared details on the social value being created in the area and the challenge in controlling residential development.
We also stopped at the beautiful Utility store. A 25-year old Liverpool business they were looking for a larger space for the furniture retail element of their business. Taking a former motor garage, they have restored it, brought it up to modern sustainable building standards and attract customers from all over the north west. It also houses their head office and marketing team, showcases the areas’ heritage and reuse over demolition. The architects were Harrison Stringfellow.
There is currently little in the way of everyday amenities despite the large number of apartments which have been constructed and it will be interesting to see how the area develops in its next phase.
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