Official opening for Q-Parks first Liverpool One car park

The official opening of the 580-space, 6-storey Q-Park Liver Street car park was attended by key industry figures including Keith Banbury, the Chief Executive of the British Parking Association (BPA), representatives of Grosvenor, the consortium regenerating Liverpool’s 42.5 acre city centre, Keith Beresford, who is undertaking a survey of car parks for the AA, and local press.

Keith Banbury, who formally opened the car park, marked the event by presenting Q-Park with a coveted Safer Parking Scheme ParkMark award and an ESPA (European Standard Parking Award) accreditation, both of which acknowledged Q-Park’s high standards of safety, security and quality. Remarking on the car park’s exceptional style and finish, Mr Banbury described the building as “iconic”, adding that it’s attractive looks and high standard sent out a very positive message for Liverpool.

Rod Holmes, Project Director for the entire Paradise Project, spoke in similar glowing terms about the car park and Q-Park’s exceptional approach to providing top quality facilities, and thanked the Q-Park team, the construction company Laing O’Rourke and members of his own team for their outstanding cooperative approach.

Guests at the lunchtime event were entertained by a string quartet and served a generous selection of savoury and sweet snacks, wine, soft drinks and tea and coffee.

Q-Park Liver Street is the first of three car parks being built as part of Liverpool One - the Paradise Project development vehicle created by Grosvenor and its investment partners. The Paradise Project is responsible for regenerating 42.5 acres of the city centre creating new shops, leisure and living facilities. In all, Q-Park will provide a total of 3000 new parking spaces for the development, with its second and third car parks opening at the end of 2007/ early 2008, to coincide with the completion of the main Paradise Project construction scheme and ready for Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2008.

The Q-Park car park at Liver Street is a sleek and stylish building sited just up from the famous Albert Dock and above and behind Liverpool’s new bus interchange and travel centre. With state-of-the-art security throughout, the car park incorporates all of Q-Park’s well-known hallmarks, including well lit, easy to navigate parking spaces, convenient payment systems, attentive staff, clean, smart design, clear signage and exceptional attention to detail.

The car park will also include a bridge, which will connect directly to the second floor of the planned 240,000 sq ft John Lewis department store, due to open in 2007.

Nigel Williams, Q-Park’s Acquisitions Director said that Q-Park was honoured to be part of the regeneration of Liverpool and to be working with Grosvenor on such a major project. “Integration with the new bus interchange makes Q-Park Liver Street the main arrival point for a vast number of people coming to Liverpool” he said. “The car park acts as a front door for Liverpool, and we are proud to be able to make a lasting good impression on visitors and local residents by providing the very best in design, facilities and services”.