Students’ vision for the future of resort is wanted

Jun 24 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

THERE are just days to go for students to enter a £2,000 competition to show how they would change the face of a Wirral seaside resort.

The end-of-month deadline is looming for a design competition to see how the architects and planners of tomorrow view New Brighton in the 21st century.

Royal Haskoning, an international firm of consulting engineers and environmental scientists, has invited students to play a part in the rebirth of the resort, with a design competition.

Engineering and architecture students from Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool have until June 30 to register their intention to participate in the competition.

Then they have until September 1 to submit their proposals to design a waterside landmark for New Brighton – such as a 21st century replacement for the once-popular Victorian Pier that was demolished some years ago.

Entrants are being encouraged to design an imaginative scheme that celebrates New Brighton’s unique location as a resort on the River Mersey.

The designs must be economically sustainable and attractive for tourism investment in the surrounding area.

Royal Haskoning’s director of infrastructure and building at the Liverpool office, David Ricketts, said: “Of course the competition should not imply the winning entries will be realised, though it will be most interesting to see how our planners and architects of the future view New Brighton.”

“Our independent panel of judges will pay particular attention to the following: Original, innovative concepts and ideas; sustainability; potential for tourism investment; and the presentation and communication of the proposed designs.”

A website www.brightennewbrighton.co.uk will host information about the competition.

Submissions will be judged by a panel of industry professionals before being exhibited in October 2008, after which the winning design will be announced.

The competition is being supported by The Liverpool Architectural Society.