Albert Dock

The Albert Dock is a nationally recognised heritage asset. Originally a working dock complex, the multi-storey brick enclosed dock is one of the first of its kind in the country.

Falling redundant of its intended use in the mid-20th century, the docks lay empty until redeveloped in the 1980s to mixed commercial / retail / residential use. The current dock complex houses the Merseyside Maritime Museum, The Tate Liverpool, small businesses, various restaurants and bars and residential complexes.

In 2011, we oversaw a Conservation Management Plan at Liverpool’s Albert Docks for the Albert Dock Partnership (a consortium of the freeholder owners, leasehold owners and tenants).

The significance of the site is well understood as one of the largest complexes of listed buildings outside London; as a complete example of its type; and as a valuable tourist attraction and income generator for the city and region. Given the significance of the site, its complex ownership and stakeholder structure means there is currently no central plan for its coherent management and maintenance. The aim of Conservation Management Plan is to become this central and agreed resource and to ensure the significance of the heritage asset is not undermined by individual and opposing approaches to maintenance and development.

The Conservation Management Plan includes recommendations for future maintenance and repairs to the external fabric of the buildings, and shall take into account all buildings, hard landscaping (including dock walls, all features, fixtures and fittings), bridges and the original dock side furniture.