Hannan Associates, a prominent building services engineering consultancy, played a key role in the Central Docks project, which has been shortlisted for “The Pineapple for Future Place” at The Pineapples 2025 awards. This recognition highlights the project’s significance in urban regeneration and underscores Hannan’s expertise in delivering complex building services engineering solutions that are integral to transformative developments.
Central Docks, a key component of the Liverpool Waters regeneration initiative, is poised to become a vibrant district encompassing residential, business, entertainment, and leisure spaces. The project has garnered attention for its substantial £56 million investment from Homes England, approved in October 2024, and the commencement of on-site work by GRAHAM Group later that year. This development aims to revitalise Liverpool’s northern docks, breathing new life into the historic waterfront.
As the Mechanical, Electrical, and Public Health (MEP) design consultants for Central Docks, Hannan Associates has been instrumental in shaping the project’s infrastructure. The firm specialises in delivering innovative and sustainable building services solutions, ensuring that developments meet modern efficiency and environmental standards. Their involvement in Central Docks highlights their expertise in managing the complexities inherent in large-scale urban regeneration projects.
Urban regeneration projects of this magnitude present numerous challenges, including integrating modern infrastructure within historic settings, adhering to stringent environmental regulations, and coordinating among diverse stakeholders. Hannan Associates’ extensive experience in such complex design projects has been crucial in navigating these challenges successfully. Their portfolio includes significant developments like the Omega Warrington Ltd scheme, where they provided comprehensive building services engineering consultancy, and the Greenhaus Salford project, the first and largest Passivhaus certified, affordable development in the North West.
The success of Central Docks is also attributed to the collaborative efforts of several key partners:
- Peel Waters: As the developer, Peel Waters has been at the forefront of the Liverpool Waters project, driving the vision to transform the city’s waterfront into a world-class, mixed-use destination. (liverpoolwaters.co.uk)
- Homes England: The government’s housing accelerator, providing funding and support to increase the number of new homes and improve existing housing stock in England.
- Liverpool City Council: The local authority responsible for the city’s governance, playing a crucial role in planning approvals and supporting the regeneration efforts.
- Planit-IE: A landscape architecture and urban design consultancy contributing to the public realm and landscape design of the project.
- Virtual Planit: Specialists in creating visualizations and virtual reality experiences to support planning and design processes.
- Arup: An independent firm of designers, planners, and engineers providing multidisciplinary services to the project.
- Walker Sime: Offering cost consultancy and project management services, ensuring the project remains within budget and on schedule.
- Curtins: Providing civil and structural engineering expertise to support the development’s infrastructure.
- Civic Engineers: Delivering civil, structural, and transport engineering services, focusing on creating resilient and sustainable environments.
- Place & Context: Urban design and planning consultants contributing to the strategic development framework of the project.
The Pineapples, organized by The Developer and now in their seventh year, are unique awards celebrating excellence in placemaking. They recognize projects that have a positive social, environmental, and economic impact, contributing significantly to urban life. The “Future Place” category specifically honors developments that promise to enhance their communities upon completion.
Previous winners in this category have set benchmarks in innovative design and community integration, serving as exemplars for future developments. The shortlisting of Central Docks places it among these distinguished projects, highlighting its potential to become a transformative space within Liverpool.
Hannan Associates’ involvement in Central Docks exemplifies their commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable engineering solutions. Their role in this project not only showcases their technical expertise but also their ability to collaborate effectively with multiple stakeholders to achieve a shared vision. As the project progresses, it stands as a testament to the adage that hard work truly pays off.
To see the full shortlist across other developments click here.
