Liverpool Shopping Park Gets Approval for £8m Final Phase 2026

Key Points

• Planning approval has been secured by Liverpool City Council for the last phase at the £8 million Liverpool Shopping Park on Edge Lane.
• The development will provide a premium 26,200 sq ft M&S Food and another two units with a floor space of 16,500 sq ft each.
• The construction is due to start later in 2026, with a developer being chosen in the next few weeks.
• A 15-year agreement has been signed by M&S Food, which will relocate to this new larger unit from its existing 11,000 sq ft space.
• The two other units have not yet been leased out and McMullen Real Estate and CSP will manage the search for tenants.
• The shopping park will then exceed 277,000 sq ft once completed and join existing retailers such as JD Sports, Next, H&M, Boots and Tesla.

Liverpool Council (Liverpool standard) August 12, 2026 – It has approved the £8m final phase of Liverpool Shopping Park on Edge Lane, paving the way for construction to start before the end of the year. The development, managed by Derwent Estates on behalf of the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation, will deliver a flagship 26,200 sq ft M&S Food store alongside two further retail units totalling 16,500 sq ft, bringing the scheme’s total floorspace to more than 277,000 sq ft.

What is included in Liverpool Shopping Park’s final phase?

The approved fourth and final phase comprises 43,200 sq ft of new retail accommodation, anchored by a purpose-built M&S Foodhall that will more than double the retailer’s current floorspace at the park. As reported by Julia Hatmaker of Place North West, the permission was granted using delegated powers, with a contractor expected to be announced in the coming weeks to deliver the build.

The two additional units, each around 8,500 sq ft, remain unlet. McMullen Real Estate and CSP have been retained as letting agents to secure national operators for the space, which will sit alongside established brands including Smyths, Wagamama, JD Sports, Next, H&M, Boots and Tesla.

How will M&S Food expand at Liverpool Shopping Park?

M&S Food has committed to a 15-year lease for the new 26,200 sq ft unit, relocating from its existing 11,000 sq ft store on the site. According to Insider Media, the move will create a flagship food hall for the retailer within the park, significantly increasing its trading space and modernising its offer at the destination.

Derwent Estates said in a statement: “We look forward to commencing works and delivering the final phase of what has become one of the region’s most popular retail destinations.” The developer added that construction is due to start on site before the end of 2026, following the appointment of a main contractor.

When will construction start and who is managing the scheme?

Derwent Estates, acting for the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation, will appoint a contractor in the coming weeks to carry out the construction of the final phase. Place North West reported that the £8m scheme is the fourth and final phase of the wider Liverpool Shopping Park regeneration, which has unfolded in stages since the wider Edge Lane redevelopment began.

The planning application can be viewed under reference 25F/3295 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal, where details of the layout and design are recorded.

Which retailers are already at Liverpool Shopping Park?

Liverpool Shopping Park has built a strong line-up of national retailers and leisure operators over successive phases. Current occupiers include Smyths, Wagamama, JD Sports, Next, H&M, Boots and Tesla, alongside food and beverage operators such as Greggs, Subway, Five Guys and Costa Coffee drive-thrus introduced in earlier phases.

The site has evolved from the former Edge Lane Retail Park into a mixed retail and leisure destination, with previous phases adding cinema, bowling and gym facilities as well as additional retail units.

What is the planning status and total size of the development?

Liverpool City Council granted planning permission for the final phase using delegated powers, confirming the scheme’s compliance with local planning policy for retail-led regeneration. The latest consent adds 43,200 sq ft to the park, taking the total to more than 277,000 sq ft of retail floorspace.

Earlier phases included a £30m leisure-led second phase with a six-screen cinema, Hollywood Bowl, gym and restaurant units, as well as additional retail blocks. A subsequent £11m revamp added a Tesla showroom, refurbished Hollywood Bowl and new drive-thru food outlets.

Background: how did Liverpool Shopping Park develop?

Liverpool Shopping Park, formerly known as Edge Lane Retail Park, has been transformed through a multi-phase, £100m-plus regeneration programme led by Derwent Estates for the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation. The first phase delivered around 92,500 sq ft of retail space, including anchor units and a horseshoe-shaped run of shops, alongside new industrial and trade counter units on Rathbone Road.

Subsequent phases added leisure and retail capacity, including a cinema, upgraded bowling facility, gym and multiple restaurant units, as well as drive-thru food and beverage operators. The latest £8m phase completes the original masterplan vision for the retail park, finalising the site’s layout and bringing the total commercial floorspace to more than 277,000 sq ft.

Prediction: how could this affect shoppers, retailers and the local economy?

For shoppers in Liverpool and the wider city region, the expanded M&S Foodhall and additional retail units are likely to increase choice, improve convenience and strengthen the park’s position as a one-stop destination for grocery, fashion and leisure. The presence of a larger, flagship M&S Food store may draw more footfall, benefiting neighbouring retailers and food operators through increased visitor numbers.

For retailers, the completion of the final phase signals confidence in Edge Lane as a stable, high-performing location, potentially encouraging further national brands to consider the remaining units or future opportunities in the area. For the local economy, the construction phase will create short-term jobs, while the operational phase supports ongoing employment across retail, leisure and facilities management at the park.