THE man behind the £1bn Liverpool ONE development has been presented with a special award by economic development agency, The Mersey Partnership (TMP).

The Duke of Westminster was guest of honour a at special dinner held in the crypt of Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral.

He was presented with the award on behalf of TMP’s public and private sector members to recognise his role in what was the city’s biggest ever single private sector investment.

Liverpool ONE opened in May last year and has proved a hit with shoppers from across the region and has given the city region economy a major boost.

TMP chief executive Lorraine Rogers told the audience of more than 120 guests: “No-one has made a greater and more effective contribution to the transformation of Liverpool city centre than our guest of honour this evening.

“The Duke of Westminster has not only demonstrated his personal confidence in the people of the Liverpool city region but also his confidence in the economic prospects for the city region. “Liverpool ONE is a very a tangible reminder of the progress that we have seen over the last few years.”

Ms Rogers presented the Duke with a framed and inscribed print of artist Ben Johnson’s famous Liverpool Cityscape.

The Duke said: “It is immensely satisfying to me that we have been able to contribute to the on-going regeneration of the region and I am enormously proud of what Grosvenor has created at Liverpool ONE.

“I am only a small part of this development, I am indebted to the Grosvenor team and our partners, but it was the entire city pulling together that has really made this work.”